99 saturn-would you buy ?

[minneman]

Been looking for a cheap ride, found an SL2 1.9 manual trans, are they hard to find parts for etc since they are out of buis? reliable? has 75000 miles and clean.

[Dozer]

If you are looking for luxury this isnt it, if your looking for cheap transport this is it! Dont worry about parts you can get anything you will need. Very easy to work on too. I had a 96 that I put a trans in, took just over 5hrs. Mine only had 75lbs of compression on one cylinder and still got 36mpg! Only burned a quart of oil every 1000 miles!

How much do they want for it?

[Jeremy airjer W]

I have a 97 SL2 with 175k on it. I picked it up for a thousand bucks. I have had it for 4 years. Its an oil burner, they all are. Check it every thousand miles.

Getting the SL2 model is the key. It will have the DOHC 1.9 liter. The better of the two engine options.

I get fantastic fuel mileage 34-37 on the freeway. I put on a minimum of 250 miles a week just bringing my kids to school. I fill up once a week for about $22.

It's. Beater buy all means and has been abused before I got it. I put in a radiator, a couple sets of brakes, starter, alternator, two wheel bearings, cruise module, and some other misc parts. Nothing out of the ordinary for its age.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I had a 94 (I think it was a 94) SL2. I'd buy one again in a second if the price was right.

[Fish Head]

I bought one for my son to drive several years back. He put a lot of miles on that thing. It was a great car for the $$$.

[Lunker]

As a former Saturn owner(owned a 2001 L300 from 2004-2011, also have 3 other saturns in my extended family) I will say this about the question you brought up about maintenance: they are more expensive to do oil changes on(at about 75% of places I have had them done at) and need them more often. If you live in a bigger city or an area with a lot of service places you shouldn't have a problem getting work done, but if you live in more rural areas or around smaller shops you may have problems finding people to work on specific issues that may arise. And there may be some added time/parts expenses that relate to the differences in saturns design(for example both the oil filter and the battery compartment are unlike any other vehicle). These aren't issues that you should consider make or break issues, but be aware there may be some added costs over the long run.

[Jeremy airjer W]

The L300 is a whole different animal and should not be compared to the SL2. The SL2 is a very maintenance friendly vehicle. The l series had an Opel engine, the same one that was used in the cadillac catera, and nobody wants to work on them.

[Macgyver55]

I agree Jer, the early Saturn SL series are among some of the easiest to service cars I've worked on!

[Redlantern]

Great cars. Last one I got 304,000 miles on. the current one is at 230,000. Tires are small so they're cheap. Easy enough for a guy like me to work on them and great gas mileage. Like others have said, no luxury car but if you need to put a lot of miles on for stupid cheap, they are the way to go. Check the oil often, they do go through it fast.