Specifically, a 1998 SL sedan – my girlfriend is looking at one tomorrow or the next day, and I don’t have any experience with the make.
If all she needs is a get-around car, a 15 year-old sedan no one makes anymore is about right. Less than 2K, I assume?
I traded in my first one at 250,000 miles. I’m currently driving my second one. Great car.
My Saturn vue from 2006 has over 120k miles and still running strong. Id like to get newer car, but not in the cards right now. No problems with the car other than brakes, tires, stuff like that. Sucks gas, V6 gets less than 20mpg but does the job.
My 1993 Saturn lasted 19 years, and it was rust that did it in: the engine was still running fine and getting almost 30 mpg.
I have a 1999 still going fine. I’m hoping to get another decade out of it.
My 2007 Vue (suv) gets 25 mpg.
Yes, it’s being sold by a mutual friend for $1,500. It’s only got 72k, so it’s very low miles for its age. I think they’re the original owners. The on-line reviews I’ve read seem mostly positive. I think she’ll be hard pressed to find something better in the price range, and her 1990 Volvo wagon has 215k miles and my feeling is that she should get a better car before the Volvo dies completely.
My only concern there is are the 72K city miles, lots of stop and go that could be hard on an engine? But for the price, she could afford to have the engine rebuilt if it came down to blowing a head. This sounds like a great deal, frankly. Does she say why they’re selling?
I have a 2001 Saturn SC2. Purchased new from the dealer. I only have 48K miles on it. I’ve only replaced (normal wear/tear) the tires, battery and wipers. Only fixed a broken windshield (rock) and vent window (vandalism).
Looks brand new.
Saturns were one of the brands that GM built well, people wanted to buy and have actually lasted since they stopped being produced in the mid-2000’s, according to the Saturn owners I know. I’d buy that car for that price, all things considered.
Are you a time traveler from 50 years ago? Virtually any car made in the last 30 years can be expected to go at least 150,000 miles–absolute minimum–and even then, the vast majority of cars that are junked are not junked because of the engine, but because of other issues that would cost more to fix than the car is worth.
Unless it’s totally ragged out beater I wouldn’t hesitate to buy it for one of my kids.
I’m driving an 04 Ion myself.
I have a 97. The Saturn Fans website forums have been very helpful. The car has been very reliable but there have been a couple issues with very easy well-known (for the model) fixes that could have bee big problems if not for the help I received from other Saturn owners. I’m sure this goes for any make of car, though.
My first one was a 1993, which died in 1997 when my wife was driving it. Some idiot ran a red light and hit her square on the drivers side front door. Its well made body saved her life - she just spent an hour in the ER and had some physical therapy. The body shop guy said it was the worse damage he ever saw where there were no major injuries.
I got a '98 after that which lasted 14 years and 170K miles. I would have bought another one if they were still making them, though I must admit '93s were cool looking cars, if not as comfortable as the later models. The teenage kid next door even liked it.
My son-in-law also had one which lasted forever until it got in a flood. You can do a lot worse.
I don’t have anything productive to add to this conversation, but I just thought it was funny to see this because last month my friend was driving with me and we were talking about car maker logos/emblems. And we saw a Saturn and I was like, “oh yeah Saturns… I forget they ever even exist, until I see one.”
I don’t know why they seem like such forgettable/unmemorable cars to me, but I guess that means they aren’t terrible!
My mom had a saturn when I was a teenager. I don’t remember it giving us any trouble (unlike her old ford escort, ha). And being able to push in the plastic on the doors was pretty neat.
I disagree w/ you from an expensive blown head gasket experience that doesn’t fit your ‘virtually’ or ‘vast majority’ blanket statements.
FTR I’m not talking about the quantity of miles, I’m talking about the potential wear of those miles on the engine if they were mostly from stop and go traffic.
I question whether the Saturn is a better car than the Volvo, even at their current mileages.
I still have my 1994 Saturn SC2 that I bought new.
Runs great, only has 85,000 miles and my guess is it will last another 10 years or so. No damage to the body and, when washed, looks good as new.
Have had to buy a few batteries, two new sets of tires and of course, regular oil change etc. - but no other major problems.
As our second car, it is perfect and still think it looks cool.
I have the Saturn SL1 since 2002 and I love it. Not bad for $14k and it is still working today. I got my money worth. A few minor issue with water pump but nothing major.