1993 Saturn S-Series Review
Price Estimate:Â $2,731 - $4,550
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
What’s new
Saturn adds a wagon to the S-Series lineup. Passenger space is on par with the sedan, but there's almost 29 cubic feet of luggage space in back, making the wagon the most practical of the S-Series cars. The wagon comes in SW1 and SW2 models, which have the same equipment as the SL1 and SL2 sedans respectively. Also this year, a lower-cost coupe called the SC1 (equipped with the base engine) joins the mix; the existing model is renamed SC2. Although the same dimensionally as the SC2, the SC1 comes with exposed headlights rather than the stylish pop-up variety on the SC2. In other news, a driver-side airbag is now standard across the line, while the automatic transmission gets improved shift logic to reduce hunting on hills. S-Series cars optioned with the automatic and ABS now come with traction control as well. The SL2's suspension has been retuned to improve ride quality; it also gets a new front fascia and larger 195/60R15 tires. Foglights are optional on the SL2 and SW2. Inside, all models now have the same gauge design, and all except the base SL get new seat fabric.
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Saturn S-Series Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(43%)
4(33%)
3(14%)
2(10%)
1(0%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
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Better than the Energizer bunny!
5 out of 5 starsgelfling42, 09/10/2013
1993 Saturn S-Series SC1 2dr Coupe
I bought my car used in 2000 for $5k. Best $5k I ever spent! Previous owner didn't take care of it, so I had a few problems at first (plugged catalytic converter, bad belt, etc.), but once I got her cleaned up, she just ran and ran. I don't know how many miles she has, because the odometer died 4 months after I bought it. If I had to guess, I would say over 250k. (I drive a LOT!) It … loves the open road and gets wonderful gas mileage.
It has had a few mechanical problems. I've replaced the alternator 5 times (!), and in the last three years, I replaced the clutch plate, a control arm, and the fuel sending unit. And the motor on the driver's seat belt died LONG ago. Still a good car.
*UPDATE* I sold the car to my brother in 2014. It's still running. He's replaced a few more things (mostly for increased performance reasons) but it still runs reliably. *Update again* As of 2017 he still has that car and considers it the best money HE'S ever spent. She's showing her age, but he buys a new part and she runs again.
Good Ol' Bessie
4 out of 5 starsKLAS, 03/20/2004
1993 Saturn S-Series SL 4dr Sedan
I'm sitting here with a heavy heart
today...after eleven years with good Ol'
Bessie, I have purchased a new car and
have decided to donate Bessie to
Melwood. I bought my new car 3 weeks
ago, but I can't stop driving Bessie.
My friends have been kidding me about
it, but I truely do love my Saturn. I
need to feed her a quart of oil every
week, but she's been a fantastic car … and
has never let me down.
The Money Pit
1.63 out of 5 starsAllen, 08/25/2005
1993 Saturn S-Series SL2 4dr Sedan
I bought the 1993 Saturn SL2 used from a private party in August 2003 w/ only 45,000 miles on it. From the very 1st day I had it the car was nothing, but a money pit even though it had a clean Carfax record!!! 1st of all the car burned a ton of oil ( a quart every 600-700 miles and after reading many reviews this seems to be a problem on this model. 2nd - The A/C Blew out on it and had … the compressor replaced 3 times because the clutch on the compressor kept burning out for some reason that mechanics couldn't figure out. 3rd - Went through 2 alternators. 4th - My favorite here went through 3 tensioner pulleys, which Saturns seem to go through all the time. Out of space but can go on!
Perfect First Car
4.38 out of 5 starsKurtis, 01/17/2008
1993 Saturn S-Series SC2 2dr Coupe
I got a good job out of high school, but is over an hours drive there, an hour back so I've put lots of miles on my Saturn. Bought it w/114k miles on it. I put 14k on it myself in the last 2 years and it still runs like it's brand new! Great handling all seasons, comfortable, affordable, low insurence, and relatively fast for a 4 cylinder.
1993 S-Series Highlights
Wagon
SW1
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 28 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $121/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 28.8 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original0
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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