Used 1996 Saturn S-Series SL 4dr Sedan Consumer Reviews
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19 years of scooting around
JDub, Wilsonville, OR, 03/28/2019
Saturn S-Series SL 4dr Sedan
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I got this car when it was only 4 years old but had 71k (current reading is 276k). The first summer I drove it, it consistently got 68-70mpg on the highway, and nowadays I still get closer to 40mpg. I got the most stripped down model, so my arms hurt the first week without power steering but it means one less thing to go out and need repairs. As a small female, I have found it rather easy to get a lot of the work done on it myself - radiator and heater hoses, heater core (doesn't need you to remove the entire dashboard, too!), oil changes, and basic maintenance. With everything crammed so tightly under the hood, it makes for a larger than normal turn radius than a comparable car but mad kudos to the engineers that designed this beauty. I have been hit in 2 car accidents (neither my fault), and neither really needed a lot of work, and I was t boned in one of them - just left some scratches in the plastic door and the back handle is a little wonky. I really wish they still made Saturns like the early and mid 90s versions as I would love to replace my baby with a newer model, as much as I would hate having a car payment again, I would do it for a Saturn.
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Not the Worst Car I ever owned
htkirbys, 08/02/2007
Saturn S-Series SL 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
But not the best, by far. At 140,000 miles, I have had to donate it to the Kidney Foundation because the transmission locked up. It was noisy from the start, including clicking noises. The alternator was replaced 3 times. Lower engine rebuilt under warranty; upper at my expense. Total repairs paid for, about $2,500. Came to hate the low seat. Nice body, good stainless steel exhaust system. Would not recommend buying one with over 80,000 miles on it. Wish I had bought a Toyota Corolla instead; this car was a mistake.
It's actually pretty decent.
Changiboy, 04/11/2002
Saturn S-Series SL 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
If you want a little runabout that is reasonably flexible but is cheap to maintain and reliable, then this may well be it. Pushing 6 yrs, 90+k on mine and no major trips to the Shop, just one recall rework on the enginge. I've hauled everything from 7foot Christmas trees, disasembled 80 inch wardrobes, all sorts of boxed and packages over the years and the little car has always delivered. It's no race car or luxury car, but it can carry things my much larger Galant cannot, thanks to the folding rear seats. If I have one main complaint, it's that the thing turns ike a pig. The aforementioned Galant can actually turn inside of my saturn!
SaturnSuks
Want2morecyliders, 09/23/2002
Saturn S-Series SL 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
At first the car was Great! but right around the 90k mark things started to go bad. I've had to replace the alt. twice. and now I've been told the car is burning oil and I need a new engine. NO WAY! The 2,3 and 4th gears went out on me in traffic. that was fun! and it's been goin downhill from there. I will say this its a tough car. I've been hit 3 times and you wouln't know it. Once by a Izuzu Rodeo which the Saturn torn up the rodeo and I walked a way with a scracth and a 2in hole in the bumper. It served me well, could have been better though mechanic friend asked me what I drove. I said saturn "keep oil in it"he retorted. boy was he ever right!
A poor purchase
D.Levan, 07/18/2004
Saturn S-Series SL 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car as a "certified" used Saturn and noticed excess oil use at first change. Conditon worsened to the point that I used a quart in less than 100 miles. Had seals replace - no good. Diagnosis by non-Saturn mechanic is cracked head and subsequent bad rings. I got the service records from the dealership and they clearly indicate that this vehicle had ongoing problems, this was the opposite of what they said when I purchased the car. Saturn admits to oil burning and various problems, but doesn,t help much with problems. I would not under any circumstance recommend the purchase of a Saturn.
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