1997 Saturn SL sl-1 review from North America
"Great car for the money"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Battery goes bad every 5 years or so.
Horn recall 1 month after purchase.
Alternator recall 3 months after purchase.
Computer chip went dead after 200,000 mile marker.
Consumes oil quickly.
General comments?
This car has been a great daily driver. first purchased brand new in 97 and other than general recalls, no problems. great gas mileage even after 200,000+ miles. the five speed is a wonder too drive, if not only a little to soft, but you get used to it pretty quickly. the rear tires wear oddly, but routine rotation keeps all in check. the clutch just went bad on it, original clutch too. but I was still able to drive it from San Jose to Sacramento (135 miles) without it doing serious damage. not a comfortable car, but for $11,000 brand new out the door, I wasn't expecting it to wrap me in luxury.
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? | Yes |
| Model year | 1997 |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.9 I-4 Manual |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 9 miles |
| Most recent distance | 263563 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Mustang |
| Date of Entry | 11th December, 2005 |