1997 Saturn SL review from North America
"I would definitely buy another one, but won't buy an Ion."
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The disc brake rotors warped, within the warranty period. After having no success getting a dealer to repair them, I repaired them myself.
A serpentine pulley wore out, and this I repaired myself (with a NAPA part).
The fuel pump was failing about 70,000 miles, and the dealer replaced under an extended warranty.
Other than that, I have had no other problems in the 8 years of ownership.
General comments?
This has been a marvelous purchase. The maintenance is not difficult (except for changing the oil filter, which is buried). In fact, there is little regular maintenance. Parts are not expensive. It seems to be assembled well.
I used Mobil 1 for the first 88,000 miles and changed it about 4,000 miles on average.
It is very cheap to drive, and gets 30 to 40 mpg.
It is not a race car. However, it will easily cruise at illegal speeds all day.
It handles well, stops well, I can't ask for more in a car.
Recommended reviews
| 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 |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.9 single cam Manual |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 7 miles |
| Most recent distance | 88500 miles |
| Previous car | Toyota Pickup |
| Date of Entry | 13th June, 2005 |