1996 Saturn SW SW2 review from North America
"Very reliable, and quite fun to drive along back country roads"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Started burning oil at 160,000 miles.
Radiator failed at 140,000 miles.
Slave cylinder failed at 185,000 miles.
The door sills were beginning to rust at purchase, and have deteriorated very badly since.
General comments?
Other than the issues stated above, this car has been fantastically reliable.
The transmission is still original and very strong, and the engine is still willing to rev and drive under heavy strain.
The chassis is rather similar to a Volkswagen, and therefore quite well tuned and doesn't resist spirited driving.
I have used the car for several bicycle races, with three bikes on a rack mounted to the hatch, and a full load, with three people and a full cargo area. It handled the task sufficiently each time.
The issue of the oil burning is not a very significant burden, one must simply add a quart of oil with each 300 miles or so.
Rust on the door sills can be prevented with a simple layer of rust-stop.
All in all, the car has been extremely reliable, and it is still going strong.
Recommended reviews
| Inexpensive small car that's fun to drive and cheap to run! |
|
| Excellent wagon; I wish they still made them |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1996 |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.9 I-4 Manual |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 120000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 211000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Crown Victoria |
| Date of Entry | 12th January, 2009 |