GM killed Saturn because their cars started dominating the cheap and low entry-level Market. They even started displacing some of the entry-level Asian cars. Considering they were at most $18,000 fully loaded, but most ran around fourteen to fifteen thousand dollars, and they had good quality, before Saturn was forced to reintegrate into GM more closely, Saturn made good cars. When Saturn started displacing the Chevy Malibu and Chevy Impala sales, as well as some of other GM low-end models, GM killed their design and development department, and forced them to use Parts been Parts again. They also got rid of the plastic body panels, because they lasted too well. Saturn is the exact kind of car that automakers hate, because it's reliable, it's cheap to manufacture, it's cheap to buy, and nobody has to be saddled with a massive amount of debt. That is the real reason why GM killed Saturn.
Also, a very important note is the National Automobile Dealer's Association (NADA) wanted Saturn dead because of the way they were sold and dealerships became factory outlets instead of conventional dealerships. It threatened the entire automotive economy with it's honesty!
Because ultimately, car makers don't want to sell you one car that lasts you a while. They want to sell you a new car every other year. Just like phone makers want you to buy a new phone every other year.
I was a Saturn salesman. Sounds like a horror movie. We jumped on the panels hundreds of times to demonstrate there indestructiblity. Overall a good car at a very good price.
The original Saturns (the S-series) were superb cars. They were, in my opinion, the best small cars GM ever made - inexpensive, well-made, and with performance comparable to even the best compact imports. The only thing wrong with them was the timing. They showed up on the market in the early 90s, just as cars were starting to get bigger and SUVs/CUVs were starting to really get popular. Saturn really needed more than just a compact to survive, and the L-series was too little, too late. It's a shame Saturn isn't around anymore, but the bigger shame is how little GM learned from it. The S-series was great because it was the only GM small/budget car in recent history developed outside of the cynical environment that forced designers to cut corners and use mediocre junk from the corporate parts bin. In other words, the S-series was great because those who designed it understood that they didn't need to be cheap to make a inexpensive car.
I had a first gen sc2. had to replace the alternator 3x. the sunroof started leaking. but I like it quite a bit...a great first car. the one big design flaw, apart from the location of the alternator, was that rain water would dump inside the cabin when you opened the door (in the rain). they fixed that with this generation though--that's the distinct channel on either side of the roof.
@@drgjs Alternator issues are sadly a reality of many old cars nowadays. From what I understand, the only "new" ones available for most models are refirbs of questionable quality. I've known a number of people who went through alternators like that on a variety of different cars.
@@Sliphantom Oh--I'm talking alternator problems back in the 1990s! I can't recall the year, but I owned a first-gen SC2 from 1993 till around 1999 or 2000. It was in the shop more than a toyota would have been, with 3 replaced alternators. I was told that it was placed too closely to the exhaust manifold, without adequate heat shielding. (I gave it to my brother, who sadly totaled it just a few months upon delivery.)
They were great cars the real issue was it was conceived at a time where a GM division could make something's for it self, but matured into a time where nothing could be a one off. So rather than evolve the S car they ended for a crappy Cavalier clone in the Ion. The L car was trash with nothing but problems from the taillights (still a GM problem) to the 3.0 V6 from the Catera. The Vue was good especially with the Honda 3.5 but as you say too little too late. Leadership (use that term loosely with GM) couldn't figure out what we should be and just threw everything against the wall.
Didn't expect to see you here. Do you still stream ik you stopped uploading automation videos. Doubt you remember me we sorta talked back and forth on discord about these Saturn's.
I was working for GM when Saturn opened the plant in Spring Hill, TN. Started off independent and were highly innovative and successful. Then GM started taking control and parts bin-ified Saturn and killed them.
@@thedeadcamel nah even though I don’t see this car selling for 3k on any given day he will definitely cut even if he only spends 1500 in total. This car can sell all day for 2k locally probably and maybe on bring a trailer 3k 500-700 beaters that need to be fixed are easy flips even I do them myself.
Excellent vehicle as far as safety goes. My sister wrecked her SC2 dodging an armadillo at 85... Front and rear completely smashed in as the car ping ponged between the guardrails... Both doors still opened and closed perfectly. Bumps and bruises, that was it.
GM went and asked their mechanics "how would they build a car in that "class",which they made it so that backyard mechanics could do everything needed,even down to the outside car panels
I remember the clutch was SUPER smooth on these. It was one of those cars that you could actually learn to drive stick because the clutch was so smooth.
After my wife drove her new Saturn SL1 for a few years , we gave it to my daughter and bought my wife an SC2 . To this day , she still says that was the best car she ever had.
Exactly the type of video the audience craves. Cheap, nice, fixable, flippable, fun, affordable, entertaining, little pocket rocket car. Plenty of room to make a decent payday with just a couple days work. Plus the content is fire. Something any person can get and fix without a bunch of headache. VT247
My first car was a 2002 SL with a manual. Some lady hit my bumper when I was at work and the insurance company paid the price that I bought it. We ended up heating the bumper and popping out the dent so the car was practically free. Great car and was actually pretty fun to drive
Ahh the memories... My first Saturn was in the first 50 car purchases from the Omaha dealership back in '92. Drove it off the show room floor to applause from the staff.
I took my sister's (it was brand new) for a joy ride when I was 15 LOL... remember going around a corner peeling out! was the 3 door peppy little car. So this car has a special place in my heart. Imagine how old we're all getting HAHAHAH
As a Tennessean, I fondly remember Saturns. The old ones around here are beaten to hell like your average Bonneville or Scion TC. Overflowing ashtrays and ducttaped windows abound.
Years ago, I watched a kid tear up a 1/4 mile spectator drag with one of those. He would smoke all of the bigger v6 and V8’s in the corners but the track was short enough that they couldn’t catch him on the short straights. I think the only mod was adjustable suspension. His family all races in different race divisions so he was constantly tinkering to make it better with his setup and not for power.
A friend of mine had a SL1 and it was literally like riding on rails. The Ion (basically the Saturn Cobalt) was nowhere near the same in how it handled, and more power didn’t make up for it.
Strange that they just bought it and the clutch "went out". Sounds like they didn't know how to drive a stick and mulched the clutch/flywheel. The Modelo/Swisher combo tells me they were going to abuse this car to death anyway, it saved itself lol
I had 2 SL2's loved them. first went 100k on in and had an accident. Simple fairly reliable and fun to drive. The second one had many electrical problems, bad grounds, and nagging issues.
