I have not known anyone who had a good Saturn.
I dealt exclusively with the Saturn dealer, followed all service instructions, had all repairs made, and did not abuse the car in any way.
1. At exactly 35,000 miles (barely still within warranty" it developed "piston slap." The entire lower part of the engine was rebuilt. No expense to me, but thousands of dollars.
2. At about 50,000 miles the alternator began to squeal. It was replaced at about $300 or so expense to me.
3. At about 75,000 miles the alternator had to be replaced again, about $350.
4. At about 100,000 miles there was some kind of oil leak and a lot of things were done to the engine at a cost of about $1,300 to me.
5. At about 125,000 miles, another alternator, another $350.
6. At about 150,000 miles the transmission fell apart; the car would not move. I gave it to the Kidney Foundation and got a tax deduction of about $900.
There were rattles and squeaks from the very beginning that could never be stopped.
I came to loath climbing into the too-low driver's seat.
There were other repairs that can't remember exactly that cost a few hundred more dollars.
If only I had bought a Toyota Corolla for $1,500 more than I paid for that Saturn, it would still be on the road and would never have had any of those repairs. The only good things about it were the stainless steel exhaust system and the dentless side panels. It was very noisy and in its later years less economical to drive.
I recently drove an almost-new Chevy Malibu rental. A delight to drive. Would never buy. |
