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Saturn S-Series

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Comments

  • floridianfloridian Member Posts: 219
    Just read in the paper that Saturn has cut production at Spring Hill, Tenn plant by ONE THIRD !! Wow, this early on in the 2000 year and they are cutting production.They have cut production of the "L" cars at the Delaware plant as well. Here in Florida the dealers are awash in unsold cars. What's wrong with this picture? A lot of things, but mostly "daddy GM's" not letting Saturn alone to do their own thing as they did when they first started. Not keeping the "s" series cars up to date (woefully out of date at this point), not offering unique styling (witness the invisible style of the new "L" series),dragging their feet on the intro of a SUV (too late now for sure)and sticking to the "no haggle" pricing polocy. I predict that Saturn will be absorbed by other GM lines or cease to exhist altogether in about five years or less. The plummiting sales of Saturn just compounds GM's continuing loss of market share across the board. Glad i sold my GM stock while it was still worth something.

    Floridian, the way i see it.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Wouldn't do that. The stock is trading near 52 week record highs and the company is making record profits. The stock is totally under valued and when they eventually spin off Hughes you will really see some good returns. Most of the big brokerages on the street rate GM a buy.
  • fredfred3fredfred3 Member Posts: 73
    Sorry, but I don't agree with whoever posted that Saturn's "No Haggle" prices are fair. They seem inflated to me which is one of the reasons I am a little skeptical about buying a Saturn. I'd like to know what others think on this subject. Thanks.
  • fredfred3fredfred3 Member Posts: 73
    Sorry, but I don't agree
    with whoever posted that
    Saturn's "No Haggle"
    prices are fair. They seem
    inflated to me which is
    one of the reasons I am a
    little skeptical about
    buying a Saturn. I'd like
    to know what others think
    on this subject. Thanks.
  • fredfred3fredfred3 Member Posts: 73
    Sorry about the double post
  • jenc1jenc1 Member Posts: 5
    I'm have never been through the process of buying a new car. Saturn's are in my price range and I am still considering buying one. I think it would be great to be able to go a buy a car just as you would anything else. But since it's not that way, I guess how I don't see how it's truly a fair price. When the Saturn's MSRP is more than a thousand above invoice which approximately what the Cavalier's is (another car I'm looking at). I mean that not exactly fair pricing if I can get the Cavalier for less than MSRP and I have no choice with the Saturn.
  • floridianfloridian Member Posts: 219
    dindak: you are right of course, I'll hold the GM stock (all 50 shares,yuk,yuk)but being a contrarian/rebel I may take a look at Daewoo LOL! Just kidding.

    Floridian
  • floridianfloridian Member Posts: 219
    jenc1: A 2000 SC2 5 speed base coupe has a 1514.00 mark-up plus they have a 3% hold back on that. load one up and they stand to make over $2000+ on the deal!

    I have a 1998 SC2. A crude, poorly made (interior)vehicle. Reliable, yes but a poor value compared to almost everything else out there, even the Korean offerings are better at this point in time in my opinion. I know saturnboy will come off the wall at this one but take a look at them and I think you'll agree. You'll get a lot more car for your money. Even a Cavalier/Sunfire is a better buy considering what you can actually get one out the door for. Cav currently has a nice cash back offer as well. Check it out.

    Floridian, theway I see it.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    When I say fair, I mean fair. I don't mean a good price or a great price. I might have bought an LS2 if I could have got a better price. I could haggle at the Olds dealer and bought an Intrigue GL for about the same price (a little less actually) than an LS2. Like any dealership with one price policies, the car is fairly priced but you could do better elsewhere. If you aren't into the haggle (like my wife), Saturn is perfect,
  • dhanleydhanley Member Posts: 1,531
    If you look at the options on the car, and also factor in a few years ownership, the saturn s-cars are good buys. Not everyone thinks they are "outdated" and "crude", and even some who do are smart enough to figure out that that's just their opinion.

    I think the good values for saturn are for the base(er) cars. For the upper 13K you're going to pay for a base sl2 with a few options, what else are you going to get with similar performance, safety, and reliability? If you're going to say saturn is poor value, let's actually hear comparisons with other cars. Until then, it's hot air.

    dave
  • norbert444norbert444 Member Posts: 195
    Here is a food for thought: When I was buying my SL2 in 1995, I paid the no-haggle price including one option that I did not want but the dealer wanted to sell (cassette). So, they threw in a car cover for free (over $100 value) and a shop manual at cost (which I did not buy because "the cost" was more than equivalent books available elsewhere). The OEM car cover has been great.

