Fantastic Value
Is it great at anything in particular? No, not really. Does it check all of the boxes when you're looking for a fun economy car? Most definitely. The interior is well laid out and all switches and buttons feel reassuring. The seats are on the firm side, but not at all a problem for a commuter car. The engine on the SC1 is underwhelming but delivers excellent mileage and scoots quicker with the manual transmission. (42+ actual highway MPG) The steering is excellent and although the handling isn't quite as sporty, it rides well on rough roads. I did spend some money on repairs while owning this car, but most of the repairs cost less than $50 in parts and I was able to do most of the work myself as the layout is simple and parts are cheap for GM cars. It wasn't the best car I have ever owned, but it had its charms and it was good to me while I owned it.
Defining Mediocrity
I purchased this vehicle almost new in 2000 for a greatly reduced price thanks to the fact that the previous owner drove it only a few hundred miles before realizing she couldn't make the modest monthly payments. The best I can say for my Saturn is that it has (barely) lasted this long. You might think that's harsh considering I'm writing this in 2017, however, I still have not put 80,000 miles on the odometer. In recent years I've had to put more and more money into the car to the point where it's not really worth it. I would say everything about it is about average, from the interior design to the handling. It's about what you'd expect from a Saturn made at this time. Perhaps my favorite feature is the 3rd door behind the driver's side door. This door can be extremely convenient for both packages and persons, especially considering this isn't the largest or most spacious vehicle for rear seat passengers. One other thing that I would compliment this Saturn on is the amount of interior space it provides for both the driver and the front seat passenger. For those sitting up front this Saturn is more like a Buick LaCrosse in terms of space and comfort. Now that Saturn has gone the way of the dodo, the other problem for a potential owner will be finding parts. Overall, time if not miles has taken its toll. Time to move on.
Exactly what I wanted
This is the car I was looking for + low miles. It took a while, but I found it at Arko Sales in Ohio, a four hour drive for me.