That SC2 definitely looks better on the outside than the inside, lol. I was waiting for you to mention the miles it has. 138k isn't bad!! And those alloys look pretty sharp, imo. Always liked the look of the 97 and up coupes. And when they added the 3rd door in 2000, that was genius!! One thing I remember about the S-Series is that you sat REALLY low in them. Looking forward to the series on this S-Series
i just got my first car a few months ago, its a 97 sc2 with 92000 miles. guy who sold it thought it had a blown head gasket so i got it for 900. only problem was the radiator, head gasket was fine.
I had a first gen SW2, highway mileage was terrific a great runner. At 6 yrs old, while stopped at a red light and in my mirror saw a young lady proceeding at high speed. She had turned her interior rear view mirror to face her and was brushing her hair. I placed both feet on my brakes. Her windshield broke when her Prelude hit the bottom of my rear bumper. Fortunately I did not go into the 45 MPH oncoming traffic, or the vehicle in front of me. Narragansett Bay.
I dailied a 2001 SC1 for 7 years. Unfortunately my life just outgrew it. Somehow I averaged about 7l/100km (33mpg) driving the absolute snot out of it because it was so slow.
Absolutely love Saturn. I had numerous of them (SL2’s, L100, L200, L300, and Vue)- I drive a lot. Very safe cars, easy to fix, great gas mileage. My favorite Saturn I owned was my Vue, which had for years. Still looking to get a Vue Hybrid (even though it is a mild hybrid)- still wish they made them. The side panels were great for dings (or lack of) and felt very safe when got hit.
I didn't know Saturn managed to release a Vue Hybrid before the brand was 'retired' by GM. They were on the way to make technology available on the cheap. That's probably why GM did what they did, looking at profits over product.
Had a friend with the first gen SC2 that had a clutch go out. He had a hard time finding someone to work on it for some reason as they said the clutch was a pain to replace. Curious if that holds true…
It depends on how you want to do it. It is a partial subframe drop (EVERYTHING is attached to the subframe up front including the radiator and condensor) to do it fast which means for most folks, doing it on lift. We did it at the track with normal jack and stands but it actually take longer. With a couple of added wiring quick disconnects we got to where our four man team could swap out the whole subframe at the track in 70 minutes. So I have a raced and DD a first and second gen S-series and they were really decent cars. The problem was that without 3 years of the first gen introduction, the Japanese competition had moved on while GM was just trying to recoup a bit of their investment so the S-series stayed substantially the same for 11 years...how much did the Civic change in that time?
These SC2s are really great cars. Nice find JR! I remember when these were new. Super reliable, easy on gas, fun to drive, cheap to maintain. Everything anyone would want in a daily driver. The way yours is equipped, fully loaded with the 5 speed stick, is really the ultimate Saturn until you get to that Sky. Can't wait to see yours all fixed up.
I almost bought an S coupe with the flip up headlights back when Saturn first started (Yes, Im that old), but a 93 Grand Am with the big V6 won out, which I still have. Wonder how long the Saturn would have lasted.... 🖖
I still remember driving to bmx races down south in the late 80’s and seeing the soft sided Saturn semi trucks taking pre production cars around for testing. Such a cool time. Great car, I can’t wait to see if back on the road! Be well 🙏
I loved my 99 SW2 manual. I traded it when it needed all 4 window regulators and A/C at the same time, but I would have saved a lot of money just fixing it... By the way, I think it did have traction control.
I have a mint red SC2 Saturn. I just had a new paint job done on it. It also has a sticker on my side back window that shows it was made in Tennessee. I adore my car. People have actually come up to me and asked what year it is. Keeping my car forever. Looking for a new car but Keeping my baby. Thank you Saturn 😊
I had a 2003 Saturn L200 bought it in 2010 with 47,000 miles it was loaded didn't have the odd Opel v6 a good thing. It had the 2.2 ecotec. Traded it in 2018 with 102,000 miles sold it for the same 4500 I paid for it. It was a super nice car and other than the usual tires brakes fluid changes was perfect. Blew me away to basically sell it the same for what I paid 8 years later! I miss it.
I too had an 03 L200 from last summer to Easter week of this year. Mine had 188k when I bought it. It had issues I knew about beforehand and some I didn't know about. I think most of the issues were due to the high mileage. Like it needed a new steering rack, new speakers all around, transmission cooler lines, and a complete new exhaust system, to name a few. It had a sunroof w/tilt and a power driver's seat though. I wouldn't say it was a bad car. Just a worn out car, lol. I wouldn't mind buying another one in better shape with less miles
Oh the Wedge. I was driving through Nashville TN and looked over to the northbound lane and seen one that went under a pickup truck and the back wheels was resting on the roof of the car. No glass was broken and it looked like some one had lifted the back wheels up and placed it gently on the roof.
Hey John, what a blast from the past. I had a 1996 SC2, a 2nd Gen with all the options except the sunroof. I liked it for the economy but hated it as it was Red. I also had a 1993 SC2, a 1st Gen with the same options and in Black. Between these two cars, I got 10 tickets within 18 months of ownership. Needless to say, I had to get rid of them. Yours is nice being a 3rd Gen but this model evolved to become the Ion series after 2002. It too was also short lived due to being a GM brand. FYI, that centre console was also an optional addon accessory as well.
JR, I has a 94’ SL, 97’ SC2 5 speed, an 05 Ion Redline, my 97 was an absolutely incredible car, 150,000 miles, got me through college and into my first job. I traded her in for the Ion. The S series were the best, they burned oil, but never had issues. I miss that car!
I miss these cars. I remember wanting on as a kid, I also remember thinking how it seemed like they wanted to make them look "Jetsons" level Futuristic with the bubble roof. Although I notice you didn't open the trunk, I hole there;s not surprises in there.
Saturn was my bread and butter car when I had my car lot. Such underrated cars. Decent power, high 30's on the mpg's, decent looking, fun to drive, and pretty dang reliable in the later years. That said, I can change the engine and starter in one with my eyes shut.
wow those wheels are so clean! A friend of mine had one of these back in high school .. theyre so light you can really have fun with a tight emergency brake on dry pavement.. or dirt roads.. and from what i remember those little DOHC 1.9's sounded kinda cool and had really smooth/predictable power
I had the first generation Saturn coupe. It was a great little car for me. That is until I stopped paying for it and it got repossessed. Back in the day, I wasn’t the best with my money. 🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ Anyway it was a great car while it lasted.