    Conclusion: No-haggle turned into a little negotiation that was fairly pleasant and resulted in a win-win result.

    Analysis: Apparently, the base price is not negotiable. However, it seems to me that the options can be negotiated. Options are also discounted at car-buying sites like carOrder.com.
  • saturnboysaturnboy Member Posts: 89
    I have to admit that I agree with Dhanley because not everyone thinks Saturn's are crude or terribly out of date. Consider them the VW beetle from years ago, good value to own, looks new for years, price increases very little from year to year. In fact, for the 2000 model year they have over 1000 new parts and a price reduction on some models. It is a shame that they cut production on the S Series, but the small car market is declining, and more and more people actually have some $$$ to spend on a bigger car. The L Series is selling slow due to poor marketing of the car, which Saturn admits was a corporate mistake. Just because thier sales are down doesn't mean their out, Saturns loyal customers normally return, and their will be people who will always buy a Saturn.
  • floridianfloridian Member Posts: 219
    what saturnboy sez is right. there will always be a certain group that will blindly support a particular marque no matter how mediocre or outdated they become. blind allegiance i guess. i have a SC2 and it's a so so car but for waht it cost i expected SO MUCH more and the resale on these critters is beginning to slip too. to it's credit it has been rock solid dependable tho (so far) but it is beginning to show premature wear on the inside, the sun roof has developed a leak, the dome light has quit (bulb ok)and i think i now have some warped rotors, lotsa pulsing on brakeing ? the car only has 28,000 on it so i hope it hangs in there till lease is up @ 12 more months.

    the car just has been a bore to drive too, no fun. people prefer cars for different reasons and there is no accounting for what they like. a neighbor of mine had a fetish for Checker Cabs of all things. always drove cast off cab companies retired cabs, go figure. another guy here in town has 6(count 'em)Chevettes in his driveway. now that's really loyality!! maby saturnboy just has a fetish for the "wundercars" from Tennessee. sooner or later he'll see the light and move on to something designed in this century LOL. it's ok saturnboy we get a kick out of your rantings. keep them coming and i'll do my best from time to time to "rattle your cage"

    Floridian, just my unbiased opinion
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    "but the small car market is
    declining"

    Focus - "Automobile of the year", "Ten Best"

    Neon

    Protege

    Corolla / Prizm

    Sentra

    Elantra

    Jetta

    Golf

    Cavalier

    Contour/Mystique

    Civic

    Mirage

    .....need I go on?

    Only two things can help Saturn at this point. Drop your prices (or negotiate) and bring out a NEW line of cars.
  • jenc1jenc1 Member Posts: 5
    I have another question. What is a twin cam engine? Is it a better engine? If it is, in what way?

    Thanks ahead for any help!
  • dhanleydhanley Member Posts: 1,531
    floridian: Again, what car are you proporting is better for the same money? You keep blindly repeatign that, and infering that anyone that likes saturn is a "blind supporter." Since you haven't made any argument except "unrefined" and "not a good value" without giving any real info about that, why are you not a blind detractor?

    reg: Yes, the small car market is declining. What does the fact that you can name a couple have do do with that? Sales on most of those are down too, except for the obvious cases of new models ( focus, protege, golf ). Do you have anything to actually contribute?

    dave
  • dhanleydhanley Member Posts: 1,531
    There are 2 kind of piston engines ( generally )

    overhead valve: The pistons turn the crankshaft, which turns a camshaft located close to it. The shaft moves rods which extend to the cylinder head and push rockers which close and open valves.

    Overhead cam: the crankshaft turns a relatively long chain or belt ( chain on saturns ) which travels up to the cylinder head and turns a camshaft there, which directly opens and closes the valves.

    Dual overhead cam is a refinement of overhead cam. In a single overhead cam, typically each cylinder has one valve each for exhaust and intake. In DOHC, it will have 2 of each, which allows the engine to breathe more easily.

    in english:

    Typically an overhead valve engine will allow you to squeeze a larger displacement engine into the same compartment, and overhead cam( especially DOHC ) will get more power for the same displacement, and allow the engine to rev higher and have a larger powerband. It depends on if you like the feel of a bigger lower-revving motor, or a smaller higher-revving one.

