The car in question is Dad’s old 1997 Saturn SL2 4 door sedan in “Black Mica”
It still runs strong, and is in great shape for a 17 year old (was built in Dec 1996) Saturn with 135,000 miles on it, Dad took good care of it, and I’m contemplating fixing a few minor issues and keeping it around as a good little backup car
I know that right now all it is is an old car, and more than likely it’s all it will ever be, I’m okay with that, it’s a good, solid, reliable car, even though it is saddled with a horrible automatic transmission (hate automatics), but hey, can’t argue with a free car, especially one with that fuel sipping Saturn 1.9L…
The things that make me think “possible classic/antique”
Saturn is out of business
Original spaceframe and polymer panel design
Black Mica paint was an original Saturn signature color
So, any Classic or Antique possibilities here, or just a good reliable old car?
In my experience as a personal property appraiser, I’ve found insurance companies consider cars to be vintage at 15 years of age, classic at 25 years, and antique at 50 years. BUT these dates aren’t set in stone, and some dealers in older cars start calling them vintage or classic at 10 years.
It’s hard to say for certain, but I doubt that a Saturn will ever be anything other than old. The only thing that makes a car classic or antique* is that a bunch of people think it is. Tastes may change, but I can’t imagine sufficient folks to even constitute a niche market ever developing that kind of interest in anything Saturn ever produced. A car needs a certain something to get it over that apathetic hump, whether that be specs or some funky design or history. E.g., the Ford Edsel. There are collectors of this notorious flop. Why? Well, first of all, it was a notorious flop. Second, it’s got a sorta funky design going on. That’ll pretty much do it. Me, I have a soft spot for big boxy hoopties of the 1970s–Lincoln Mark Vs and Cadillac Coupe de Villes (with the 100 lb. doors) and the like. Part of that’s that I grew up seeing them on TV in the 80s. And they definitely have a look: All hard edges, acres of hood, etc.
Saturn SL2? It’s just a nondescript economy car. It’s kinda interesting because it represented some interesting ideas for GM, but not enough that I think many folks will be interested enough in it to apply either label. Dodge K cars of the 1980s come to mind.
All that said, if it’s a reliable old car, there’s no reason not to keep it around if you have a reason to, or just want to.
*As Prof. Pepperwinkle says, “antique” in particular often has a particular age associated with it in certain contexts, and so something that is not at all collectible can still be an “antique” if old enough. But a) I don’t think that’s what you’re asking and b) a late 90s Saturn is not going to be old enough anyway.
Unlikely. Classic and antique just mean “old.” As pointed out, how it’s defined is malleable. What you’re thinking of is “collectible” - an old car that’s desirable and increasing in value. Typically a component of that is rarity, but cars that were very common but culturally significant can become collectible like the Ford Mustang, VW Beetle; some get there as cult classics, like the Pacer and Gremlin. I don’t see it happening with the Saturn SL2, though there is a meet every year for “orphans” (discontinued brands). The most likely collecibtle orphans from the GM down-size are, imo, the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice.
Pretty much what I expected, that said, I do want to keep it running, as its a reliable, economical car, and it was dad’s last car, he may not have driven it for the last year or so, due to medical events leading up to his passing last month, but he took care of it, I promised him I’d keep it running
He bought it used, with a hair over 45k on the odometer, around the year 2000, I think he paid around $6,000 for it, cash, and had been driving it up to a year ago, he definitely got his money’s worth out of it
I’m planning to follow his lead with my car, a '07 VW Rabbit (Golf MK-V) and keep it running 'till the wheels fall off (by that time, hopefully the HoverConversion, and Mr. Fusion will have been invented…)
your wife and kids are embarrassed to be seen in it = Old.
Someone comes up and says “wow my dad had one of those, any chance you may sell it?” = Classic.
Someone comes up and says “what is it? It must be a pain to keep it running.” = Antique.
I bought a '91 SL2 in Midnight Blue the first year they came out. Loved it. Around 2008 or so I got my mom’s '92 SL2 with only around 25,000 miles on it. It looked showroom new. Some idiot hit me at a stoplight at low speed. Crumpled the trunk a bit but not horrible… insurance totaled it. Even though I couldn’t touch anything in the same shape, mileage, or reliability, on their books it was an “old” car. Finally settled with them for $3k and I kept the car. Sold it to a buddy for $700 as a favor and his kid is still driving it (spent around $300 on a new trunk lid).
It’s very old for a car. Cars are technological devices, and 20 years of advances is a lot. Saying a 19 year old car isn’t old is like saying a bag phone is just as good as an iPhone, or a 486/50-based pc is just as functional as a modern 6Ghz machine. Chassis design, suspensions, traction control, hard-drive based navigation, bluetooth,satellite radio, HID lighting, hell, tires are much better now - there are run-flats on most everything. I don’t think we had OBDII twenty years ago. The standard BMW 3-series available now will probably match or outperform the top exotic sports cars of 1994 in acceleration, handling, and braking.
While you may consider 20 years old to be old, there are 10s of millions of these vehicles still on the road so they are not unique.
A 20 year car will let you go from point A to point B just as fast as your brand new vehicle (both are limited by traffic laws) and just as comfortably.
When I was growing up, a traditional part of watching the Independence Day parade was listening to my parents say in annoyance, “Are they kidding? That’s not old! I used to have that make and model” as a bunch of “classic” cars rolled by.
OTOH, my husband’s aunt (not great-aunt) used to own and drive a Model T Ford.
We are currently borrowing my brother in law’s '85 Ford Bronco. It’s 12 years older than your Saturn and it’s still not vintage. Vintage takes more than age. There has to be an undefinable cool factor. Either the car had status when it was first released or a good story gets attached to the model.
Ford Broncos and Saturn sedans were both mid-level cars that weren’t cool when they first came out and really aren’t all that cool now no matter how old they are. In order to be vintage, they have to be cool.
It’s the same rule for housewares, home decor, and clothing.
And my IBM 701C laptop running Windows 95 will still go online, yet it’s not the optimal choice. Just because a technology is old doesn’t mean it won’t function. But part of why most states require limited miles to award a car antique/classic/vintage plates is to prevent the owner entrusting his life to outdated safety technology on a daily basis. Getting people to reduce the age of rolling stock was also a goal of original cash-for-clunkers overseas.
I’m hardly a safety wonk - my most common form of transport is a 1978 motorcycle, with my sole car currently being an 8-year old convertible, and as mentioned upthread until fairly recently my newest car was from 1983. I’m not advocating everyone ditch their old cars - just pointing out that tech moves forward and an old car isn’t “just as good” as a newer one. That people are okay with that doesn’t just the truth of it.
That said - some of the attitude expressed here is a pet peeve of mine about motoring in the US. I wish we had a nationwide program of rigorous safety inspection like other countries, becaust too many Americans feel that hey, if they can get it rolling, it’s good enough. We have cars on the road smoking, parts falling off or already missing, literally screaming for brake work, with bald tires. The roads would be much safer and traffic would flow a lot better if people took better care of their cars, regardless of age.