In our first weekend of
ownership, the Saturn sprang a coolant leak that left the car smelling
vaguely of antifreeze for the rest of our time together. After the leak
and a near-overheat situation, there emerged a curious squawk from the
engine that sounded like a leaky hose or a bad seal. The shop, of
course, couldn't find a problem.
Since
there were no cupholders, we used to rest our drinks in a convenient
divot in the center console; unfortunately, the collected condensation
from our drinks worked its way down through the plastic and shorted out
the whole electrical system. The clutch had to be replaced and the
gearbox rebuilt. There were also random but seemingly
impossible-to-find oil leaks that left the underside of the hood soaked
in oil.
I
suppose I can't blame this on the car, but two tires (both with good
tread life, at good pressures) blew up massively on the freeway, one
cutting the wires to the fuel pump and leaving my wife and I stranded
on the freeway on our way to a vacation for our first wedding
anniversary. I still have a photo of my wife sitting despondently on
the hood of the Saturn that day, grim and depressed. Happy Anniversary,
honey!
The
Saturn was supposed to be our nice newer car; it was pampered by the
first owners, was only six years old, and only had about 70,000 miles
on it. Instead, it was thoroughly outclassed in every way by our much
older 250,000-mile Volvo 240. When I subsequently bought my beater 1983
Chevy Malibu Wagon, I was struck by how markedly superior the
decade-older Malibu was in every respect.
But
the Saturn's real crime against humanity was sucking out part of my
enjoyment of driving. Before the Saturn, I trusted and enjoyed my cars,
pushing them to their limits, confident that the machinery would do its
part. But the Saturn destroyed my psyche; the effect is
not unlike that of a betrayal by a loved one--regaining the ability to
trust takes time, and I am only slowly recovering from that damage.
Now,
when I'm driving any car, even a nice new one, I'm always on edge
waiting for impending cataclysmic failure. I find myself wondering:
Does the idle seem a bit uneven?
That subtle feeling in the steering wheel--is that a change in the pavement, or is a tire about to go?
Does the engine sound a little rougher than usual at higher revs? I hope the engine's not being starved for oil!
The brakes feel a little spongy--I hope I'm not causing rotor damage!
These thoughts now torment me, and for that reason I will hate our old Saturn forever.
As
an addendum, the Saturn-loving friends from whom we bought the car were
horrified at our problems. They loved it when they owned it, and have
owned several more Saturns and couldn't be happier. I suppose that just
goes to show you that Car Disgust is a highly personal thing.
These photos are not of our Saturn, but by the end, this is what I would have done to it.
--Chris H.
Today's Car Disgust is a car that I loathe out of personal experience--the 1993 Saturn SL2.
Hell_Is_Like_Newark on July 14, 2008 at 12:52 PM
I have the same year / model car and my experience has been the opposite of your. I have had it since 1995 and its still going strong. Excluding damage from hitting a massive sink hole and normal wear items (brake pads, mufflers, etc), I have had to replace one alternator, a brake caliper, and the clutch gave out (after 9 years of heavy city driving). It has been a rock solid economy car that gives me over 35 mpg on the highway (during the winter).
Toby B. on July 19, 2008 at 09:24 AM
i own a 95 SL2 and my car is excellent, yes saturns leak oil, its a fact of life, we saturn enthusiasts know and accept the fact, but aside from that my car is highly reliable and about pushing cars to theyre limits? just because the speedometer says "130" doesnt mean that it can go "130" without consequence, this much is true for all cars. it just means they can do that....once....maybe.
Signed
Loyal Saturn Fan
Tyler on August 17, 2008 at 07:30 PM
I'm with you saturns suck I have the same year and model. I got mine 2 years ago as my first ever car and its been hell so far I've had it in the shop three times for tranny problems (not my fault) the ac went out, a motor mount went bad, I had to replace both front wheel bearings, the electronics in the steering went out (No horn or cruise) and the radiator is leaking now the motor seems like its getting a little sluggish too. I hate this car but can't get rid of it because i can't afford anything else.
Larry on September 29, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Misery loves company, which is why I read these things and laugh, even when the people who like the car, list things that have gone wrong with htiers that only a fool wouldn't realize makes their "car" a Super Lemon...
there is a certian Garage in Manhatten that I am particualrly fond of. The place caught fire when my beloved Saturn was parked inside of it and their insurance company actally paid me the book value on a car I would have sold to my worst enemy!!! These things Suck!!!My advise to anyone who owns one is be Brave, cut t your losses and just junk it... the years of agravation owning this thing will cause you, will take years off of your life... REALLY, REALLY, BAD CAR!!! I'll forsake all the little repair details and just ask any sane operson to listen to what I've just written... Get rid of that Shit Box!!!there is no need to repair anything on it, just junk it and cut your losses... Fixing it, only means it will get you stuck in another week or two anyway...