    Saturn is different than most GM cars in that GM usually likes to use big overhead valve engines, but saturn uses a small(er) overhead cam motor. As an example, I had a rental grand am, which felt faster in the city, but also felt slower on the highway.

    dave
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    it seems as though its okay to point out the difficiencies of all other car makes except Saturn, right?

    Seriously, now Saturn fans, lets look at different buyer price points and determine just exactly why other makes/models are in each case better deals (based on what you can actually buy the car for cash, based of frequently advertised price points).....

    12,500 cash out the door.
    Ford Focus ZX3 vs. Saturn SC
    -Ford
    more comfortable and much larger and more stylish interior, better powertain, cutting edge style, far superior handling larger dealer network (more competitive shopping environment), awards won worldwide
    -Saturn (if you can even buy a Saturn SC for 12,500)
    plastic doors resist dings, free car washes

    Chevy Cavalier vs. Saturn SL
    Chevy- more room, nicer interior, larger car, abs standard, lots of dealers who will fight for your business
    Saturn- OHC powertrain, plastic doors, free car washes

    Neon vs. Saturn
    -Neon more room, more power

    14,000 sale price

    Mazda Protege vs. Saturn SL1
    -Mazda - superior powertrain, ride quality, styling, seat comfort
    Saturn - plastic doors, car washes, don't have to look at the yucky 626 in the showfloor

    Corolla / Prizm vs. SL1
    -Toyota a reputation for dependability, product excellence and reliability (over decades) that is unmatched in the auto industry, cutting edge vvT powertrain
    -Prizm can use GM dollars on essentially the same car as a corolla and save big bucks. No GM card rebates on Saturn.
    -Saturn don't have to look at the icky Avalon on the Saturn sales floor

    Contour vs. Saturn
    Contour-much more substantial car, more room, better handling, more hp
    Saturn-

    15,000
    Civic vs. Saturn
    -Civic is an exmaple of superb quality in small car, superior powertrain, a little more space, contemporary style, holds value better
    -Saturn maybe a few more features at this price point, plastic doors, car washes

    17500
    Jetta vs. Saturn
    -Jetta one of the hippest style cars out there, German engineering, decent features, equal room
    -Saturn, even Saturn dealers are better than VW dealers

    -Contour v6 vs Saturn
    -Contour leather and v6, maybe evn a moonroof at 17,500. More room, more substantial car.
    -Saturn

    Even if don't prefer cars like the Protege, Corolla, etc. you just cannot say the Saturn is a better car (quality and performance) than the Honda Civic. Absolutely no way. It can't even beat the civic on price.

    And for an overall desirability the Focus is superior to the Saturn in so many ways.

    And if you are just a GM fan the Prizm and Cavalier are each better options in their own ways.

    Saturns are pretty reliable so you can't really knock them about it, although I would really challenge anyone who says their quality can equal that of a Civic or Corolla.

    Saturn, while a decent car, I think is currently in a state of the market where there are just too many other more attractive options when considering any of price, room, performance, reliability, style.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    The smaller Saturn engine (I believe a 1.9L) is a bit quieter than the DOHC optional engine. You give up a little horsepower, but you will get a smoother ride and better gas mileage. If you really want the extra ponies the DOHC upgrade isn't much extra (I think about a grand).

    regfootball: I agree with you on a couple of those, but the Saturn isn't a inferior as you are making it out to be. The 2000 model has been updated nicely and is pretty refined now. Go try one and see.
  • dhanleydhanley Member Posts: 1,531
    let's look at your list here, shall we:

    focus zx3 : not a bad car, but new and unproven, especally considering ford's history. Let'
    s look at your "points"
    *better looking: not to me, buddy.
    *larger and better interior: better is is subjective, and if you look at the sc vs the focus in real interior space, it's not that different at all.
    "far superior handling and powertrain": based on what exactly? You were wrong about this in the tuarus thread too. Look at a 12.9K sl2. Less HP and torque, bigger car, yet has better skidpad and 0-60. Who has better powertrain and handling now? What is the reliability and safety of the focus??

    cavalier: Is ok, but the interior is not nicer(IMO) or bigger.. And I had to rent one for a few days recently, so I know what I'm talking about. Look at the edmunds size stats:

    saturn/cavalier

    Front Headroom: 39.3 in / 37.6 in.
    Rear Headroom: 38 in / 36.6 in.
    Front Shoulder Room: 53.9 in / 53.9 in.
    Rear Shoulder Room: 53.1 in / 54.9 in.
    Front Hip Room: 49.2 in / 50 in.
    Rear Hip Room: 50.2 in / 49.5 in.
    Front Leg Room: 42.5 in / 41.9 in.
    Rear Leg Room: 32.8 in / 32.7 in.

