My Z28 is nickel and diming me to death trying to fix all the small things and it has 196k on the clock so it could let go at any time... I want to sell it and get something reliable just so I can get to work and school getting good gas mileage. I think I want a Saturn since they're cheap and don't really have a bad "ricer" image hanging over them like all things Honda/Nissan/Toyota.

My goal is to find something under $3000.

Some cars local that I've found are:

95 SC2 w/ 127k on the odometer for $1875
92 SL w/ 318k for $700
96 SL2 w/ ???k for $2995

all of those are with a manual 5spd which I'd prefer to get. I want a manual car to learn on before I get any real powerful car with a manual tranny. I'd like to get an LS1/6spd Camaro within the next year or two. I think I'd be able to speed up the dream car process by giving up my cool car for something a bit more... mom-ish. LOL.

There was also an automatic 95 SL1 for $2770 with unknown mileage.

What are the letter designations for? I believe the 1 and 2 are for SOHC or DOHC right? I'm not concerned much with power, as long as it is reliable and efficient.

I have a 95 SL SOHC and its very reliable. Not much power, but this is where the manual transmission comes in handy. When driving these cars you have to ride them hard and they love it. I use mine as a daily driver and can't complaint. Since I bought the car in March of last year I have changed the Power steering pump $75 at Autozone. When you think about it, the car has more then 10 years and it has 147K, I drive on average 250 miles a week!! when you put it together this car is a workhose. I am very happy with it.

I would recommend the 98 just because it doesn't leak from the doors like the 95 models, and you can use the OBDII scan tool. Also, saturn parts are CHEAP!! and there are plenty of parts at the junk yard for them. Not because they are crap cars, but because they are very popular. Maybe not as populara as Honda Civic, but more popular then Cavalier. Good luck and welcome to the Saturn family.

My 92 SL2 has 235,000 miles and my neighbors 94 SL1, which I sold to them, has 220,000 miles. I havn't had my 92 very long, but when I had my 94, it never left me stranded. Things broke on it, like any car, but it always got me where I needed to go. My 92 runs great and shows no signs of having that many miles on it. If you get one thats been taken care of and continue to take care of it, it will last you a good long time.

get the 96 SL2, the sohc engines are known for the head cracking. but ive got to say, you better take very good care of it. saturns can be very reliable and last years, but if you dont treat it right, then itll treat your bank account! the biggest problem is the differential pin blowing out because of people spinning the wheels in them. they have a hollow retainer pin holding the differential pin in. me, like many other tuners, have welded the pin because we dont have the money to spend $2000 on a quaife. common problems on them are, coolant temperature sensor going bad (namely plastic tipped ones that came on from factory) and its connector (if old sensor cracked), belt tensioner breaking, top anchor mount tearing causing a vibration, carbon build up on rings which allows oil to be burned, fuel pumps going bad--depending on how prior owner drove it, shift cables stretching. the last two are kind of on a basis of prior owner. not to scare you off, but i thought id warn you of the commons. other then that, they are bulletproof. they are very easy to work on. but like i said keep up on the care, and the piston ring thing, doing a piston soak normally helps greatly. these problems are pretty much to fix, but saturns are not exactly cheap on parts! some guys may say oh yeah saturn parts are cheap, well thats because they either have bought bad parts or just havent got into working on them. im a saturn tuner, not a ricer just would make saturn look even worse, and ive been on the ins and outs of most of the problems and know my way around them pretty well.

Well I don't plan on spinning tires or driving it hard at all. I'll feel gay enough as it is going from a Z28 to a Saturn:tongue: There isn't much to show off with like 100hp:licka:

Daily commuter... that's all it's for.

My '99 SW1 is plenty quick for daily driving. It's a manual. If I drive VERY politely, it will give close to 50 mpg.
For expenses, I've had the EGR valve stick, and the intake gasket fail.

