2001 Saturn L200 review from North America
"An overpriced, mediocre sedan"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Spring clip in rear suspension loose and rattling, replaced. (5000 miles)
Fuel gauge sending unit bad, replaced. (8000 miles)
Cruise control module bad, replaced. (9000 miles)
Squeaky gas pedal, replaced whole assembly twice. (8000/12000 miles)
Clutch master cylinder replaced due to squeaking clutch pedal (22000 miles)
Seat back replaced due to sqeaking/defective hardware. (30000 miles). After replacement, squeaking returned even worse in a week.
Has undergone 3 rounds of computer reprogramming.
General comments?
This car looks great and has OK power for a 4-banger, but overall, mine just seems to have shoddy quality all the way around.
The trunk is very large, and the seats fold down, which make it useful for carrying a lot of stuff.
I get horrid mileage for a 4 cyl in the city (around 19 mpg).
This car has NO resale value at all; I paid 20,000 for an early model 2002 and 2 years later it's worth 6500 for a trade.
I would never get the manual--it has horrible throws and is not a smooth transmission, and the clutch seems weak.
Dealer service has always been good, but I don't think I should be on a first name basis with them.
If you're looking for a $20-25k sedan, look elsewhere.
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.2L Ecotec I4 Manual |
| Performance marks | 5/10 |
| Reliability marks | 4/10 |
| Comfort marks | 5/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 5 miles |
| Most recent distance | 35100 miles |
| Previous car | Dodge Dakota |
| Date of Entry | 31st August, 2003 |