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Car Forum / Saturn Cars / January 2005Need used Saturn purchase advice
I'm looking to get rid of my fairy unreliable 94 Pontiac Trans Sport. I want something smaller and (much) more fuel efficient and best of all made of polymer, which is about the only feature I still enjoy about my van. I have my eyes set on a 2001 Saturn SC1 with 5 speed and approx. 70,000 km (or 43,000 miles) that I see at my local dealer lot. It seems to be priced right. I want to know if there is anything specific I should look out for? Mechanically and cosmetically what can (and does) typically go wrong with such car that I may be able to spot? I plan on taking the car to my mechanic, so if there are some problem areas you can point out to me, I'll ask him to check it. Also, I have been told to stay away from twin cam engines in Saturns (actually GM cars in general). Is there tany ruth to that? Is SC1 a better choice than SC2 as far as reliability is concerned? My dad (honda-owner-who-says-he-will-never-buy-american-again) is laughing at me for even considering a Saturn. I have owned many imports before, but don't want to go there again. Please help, and thanks in advance. You could also check Consumer Reports at the library to see what the repair record is on this car. Also search this group using the groups page of www.google.com > I'm looking to get rid of my fairy unreliable 94 Pontiac Trans Sport. > I want something smaller and (much) more fuel efficient and best of all [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > before, but don't want to go there again. > Please help, and thanks in advance. What is wrong with GM twin-cam engine? I thought it is more reliable than SOHC (crack head). > I'm looking to get rid of my fairy unreliable 94 Pontiac Trans Sport. > I want something smaller and (much) more fuel efficient and best of all [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > before, but don't want to go there again. > Please help, and thanks in advance. People! If I really wanted to browse Consumer Reports to tell me how reliable (unreliable cars are) I would (and did actually) check out those sites. However these suits have never sat inside a Saturn. I wanted an actual owner feedback. Yes, I checked out carreviews.com, carsurvey.org etc. These are mostly written by folks who never maintain their cars, have tons of problems with their vehicles and like to vent it somewhere, but are hardly ever addressing the specific problem areas. I am looking for trouble spots on a specific car (SOHC and manual tranny SC1), rarely do you see reviewers specifying equipment of their test car, and in most cases they drive the top model with all the features and options. I just need to know what your experiences are with the basic Saturn coupe, what problems have you experienced, and what are some of the signs of things potentially about to break. If you are going to try to point me to a website, it better be a good, informative one, but I'd much rather hear from an actual owner telling his horror stories, although I'd prefer to hear good stories:) This is why I posted to a Saturn-specific newsgroup. Thank you again. You could also check Consumer Reports at the library to see what the repair record is on this car. Also search this group using the groups page of www.google.com Have you looked at the groups at www.edmunds.com. And by the way, CR specifies the major options in the cars they test. And I am sure they sit in the cars when they drive them for testing purposes. By the way, it is preferable not to post HTML in newsgroups. Quoted portion below this point: People! If I really wanted to browse Consumer Reports to tell me how reliable (unreliable cars are) I would (and did actually) check out those sites. However these suits have never sat inside a Saturn. I wanted an actual owner feedback. Yes, I checked out carreviews.com, carsurvey.org etc. These are mostly written by folks who never maintain their cars, have tons of problems with their vehicles and like to vent it somewhere, but are hardly ever addressing the specific problem areas. I am looking for trouble spots on a specific car (SOHC and manual tranny SC1), rarely do you see reviewers specifying equipment of their test car, and in most cases they drive the top model with all the features and options. I just need to know what your experiences are with the basic Saturn coupe, what problems have you experienced, and what are some of the signs of things potentially about to break. If you are going to try to point me to a website, it better be a good, informative one, but I'd much rather hear from an actual owner telling his horror stories, although I'd prefer to hear good stories:) This is why I posted to a Saturn-specific newsgroup. Thank you again. You could also check Consumer Reports at the library to see what the repair record is on this car. Also search this group using the groups page of www.google.com If you reply to someone else's post it is also preferable to stick to the topic in newsgroups. > Have you looked at the groups at www.edmunds.com. And by the way, CR > specifies the major options in the cars they test. And I am sure they sit [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > record is on this car. Also search this group using the groups page of > www.google.com Darius, heres someone with the straight scoop. '01 saw some major changes to the SC. '02 was the final year of the S car. There were many minor issues in the '01 model (which not all cars have), not all the same problems exist in the '02 SC models. Below are all the recall/bulletins for the '01 SC1. SOHC engines have a known tendency for cracked heads and overheating when not properly taken care of and especially if allowed to overheat. We have 3 SOHC S-cars in the family and the only issues with one was our teenagers dogged on the car and failed to properly check fluids, thus overheating and blown gaskets (which would have lead to a cracked head); after repair, that car is on its second teenage driver and still running strong. SOHC engines are only 100hp but also have somewhat better pickup on the low power end than DOHC. And of course, the gas mileage is better. Here is a site with known bulletins and problems on the '01 SC1, the '02 models also shared some of these issues but many are not applicable. As I said, '01 was the 1st year of the "newly designed" SC models, '02 was the 2nd and final yr. I drive an '02 DOHC SC2 myself. Hope this info helps. http://www.alldata.com/TSB/53/015309FC.html marx404 Thank you, marx404 Just as I was going to unsubscribe from the newsgroup, somebody finally pulls through. Yes, the link helps a great deal. BTW seeing the bulletin scroll endlessly while checking out my van makes me appreciate the short list devoted to that particular year/model of Saturn. I did take a look at the Saturn I had spoted at the dealer lot, and was instantly turned off of it. Car came from eastern Canada (I live in Manitoba) and was brutally rusty underneath, even hinges under the hood were caked with rust. They (over)use salt to condition roads in the winter in Ontario and Quebec, and salt is rendered useless in our arctic fifty below deep freeze of Manitoba. We use sand for traction. I also talked to my mechanic (40 years of experience) who said to stay away from DOHC (oil burner) but otherwise had no problems with 1.9 L. in S cars. I maintain my cars, so there should not be any overheating problems, unless the damage has already been done, which my mechanic will check for me. Once again, thanks for the info and the link. > Darius, heres someone with the straight scoop. '01 saw some major changes to > the SC. '02 was the final year of the S car. There were many minor issues in [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > marx404 > Thank you, marx404 > Just as I was going to unsubscribe from the newsgroup, somebody finally > pulls > through. Too bad. With your attitude we were hoping you would leave. > Yes, the link helps a great deal. BTW seeing the bulletin scroll endlessly > while checking out my van makes me appreciate the short list devoted to [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] >> >> marx404 Hey Art, if youre not going to post something helpful in the group go back to sucking a dick > > Thank you, marx404 > > Just as I was going to unsubscribe from the newsgroup, somebody finally [quoted text clipped - 59 lines] > >> > >> marx404 Your mechanic has it backwards. Larry > Thank you, marx404 > Just as I was going to unsubscribe from the newsgroup, somebody finally [quoted text clipped - 56 lines] >> >> marx404 > I'm looking to get rid of my fairy unreliable 94 Pontiac Trans Sport. > I want something smaller and (much) more fuel efficient and best of all [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > before, but don't want to go there again. > Please help, and thanks in advance. Darius, check out this website: http://www.saturnfans.com/ Paul |
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