Used 1997 Saturn S-Series Consumer Reviews
Used S-Series for sale
Review of 97 Saturn SL-1
BSwift, 01/09/2008
1997 Saturn S-Series SL1 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car with 60,000 miles on it in 2002. The day after I drove it off the lot, the car over-heated on my way down the highway. Little did I know at that time, that was just the beginning of my problems. The car overheats in the summer if you sit in traffic too long. The electrical system is a joke, if I use the car lighter, I have to replace a fuse or the car won't turn on. Needless to say, I can't use it. The car is very loud due to cheap parts on the inside. Everything rattles! The material from the ceiling of the car feel off. I have manual windows, and the drivers side broke, it won't roll down or up. The acceleration is terrible. To summarize, it drives like a go-cart.
NOT SO GOOD!
emmily, 10/26/2002
1997 Saturn S-Series SL2 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car to get to school and back about 70-100miles/day of driving. It was in and out of the shop several times for new alternator and four alignments, after which the thing still pulled to the right so hard it was too dangerous to drive on the freeway. At 70K needed new engine, transmission, engine cradle, you name it. Excellent customer service, but this car drives like Tupperware!
'97 Saturn
M. Martin, 10/16/2002
1997 Saturn S-Series SL 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My husband bought our Saturn five years ago now. It suited him fine. He's six foot tall. However, I have been driving it since we bought a new van and I feel like I'm sitting in a hole. My mother has a terribly hard time getting out of it the seats are so low. We have a manual transmission and even in low gear it has no pick up and can hardly get up a hill. Also, if there is a heavy wind or a tractor trailer goes by I feel like I'm going to get blown off the road. Not good in snow either. Other than that it has been reliable and cheap on gas.
Tried & true
PadraigHenry, 05/19/2004
1997 Saturn S-Series SW1 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Over 210,000 Km with less than $1,000 in repairs. Front end and steering were problematic but repaired well. Comfortable on the highway and in town. Capable of cruising ar 140 K/h - Montana.
What do you expect?
brianschmizzle, 07/24/2008
1997 Saturn S-Series SL2 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My father in law bought it for my wife when she was still in high school with 74000 miles on it. It burned oil slightly at the time but he told me to keep it full of oil and water and we'd be fine. Well...100,000 miles later and all I've done to it is replace the tires, 2 tie rods, and a lot of oil! I still take the car for my long trips because it is ridiculously reliable! Yes it is noisy, uncomfortable, loud, and the stereo system sounds like a junior high band, but the car got us through college with no more than $180 worth of maintainance! Sweet deal if you ask me.
Saturn Sucks
bayoufire, 05/10/2002
1997 Saturn S-Series SC2 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I would only suggest buying a 97SC2 to a person who is a mechanic. Since buying my sc2 i have taken it to my saturn dealer 4 times for an oil leak. One time they left one of the bolts up next to the windshield rather than attached to my car. My most recent encounter was having my car towed in for a bad alternator and yet another oil leak and unattached back seat that magically popped off one day when i hit my brakes. While this is not the worse car ever made It is second only to that of the Ford Pinto.
Works for me
Jeff W., 06/10/2002
1997 Saturn S-Series SL 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Mine is the standard 5-speed with A/C as the only option. It has 117,000 miles on it and the only repair I've done on it in the last 5 years is to replace an upper motor mount (myself) I got a cream puff; I've never owned a car that went this long with no major or even minor repairs. It's my commuter car and I drive it hard. I simply have changed the oil, filters, and had the periodic maintenance performed on it. It runs the same as the day I bought it.
great car for the price
myalias, 11/16/2002
1997 Saturn S-Series SL1 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
At 75 000 miles,the only replacement was a egr valve.Still has orig brakes and tires.Incredible Regular maintenance and nothing more
Safe
Male Driver, 06/04/2004
1997 Saturn S-Series SC2 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've had my SC2 for about 5 years and put over 80K miles on. It would now have 105K but I hit a tree head on at 65mph, so no more SC2. However, my only injury was a couple scratches on my right hand. Very safe car. Fun to drive after adding a few performance modifications. Handles well through corners. It was a good experience, but I would not buy another. I had to replace the starter, fuel pump, alternator, sun roof module, driver side door regulator, radiator, water pump and battery. It was practically new again at 105K miles. Have not had a good time dealing with the Saturn dealer.
I LOVE THIS CAR!!
Heatehr, 07/09/2004
1997 Saturn S-Series SC2 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I love my car to death. It is so much fun to drive. It is very peppy and has amazing pick-up. I would recomend this car to anyone (that doesn't have a family). It is a great single person or couple car. Trust me when I say, NO BABIES!