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

 

Buy a Honda and drive in peace. Or a Toyota.

 

Recommend you find a Saturn newsgroup or post on a GM site. Doubt many
Honda owners have experience with the Saturn.

 

Only what I read in the Saturn newsgroup. The biggest issue with
these cars is oil consumption due to ring problems. If the oil level
is not maintained, reduced oil pressure to the timing chain tensioner
may promote chain wear (assuming you don't fry the engine first.)
Cracked heads and bad head gaskets affect certain models. Alternators
often fail as do engine mounts. The ATs sometimes fail. Rust around
the windshield and other places is a problem.

They seem to get pretty good mileage, especially the 8-valve engine.
Routine maintenance is pretty cheap.

I think '99 was the last year for the S series. Some of the problems
may have been fixed by then, but knowing GM I wouldn't count on it.

 

I actually drove a 94 SC1 MT until about 4 months ago when I got a 2007
Civic coupe, so I have direct experience (my wife drove an SW2 for a
while, too, but she's had a Civic sedan for 4 years now). Oil problems
are true, but if the oil is changed absolutely regularly without fail, it
*usually* doesn't crop up. A/C evaporator went on mine, and it's behind
the dash, so it would've cost a lot to replace. SW2 had the oil problem,
and also some kind of valve-body AT problem that would've gotten worse,
but she took it to a Carmax to sell it. Caveat Emptor... I had my
alternator fail, as well as an engine mount, but generally they're fairly
maintenance-free, and it is fairly cheap to get done... Hope this helps.

brian

 

Mistake 1: Buying a Saturn.
Mistake 2: Buying it from Carmax.

Seriously, buy a Honda.

 

I could agree on this, but it is only a taste choice.

What is wrong with buying at Carmax?

 

There is no one statement to cover *all* Carmax's, and over any
given period of time, some Carmax's that were good go bad and
visa versa.