Yess, love me my Saturns, I actually used your saturn ion redline video to help me bleed the clutch on mine. (Would love to see you build and document a lsj sc or turbo car)
Brings back memories. I once had a 2002 SC1, which was my first brand new car purchase. It was a great little car. The one thing I didn’t like about it was that it wasn’t equipped with ABS. Subsequently, I was sweet-talked into trading it in for a 2004 ION, which was not one of my better decisions.
I had a 98 SC1 bought brand new. Loved the way it looked, got a lot of compliments, never got any dents from shopping carts thanks to the plastic body panels. It was slightly underpowered being the SC1, wish I'd got the twin cam SC2 but it was my first new car and entry level was all I could afford. I might be interested in buying this one when your done JR.
I had bought a 1994 SC2 - had the entire Saturn buying experience with the owners meetup and BBQ, etc. It was the first and last "GM product" I've ever purchased new. I had absolutely NO issues with it over my ownership of about 4 years - it was great but I needed more interior room (growing family) so we sold it. Not too long after that GM began to "swallow up" the brand and IMO ruined it before they ended that line.
Looks very nice... Third gen, used to have a few, including a red SC2 with sunroof. (I have a 2002-made SL2 manual still, will drive it forever) Mind that only the doors and quarter panels are plastic, hood, roof, and trunk are all metal. Plugs must be copper ngk, burning oil is normal, etc. Saturnfans (with most common tld) has instructions to do anything you'd ever want to do or know about these things. And they're super easy to work on in general. Yeah I guess I'm a bit of a old school (s series) Saturn fanboy. Do feel free to ask any questions, though honestly most of the answers are on the forum. Some of them did actually have some primitive traction control. (Those alloy wheels look really nice, no more alloy Saturns at my house)
3rd owner of a 95 sw1. Great car. 33mpg when it needed an oil change, 38 mpg on fresh oil - reliably. Drawback was that it drank oil. 1qt/ 1000 miles, up to 0.5qt every tank of gas 😆. Yup, there was a little bit of blue smoke coming out. Which also lead to multiple muffler changes in my ownership. Multiple tie rod ends @ $20 a piece, basically any time I needed an alignment, there was a tie rod to replace. Easy handling in snow, solid driver at max speed (I forget where the governor was, but I found it several times). Rear glass had been replaced and I was always chasing down leaks. The dealer did it and it looked like a kindergartner did it. I finally got rid of it after a few mold and mildew cleanups directly related to the rear window seal, still running. The hatch was great for bandpass subs. I didn't know it was plastic until I was gifted an old XM radio, and couldn't find a metal body panel to slap the magnetic antenna on, so I rode on the hood.
I bought new a 2004 Saturn VUE. Loved it! It had a Honda V6 engine, AWD transmission. 1st year had it a young driver hit rear passenger door while it was sitting in parking lot. The panel was not ruined but required repainting. The repair was a lot cheaper than steel I can tell you that. Saturn made great vehicles. Don't know "who or what" killed it but so sad they're gone. Thanks JR
We bought a 95 SL1 and put 170k on it before trading it in still running good. Used a weird amount of oil without smoking or dripping. Worst thing about it other than the terrible turning radius was the unbelievable static shock from it. Often could see the spark in daylight. If there was ever a car you need to ground yourself on before pumping gas, that was it. Something about the air flow over plastic making the charge... Not really fond memories of that Saturn other than no significant repair bills while we had it.
Cool car. It will be interesting how well the frame has stood the test of time underneath. Unfortunately Saturn seems to have proved making a good reliable cheap car is the best way to go out of business. No one replaces them.
It's right I want you to buy a Saturn unless you just want to replace it and get tired of it you never really have to replace it it will last I don't know how they built them so tough
Front and rear subframe rot is a common thing in the rust belt. Worse is the rear because it is also the mounting bolt locations. Still really good cars if what you wanted was just a car. DD one for few years and had no complaints outside of the totally understandable loud cabin.
I loved my Saturn. Probably one of the most impressive vehicle I ever had. My family all worked for Ford so that is what everybody drove. However, I came across one of these for $250 when I was in my early 20's. It was everything you said, amazing deal, great gas mileage, super easy to work on, great manual. Could not believe it when GM decided to shut them down. Mine was the generation that didn't have the 3rd door. Water pump went out and warped the head, probably should have fixed it, but scrapped it since it was before cash for clunkers so $500 cars were everywhere back then.
I always wanted to find a wagon, the SW2, that wasn't beat to hell. Hasn't happened yet. I owned a 99 SL2 manual for years and it really was a good car, wish I'd kept it
Very dent resistant is an understatement... I had an 01 sl2 that I ran backwards into a tree and it didn't so much as scratch, popped right out when I pulled away. Saturn made great cars. Love it
They are also very popular for dirt track racing. I’ve driven a few of them and it definitely feels like more than 124HP. You should dyno it after the clutch repair. Wouldn’t be surprised if it make’s more than the claimed HP.
I bought a 2004 Saturn Ion standard transmission brand new off the lot. Still got it today as my daily driver going to be rolling 200k here soon. My biggest fix was changing the clutch and installing new fuel lines. Glad I did not get the automatic transmissions which were horrible in this car.
I'm so glad I ran across this video cause I actually have a 99 sc1 automatic right now. It was a gift to me as my 1st car. The way it drives is so pleasing to me but I am having problems with the shifting & something dealing with the air intake temperature. Also I can't use my radio cause the anti theft came on after the battery died. U definitely telling the truth about how much the car is enjoyable to drive & have. I'm definitely thinking about keeping my car some years. Wish u could b my mechanic.
Wow that's awesome!!! I have a 2002 SL2 which is the sedan version. They are great little cars! Found mine on marketplace with 47k miles! So I plan to keep it for a very long time! Best of luck to you in fixing yours up!
I worked at a Saturn dealership for years. One of the weak points on those manual transmissions were the shift cables. A lot of people came in thinking it was a clutch or a bad CV axle or something to do with the driveline and it was just the shift cables. While you’re in there it would be a good idea to change them.