That Car Guy on October 24, 2008 at 10:15 AM
I think Saturn's ultimate indignity to mankind was their "Daytime Running Lamps" system starting in 1994. The headlights were too close together which made them brighter, and they used 80% of their high beams to blind all oncoming drivers. Even up in a pickup truck the lights were painful, and the Saturn drivers were mostly oblivious to the danger they caused innocent people. Those were the cars in good condition... misaimed headlamps were even more potent.
One could disable the DRLs by applying the parking brake a click or two and drive with a red BRAKE warning light. Oh, and at night, it was easy to think you had your lights on because you could already see where you were going, but none of your side, rear, or license plate lamps were on. Now that's quality engineering!
CJ on October 07, 2009 at 08:17 AM
Sorry, but you are wrong. by far. every car company has cars that decide to go bad. there is nothing you can do here. i have driven my saturn for three years now and have only replaced brakes on it.My brother commented on this page already. As stated already, our whole family drives cars from the Saturn company. This is the second saturn i have owned two and never had trouble
ant280 on October 18, 2009 at 08:32 AM
Speaking of Volvo 240s and Saturns, I worked for an independent Volvo specialist in 1995. I will never forget when a couple came in with their 1995 Saturn with 3k miles on it. They traded it for a 1989 Volvo 244 with 88k miles on it that we had on the lot. I always asked myself---Why?? Of the Saturns I have worked on in my personal shop now, I will say I am not impressed!
Aleks Ristic on December 20, 2009 at 04:36 PM
I don't how hard you like to drive cars or what you imagine "to the limits" means on such a cheap economy car ...but either you were way too enthusiastic or you were just unlucky enough to be stuck with one of those bogeys that rolls off any production line once in a while.
Im driving a 16 year old Saturn Coupe with no major problems, have had for 5 years now. We've had a couple in the family and two of my ex-coworkers have had fairly easy and inexpensive ownership experiences with both SOHC & DOHC models.
I agree the interior wansn't too good and the car can be a symphony of rattles when cold. Cup holders I don't - car is no place for food & drink IMO, but that's a different coversation.
Yeah most of the external seals & gaskets leak some and you have to keep an eye on fluid levels ... but I (and other people of limited means) find this small amount of mental effort a fair trade of for the low pice and simplicity of the car.
People who are getting buy don;t need to pay thousands of dollars extra for "buttery smooth shifts" or "sophisticted purr" form the engine or geeky gadgets that cost an arm & aa leg to service.
It was what it was, an inxpensive low-brow economy car that benefited from an engaged and attentive owner. THe Twin Cam versions with the rear sway bar were quicker and better handling than other small econoboxes sold in the North American market.
tomm on June 18, 2010 at 09:15 AM
Buying a 6 year old car and expecting it to run like new is a misconception. I am sure a 1993 VW Golf would have had lots of issues too. [And that recently bought $2000 1986 Audi will probably cost a lot to keep running, also]
But, I agree that compacts last longer these days, and the early 90's Civics/Corollas lasted. The first Saturns had 'new car quality', but not long term.
Matt on August 12, 2010 at 12:28 PM
I just got a 93 Saturn myself. Its in the shop right now seeing just how well this things working under the hood. All of my friends who are good with cars say that the thing is fine except one who said its falling apart, so to sum it all up this car probobly hits the board all over the place. It just depends on what kind of car your really looking for, as for my opinion, it cheap and gets great gas milage thats what matters most for a kid with a part time job in high school.
Orion on December 02, 2010 at 08:27 PM
WOW have we had different experiences!
I've bough my 1997 Saturn SL2 new in July of '97 and put just shy of 180,000 miles on it - and counting. I still get nearly 40MPG on the highway (going 55; closer to 35MPG at 70+MPH). It was rear-ended once in Tucson and the car that hit me (a Ford) had the front end and engine drop into the street while my Saturn suffered two small dents in the bumper fascia from her license plate bolts.
It's fun to drive, sporty, quick, good handling and I'll get in it right now and drive across the country without batting an eye. In the 13 years I've driven it I've had exactly 2 major repairs - a water pump and a fuel-pump relay. I find it to be incredibly comfortable to drive no matter how long I'm in the seat.
