So in my quest to find a second car, I came upon a 2000 SL2 that only has 40k on it that seems to look very good in pics, though I have not gone to see one. What is the interior room like? I'm used to driving a truck so I don't want to small of an interior. Also are they a reliable car overall? Thanks!
What are older Saturns like?
- Thread starter renegade_987
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That's low mileage for a 12 year old car. I'd verify by Carfax. It's way smaller inside than a full size truck. Pretty reliable.
My folks had a 1993 and currently have an '02 SL2. The SL2 gives you the DOHC engine, I hear that is much more reliable than the SOHC engine in the SL1. If you are used to a truck, the Saturn will feel like a go cart - Very low and a smallish interior. I am 6 feet tall and the '93 was especially small in the drivers seat. The '02 is the same generation as the '00, a decent car, nothing too exciting. The body panels are plastic so they don't rust there, but make sure to look under the car.
people like them on here. saturn fans rejoice.
We had an SL2 rental years back, courtesy of the insurer of the driver who hit our Aerostar hard in the back.
His Buick was totaled, while the repairs to the Aero ran about 5K.
My wife drove the Aero home.
Anyway, while we didn't really need the rental, I insisted that it be provided on GP.
The Saturn was not a bad car.
Good acceleration, great automatic and really good fuel economy.
I used it as a daily driver for about a month and 1.5K.
The driving position was a little odd, and it was no Honda, but it was a really decent little car.
Saturns seem to live for a very long time, so if you need an economical commuter, I'd say you should go for it, as long as it's fairly cheap.
Saturns have nil resale value, so it should be pretty cheap.
His Buick was totaled, while the repairs to the Aero ran about 5K.
My wife drove the Aero home.
Anyway, while we didn't really need the rental, I insisted that it be provided on GP.
The Saturn was not a bad car.
Good acceleration, great automatic and really good fuel economy.
I used it as a daily driver for about a month and 1.5K.
The driving position was a little odd, and it was no Honda, but it was a really decent little car.
Saturns seem to live for a very long time, so if you need an economical commuter, I'd say you should go for it, as long as it's fairly cheap.
Saturns have nil resale value, so it should be pretty cheap.
Saturn's are awesome. Reliable easy to maintain. Interior room is better than average for a car of its class. The plastic panels is great. Just today someone hit my door while backing out of there spot. Left a foot long paint mark but no dents took my nail scratched the paint off and its good as new. I'd say they are by far the best all around car in there class
I have driven a couple of that vintage, about what you would expect for a cheap little car.
At least once a week I get behind one that smokes.
My '92 SC was an awesome car. It had the DOHC engine, wonderful 5 speed manual, and was lightweight. Outstanding performance, good mileage, very reliable, and surprisingly comfortable even for me at 6'3". It was dramatically superior to the domestic competition at the time and I'm not really sure the 2000 Civic EX coupe I married into later had anything on it.
jeff
jeff
The first generation of Saturns had poorly manufactured seats.
Seems to be more prevalent in the SCs but I've seen it in SLs too.
Just sitting in the seat and it reclines suddenly laying you flat on your back.
Had it happen in one SC2 that also had a broken weld or something and got a metal bar jammed into my kidney area. That was unpleasant.
Not only does the recliner not catch properly or fail suddenly, the seat tracks were underengineered and will cease to operate jamming the seat permanently where it sits. No problem if it is just one person driving the car but when the car is shared....
As far as interior space? I dated a girl with an SC when I had my Suzuki Swift. Honestly the little Scud-zuki had more headroom than the SC, felt like as much legroom in the front, and the back seat...well, neither one was good but I give the smallest advantage to the Swift again. Trunk space with back seats up, power, ride comfort...etc... the Saturn wins hands down but it's sad that the tiny "Geo Metro +1 cylinder" felt roomier in the front.
Can't beat the plastic panels for durability. Sure, a large enough impact will crack and break it, but an impact that large would have obliterated and creased a metal panel.
The factory stereo in the upper level Saturn S-series was remarkably good for an affordable car OE stereo.
