1994 Saturn SL 2 2.2 dual OHC

Summary:

Pile of garbage

Faults:

Too many to list - years ago, so I will try my best.

Radio - several.

2 batteries.

Alternator.

Brakes at 20,000.

Auto seat belts jammed every month.

The car used 1 quart of oil each month - "normal" per GM.

Awful resale value.

General Comments:

I thought after owning several "foreign" cars I would buy "American made". Well let's just say I have only purchased Toyotas and Hondas since this lemon.

I was suckered into the "new GM" division. I read lots of good reviews about this car. Friends had Saturns and loved them. I think mine was a Monday/Friday car. This was my absolute last American car I will ever buy. No wonder Saturn is out of business.

Shame on Saturn.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 7th May, 2016

1994 Saturn SL 2 1.9 twin cam

Summary:

Great style and performance

Faults:

Nearly nothing of note. I bought this car when it was two years old. The car still does not use any oil between changes. I think the reason is because I have changed the oil and filter every 3 months. I use Valvoline Max Life and a Wix filter.

Parts replaced since purchased: Starter, alternator, radiator, one motor mount, one set of struts.

I have decided to keep this car because it has been very dependable. The paint looks nearly new since my routine is to wax the car six to eight times a year. If you wax this often, it is a forty minute job. Allow the paint to begin to look poorly and it takes a day to try to perform a resurrection.

A great car for the long run.

General Comments:

Try one. You may like it!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th September, 2014

1994 Saturn SL SL2 1.9 DOHC

Summary:

The best small American car of the 90s, for whatever that's worth

Faults:

Pathetically, 5 problems have sprung up in the past 5,000 miles alone:

The odometer quit at 70,000.

A little after that, the ignition switch stopped working properly, no longer recognizing when the key has been removed (which gets the warning chime blaring whenever the door is open).

Then the car began making a high-pitched squealing noise upon startup about half of the time; it turned out to be a broken serpentine belt tensioner.

Finally, a random knocking noise emerged from the rear at low speeds (sounded sort of like a loose Coke can in the trunk), which a mechanic said is probably a broken suspension bushing.

Random electrical issues also spring up sporadically -- twice it wouldn't start, another time the check engine light went on.

At some point in the past (I got it used), the seat leather ripped markedly and the headliner started falling off. Also, the turn signal lever buzzes against the steering column (bad design).

General Comments:

Having owned most of the small Japanese cars of the 90s, I figured I'd try a Saturn SL2 -- the only domestic entry to get acclaim back in the day. I'd say the respect was deserved: this is a good-looking, nice-driving car that, according to Consumer Reports, is the only reliable American car of the 20th century (even if my own ownership experience doesn't support this).

For sure, it has character. In the SL2 (but not SL1) is a twin-cam engine that pumps out 124 HP -- good for 0-60 in 9 seconds with the automatic, and also returns 27 MPG. It has quick steering that gives good feel of the road, plus decent tire grip (another SL2 exclusive thanks to 15" wheels). The pedals are well-weighted, and models equipped with anti-lock brakes get 4-wheel-discs that feel solid. Ride quality can be a little jumpy, but is usually reasonable. Aside from the absurd Ford Explorer-like turning circle, there's nothing unusual to report about the drive.

Back in the day, the press made a habit of complaining about the engine's loud and crappy drone. I think the main reason this was an issue is that Saturn was one of the first to use a timing chain (everything besides the Nissan Sentra used a timing BELT), which is inherently noisier but promises lower costs in the long-run. Here in the 21st century, everyone else has now switched to a chain, and the Saturn doesn't sound much worse. So it was just ahead of its time.

But if Saturns drive well and last long, their interiors leave a lot to be desired. The quality of materials is atrocious, and everything housed within the dashboard is kind of ugly. The shape of the center console is odd and useless, the glovebox opens the wrong way, and the lone cupholder is a flimsy afterthought. Taller people might take issue with the Saturn being only 5'5" (roughly 3 inches below average -- part of the reason it looks cool), and don't expect any person taller than that to fit in the back seat, which is even less comfortable than the front seats. The turn signal lever manages to feel both soggy and stiff. The speakers sound horrendous, though the ones in front are at least easy to swap out (just pry off the grilles with a screwdriver). Finally, the motorized seat belts were pretty out of date even in 1994. At least the controls are laid out well, thanks to Saturn being the first GM car to emulate Japanese ergonomics.

Despite its problems (and the problems my car gave me), I'd still recommend picking up a Saturn SL2. Go for a 94, which has a cooler interior than the 95+s, and a cooler exterior than the 96+s.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 24th June, 2012

29th Sep 2014, 18:10

That 1.9 twin-cam was a good motor in my '93 SC. Crappy mileage tho... My friends wondered how such a tiny car drank so much fuel. And that thing DID turn like a truck if you ever had to back out of anywhere really fast. Ah, memories.