I've still got the original clutch and the original brakes.
Orion
Perry on April 30, 2011 at 07:05 AM
I don't know what to make of the Saturn.
I always thought they had good handling (but nothing like the unimpeachable Neon), excellent mileage and automatic transmission was class leading, as was the twin cam's power. I even thought they were fresh looking, with a hint of futuristic whimsy in the headlights, wraparound rear window and logo.
Of course everything else was a let down. Some aspect more so than others. There's the motor, which got good mileage and had surprising power with 16 valves, but which leaked oil and had only 4 counterweights. Even the last versions which had tackled this issue (in from ~2001 until the execrable Ion) still sounded like garbage. Perhaps it's the spiritual successor to the Vega engine. Abrasive is also a great word to describe the plastics in the interior. Perhaps the worst aspect of these cars were the seats. At a very trim 5'7", the seats lacked support for me. The driving position was incredibly poorly thought out; it is like sitting in a bathtub, and for those who are tall enough to not have that problem, the seats lack of support would be an even greater issue.
Compared to Chrysler's Neon (which lacked the Saturn's relative reliability and excellent 4-speed auto), the shortcomings of the Saturn are painfully clear. Ford's 323 based Escort, despite a sub par motor and tame chassis tuning, was also a measurably better car in most every way, with a quality feel neither car can match. GM's over duplicated investment in compact cars mimics an Eastern bloc country's investment in factories. Too many, built and designed with primarily political objectives, and all flawed. Just as I wish I could go back in time and steer Tito away from making drastic mistakes which would bankrupt his country, I wish I could tell GM to take the most expedient path to designing a compact car, instead of a Corolla clone, a J-body orgy, a couple Suzuki clones, an Isuzu clone, and the Saturn. This could've taken shape in many forms: a localized, rebodied, US built Astra, co-engineered with Isuzu (a better interpretation of Ford's original Escort and a corporate successor to the Buick Opel) or a buyout of the NUMMI contract (another unnecessary investment!), with a compact based on the Toyota AE82 chassis, but enlarged, stiffened and with a fully developed motor for the late '80s (similarly conceived as the Mazda 323 based Ford compacts).
ndrewoods on May 02, 2011 at 09:55 PM
One thing that I like from this 93 Saturn SL2 is that it is a great car for someone who needs reliability and economy. Actually, I would have to say this car has been about the most reliable one I have owned.
Dejordy on August 02, 2011 at 07:47 AM
I had a '93 SL2 new. At first I loved it, but tired rather quickly. It came with sporty Firestones, great in summer climes, but I bought this car in Wisconsin. Nearly died before buying all weathers, and even then it was never great in the snow; I don't know why. Turning radius always seemed huge. Had continual problems with the brakes and at about 25K, a motormount broke. That shouldn't happen
Roger on October 13, 2011 at 01:02 PM
Wow! Not my experience. I'm so fond of my 94 Saturn SL with 232K miles on it that I'm buying a 93 SL2 to replace it.
My family has owned this car since we were "launched" by the dealer in 94. My daughters were 9 and 7 then. My wife used this car to ferry them around for the next 8 years putting on over 150K miles before she ran it out of oil. I pulled the engine, got the rings un-stuck and put it back on the road. It burned a bit more oil but ran fine otherwise. At that point the oldest daughter inherited it, using it to learn how to drive a "stick". A year later she drove it under a Ford Explorer causing a lot of damage to the hood and radiator support. This was fixed with vice grips, a hammer and a pry bar. It was pretty ugly the next year when the younger daughter inherited it, also learning to drive on a "stick". That led to the explosion of the hydraulic clutch. Adding a bit of fluid and putting it back together got her back on the road until she ran over a rock the size of a water melon one night. That destroyed one wheel and bent the engine cradle enough that the right front tire almost touched the fender well. $500 spent at a frame shop and we were on the road again - now with the steering wheel at a 45 degree angle.
At 175K miles I inherited the car in 2006 when both girls had gone off to college. Since, I've put another 56K miles on it while still getting over 40 mpg. It has never once let me down anywhere for any reason. (Well, a rear brake line did burst a few years ago, but that was just an inconvenience.) After 17 years, still on the original clutch, the New England winters have finally eaten away so much of the engine cradle and roof around the windshield I can't believe it's still holding together. It's still a great reliable little car though.