1996 Saturn SL SL2 review from North America

Just to let you know, I am very good with cars and do all of the repairs myself. This vehicle is meticulously maintained. I bought it new in 1996.

Front pipe cracked/rusted at 135,000 at the transmission support bracket. Dealer wanted to charge $850 to replace front pipe/ converter as a single unit. I took the broken pipe off myself and had the cracked welded for $15.

Saturn oem muffler rusts out about every two years.

Struts replaced at 75,000 miles.

Brake rotors warp often, but I now buy higher quality non-dealer rotors and it is less of a problem.

Oil consumption first started around 80,000mi, but switching to 10W-30 helped a great deal. There is some evidence of antifreeze getting into the oil because of a white film on the bottom of the oil filler cap.

Rear sway bar links rattled and were replaced at 85,000mi. Poorly designed part, grease caps feel off causing premature failure.

Manual transmission leaks around the axle seals, but not enough to warrant repair.

Check engine light comes on often, fault is usually the upper O2 sensor, which has been replaced three times.

Spark plugs foul easily and are replaced every 8-10,000 miles.

Clear coat paint on trunk lid spoiler scratches easily.

Rust has been a problem on all four door sills, and in engine compartment. Single layer of flat black paint on inner frame is prone to rust. Most manufacturers use multiple layers of paint.

For the money, was and still is a good car. You get what you pay for. It has good power, a fairly decent ride, and always starts. I feel some Saturn parts are poor quality and designed to wear quickly to keep people going in for dealer repairs. Saturn (GM) is not the only one to do this.