    Yep, that cavalier is totally cavernous compared to the saturn!!


    neon: another car I had to rent for a few days.
    http://www.edmunds.com/newcars/2000/saturn/sseries/sl2sedan.html
    http://www.edmunds.com/newcars/2000/dodge/neon/highlinesedan.html
    Yes, much much bigger, eh? Actually, the saturn is a hair larger. And the neon has a few more HP.. But has the same acceleration. As before, you like the smaller higher-revving motors.. EXCEPT when they are on a saturn.

    protege: Again, you claim the better powertrain.. Without saying what you mean. Better in what way? Your styling complaint. Are you ever going to raise a real point? I personally don't care for how it looks.

    corolla/civic: Decent cars, but you don't make any points for them, just say they are "better." At the same price point, they will not have as many features, not have the same acceleration or handling, and not have the same safety scores, which is one of the main reasons I got my car. This is all not to mention cost of service.

    jetta: equal room, german engineering ( i.e. expensive to fix ) , and "hip." Whoop-e hold me back. Actually, I really like the golf, and would surely consider one if shopping in that price range, but not for your reasons. Just to let you know I'm not a 100% saturn fanatic.

    contour v6: such a great, desirable car ford is cutting it. Didn't this whole thing start over saturn cutting production? What does it mean that ford axed this car?

    Again, I'm not saying everyone in the saturn price range needs to get one. Just that your "view" is absurdly biased against saturn. For some reason, you have to post against them despite not having one, or really having a legitimate or major gripe against them as norbert has.

    dave
  • saturnboysaturnboy Member Posts: 89
    I have decided that as much as I used to like coming here to veiw comments from those who know little or nothing about Saturn, and those who really know a thing or two like dhanley. I Won't be coming here anymore, Pointless comments/opinions coming from Flordia DUD , are a waste of my time, and everyone elses here. Rather then continue to see the demise of this room, I think I won't be wasting any more of my time seeing useless comments. I have no further comment. Period.
  • norbert444norbert444 Member Posts: 195
    Here is another little experience with my 95 SL2: I tried to eliminate the rattles coming from the dashboard that are theoretically a consequence of the odometer cable and fuel gage replacements by the dealer during the warranty period. Removed the top cover there and the two side trims. Found that the rattle comes from the instrument cluster right behind the steering wheel, thus strengthening the theory.

    Now I know the clusters have to be opened, which requires lowering the steering wheel, etc, per the manual. However, I will never again remove the top cover again, if I can help it. Namely, one of the plastic grips jutting out of it and holding it broke in spite of me doing it all by the book. Cannot afford to lose another one. Moral of the story: All that plastic is more vulnerable than we'd like to think.

    BTW, Saturnboy, come back. Your zeal is needed.
  • floridianfloridian Member Posts: 219
    come on now you can't let a little factual logic get you down, We all know you are a fanatic about Saturn, that's what makes your posts so darn funny. Stay awhile

    Floridian, (alias the "DUD" !! What a hoot!!
  • horizon_007horizon_007 Member Posts: 6
    Question:

    Did you not read into your car, or did the dealer not explain to you that your car could be returned within 30 days if not completely satisfied? Just wondering...
  • dhanleydhanley Member Posts: 1,531
    Hey, I'll be doing something similar myself. At 80K miles the gauge covering started rattling while the car is cold. Gotta pop it open and put a little foam in there to make it stop. It doesn't look too bad--but I'll let you know if I find anything that might help. I wonder if it would be easier to access some of these components from the engine compartment side?

    I did something similar myself though. I was putting new speakers on the car and on the passenger side door I flat broke the passenger handle. It still kind of works, but it's really flaky and rattles while you drive. Guess I have to go swallow my pride and have the saturn boys fix it.