Nice find!! I picked up one of these last summer for my teen's first car. It was owned by a woman in her 70's who kept it garaged and was the only owner. Inside the glove box with the manual there's extensive service records that go all the way back to the first oil change. Near perfect red paint, no peeling, all around and inside not a single rip, tear, or stain--and it has the sliding armrest. Only issue is a persistent SES light and code that indicates evap solenoid. Replaced that but SES light still on, same code. Doesn't seem to affect how the car runs and drives though, so not too worried about it. Definitely a gem, and I am sure with only 134k miles it will last him a long time. :)
Yeah I had a 98 Sl2 saturn same engine but automatic. Which I'll say I'll never own a auto again in a saturn but however it was a really good car an I ended up losing it over Insurance wanting to Total it over wreck but it actually wasn't even totaled cause it had those plastic body panels like this an it poped back out just fine an left some scratches that's all. I most certainly want to own another Saturn but I want it to be a 5-speed for sure
Gabe I highly suspect is the type of soldier seen on the barracks roof in the snow with a tea tray, explaining to the noobs that this is the latest in fast arctic insertion. So, to answer your question, he's probably healed aaaaaand messed himself up, again, since ;). My kind of Squaddie
"One of those cars that always get you home...." oh the irony ;) Cool car, sold them new back in the day, sadly not a easy sell, they were way better than generally reputed.
JR you just threw me back 25 years, amazing. Saturn had the best commercials... always a prime opportunity for dad to tell me how his C3 was all fiberglass, and how GM was always more clever than the other two.
I owned one of these and the Saturn dealer had a sledge hammer and a Saturn door in the showroom. I kid you not, I whacked that door as hard as I could and barely scratched the paint. No damage at all to the door. Was impressed and bought the car.
YES! I love these strange sorta forgotten cars like the Diamonte they you recently bought. The Saturn SC2 is pretty cool! I’m also a big fan of your blue Aztek. All of them are cool funky cars!
I bought a 1996 sc2 5 speed for $400 and I absolutely love it! It has leather seats, 12 disk changer in the trunk, traction control, cruise control......almost every option. So glad I had the opportunity to buy it. Also........pop up headlights.....just saying.
I had a 1994 SL-2 with the twin cam. When the ex T-boned a county cop in it, (being two times over the limit BAC uugghh) it had 325,000 miles and just as strong as the day I drove it off the showroom floor!!!! I loved and STILL miss that car!!
I've had 3 SL2s ... 2 now. One with 323000 and other with 212000. Great cheap car. Replaced ny 99 clutch last year ... Luk clutch, pressure plate, fly wheel and bearing ... all for about $200 and 2 days work. Love mine, good luck with your rebuild/clean up.
I drive a 2007 vue v6. I love it, it's buttery smooth and about to turn 189,xxx. My first saturn. My mom has a 1998 sl2 sedan. She's very hard on cars and the worst she has had to replace in a year or more is the brakes. I'm impressed by saturns...and that j35 is really nice :) id buy another one for sure...kinda want a manual, though.
Oh my JR! This brings me so memories lol my first car was a 96 SC2 manual with the same engine but it had the pop up headlights, it was the base model, with crank windows and auto locks with no other options. The DOHC engine is so much fun, when the DOHC kicks on at about 2500-3000rpm it kicks you lol I was 17 when my dad bought it for me from a friend that worked at a Saturn dealership at the time. Really sad that Saturn is gone and these cars are now so rare to find in good shape like this! Can’t wait to see the final product and what else you do to it!
Excited for this series, had a Saturn SL2...I actually went to buy a SC2 and arrived as it was coming back from a test drive. They ended up buying it too.
GM killed Saturn because their cars started dominating the cheap and low entry-level Market. They even started displacing some of the entry-level Asian cars. Considering they were at most $18,000 fully loaded, but most ran around fourteen to fifteen thousand dollars, and they had good quality, before Saturn was forced to reintegrate into GM more closely, Saturn made good cars. When Saturn started displacing the Chevy Malibu and Chevy Impala sales, as well as some of other GM low-end models, GM killed their design and development department, and forced them to use Parts been Parts again. They also got rid of the plastic body panels, because they lasted too well. Saturn is the exact kind of car that automakers hate, because it's reliable, it's cheap to manufacture, it's cheap to buy, and nobody has to be saddled with a massive amount of debt. That is the real reason why GM killed Saturn.
Also, a very important note is the National Automobile Dealer's Association (NADA) wanted Saturn dead because of the way they were sold and dealerships became factory outlets instead of conventional dealerships. It threatened the entire automotive economy with it's honesty!
Because ultimately, car makers don't want to sell you one car that lasts you a while. They want to sell you a new car every other year. Just like phone makers want you to buy a new phone every other year.
Typical GM. They did the same thing to the Fiero GT when it started interfering on Corvette sales after they finally got it right in 1988.
@@gkcooper like they tried to kill tesla too? Wish saturn had made more money to get out from GM.
@Jim jibroni Exactamundo.
I was a Saturn salesman. Sounds like a horror movie. We jumped on the panels hundreds of times to demonstrate there indestructiblity. Overall a good car at a very good price.
The original Saturns (the S-series) were superb cars. They were, in my opinion, the best small cars GM ever made - inexpensive, well-made, and with performance comparable to even the best compact imports. The only thing wrong with them was the timing. They showed up on the market in the early 90s, just as cars were starting to get bigger and SUVs/CUVs were starting to really get popular. Saturn really needed more than just a compact to survive, and the L-series was too little, too late.
It's a shame Saturn isn't around anymore, but the bigger shame is how little GM learned from it. The S-series was great because it was the only GM small/budget car in recent history developed outside of the cynical environment that forced designers to cut corners and use mediocre junk from the corporate parts bin. In other words, the S-series was great because those who designed it understood that they didn't need to be cheap to make a inexpensive car.
I had a first gen sc2. had to replace the alternator 3x. the sunroof started leaking. but I like it quite a bit...a great first car.
the one big design flaw, apart from the location of the alternator, was that rain water would dump inside the cabin when you opened the door (in the rain). they fixed that with this generation though--that's the distinct channel on either side of the roof.
@@drgjs Alternator issues are sadly a reality of many old cars nowadays. From what I understand, the only "new" ones available for most models are refirbs of questionable quality. I've known a number of people who went through alternators like that on a variety of different cars.