The alternator was badly located. I can swap a 4 cyl Cavalier or 3.1 OHV W-chassis alternator in minutes. The S-series is not as bad as a DOHC Z34 Lumina alternator, but it's not much better
As far as the powertrain? Well cared for the S-series will live a long and economical life. Neglect it and it will be a smoke monster that tosses it's timing chain prematurely
Seems to be more prevalent in the SCs but I've seen it in SLs too.
Just sitting in the seat and it reclines suddenly laying you flat on your back.
Had it happen in one SC2 that also had a broken weld or something and got a metal bar jammed into my kidney area. That was unpleasant.
Not only does the recliner not catch properly or fail suddenly, the seat tracks were underengineered and will cease to operate jamming the seat permanently where it sits. No problem if it is just one person driving the car but when the car is shared....
As far as interior space? I dated a girl with an SC when I had my Suzuki Swift. Honestly the little Scud-zuki had more headroom than the SC, felt like as much legroom in the front, and the back seat...well, neither one was good but I give the smallest advantage to the Swift again. Trunk space with back seats up, power, ride comfort...etc... the Saturn wins hands down but it's sad that the tiny "Geo Metro +1 cylinder" felt roomier in the front.
Can't beat the plastic panels for durability. Sure, a large enough impact will crack and break it, but an impact that large would have obliterated and creased a metal panel.
The factory stereo in the upper level Saturn S-series was remarkably good for an affordable car OE stereo.
The alternator was badly located. I can swap a 4 cyl Cavalier or 3.1 OHV W-chassis alternator in minutes. The S-series is not as bad as a DOHC Z34 Lumina alternator, but it's not much better
As far as the powertrain? Well cared for the S-series will live a long and economical life. Neglect it and it will be a smoke monster that tosses it's timing chain prematurely
Is this car an auto or a stick? Very different personality wise, yet the automatic shifts like a stick shift driver would appreciate. In particular going from locked TCC 4th to unlocked TCC 3rd in one move. If you feather the gas you can trick it into climbing a hill at half throttle in locked up overdrive. Punch it and you've got power!
I hooked a buddy up with an 01 SL2 when he cracked up his cavalier. I told him in investments, to stick with what you know. I know cavaliers but really know saturns. We looked at a couple cavaliers and a couple saturns and finally after an arduous process and paralasis of analysis got an old lady owned one. Was bluish gray colored.
IMPORTANT!!! BUY A BLUISH GRAY ONE!!!
Ok, I'm half kidding, but old ladies loved those blue gray ones.
Check the engine cradle, as mentioned. Check the radiator under the top hose, but if it's got a crack there, a new rad is only $60 shipped to your door. Check the automatic after it's warmed up for proper operation. Appreciate the spin on filter and drain on the automatics.
I like how the roof- to- door frame is "out" and not impinging on my 6'0" headroom. IOW it's square in all the right places.
Look for holes in the front fascia for a tow set up, a lot of these cars followed RVs around which wrecks their front ends. Odometers don't add up with the keys off so the wheel bearings etc could have 200k on them.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Probably difficult, but getting your hands on one that's pre OBDII would be awesome.
Originally Posted By: renegade_987
So in my quest to find a second car, I came upon a 2000 SL2 that only has 40k on it that seems to look very good in pics, though I have not gone to see one. What is the interior room like? I'm used to driving a truck so I don't want to small of an interior. Also are they a reliable car overall? Thanks!
Dude,
Read my thread on a 2000 SL2 I just purchased from an 89 year old lady with 36k miles. Lots of info!
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/bought-a-00-saturn-sl2-36k-creampuff.167906/
So in my quest to find a second car, I came upon a 2000 SL2 that only has 40k on it that seems to look very good in pics, though I have not gone to see one. What is the interior room like? I'm used to driving a truck so I don't want to small of an interior. Also are they a reliable car overall? Thanks!
Dude,
Read my thread on a 2000 SL2 I just purchased from an 89 year old lady with 36k miles. Lots of info!