    Hey, about your trunk floor sagging.. Is the center post of the spare holding it up properly? Did that fall down or get lost? Just a thought.

    dave
  • jenc1jenc1 Member Posts: 5
    Ok. What's the big deal people are making about their cars making all these weird annoying sounds (aka winds noises, rattlings, etc). My cavalier has made all kinds of unknown noises since day one (which was 6 years ago). My theory is if it's not a noise that is caused by something that is wrong with the car (interfers with how it runs) then don't worry about it. That's what they put the radios in the car for anyways! isn't it?
  • floridianfloridian Member Posts: 219
    jenc1; you are right but all that shake, rattle and roll racket kinda makes you wonder if the rest of the car is so loosely screwed together as well. i put a lot of importance on SILENCE in my vehicles. Most of the time the noisy engine (ever hear a Saturn twin cam @ 5000 RPM) drowns out any lesser noise on my SC2 but man oh man all that plastic really "sings a song" when it gets cold ( that's not very cold either here in Fla.)but as long as the thing keeps running I guess I'll have to live with it 'till lease is up.

    Floridian
  • floridianfloridian Member Posts: 219
    did saturnboy really bail out and can now be found on the yougo site? i thought his other car was a AMC Pacer

    that DUD Floridian, gufaw,gufaw, chuckle, chuckle!!
  • dhanleydhanley Member Posts: 1,531
    It's an aesthetic thing. While the drivtrain on my sl2 is, I believe, very solid, and I don't feel the engine is particularly noisy except under heavy acceleration, I'd just like a lower level of noise. I doesn't make me thing the car is going to fall apart or anything though. After all, there's only one rattle not caused by me taking parts of the car apart. At 80K+ miles, it's doing better in that department than our saab, or my old tercel, escort, and passat. My only real gripe is that the wind noise I get seems excessive.

    dave
  • norbert444norbert444 Member Posts: 195
    dave, the center post on the spare tire is OK. However, when the cover starts sagging, it makes the "nut" on it stick out and that ain't good. Or, am I missing some support post underneath the cover on the spare tire? Hm...

    In case you didn't know: Be super-careful removing the dashboard cover. First, remove the two sides with some 3 clips each, prying them from the cabin-end. On the main cover, avoid any twisting motion before all of the cabin-side clips have disengaged. Use a good non-marring screwdriver to pry it free of the dashboard.

    On the general issue of rattles: I believe any rattles should be eliminated in order to know if something NEW is rattling, thus being able to examine each of the new rattles for their significance. But I can sympathize with people who do not get excited over them while the radio is blaring away ... It perhaps has something to do with one's outlook on what's important in life ...
  • travelertraveler Member Posts: 67
    I agree with dhanley, interior rattles in a car drive me nuts. I also have to 'cure' the noise as I like it quiet inside. As far as engine noise goes, I believe any make with a 4 cylinder will be noisy when under moderate to hard acceleration. I have 22k+ on my 99 SL2 in less than a year. As far as buying another Saturn, it depends on several factors which I won't go into now.
    Floridian, what do you mean by the plastic really sings? I'm in NY and have much larger temp swings in one day than florida and I can't recall any noises from the plastic panels.
  • floridianfloridian Member Posts: 219
    traveler: contrary to what a lot of people think it DOES get pretty cold here at times. We have occasional dips into the "teens" in Dec.Jan.and Feb.but more common are morning temps around 39 to 40 degrees. I did not mean the plastic body panels but the interior plastic stuff, the door pulls crunch and creak when you pull the doors shut, the center console moans and groans, the door panels squeek if you rest your elbow on them etc. nothing really too much to get excited about but when i think about what the vehicle cost (over $19,000 out the door i think it could be better. My old Mustang (1996) with 188,000 mles on it has not a squeek, rattle or groan. go figure !! As i have said before i don't have any issues with the reliability of the car it's been 100% and for that i am thankful. had it been a problem car it would have been "dumped" a long time ago. I hear the abandoned rock quarries around here are full of Saturns that have been "stolen" from unhappy owners, just kidding of course.

    Floridian
  • thelmagirlthelmagirl Member Posts: 3
    Hello,

    I'm a newbie, so don't slam me if I make
    a faux pas.

    I am looking at a 1996 Saturn today at 3PM.
    I'd like some feedback on this car and its
    price. Here's the scoop:

    It's a 1996 Saturn SL1, 5-speed standard
    transmission, 4-door, with 92,000 miles on
    it. It has air conditioning. It's silver/
    grey. That's all I know until I see it.

