Faults:
First off, most of the people on here complain too much. I would imagine that you never take care of any car you own. Problems happen. It's just a car. Maintain it. That's what you have to do. Do you brush your teeth, take vitamins, exercise, etc...? This is all to maintain your health so as to avoid a problem down the road. Your car requires the same thing. Quit complaining about how bad this car is, and get a bicycle if you can't hack owning a car.
I am extremely versed in auto repair, and Saturns are by far one of the easiest vehicles to maintain/fix (if there's a problem). Everything is very accessible. Of course this car probably won't stand up to the connoisseur of fine automobiles, but for the money, you get everything you need in a car.
There was a posting on here that I fully agree with... your car comes with an owner's manual. If you don't understand what the word "manual" means, then sell your vehicle. This manual contains ALL of the information needed to MAINTAIN your vehicle. This means that the responsibility falls on YOU to maintain your vehicle, and you will never know what to maintain if you don't READ your owner's manual. That being said, if you think that your car is a "piece of junk", then it's because you let it get that way or you bought it from someone who did. Quit crying and get off your couch and do something about it instead of placing the blame somewhere else. IT'S YOUR FAULT YOUR CAR FELL APART... NOT ANYONE ELSE'S!!
My Saturn happens to have a shift problem right now that I know for a fact is a problem with the transmission's valve body. This valve body is one of the easiest I've ever seen to replace. No, it wasn't one of the most well designed parts on the car, but it failed. So, now I must replace it with a better one.
The engine also leaked oil, which was caused by the head cover gasket. I replaced it and solved the problem.
High oil consumption is also a known problem for these cars, but more than likely it is a problem with the valve stem seals being worn/dry rotted. Since my car is no longer under warranty, I must replace it myself or pay someone to do it. It is my responsibility.
Nothing is perfect, people. Let's start taking accountability for ourselves already. Finger pointing is way too easy to do, but for some reason, never gets pointed in our own direction.
General Comments:
I bought this car to save gas. No, it's not a Mercedes, but it does everything I need for the price. These cars actually handle very good, have excellent gas mileage, have a decent amount of trunk space, and people can actually sit in the back seat comfortably. It's not a rocket, but that's not what I bought the car for.
IMHO, there is absolutely nothing wrong with these cars, even when they have a problem every now and then.