@@Sliphantom Oh--I'm talking alternator problems back in the 1990s! I can't recall the year, but I owned a first-gen SC2 from 1993 till around 1999 or 2000. It was in the shop more than a toyota would have been, with 3 replaced alternators. I was told that it was placed too closely to the exhaust manifold, without adequate heat shielding. (I gave it to my brother, who sadly totaled it just a few months upon delivery.)
They were great cars the real issue was it was conceived at a time where a GM division could make something's for it self, but matured into a time where nothing could be a one off. So rather than evolve the S car they ended for a crappy Cavalier clone in the Ion. The L car was trash with nothing but problems from the taillights (still a GM problem) to the 3.0 V6 from the Catera. The Vue was good especially with the Honda 3.5 but as you say too little too late. Leadership (use that term loosely with GM) couldn't figure out what we should be and just threw everything against the wall.
Didn't expect to see you here. Do you still stream ik you stopped uploading automation videos. Doubt you remember me we sorta talked back and forth on discord about these Saturn's.
I was working for GM when Saturn opened the plant in Spring Hill, TN. Started off independent and were highly innovative and successful. Then GM started taking control and parts bin-ified Saturn and killed them.
We have had a 01 SL1 since about 2004, still going strong at 209k miles. Most reliable car we have ever had!
These are the vids where JR is simply the best. I love these inexpensive flips.
I'd bet someone $20 he loses money on this one, he paid $700 for a beater that doesn't drive...
@@thedeadcamel nah even though I don’t see this car selling for 3k on any given day he will definitely cut even if he only spends 1500 in total. This car can sell all day for 2k locally probably and maybe on bring a trailer 3k
500-700 beaters that need to be fixed are easy flips even I do them myself.
Bro no one asked
Excellent vehicle as far as safety goes. My sister wrecked her SC2 dodging an armadillo at 85... Front and rear completely smashed in as the car ping ponged between the guardrails... Both doors still opened and closed perfectly. Bumps and bruises, that was it.
I'll be damned, but that armadillo be dead if I was driving that day.
GM went and asked their mechanics "how would they build a car in that "class",which they made it so that backyard mechanics could do everything needed,even down to the outside car panels
I remember the clutch was SUPER smooth on these. It was one of those cars that you could actually learn to drive stick because the clutch was so smooth.
After my wife drove her new Saturn SL1 for a few years , we gave it to my daughter and bought my wife an SC2 . To this day , she still says that was the best car she ever had.
My 99 sc2 automatic just hit 190,000 miles. I paid $200 for it. It's a beater car, but it's my beater car.
Exactly the type of video the audience craves. Cheap, nice, fixable, flippable, fun, affordable, entertaining, little pocket rocket car. Plenty of room to make a decent payday with just a couple days work. Plus the content is fire. Something any person can get and fix without a bunch of headache.
VT247
My first car was a 2002 SL with a manual. Some lady hit my bumper when I was at work and the insurance company paid the price that I bought it. We ended up heating the bumper and popping out the dent so the car was practically free. Great car and was actually pretty fun to drive
Ahh the memories... My first Saturn was in the first 50 car purchases from the Omaha dealership back in '92. Drove it off the show room floor to applause from the staff.
I took my sister's (it was brand new) for a joy ride when I was 15 LOL... remember going around a corner peeling out! was the 3 door peppy little car. So this car has a special place in my heart. Imagine how old we're all getting HAHAHAH
As a Tennessean, I fondly remember Saturns.
The old ones around here are beaten to hell like your average Bonneville or Scion TC. Overflowing ashtrays and ducttaped windows abound.
Sounds like NJ.....
What a cool car! It would look amazing if the roof was wrapped gloss black to match the window trim
I thought about wrapping the roof and mirrors 💯
Saturn did that on a handful of the second gen SC2s as a “White Hot” or “Red Hot” option.
You are onto something there man, great idea
That's actually not a bad idea!
@@WatchJRGo do it
Years ago, I watched a kid tear up a 1/4 mile spectator drag with one of those. He would smoke all of the bigger v6 and V8’s in the corners but the track was short enough that they couldn’t catch him on the short straights. I think the only mod was adjustable suspension. His family all races in different race divisions so he was constantly tinkering to make it better with his setup and not for power.
A friend of mine had a SL1 and it was literally like riding on rails. The Ion (basically the Saturn Cobalt) was nowhere near the same in how it handled, and more power didn’t make up for it.
Strange that they just bought it and the clutch "went out". Sounds like they didn't know how to drive a stick and mulched the clutch/flywheel. The Modelo/Swisher combo tells me they were going to abuse this car to death anyway, it saved itself lol
They're probably the ones that cut the cat off too, seems like a good way to make some quick money off of your busted car.
I had 2 SL2's loved them. first went 100k on in and had an accident. Simple fairly reliable and fun to drive. The second one had many electrical problems, bad grounds, and nagging issues.
That SC2 definitely looks better on the outside than the inside, lol. I was waiting for you to mention the miles it has. 138k isn't bad!! And those alloys look pretty sharp, imo. Always liked the look of the 97 and up coupes. And when they added the 3rd door in 2000, that was genius!! One thing I remember about the S-Series is that you sat REALLY low in them. Looking forward to the series on this S-Series
i just got my first car a few months ago, its a 97 sc2 with 92000 miles. guy who sold it thought it had a blown head gasket so i got it for 900. only problem was the radiator, head gasket was fine.
I had a first gen SW2, highway mileage was terrific a great runner. At 6 yrs old, while stopped at a red light and in my mirror saw a young lady proceeding at high speed. She had turned her interior rear view mirror to face her and was brushing her hair. I placed both feet on my brakes. Her windshield broke when her Prelude hit the bottom of my rear bumper. Fortunately I did not go into the 45 MPH oncoming traffic, or the vehicle in front of me. Narragansett Bay.
I dailied a 2001 SC1 for 7 years. Unfortunately my life just outgrew it.
Somehow I averaged about 7l/100km (33mpg) driving the absolute snot out of it because it was so slow.
Absolutely love Saturn. I had numerous of them (SL2’s, L100, L200, L300, and Vue)- I drive a lot. Very safe cars, easy to fix, great gas mileage. My favorite Saturn I owned was my Vue, which had for years. Still looking to get a Vue Hybrid (even though it is a mild hybrid)- still wish they made them. The side panels were great for dings (or lack of) and felt very safe when got hit.