    The guy says its book value is $7,275
    and its loan value is $5,175 but he'd
    sell it to me for $4,250. It sounds too
    good to be true. What should I look for?
    Who knows if this is a good deal or what?
    I'd love some advice and feedback. I
    checked Consumer Reports, and the 1996
    Saturn is listed as one of their "Most
    Reliable Used Cars" and Edmunds had a
    pretty good review too.

    I am less concerned about looks and
    "comfort." I want a car that is reliable
    and gets good mileage. I haven't got a
    whole lot of money to spend, and this
    sounds like a great deal. It's also
    the very top of what I have to spend.

    Comments?

    Thanks!

    Karin
  • norbert444norbert444 Member Posts: 195
    Where are thou? Our saturns are in dire need of thy adulation. Be back!
  • dhanleydhanley Member Posts: 1,531
    That sounds like a pretty good deal! We looked at a similarly low-priced saturn, but I could tell it hadn't been taken care of--there was considerable valve clatter. All I can say for the reliability issue is to take it to a good mechanic, and for the comfort, drive it for awhile--insist that you need to drive it for 15 minutes at least, on several kinds of roads. Maybe go to a saturn dealer and try a few similar ones; that may give you a comparison car to let you know if something is wrong.

    dave
  • thelmagirlthelmagirl Member Posts: 3
    Thanks, Dave. The fact that the nearest
    Saturn dealer is an hour and 15 min. away
    is an issue, as is the fact that I can't
    drive a standard very well. And other
    people I have asked are very suspicious
    of the low price tag. I plan to take it
    to a local mechanic -- he can't get it on
    the lift today, but he said he'd look
    it over. Thanks again.

    Karin
  • dhanleydhanley Member Posts: 1,531
    Big purchases are nothing to rush. Make sure it's just what you want before getting it. The worst thing is to say "well, I could have..." IF it's in good shape, it's a great car for $4250, though. Big IF. I have a '96 as well, (an sl2, however) and I'll be crushed if this is all they are going for now. :)

    dave
  • norbert444norbert444 Member Posts: 195
    I wouldn't let my 95 SL2 go for less than 8K! The two good sources of pricing information are Kelly Blue Book (www.kbb.com) and this site. Of course, those prices have lots of qualifications, or what I call "adjusters."
  • travelertraveler Member Posts: 67
    I take it that the mechanic you're taking the car to is one you know to be good and will give you an honest answer about the car. If you're not sure how to use the pricing system in edmunds or kellybluebook send the info to the townhall site,
    mileage, options on the vehicle, how you think the interior looks ( worn to nearly new looking) especially the pedals( worn pedals and low mileage is fishy) how much tread on tires, how the engine sounds, all equipment works properly etc . Somebody here will run it through the pricing system and see how it comes out. 4250 seems like a low price even for upstate NY. Double checked your post and yopu gave the mileage of 96k average mileage would be around 60k so the seller is deducting for high mileage but not sure right now if they deducted right amount.
  • sruthsruth Member Posts: 1
    I have experienced what I would call excessive oil consumption in my 1997 Saturn SL2. Has anyone else seen this in a Saturn? At 47,000 miles, I would not expect there to be a major engine problem.
  • dhanleydhanley Member Posts: 1,531
    Comes up a lot on the newsgroup. It seems like either the tolerances on the rings are not that good or something. The good news is it probably will not get much worse, and it probably won't have any adverse effects. The bad news is you will have to check the oil once every 2 weeks os so and keep a quart around to top it off. Mine burns a quart every 3k miles or so and has for quite some time now, and the above is what i do. Really the cost of a quart of oil a month is not going to hurt anyone, but it is a pain to check and add..


    dave
  • mpo1mpo1 Member Posts: 1
    I have a 1996 SL2 that was experiencing excessive oil usage at 77000 miles. My Saturn dealer did documentation of this (took one week and two oil checks by them) and then they scheduled a complete engine rebuild job that was covered in full by my extended warranty. This also included the use of a rental car for the duration of the repairs which took 3 days. So far at 83000 miles my car is running fine and using no oil. Good luck.
  • claryclary Member Posts: 18
    I wonder what causes some to burn oil and some to not do so. My 1997 SW2 w/ 54 000 miles burns almost no oil between changes. I use synthetic oil and have done so for the past 33 000 miles or so. My oil change interval at the last change was a bit over 7000 miles, and I think it was a half quart low by the time I changed it. Is it different rings that cause different oil consumption, or is it mere lock o' the draw?
  • toddz20toddz20 Member Posts: 1
    just wondering if this is a decent deal...it seems to be, since it was through a friend anways...just bought a '95 SL2 fer 3500 w/ 84k, no power windows, but it has air, tinted, new speakers, new tires, brakes and a rear spoiler...it drives pretty well, was well maintained, has no major problems as far as i know...just wondering what to expect to go wrong when it gets around the 100k mark...

