SATURN SC2 PURCHASE

My daughter wants to purchase a 1999 Saturn SC2 from Carmax. Can I
get
input on this car? Good gas mileage? Maintenance? Any major problems
seen with this model (not just one person's car, but in general for
this car)?

Also, what is the last year they made this car?


Thanks for your help!


cynthia

 

FWIW, I'm approaching the one-year mark on a 1996 SL2 (same car as the SC2
except 4dr vs. 2dr), and I couldn't be happier. It had about 97,000 mi on it
when we bought it, and we're up around 115,000 now. No significant problems so
far. Fuel mileage is about 28mpg on a mixed city/highway cycle, and 32+ on
highway trips -- your mileage in a '99 SC2 should be very similar.

Maintenance is a mixed bag. It's very easy to check fluid levels, and most
fluids are easy to add. Except oil -- adding oil without spilling it is a bit
tricky. Changing oil requires jackstands or ramps, and the oil filter is hard
to reach. Transmission fluid and filter need to be changed periodically (12 mo
/ 12K mi, IIRC). Good news is that the filter is a spin-on canister, just like
an oil filter; bad news is it's hard to reach too. Changing the serpentine
belt is a pain in the ass. Spark plugs are easy to reach.

 

I agee with all of th above and I have 161k miles on mine. Both my
children have saturns 96,97 and 2001 and couldn't be happier. The
greatest thing I like is that I can do most of the service work.
The only major itens that needed to be replaced was the front and rear
struts ( did ourselves I might mention ) uper motor mount( another
easy to do) and front brakes.
maintenance seems to b the same as other cars except parts are cheaper
and easy to put on.
We average 27mpg in the city and 37mpg on the hiway.

 

2002 was the last year for the S-series. In 2000-2002(?), the SC became
larger as it was placed upon the SL chassis. I agreee with everything
previously posted, the oil filter is no fun to get to, it is placed above
the pass side of the frame pinned between that and the engine, youll
definately need a ramp and also useful to have a half-gallon milk jug cut in
half to aid in draining the oil (youll see what I mean). Also, you can
change the spark plugs to NGK platinums, and use synthetic oil, lenghtening
the maintenence intervals. All in all, the SC is a great car, very safe and
sturdy. I loved mine.

 

My model and story are almost identical and I've had no problems. I have the
5 speed and I get 20 mpg for in town use and maybe 28 on highway.

Oil changes are cheap and it's easier to just let some place do it.


Transmission fluid and filter need to be changed periodically (12 mo