2001 Saturn SL1

Rating from great , safe reliable car!

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"This car was my daughtet's first and second cars. They both run great and are made to really protect yoy in a crash. The first saturn was involved in an accudent where another vehicle ran right up onto the windsheild and my daghter walked away without a sratch. The second accident she was involved in a four carpile up on the interstate. The passenger 'cage' design protected her and again, she walked away without a scratch. This time the car was totaled. So she biught another saturn just like it. That car was rear ended at a stop light, and onky bumper damage. She still drives it to work, shopping, vacation trips, everywhere. It is an exceptional, reliable car to own. I like how it keepf her so safe. We also own a saturn vue and love it. Plus saturns are great to tow behind RVs, they tow on all 4 wheels easily. It was a sad day when we heard saturn woul close their doors.it's a good thing these saturns last so long and are easy keepers. ."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Work

Rating from Saturn lover

(5)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		3 out of 5
Interior Design:		3 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"love this car - too bad Saturn discontinued we wish Saturn was still making their cars - we certainly wd buy again!"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from gman

(4)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		3 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		3 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"Great car for the money, It had just a few cosmetic problems nothing severe, and really love the car. Have had a few problems starting but very infrequently. Overall, great car."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

Primary use for this car: N/A

Rating from not impressed

(3)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		1 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		3 out of 5
Reliability:		2 out of 5

"in december we drove quite a ways to buy a 01 grand am but the dealer told us it had problems so they pointed us in the direction of the 01 saturn sl1 from the outside the car looked nice the inside was dirty the dealer told us they just got it in and didnt have time to clean it yet but they checked it over mechanical wise and it had no problems it was backed into the parking spot already warmed up for the test drive when we got there so we hopped in and took it for a short test drive (my first car from a dealer so not sure what to look for in a test drive) it seemed to drive fine for the 5 min if that drive it so we went ahead and got it by the time we got it home it was slamming through gears and slammed every time we put it in reverse sure was nice of the dealer to have it backed in so we wouldnt notice that since then ive learned to drive in nice so it only slams when accelerating too fast and going up big hills"

I would recommend this car to a friend: No

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from Saturn Vet

(2)
Comfort:		2 out of 5
Performance:		3 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		1 out of 5
Reliability:		1 out of 5

"What a love/hate relationship!!! It's really so very sad that the 2001 SL2, the most beautiful small sedan design ever (in my humble opinion) had such raw, primitive, low-quality engineering. I had and loved a 1995 Saturn SW2 that was unfortunately destroyed by a natural disaster (or I'd still be driving it). This '95 was smooth, quiet, rugged, and dependable - I had no plans to EVER let go of it. But its getting smashed by a fallen tree changed my plans. Naturally, I thought a silver, exquisitely beautiful little 2001 Saturn SL sedan would be a wonderful replacement, but I soon found that I was grossly mistaken - the 2001 SL vibrated horribly at a red light (a problem I believed I could get fixed but never ever could), it squeaked and rattled at various speeds, with all windows closed it tranferred insufferable road noise into the cabin on the highway (like an open jeep!), both the CD and the cassette player broke (completely), the sunroof broke and repair cost was beyond belief, one of the interior reading light buttons fell out, and it started burning oil like a diesel. I had the most beautiful body ever designed by Saturn with the worst engineering of this era. When the A/C compressor (proprietary Saturn) died and the repair was more than the car was worth, I had no choice but to get rid of it. Frankly, I was in despair. I kept it only because it was beautiful - but oven-like temperatures on the black leather upholstery made me trade it in for a fleet-owned Taurus...another hardy sedan, but quite a gas hog compared to Saturns. If Saturn could have continued the quality it had in the 1990's, it might have survived. But the last of its truly home-grown models, the 3rd generation S series, like my 2001 SL2, were the beginning of its demise. So extremely sad, because the artists, the designers, were reaching their peak of beauty in the early 2000's, while the engineering and quality were making NO progress, but actually crashing badly."

