1996 Saturn SL SL2 16v from North America
Summary:
Modern day Vega
Faults:
Nothing. Just added new brake pads at 60,000 miles and flushed out the brake fluid. Radiator flush at 40,000 miles.
New fuel filter at 60,000 miles for $85.
A new fuel filter was only $3 on my old truck!
General Comments:
Comfortable once you get in. Ridiculously low seating. This car reminds me of a Ford Pinto or Vega, due to its low seating and coarse engine.
Nice clutch with very little takeup.
The shifting action feels like broken glass.
Suprisingly light curb weight for a car with very heavy doors.
I see it as a modern day Vega rather than a Toyota competitor. At least the Saturn is reliable.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 20th September, 2001
24th Feb 2003, 13:00
Until this year, my wife and I were happy with our 1996 Saturn SL2. However, enough has happened in the last 10 months to make us decide never to buy a Saturn again. First a mechanic noticed rust on the frame. He said he had never seen that before on a Saturn and advised us to get rid of the car. (I wish I had taken his advice.) Last April the alternator went out. In the middle of the summer the engine needed to be replaced at 73,000 miles. Last month the car had a cracked ignition cylinder. Now we have a problem with the fuel injection. I am amazed that so much has gone wrong with the car in such a short period of time (and so soon after the warranty ran out). We have put well over $3000 into the car in the last 10 months, and if we had let the Saturn dealership do the engine, our total would have been closer to $4500. I can't say that all 1996 Saturns are bad cars, but ours certainly is.