I'm on my third Saturn and they are actually addicting. I love them. Very reliable and dependable. I'm selling my 1994 Saturn SC2 asking around 2400 for it. Super nice daily driver. It's only got 137K miles on it. If you're interested let me know. SL's are usually the 4 doors and SC are the 2 doors. I just got a 91 Saturn SC1 thats a 5 speed but I need to sell my 94 in order to get it running. The 94 is an auto, but it's a nice lil car. :bigthumb:

I'm also currently considering a Saturn purchase for my daughter's daily commute back and fourth to school. Looked at 99 SL1 with 82k .. dealer is asking $3995 and seems willing to come down. Car is very clean and seems very tight on the road ... all fluids looked/smelled normal.. Only things I noticed were a slight vibration at idle (I could see the headlight assy vibrating) and some tire noise (didn't sound like wheel bearings although it could be ??). How much vibration is normal? Are motor mounts a common problem. Also, what about wheel bearings/CV joints? TIA :)

WPG: I've read the upper motor mount can cause abnormal vibrations on these. My passenger side headlight was rattleing, I stuffed a piece of wood in the worn plastic headlight mount.
Buying it for your daughter reminded me of an incident I had. My previous car was a Lada. (Wish i could buy another) A fellow stopped me to ask about reliability as he was thinking of getting one for his daughter for school. I suggested she'd have a more reliable ride with Hells' Angels. The look on his face was priceless!

WPG: I've read the upper motor mount can cause abnormal vibrations on these. My passenger side headlight was rattleing...

thanks drew,

I've done some more reading and as you and saturnspeed_12 said, the upper motor mount seems to be a common problem.. Sounds like an easy repair though.. I'm going to take a closer look at the car today and make the guy an offer .. :)

well the s-series are known to vibrate a bit idling. the headlight shaking would be from where it wasnt fully seated. you can remdy this by shoving a piece of plastic under it to hold it up. a piece probably as thick as cardboard.

the upper mount is typical for wear. you can tell when its bad, there should be a tear in the rubber (look towards the front half).

now the tire noise could be just that, the tires. if it were wheel bearings, youd be getting a screech or squeal with like a rumble (in bad cases a rumble). if it were cv halfshafts, youd probably feel some kind of vibration maybe feel a bit of power loss, from lost motion, and/or the main one a clicking/clunking noise.

Well I don't plan on spinning tires or driving it hard at all. I'll feel gay enough as it is going from a Z28 to a Saturn:tongue: There isn't much to show off with like 100hp:licka:

Daily commuter... that's all it's for.
It may not be a camaro, but my SL1 has enough pep to satisfy those "FLOOR IT" moments. Mine sounds good wheather it wins the race or not
LOL

Hey man i feel your pain, I was told i was getting a 1992 Honda Civic Ex coupe for my first car and i get stuck with a 1993 Saturn SL1 (auto) which came stock in 1993 with 85hp. BTW: anyone know how to burnout with an automatic saturn like mines?

Hey man i feel your pain, I was told i was getting a 1992 Honda Civic Ex coupe for my first car and i get stuck with a 1993 Saturn SL1 (auto) which came stock in 1993 with 85hp. BTW: anyone know how to burnout with an automatic saturn like mines?
E brake

Hey man i feel your pain, I was told i was getting a 1992 Honda Civic Ex coupe for my first car and i get stuck with a 1993 Saturn SL1 (auto) which came stock in 1993 with 85hp. BTW: anyone know how to burnout with an automatic saturn like mines?

you can burnout in any car if you know how. but you got stuck with a tbi sohc, worst of all. i do have to say though, a 92 civic wouldnt have been much better unless you started doing some swaps. in either case to make something out of it, your going to have to do a swap. the good part about the saturns though, is they have torque pretty good stroke on them.

