Bought a 96 Saturn SL2

[Saturn_Fan]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Quote:
I have got as high as 45.54 and always get about 42 +/- highway.

Thats really great mileage when you consider the size/weight of that car.

Yeah, but only the SOHC gets good gas mileage. The DOHC has fuel economy ratings that are similar to a 4-cyl Accord.

True, but man the 100HP sometimes sucks in large metro areas where I am competing with crazy drivers. Sometimes I feel like I'd give up some MPG's for a little bit more power like the DOHC has.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Saturn_Fan
True, but man the 100HP sometimes sucks in large metro areas where I am competing with crazy drivers. Sometimes I feel like I'd give up some MPG's for a little bit more power like the DOHC has.

Supposedly the 0-60 of the DOHC is 9.5 seconds (no fancy rollout, just smash the pedal and go), which is about 0.5 seconds BETTER than a 2009 Accord or 2009 Camry 4-cyl. Yet, my SL2 feels fairly lethargic around the 35-45 mark in 4th, mainly because the transmission is not very responsive. On the other hand, I drove a 2008 Accord 4-cyl and it felt much more responsive when merging on the freeway, but that was probably because of the super responsive 5-speed auto. Sorry for the off-topic...

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Quote:
I have got as high as 45.54 and always get about 42 +/- highway.

Thats really great mileage when you consider the size/weight of that car.


This thing gets great mileage for an 8 year old (supposedly junky and [censored] car by some people's standards) but it is with very careful driving. It actually takes work to extract that kind of mileage from the car. I don't do the shut down at every stop light deal, but I coast a lot, anticipate lights, and most of all really watch the tach when shifting. Basically, after putting 40K on this car in a year of owning it, I know all the tricks.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Saturn_Fan
True, but man the 100HP sometimes sucks in large metro areas where I am competing with crazy drivers. Sometimes I feel like I'd give up some MPG's for a little bit more power like the DOHC has.

Supposedly the 0-60 of the DOHC is 9.5 seconds (no fancy rollout, just smash the pedal and go), which is about 0.5 seconds BETTER than a 2009 Accord or 2009 Camry 4-cyl. Yet, my SL2 feels fairly lethargic around the 35-45 mark in 4th, mainly because the transmission is not very responsive. On the other hand, I drove a 2008 Accord 4-cyl and it felt much more responsive when merging on the freeway, but that was probably because of the super responsive 5-speed auto. Sorry for the off-topic...


Hey, when we're talking Saturn S cars, it's never off-topic with me. I love this model and could talk about them for hours. It is a shame that Saturn nowadays is a rebadged Opel, etc.

 

[The Critic]

Do you leave yours in sports mode or normal mode when you drive?