1994 Saturn SL SL1 review from North America
"Great as an econo car.. would recommend"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Radiator sprung a leak where the transmission cooling line connects to the left side.
Spring-loaded serpentine belt adjuster broke three, I repeat THREE times over the last few years!
Front wheel bearing went once.
Flexible braided brake line rubbed a hole through the steel brake line in the right front wheel-well, causing the brakes to fail under a hard stop. Scary.
Windshield wiper motor blew once.
Alternator blew at 350,000km.
Water pump bearing blew up at 300,000km, causing sudden major coolant leak.
General comments?
The 1.9L SOHC motor is VERY thrifty on gas, though a bit underpowered, especially on the highway.
Car has been quite cheap to maintain, with mainly standard repair things that most cars go through. Still running strong at 460,000km!
Sound dampening is poor, and at highway speeds can be quite loud in the cabin.
Overall a very decent car.. not luxurious, but it'll get you where you want to go, at a low running cost.
Recommended reviews
| Not a terrible car for the money, but you can probably do better over the long term. |
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| Actually, I would have to say this car has been about the most reliable one I have owned |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1994 |
| Year of manufacture | 1994 |
| First year of ownership | 1994 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.9 SOHC Automatic |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 6 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 250000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 460000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Toyota Celica |
| Date of Entry | 30th April, 2009 |