I would recommend this car to a friend: No

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Work

Rating from Saturn driver

(4)
Comfort:		3 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		4 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"I purchased a 2001 Saturn SL a couple months back with 50K miles. It looks, runs and drives great. Only disappointment is that I'm only getting about 32 MPG. The '99 I had previously got about 42mpg. Still, it is a good car!"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Work

Rating from Roger

(4)
Comfort:		2 out of 5
Performance:		3 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		3 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"I am the original owner of my 2001 Saturn. I bought it fresh out of college and I still have it. I only have about 52,000 miles on it and have only done preventive maintenance such as oil changes, new tires, coolant flush etc. The transmission is clunky since about 7,000 miles into owning this car. I was told it might be the motor mounts. Other than the transmission, this car is pretty solid. I'm glad to see that other folks have 120,000+ miles on their Saturn. Comfort is not that great, however I am 6'3" so not my ideal sized car."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from Rideittillitdies

(5)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"I've had my 2001 Saturn for the last three years and my mileage is at 130K. I still get 30 mpg. It uses a minor amount of oil each month. It will increase in revs while stopped. I have found that by pressing in and holding the oxygen sensor and/or taping it in tighter will stop this for a couple of months. If the check engine light comes on, I'll re tape the sensor and all is good. For a front wheel drive vehicle, it is decent in the snow, just need to remember to keep decent rear tires on to reduce spinning out. Other than that, regular maintaince and expected repairs have occurred. It's resale value is pathetic, so I plan on driving it till it dies. From what I've been reading, that might be a few more years. Sweet!"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Work

Rating from Moefo

(5)
Comfort:		3 out of 5
Performance:		3 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		3 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"I bought this Saturn new 10 years ago, and would gladly keep it for ten more years! 0 major repairs (knock on wood)... What more can I say? This is not a performance vehicle, but I can attest to the reliability of this machine. The only work I have had done, except for the usual, is replacing the ignition cylinder, which I guess is not that uncommon. Note that this car will burn oil, I add about a quart a month. For as much as American cars are bashed, I think this one stands out. I see so many garbage Kia's on the road, and think to myself that Saturn had superior quality, but somehow lost favor once they strayed from the basics. I drive 25 miles each way to work, and still get 33-37 mpg overall. If you find a used Saturn, it would, more than likely, be worth it. That is unless the previous owner(s) were terrible, which happens. I don't think I will ever sell my car..."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from Saturnian

(3)
Comfort:		3 out of 5
Performance:		3 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		3 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"I own a 2001 SL2 10th Anniversary Edition (A/C, power windows, trunk, locks, security system, everything), with stunning "teardrop" stainless wheels, luxurious quality black leather upholstery, and a still gorgeous glossy silver exterior. This is, in my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful small sedans ever designed (and I've been a car design fanatic since the 1950's). Admittedly, I bought it purely for its visual appeal. It is aerodynamically wedge-shaped and super-sleek, with fine artistic features in its lovely contours. Unfortunately, the mechanical aspects inside this gorgeous body are by comparison primitive and disappointing. The engine is noisy and vibrates badly when the car is stopped in drive at a stop-light (automatic tranny) - even though I've had ALL the engine mounts replaced and the engine rocked and balanced by experts. The CD and cassette players have both died for no apparent reason. The sliding sunroof/moonroof has broken (plastic) runners and can no longer be opened. All of the above I have since learned is true for almost every 3rd generation SL. This inattention to engineering refinement and quality is enough to justify Saturn's demise. It is a crime to design such a beautiful body and equip it with such primitive or defective engineering. Ironically, I had a 1995 Saturn SW2 that was superior in engineering to this 2001 SL2 in every way. Unfortunately, my '95 SW2 was destroyed by a falling tree. Otherwise, I would still be driving it! But one last thing in this '01 SL2's favor. It has almost 135,000 miles on it and it is still a great car on the highway. It cruises effortlessly at 80 mph. If I only had a CD player that worked, an operating sunroof, and no engine shuddering at a stoplight, then I would be a very proud and happy camper. I can still be proud that my SL2 LOOKS so beautiful...in spite of some of its primitive engineering."

I would recommend this car to a friend: No

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Just getting around