Faults:

CV axles, control arms, tie rods, struts.

Clutch (at 195k) and rear main seal while I was there. Small leakage, but not bad. Also changed the master and slave cylinder while things were apart. This was a big job for my experience level, and after it was said and done, not as hard as others I've seen on YouTube.

Engine cooling fan.

Exhaust from the flex pipe back (rust and age).

Replaced intake manifold gaskets, cleaned throttle body and replaced gasket, and cleaned/replaced ERG valve and gasket.

Starter (160k-ish)

Brakes, rotors and drums, front and rear, and brake lines throughout. Also replaced rear brake cylinders while back there. They both were operational, one was leaking unknowingly.

A/C stopped working after 20 years. I believe it's just a leaky hose cos it slowly stopped cooling.

DIYed the headliner with fragments from the craft store and spray adhesive.

General Comments:

These are gas sippers. Still regularly get over 35 mpg, sometimes as high as 39. Great snow cars if the tires are good.

Cheap to operate. All of the repairs fall in line of "normal maintenance". I haven't been stranded except when the starter failed. It didn't give the normal signs that it was failing, just stopped working.

Saturns are known to leak oil so I check it often. Sometimes a little, sometimes more, depending on driving and weather. Seems to drink more in the hotter temps.

Synchros in the tranny are bad. They were bad when I got it. Had another manual before with the same issue and I just take it easy when shifting and haven't had a problem. Previous owner didn't disclose it upon sale, but I won anyway cos it's still going, LOL.

The front frame is getting rusty, and it's a known issue for ones in the rust belt. I'll keep driving it until I can't. There's still plenty of parts and they're easy to work on, even if you're a novice DIYer. I wasn't one until some years ago and I needed to do some brake work. There's plenty of forums and YouTube for these cars to use. I did suspension, clutch, brakes and lines, myself.

I paid 1300 for it and am still in the 8k-ish range for total costs outside of fuel and oil changes. It's been used as a delivery vehicle before, for about 6 years. It still goes 85 smoothly.

Faults:

The clutch needed replacing at 170,000 km.

Shocks and struts.

Battery, spark plugs.

Starter, alternator drive belt.

Water pump, brakes.

General Comments:

The 1999 Saturn SL2 is a great affordable car to drive, both fuel wise, and very low maintenance. I've had this car for 6 years, and have driven it daily putting on 40,000 km of city only driving a year. I've never had a car take the punishment of hard city driving and never let me down. Most of the repairs were done close to the 200,000 km mark.

Saturns that were built in the 1990's were great cars. They had good American parts, and some European parts. They were built independent in Nashville from GM. So if you want a car that will put money in your bank, the SL series will deliver.

Today cars are amazing, but with so much tech put into them, and so many Mexican and Chinese parts, nothing lasts any more. So stick with old faithful, the Saturn SL2.

And if you do buy a Saturn, buy the manual.

Faults:

Rear wheel cylinders (brakes) at 83,000.

Radiator cooling fan at 121,000.

Idler pulley at 138,000.

Belt tensioner/pulley at 138,000.

Idle air controller at 150,000.

General Comments:

Phenomenal average fuel mileage of 34 MPG in mixed driving with an automatic transmission.

The vehicle has survived a low speed front end offset collision, a low speed rear end collision, and a high speed glancing side brush with an interstate Jersey barrier with surprisingly little damage (right front fender, tire rim, bumper cover all repaired with salvaged parts. The only frame damage is from a rear impact, and that is livable without repair as the trunk still operates normally).

Cabin noise is higher than most cars from engine and road noise.

1.9L SOHC motor is not very quick when mated to the 4 speed automatic transmission. However, I've been able to coax more out of it when I've needed to.

I've driven this car twice across the United States without incident. It's great on level ground. It's not as confidence inspiring in the mountains. And unlike some other reviewers, I think the firm seats are better for very long drives.

What I love about this car is how hardy and surprisingly reliable it has been. Very few repairs outside of normal maintenance.