I didn't know Saturn managed to release a Vue Hybrid before the brand was 'retired' by GM. They were on the way to make technology available on the cheap. That's probably why GM did what they did, looking at profits over product.
You deserve to have way more subscribers! This is the kind of material fans of bigger channels want to see.
Had a friend with the first gen SC2 that had a clutch go out. He had a hard time finding someone to work on it for some reason as they said the clutch was a pain to replace. Curious if that holds true…
its a power-train pull, that's why
It depends on how you want to do it. It is a partial subframe drop (EVERYTHING is attached to the subframe up front including the radiator and condensor) to do it fast which means for most folks, doing it on lift. We did it at the track with normal jack and stands but it actually take longer. With a couple of added wiring quick disconnects we got to where our four man team could swap out the whole subframe at the track in 70 minutes.
So I have a raced and DD a first and second gen S-series and they were really decent cars. The problem was that without 3 years of the first gen introduction, the Japanese competition had moved on while GM was just trying to recoup a bit of their investment so the S-series stayed substantially the same for 11 years...how much did the Civic change in that time?
I had an acquaintance that had the four door version of this car and actually liked it enough to keep it for many years.
I had one and replaced the clutch myself, best thing for barnyard mechanics, was fun doing and nothing was too heavy.
@@adamwing9301 you don't have to pull the engine/trans.
These SC2s are really great cars. Nice find JR! I remember when these were new. Super reliable, easy on gas, fun to drive, cheap to maintain. Everything anyone would want in a daily driver. The way yours is equipped, fully loaded with the 5 speed stick, is really the ultimate Saturn until you get to that Sky.
Can't wait to see yours all fixed up.
I almost bought an S coupe with the flip up headlights back when Saturn first started (Yes, Im that old), but a 93 Grand Am with the big V6 won out, which I still have. Wonder how long the Saturn would have lasted.... 🖖
First ever car I bought a couple years ago was a 2001 Saturn SL. Super nice car , so cheap and reliable.
I still remember driving to bmx races down south in the late 80’s and seeing the soft sided Saturn semi trucks taking pre production cars around for testing. Such a cool time. Great car, I can’t wait to see if back on the road! Be well 🙏
What's awesome about your channel is that you fix regular cars. Keep it up! Great stuff!
I loved my 99 SW2 manual. I traded it when it needed all 4 window regulators and A/C at the same time, but I would have saved a lot of money just fixing it... By the way, I think it did have traction control.
I have a mint red SC2 Saturn. I just had a new paint job done on it. It also has a sticker on my side back window that shows it was made in Tennessee. I adore my car. People have actually come up to me and asked what year it is. Keeping my car forever. Looking for a new car but Keeping my baby. Thank you Saturn 😊
I had a 2003 Saturn L200 bought it in 2010 with 47,000 miles it was loaded didn't have the odd Opel v6 a good thing. It had the 2.2 ecotec. Traded it in 2018 with 102,000 miles sold it for the same 4500 I paid for it. It was a super nice car and other than the usual tires brakes fluid changes was perfect. Blew me away to basically sell it the same for what I paid 8 years later! I miss it.
I too had an 03 L200 from last summer to Easter week of this year. Mine had 188k when I bought it. It had issues I knew about beforehand and some I didn't know about. I think most of the issues were due to the high mileage. Like it needed a new steering rack, new speakers all around, transmission cooler lines, and a complete new exhaust system, to name a few. It had a sunroof w/tilt and a power driver's seat though. I wouldn't say it was a bad car. Just a worn out car, lol. I wouldn't mind buying another one in better shape with less miles
Oh the Wedge. I was driving through Nashville TN and looked over to the northbound lane and seen one that went under a pickup truck and the back wheels was resting on the roof of the car. No glass was broken and it looked like some one had lifted the back wheels up and placed it gently on the roof.
Hey John, what a blast from the past. I had a 1996 SC2, a 2nd Gen with all the options except the sunroof. I liked it for the economy but hated it as it was Red. I also had a 1993 SC2, a 1st Gen with the same options and in Black.
Between these two cars, I got 10 tickets within 18 months of ownership. Needless to say, I had to get rid of them.
Yours is nice being a 3rd Gen but this model evolved to become the Ion series after 2002. It too was also short lived due to being a GM brand.
FYI, that centre console was also an optional addon accessory as well.
JR, I has a 94’ SL, 97’ SC2 5 speed, an 05 Ion Redline, my 97 was an absolutely incredible car, 150,000 miles, got me through college and into my first job. I traded her in for the Ion. The S series were the best, they burned oil, but never had issues. I miss that car!
I have 1993 SC2 I bought new that still runs. The body didn't rust out being plastic but the frame did!
I miss these cars. I remember wanting on as a kid, I also remember thinking how it seemed like they wanted to make them look "Jetsons" level Futuristic with the bubble roof. Although I notice you didn't open the trunk, I hole there;s not surprises in there.
Just the jack, nothing cool in the back 🍻
Saturn was my bread and butter car when I had my car lot. Such underrated cars. Decent power, high 30's on the mpg's, decent looking, fun to drive, and pretty dang reliable in the later years. That said, I can change the engine and starter in one with my eyes shut.
My 2001 sc2 still gets an average of 34 mpg
@@DFR81Tube Yup. I averaged about 34 and topped out at 39 from Dallas to Houston. Even Civic's had a hard time doing that.
Jason the legend! Definitely lots of good memories this video brought up riding around in a SC2.
wow those wheels are so clean! A friend of mine had one of these back in high school .. theyre so light you can really have fun with a tight emergency brake on dry pavement.. or dirt roads.. and from what i remember those little DOHC 1.9's sounded kinda cool and had really smooth/predictable power
Had a 98 SL2. Great car, son is still driving it.
I had the first generation Saturn coupe. It was a great little car for me. That is until I stopped paying for it and it got repossessed. Back in the day, I wasn’t the best with my money. 🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ Anyway it was a great car while it lasted.
Back in the day few of us where.....props to you for seeing it, many didn't, don't, won't and never will.
@@marksbikeexports5123 thank you for the kind words.
My uncle has a 2002 SL1 5-speed with 250k on the clock and still going strong. Love these cars!
Loving the budget minded flips!! Keep up the great work JR!!
