1998 Saturn SC 2 review from North America

The car's engine coolant gauge won't go above 1/4 for temperature, which the dealer says is most likely a problem with the needle.

At 120,000 miles, two of the transmission rods snapped (probably due to their age and my driving style), but only cost me $350 to fix (including parts and labor).

As with most SCs/Cavaliers/Sun-fires, the strap supporting the muffler corroded through at around 110,000 miles. It's held in place with a coat hanger that is working until I can order the part.

The ECOTEC 1.9's legendary appetite for oil is just that. I have to add another 1 or 2 quarts between 3,000 mile oil changes.

This is the third Saturn S-series that I've owned. It has all but three options (the third door, the automatic transmission, and the traction control), and is very nice.

The transmission shifts smoothly under most conditions, but gets a little touchy in single digit and lower temperatures.

The speakers were all blown when I bought it, but that's a consistent problem with cars I've owned in the past.

It still costs around 25-30 dollars to fill up, which isn't too bad.

My first set of tires lasted a bizarre 102,000 miles.

It's quick, sporty, fun to drive, safe, and above all else, reliable.

The engine isn't over-powered, but torque steer is apparent in many turns. It's light and well balanced, so controlling it isn't a daunting task.

The sunroof is something you should definitely go for.