1996 Saturn SL SL2 from North America - Comments

Standard maintenence and tune-ups.

Clutch wore out around 150,000 miles, which is to be expected.

Cam cover gasket and valve gaskets are in need of replacing.

Two months after buying this car I hit a deer. The hood was bent and pushed back, also the headlights were broken from their mounts. After an afternoons worth of work, the hood was fixed and all other parts that were bent or broken were either fixed or replaced. About a year later I was cut off on a bridge and was pushed into the right side of it. This took out my passenger side mirror, and did extremely minor damage to the outside of the car.

This car was also driven by my stepfather for many miles with little or no oil. Surprisingly after a few quarts of oil the car still ran and no major damage was done.

A panal truck ran a red light and T-boned the passenger side. After replacing the rear tire, the car was back on the road. A year later I was able to get the door panel and rear quarter-panel replaced since the original was shattered. The car runs fine.

At 183000 miles, some work is needed, but nothing that a car which was beaten to death all its life and has 183000 miles on it would not need.

GREAT WORK SATURN, you made a car that I have fallen in love with and will never part with. I would buy an additional Saturn in a heartbeat.

I have one and it's a piece of crap. Everything that has gone wrong with a car has gone wrong with mine. All Saturn wants is more money!

I have owned my 1996 Saturn SL2 for 13 years and have 119,000 miles on the odometer.

Good points:

No fluid or oil leaks at all on my car since new.

Good AC and electrical system, transmission works great.

Four cupholders and good glove box and storage.

36-39mph fuel economy on the highway with family in car.

Very reliable and fun to drive, good sized trunk space.

Easy to fix yourself and parts are inexpensive (But not from Saturn dealer) I change my own oil.

Polymer plastic body panels do not dent, my car still looks new after 13 years.

Cons: Doors are drafty, seats are uncomfortable, brakes rotors will always warp, no underhood light for engine compartment, top motor mount and transmission mount had to be replaced.