Yess, love me my Saturns, I actually used your saturn ion redline video to help me bleed the clutch on mine. (Would love to see you build and document a lsj sc or turbo car)
Brings back memories. I once had a 2002 SC1, which was my first brand new car purchase. It was a great little car. The one thing I didn’t like about it was that it wasn’t equipped with ABS. Subsequently, I was sweet-talked into trading it in for a 2004 ION, which was not one of my better decisions.
You got that right man these cars were built good and tough the ions they started slacking
What specifically was wrong with the ion?
@@aarg2609 Cobalt is was what was wrong with the Ion
@@aarg2609 they were very cheaply and shotty made, the rattled and fell apart these however are well made tough cars
These cars with dohc are very peppy too,
I had a 98 SC1 bought brand new. Loved the way it looked, got a lot of compliments, never got any dents from shopping carts thanks to the plastic body panels. It was slightly underpowered being the SC1, wish I'd got the twin cam SC2 but it was my first new car and entry level was all I could afford. I might be interested in buying this one when your done JR.
An old neighbor had this, but 1997, and finally got a new car in 2017! Traded it in with only 40k miles, it was like new new new.
I had bought a 1994 SC2 - had the entire Saturn buying experience with the owners meetup and BBQ, etc. It was the first and last "GM product" I've ever purchased new. I had absolutely NO issues with it over my ownership of about 4 years - it was great but I needed more interior room (growing family) so we sold it. Not too long after that GM began to "swallow up" the brand and IMO ruined it before they ended that line.
I remember those days. It seemed the saturn owners were a bit "saturn supremacist", very cultish.
Looks very nice... Third gen, used to have a few, including a red SC2 with sunroof. (I have a 2002-made SL2 manual still, will drive it forever) Mind that only the doors and quarter panels are plastic, hood, roof, and trunk are all metal. Plugs must be copper ngk, burning oil is normal, etc. Saturnfans (with most common tld) has instructions to do anything you'd ever want to do or know about these things. And they're super easy to work on in general. Yeah I guess I'm a bit of a old school (s series) Saturn fanboy. Do feel free to ask any questions, though honestly most of the answers are on the forum.
Some of them did actually have some primitive traction control.
(Those alloy wheels look really nice, no more alloy Saturns at my house)
3rd owner of a 95 sw1. Great car. 33mpg when it needed an oil change, 38 mpg on fresh oil - reliably. Drawback was that it drank oil. 1qt/ 1000 miles, up to 0.5qt every tank of gas 😆. Yup, there was a little bit of blue smoke coming out. Which also lead to multiple muffler changes in my ownership. Multiple tie rod ends @ $20 a piece, basically any time I needed an alignment, there was a tie rod to replace. Easy handling in snow, solid driver at max speed (I forget where the governor was, but I found it several times). Rear glass had been replaced and I was always chasing down leaks. The dealer did it and it looked like a kindergartner did it. I finally got rid of it after a few mold and mildew cleanups directly related to the rear window seal, still running. The hatch was great for bandpass subs.
I didn't know it was plastic until I was gifted an old XM radio, and couldn't find a metal body panel to slap the magnetic antenna on, so I rode on the hood.
I bought new a 2004 Saturn VUE. Loved it!
It had a Honda V6 engine, AWD transmission.
1st year had it a young driver hit rear passenger door while it was sitting in parking lot.
The panel was not ruined but required repainting. The repair was a lot cheaper than steel I can tell you that. Saturn made great vehicles.
Don't know "who or what" killed it but so sad they're gone. Thanks JR
We bought a 95 SL1 and put 170k on it before trading it in still running good. Used a weird amount of oil without smoking or dripping. Worst thing about it other than the terrible turning radius was the unbelievable static shock from it. Often could see the spark in daylight. If there was ever a car you need to ground yourself on before pumping gas, that was it. Something about the air flow over plastic making the charge... Not really fond memories of that Saturn other than no significant repair bills while we had it.
Cool car. It will be interesting how well the frame has stood the test of time underneath. Unfortunately Saturn seems to have proved making a good reliable cheap car is the best way to go out of business. No one replaces them.
It's right I want you to buy a Saturn unless you just want to replace it and get tired of it you never really have to replace it it will last I don't know how they built them so tough
Scion replaced them in that niche, and met the same fate.
Front and rear subframe rot is a common thing in the rust belt. Worse is the rear because it is also the mounting bolt locations. Still really good cars if what you wanted was just a car. DD one for few years and had no complaints outside of the totally understandable loud cabin.
YES SIR! exactly! see my comment about my Saturn.
I loved my Saturn. Probably one of the most impressive vehicle I ever had. My family all worked for Ford so that is what everybody drove. However, I came across one of these for $250 when I was in my early 20's. It was everything you said, amazing deal, great gas mileage, super easy to work on, great manual. Could not believe it when GM decided to shut them down. Mine was the generation that didn't have the 3rd door. Water pump went out and warped the head, probably should have fixed it, but scrapped it since it was before cash for clunkers so $500 cars were everywhere back then.
Awesome brother , brings back many memories . They built them good and fun back then .keep up the good work .it's Appreciated.😁😎
I always wanted to find a wagon, the SW2, that wasn't beat to hell. Hasn't happened yet. I owned a 99 SL2 manual for years and it really was a good car, wish I'd kept it
Having flashbacks to working the parts counter, and Saturn owners NEVER knowing what car they drove.
As a new mechanic trying to call for parts was a nightmare.
Had a 2001 SW1 in college. Even though it blew a head gasket I miss having a small wagon.
Very dent resistant is an understatement... I had an 01 sl2 that I ran backwards into a tree and it didn't so much as scratch, popped right out when I pulled away. Saturn made great cars. Love it
They are also very popular for dirt track racing. I’ve driven a few of them and it definitely feels like more than 124HP. You should dyno it after the clutch repair. Wouldn’t be surprised if it make’s more than the claimed HP.
I bought a 2004 Saturn Ion standard transmission brand new off the lot. Still got it today as my daily driver going to be rolling 200k here soon. My biggest fix was changing the clutch and installing new fuel lines. Glad I did not get the automatic transmissions which were horrible in this car.
Yeah, you really dodged a bullet there!! Prolly wouldn't still have that car if it was an automatic
I'm so glad I ran across this video cause I actually have a 99 sc1 automatic right now. It was a gift to me as my 1st car. The way it drives is so pleasing to me but I am having problems with the shifting & something dealing with the air intake temperature. Also I can't use my radio cause the anti theft came on after the battery died. U definitely telling the truth about how much the car is enjoyable to drive & have. I'm definitely thinking about keeping my car some years. Wish u could b my mechanic.
