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Used 1997 Saturn S-Series Consumer Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
167 reviews

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2.75 out of 5 stars

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!

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3.5 out of 5 stars

'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.

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4.38 out of 5 stars

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.

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3.63 out of 5 stars

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.

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1.75 out of 5 stars

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.

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