OH YEAH, you dont want to burnout in a saturn. the differential retainer pin is made of rolled steel (hollow) so if differential is shocked too much say good bye to the trans. ive already taken care of mine, so i wont have an issue plus i have to because im going to norwalk in june to run at the track.

and another thing, there was no coupe ex in 92

well the s-series are known to vibrate a bit idling..
the upper mount is typical for wear. you can tell when its bad
…now the tire noise could be just that, the tires. if it were wheel bearings,
you’d be getting a screech or squeal ….

Ian,

Thanks for your insight.. http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/images/icons/icon14.gif I went back to the dealer, checked out the car more closely, and bought it .. $3675 (99 SL1 4D Auto 82Kmi).

The top motor mount was in good shape so I concluded (as you stated) that the slight vibration at hot idle was normal (typical small 4 cylinder engine). - give it a few RPM’s and it smoothes out. I also looked closer at the rear tires and found they were “cupped”. On the second road test I noted the tire noise was coming from the back so I’m fairly sure a new set of tires will cure the noise.

Seemed like a good car for my daughter at a fair price. Last night I added the (new) Saturn to my www.alldatadiy.com subscription and started reading … Plan for today is to put on a new set of tires. change fluids & filters (tranny, LOF, coolant, air filter) – I’ll also take an oil sample for a used oil analysis (UOA) to check for hidden problems (i.e. coolant in the oil and/or excessive wear metals). Then over the next few weeks change plugs, wires, PCV valve, fuel filter, belt & hoses.. Probably overkill :shakehead but I would like to set a baseline and keep up with maintenance from this point. Anything else I should check and/or replace? TIA .. :)

yeah my car had a cupped left rear tire. i had found it needed new struts, which is what caused the problem. so i went ahead and bought lowering springs and some stiffer struts. i had my alignment done, and now noise is gone, tracks perfectly, and is just great.

now you could just plainly have a bad tire, but you might want to look into new struts and alignment.

We picked up the car and took it to Sam's club for a new set of Michelins (185/R65-14's) .. day and night difference in the ride .. it's very smooth and quiet now .. I'll check the struts maybe get an alignment .. the suspension feels sound .. no bouncing. I do notice an occasional rattle though.. I'll be putting it up on jack stands tomorrow for a better look underneath ... so far so good .. :)

Hey MugenCivic
I had a 10 speed bike (which I bought) until I had enough money to buy my 1st car, and insure it. Be pleased they bought you a car, and if you treat it right, you'll be saving money to buy a Civic instead of repairing your Saturn. (unless Mommy and Daddy are paying those bills too) A Saturn beats a 10 speed on a date any day. And it keeps you dry in the rain.

Hey MugenCivic
I had a 10 speed bike (which I bought) until I had enough money to buy my 1st car, and insure it. Be pleased they bought you a car, and if you treat it right, you'll be saving money to buy a Civic instead of repairing your Saturn. (unless Mommy and Daddy are paying those bills too) A Saturn beats a 10 speed on a date any day. And it keeps you dry in the rain.

actually it beats alot more then just a 10 speed. saturns have taken out quite a few cars. you would get surprised by these little things running a LLO with an MP3. now boosting is when the fun comes in. running above 10psi, its best to swap to the MP2 tranny to keep the gears longer. and another good point is the fact the engine is all aluminum, has an almost fully enclosed deck (EXTREME WEAK POINT ON HONDAS! since they are open and no sleeve support!), strong crank, has TORQUE!, nearly indestructable transaxle (get diff pin welded or replace with quaife and itll last no matter the boost), very lightweight vehicle, easy to work on, and its a SATURN! thats the best part. the list can go on. and since anybody can build a honda because the aftermarket is there, its nice seeing all these custom set ups going on. ive got hidden plans building for mine, specialty parts no one has.

I didn't mean to cut down a saturn, I was just a bit peeved that his free car wasn't up to his specs, and that doing burn-outs with his automatic will cost more than driving normally.

Besides what self-respecting person would want a Honda over a saturn anyways!!??!!?