Faults:

Where to begin:

To start with right after the warranty expired at 36K: Fog lamps would flicker on and off. Not major, so I didn't worry.

At 65,000 Sun Roof stopped working. I took it in and the entire piece would need to be replaced for $1000. I decided not to have this service.

At 70,000 there was a leak in the cooling system. Coolant would just leak all the way to the ground. $278 in repairs.

At 72,000 I took it in for normal brake work and that's when things really started to show up. This is taken directly from my most recent appointment:

- Valve Cover Gasket Leaking: $203

- Serpentine Belt Cracked: $73

- Top Motor Mount Sagging $209

- Radiator Cracked on the Side Tank $473

- Oil Pan Leaking $383

- Rear End Links $223.

All in the same visit! No one spotted this during the last 3 times I've taken it in??

General Comments:

I cannot recommend this car to anyone, which disappoints me because it was amazing off the lot. Yes it's sporty and fun, but if I'd known to expect this much in repairs, I never would have purchased this car. I've had two other cars last over 150K and 200K respectively and never had these problems. I'm going to unload this next chance I get.

Faults:

10,000 miles replacement of sunroof cover (warr), 75,000 miles; front and back breaks and water pump replaced ($640), 78,000 miles new front hub (wheel bearing) assembly ($250), 79,000 alignment ($79,99)

General Comments:

I like the style of this car very much, insurance costs are low, and it’s great on gas (32 city; 37 Hwy). The third door is wonderful. It's been very reliable until recently I've had a few unscheduled trips to the shop with it. My first Saturn in college was a 1996 SL that I put 221,000 miles on with similar, but not bad maintenance issues. This one has currently 80,000 so I have a ways to go before I sell it and get another.

Faults:

Shifter cable housing became detached from its mounting point at 22000 miles, preventing shifting into any gear other than 1st. Covered under warranty.

Clutch slave cylinder failed at 33000 miles, causing very stiff shifting on cold days and made it impossible to get the car into reverse. Replaced under warranty.

Carrier bearing in right front wheel started emitting a high-pitched squeal at 77000 miles.

Radiator replaced at 89000 miles after a four inch long crack was found in the plastic (on the sides, the core is aluminium) directly under the system's pressure fitting during a routine service.

General Comments:

This was my first new car and as such I was stuck with something under $16000 US. I bought the car at the height of their 0% financing craze and am very thankful that I did, as the difference in the interest that I saved has easily covered the nearly $1400 in repair bills by failing components.

I like this car for several reasons: decent acceleration, good fuel mileage (33mpg on average) and excellent handling. I'm also quite fond of the styling, and the interior (though stark in the black on black combination I have) is comfortable and has worn relatively well.

What I do not like about this car: The dealer service was absolutely abominable and on both occasions where a warranty repair was needed I had to threaten litigation to get it fixed, as neither fault could be attributed to abuse of any sort whatsoever.

Furthermore, the boot is just too small for a college student/photographer, and the rear seat is a joke. Alas, I fear further reliability issues after replacing a radiator at 89000 miles (this is, ideally, something that should not need replacing at all so soon) and am already seeking a new car for when this one is paid off.

I can recommend the SC2 but only if it is checked out by a very good (and possibly obsessive-compulsive) mechanic for the aforesaid faults, as otherwise one is liable to fall into a very deep money pit with one of these.

Finally, I too have been experiencing the condensation in the headlights, and I believe that the problem lies with the seals around the bulbs, as the unit itself will not leak from the main seal when filled with water (I tested this.)