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/bought-a-00-saturn-sl2-36k-creampuff.167906/
Originally Posted By: JTK
Probably difficult, but getting your hands on one that's pre OBDII would be awesome.
Production peaked around 1995 and there were some improvements that year, like the new interior/ gauge cluster, dual airbags, and one-piece TCM/ECM.
Also, a 1995 will take powertrains from up to 2002 with only minor mods, if you're into mongrels, but still qualify for OBDI emissions testing.
Probably difficult, but getting your hands on one that's pre OBDII would be awesome.
Production peaked around 1995 and there were some improvements that year, like the new interior/ gauge cluster, dual airbags, and one-piece TCM/ECM.
Also, a 1995 will take powertrains from up to 2002 with only minor mods, if you're into mongrels, but still qualify for OBDI emissions testing.
Love me my old Sattys. I've owned 3 and I miss them. Very easy to work on and reliable powertrain. My '96 SL2 needed a lot of work but the powertrain was reliable and the car never let me down. The more base the better, as I find its not the powertrain that breaks on Saturns, its the other things (options)
I also owned a '00 SW2 and a '97 SL1.
I also owned a '00 SW2 and a '97 SL1.
Originally Posted By: 2oldtommy
Look for rusty engine cradle in climate where road salt is used for ice and snow treatment. This part is no longer made and the recycle yard supply is gone. FWIW--Oldtommy
Oil burning > blown engines from low oil > cradles in junk yard.
Look for rusty engine cradle in climate where road salt is used for ice and snow treatment. This part is no longer made and the recycle yard supply is gone. FWIW--Oldtommy
Oil burning > blown engines from low oil > cradles in junk yard.
Originally Posted By: tgferg67
Originally Posted By: 2oldtommy
Look for rusty engine cradle in climate where road salt is used for ice and snow treatment. This part is no longer made and the recycle yard supply is gone. FWIW--Oldtommy
Oil burning > blown engines from low oil > cradles in junk yard.
Idiots got out of saturns back in around 2005. The ones rolling around now are generally full of oil and carefully watched.
I still want to make a road trip to a southern junkyard and bring a van full of cradles back up north though.
Originally Posted By: 2oldtommy
Look for rusty engine cradle in climate where road salt is used for ice and snow treatment. This part is no longer made and the recycle yard supply is gone. FWIW--Oldtommy
Oil burning > blown engines from low oil > cradles in junk yard.
Idiots got out of saturns back in around 2005. The ones rolling around now are generally full of oil and carefully watched.
I still want to make a road trip to a southern junkyard and bring a van full of cradles back up north though.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: tgferg67
Originally Posted By: 2oldtommy
Look for rusty engine cradle in climate where road salt is used for ice and snow treatment. This part is no longer made and the recycle yard supply is gone. FWIW--Oldtommy
Oil burning > blown engines from low oil > cradles in junk yard.
Idiots got out of saturns back in around 2005. The ones rolling around now are generally full of oil and carefully watched.
I still want to make a road trip to a southern junkyard and bring a van full of cradles back up north though.
Oddly I still see a lot of immaculate cradles in junkyards around here. Rear collision cars, or bad engines I assume is how these cars end up there. I got a cradle just last winter that was 100% rust free. (Maybe you remember my SW2 thread on Satfans)
Originally Posted By: tgferg67
Originally Posted By: 2oldtommy
Look for rusty engine cradle in climate where road salt is used for ice and snow treatment. This part is no longer made and the recycle yard supply is gone. FWIW--Oldtommy
Oil burning > blown engines from low oil > cradles in junk yard.
Idiots got out of saturns back in around 2005. The ones rolling around now are generally full of oil and carefully watched.
I still want to make a road trip to a southern junkyard and bring a van full of cradles back up north though.
Oddly I still see a lot of immaculate cradles in junkyards around here. Rear collision cars, or bad engines I assume is how these cars end up there. I got a cradle just last winter that was 100% rust free. (Maybe you remember my SW2 thread on Satfans)
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