1997 Saturn SL SL2 review from North America
"Overall, this is a financially sensible car that can sometimes be annoying"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I had to replace the alternator a few years ago.
The back power windows will go down, but not come up again.
The power locks have broken on the driver's side.
The remote key chain alarm control broke and would have cost over $50 to fix. (I said forget it.)
After 100,000 miles, the car started burning oil more and more quickly. I need to put in more oil every 800 miles or so.
General comments?
This car has given me many miles.
The dent-resistant shell is excellent. I got into a head-on collision with a Toyota 4Runner. The front of the 4Runner was smashed in about 2 feet, while the Saturn's shell was barely broken in.
The gas-mileage is excellent. I get over 300 miles per tank. I used to get about 335 miles per tank when this car was younger.
The back seats are not comfortable to sit in.
The "Check Engine Soon" light comes on occasionally. After taking it to a mechanic the first few times and no problem detected, I now ignore it. It soon turns off.
My car has lasted 174,000 miles, which is much longer than any other Saturn than any of my friends have owned.
Changing the oil religiously is key.
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| This is a perfect commuter car at a great price |
|
| One of the better 500 dollar beaters I've ever bought! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model year | 1997 |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 1996 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | Automatic |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 174000 miles |
| Previous car | Honda Civic |
| Date of Entry | 13th December, 2004 |