Wow that's awesome!!! I have a 2002 SL2 which is the sedan version. They are great little cars! Found mine on marketplace with 47k miles! So I plan to keep it for a very long time! Best of luck to you in fixing yours up!
Much love from Dallas tx 💯👍
Same here!
I worked at a Saturn dealership for years. One of the weak points on those manual transmissions were the shift cables. A lot of people came in thinking it was a clutch or a bad CV axle or something to do with the driveline and it was just the shift cables. While you’re in there it would be a good idea to change them.
bump
Loved these my wife was a Saturn service manager for 9 years. They revolutionized buying cars in the 90’s.
Nice find!! I picked up one of these last summer for my teen's first car. It was owned by a woman in her 70's who kept it garaged and was the only owner. Inside the glove box with the manual there's extensive service records that go all the way back to the first oil change. Near perfect red paint, no peeling, all around and inside not a single rip, tear, or stain--and it has the sliding armrest. Only issue is a persistent SES light and code that indicates evap solenoid. Replaced that but SES light still on, same code. Doesn't seem to affect how the car runs and drives though, so not too worried about it. Definitely a gem, and I am sure with only 134k miles it will last him a long time. :)
I own one of these!!! It’s my backup car but besides burning a crap ton of oil it’s one of the best cars I’ve ever owned
The twin cam motor is notorious for burning tons of oil. Used about 6 quarts of oil driving from Chicago to Phoenix 🤣🤣🤣
Yeah I had a 98 Sl2 saturn same engine but automatic. Which I'll say I'll never own a auto again in a saturn but however it was a really good car an I ended up losing it over Insurance wanting to Total it over wreck but it actually wasn't even totaled cause it had those plastic body panels like this an it poped back out just fine an left some scratches that's all.
I most certainly want to own another Saturn but I want it to be a 5-speed for sure
Great cars I have owned at least 15 S series. My 92 SC went 495k miles before i sold it. My turbocharged 95 SW2 pushed 350WHP in a 2000 lb chassis
We had a 94 SC2 5 spd. Back in the day. Fun, solid car.
Maybe one day you could buy a GEO Storm.I love these old weird cars also.
Speaking of Gabe. We need an update. How is he healing up?
Gabe I highly suspect is the type of soldier seen on the barracks roof in the snow with a tea tray, explaining to the noobs that this is the latest in fast arctic insertion. So, to answer your question, he's probably healed aaaaaand messed himself up, again, since ;). My kind of Squaddie
Currently rocking a 2001 SC2 as a daily driver, I love it to bits! None like em here in NY anymore
had one, loved it! wish they never stopped making the sc2. had the expression series edition with two tone interior, 5 speed. car was a beast on mpg!
"One of those cars that always get you home...." oh the irony ;) Cool car, sold them new back in the day, sadly not a easy sell, they were way better than generally reputed.
JR you just threw me back 25 years, amazing. Saturn had the best commercials... always a prime opportunity for dad to tell me how his C3 was all fiberglass, and how GM was always more clever than the other two.
Thanks for this Saturn video 👍🏾😊
Yup, love the beater rescues on this channel the most!
3K? Good luck
I can’t imagine selling a car and leaving it full of junk, even if it was going to be scrapped
I owned one of these and the Saturn dealer had a sledge hammer and a Saturn door in the showroom. I kid you not, I whacked that door as hard as I could and barely scratched the paint. No damage at all to the door. Was impressed and bought the car.
YES! I love these strange sorta forgotten cars like the Diamonte they you recently bought. The Saturn SC2 is pretty cool! I’m also a big fan of your blue Aztek. All of them are cool funky cars!
Such an under appreciated car! Can't wait to take it for a spin when it's road worthy again
I had a 2001 SC2 like this one. Looking forward to seeing this one fixed up.
Wow I had that same exact car ! They are surprisingly quick in a manual good buy John Ross
Nice find! Loved my SL2. Was a fun car and reliable car.
Ah I miss my first car. '99 SC2 with a manual, leather and sunroof so much fun!
I knew multiple people who purchased these new and really liked them. Cheap transportation is all most people need.
I bought a 1996 sc2 5 speed for $400 and I absolutely love it! It has leather seats, 12 disk changer in the trunk, traction control, cruise control......almost every option. So glad I had the opportunity to buy it. Also........pop up headlights.....just saying.
I had a 1994 SL-2 with the twin cam. When the ex T-boned a county cop in it, (being two times over the limit BAC uugghh) it had 325,000 miles and just as strong as the day I drove it off the showroom floor!!!! I loved and STILL miss that car!!
I had a little 2001 Saturn SW1 wagon. Drove it for 8 years until I scrapped it. Very underrated little car.
I've had 3 SL2s ... 2 now. One with 323000 and other with 212000. Great cheap car. Replaced ny 99 clutch last year ... Luk clutch, pressure plate, fly wheel and bearing ... all for about $200 and 2 days work. Love mine, good luck with your rebuild/clean up.
Nice car! Looking forward to the rebuild.
These were great cars and Saturn was a great company. Looking forward to seeing this refreshed.
I drive a 2007 vue v6. I love it, it's buttery smooth and about to turn 189,xxx. My first saturn. My mom has a 1998 sl2 sedan. She's very hard on cars and the worst she has had to replace in a year or more is the brakes. I'm impressed by saturns...and that j35 is really nice :) id buy another one for sure...kinda want a manual, though.
Oh my JR! This brings me so memories lol my first car was a 96 SC2 manual with the same engine but it had the pop up headlights, it was the base model, with crank windows and auto locks with no other options. The DOHC engine is so much fun, when the DOHC kicks on at about 2500-3000rpm it kicks you lol I was 17 when my dad bought it for me from a friend that worked at a Saturn dealership at the time. Really sad that Saturn is gone and these cars are now so rare to find in good shape like this! Can’t wait to see the final product and what else you do to it!
The first brand new car I bought was a 2001 Saturn SC2 coupe almost exactly like that one (mine was black). Drove it for the next decade. Loved it.
Excited for this series, had a Saturn SL2...I actually went to buy a SC2 and arrived as it was coming back from a test drive. They ended up buying it too.