Need 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

 

What is wrong with GM twin-cam engine? I thought it is more reliable than
SOHC (crack head).

 

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.

 

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.

 

Too bad. With your attitude we were hoping you would leave.

 

Your mechanic has it backwards.
Larry

 

Darius, check out this website: http://www.saturnfans.com/

Paul

 

Hey Art, if youre not going to post something helpful in the group go back
to sucking a dick