    one thing i did notice that i didnt notice when i was test driving is the squeak coming from the passanger side dash board, if i even put my hand on it while driving it stops, wondering if i could just put some foam or something in there, or something else, doesnt really matter the radio is always gonna be blaring so i wont hear it 90% of the time...i've seen that some of you guys have noticed this...so i guess it's a common thing and not really something to be worried about when the car gets up in the higher mileage...

    things that were a plus, the color the design, gas mileage doesnt seem too bad, considering im coming from an 89 buick regal...reliablilty seems real good, previous owners had oil changes transmission fluid changes often, well before scheduled maintenence due...they recently took it on a few decently sized over 1000 miles trips with no problems, i think that's a plus too...

    lemme know whatcha think...
  • fredfred3fredfred3 Member Posts: 73
    Is Saturnboy such a fanatic that he can't stand to hear any negative comments or owner experiences about Saturns? Does he work for the Saturn marketing department or does he just really believe in that "Saturn family" propaganda? Sorry, but when I buy a car it is for transportation and not to be a part of some bizarre automotive cult.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    I don't own a Saturn, but I think the way Saturn and their dealers treat customers is great. It has the highest customer satisfaction rating among car makers so they are clearly doing something right. I think implying that people who own Saturn's are part of a cult is silly. I wish all dealers were more like Saturn.
  • floridianfloridian Member Posts: 219
    Saturn owners cult members? Not hardly. I think the "Saturn thing" is akin to the buddy,buddy thing that VW drivers and earlier MG pilots shared. Always a wave etc. Most people are so turned off by the blandness and commonness of most of the car offerings that they crave some kind of mutual "togetherness" that the Saturn "family" seems to offer. I attended the first "homecoming" up in Springhill,Tenn.and it was more like a high school reunion. I really don't think the Saturns are anything special at all (I have a 1998 SC2)it's a OK car but nothing to write home about.

    If you want to talk "cult" I predict that the Ford Focus will rise to that level if for no other reason than it's quirky styling. Aside from the styling tho it represents a quantum leap in value and technonlgy,compared to Saturn. Saturn has lost the "ballgame" by resting on their laurels, depending on this "warm and cozy" we love you hype. At this stage of the game they really are not much more than what a Cavalier and Sunfire have to offer.

    Saturnboy just ran out of stuff to say. How many times can you harp on the virtues of plastic bodywork,good resale(questionable also)and low maintenance (also questionable if you follow factory polocy)I do miss his rantings tho. He can come back anytime and welcome. Could be he finally has gotten some new wheels and feels guilty for not honoring the "Shrine of Saturn" anymore?

    Come on Saturnboy, we know you are out there "lurking" around. put on your "tough skin" and join the fray once more,We won't bite you.

    Floridian
  • dhanleydhanley Member Posts: 1,531
    Maybe he's just waiting for you to explain your whole saturn sucks "reasoning" instead of repeating this opinion ever few posts. Maybe it's good to go away when you run out of things to say rather than just repeat it ad nausem, eh?

    dave
  • fredfred3fredfred3 Member Posts: 73
    Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that Saturn owners were a part of a cult. I was being sarcastic in light of Saturnboy's overenthusiasm. What I meant is that I don't think it is worth paying so much extra for a bland car that is nothing to write home about, just to be a part of the "Saturn family." I also find Saturn's supposedly terrific dealer service questionable, at least it is in my neck of the woods. As I have said before, I am considering a Saturn but I can't shake the feeling that the price is overinflated. And I am skeptical about reliability and dealer service, which is why I think the word of mouth on a forum like this is much better than any Consumer Report type of ratings which Saturnboy always seemed to quote from.
  • tomcat630tomcat630 Member Posts: 854
    some foks are so fanatical about their favortie car, that if u disagee with them, you get long winded insulting posts.
    I say get real and go out and make some real friends!
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