Have any of you ever owned a Saturn? I don't know much about them but my wife has found a 2000 Saturn LS1 with around 100k miles. Individual seller, car in great shape. Less than 4k$. Just looking for some opinions about them.

 

Saturns... I know lot's about them...



But does LS1 mean, like, the LS1? As in V-8 LS1? I didn't know Saturn had anything that big...

 

I doubt it. I know when I read the title it got me all excited. A saturn with a blown LS1 in it would be one sick car.

 

I was thinking the same thing about a Saturn with an LS1 in it. I owned a 2000, I think it was an LS2 (not too familiar with Saturn nomenclature but I know it had a 2 in it). I had it for about 6 months and after a trip across the country, it wasn't running too well anymore. Only had around 50 or 60,000 miles on it. Everyone says that they're supposed to be great cars though. My neighbor swears by them but that just hasn't been my experience.

 

ls1 is a single cam, ls2 is a dual cam. both are 4 bangers
EDIT: totally missed the question. saturns are pretty good cars, but $4k is a bit much for a 100k mile car. saturns w/ that many miles are usually around $15k-$25k 'round these parts

 

My Dad owns an LS1, his is a 2000 model year as well. The car now has around 160k on it and runs just fine. However, 2000 was the first model year for these cars and there were some issues with them that can be annoying. For example he gets the check engine light coming on every few thousand miles or so for the evap solenoid I believe. This started under warranty and Saturn replaced just about every part related to the problem yet he has the recurring check engine light nonetheless. Car does run fine however in spite of this. I would say the price is high as a car with that many miles should be under $3k for sure even if it is in great condition.
Good luck mishkaya

 

Thanks for all the replies. My wife is gonna send me a link to the car and I will check it out better. She said the blue book was over 5k$ on it.

 

i would never trust blue-book for anything. when i bought my k5, bb on it was around $1300. couldnt find a k5 for less than $2500

 

The blue book has always been close for me.

 

I thought the LS-series Saturns were the larger ones built on the European Opel chassis with the V-6 engine. The smaller 4-bangers had model designations like SW-2 (station wagon, trim level 2 with 1 being basic).

Anyway, my aunt had one of the early LS (larger V-6) Saturns and had continuous ECM and sensor problems - the check engine light was always on. This is pretty common when manufacturers first try to send a European car to America with all the untested OBDII add-ons they have to do.

Rusty

 

My mom had a Saturn, earlier than what you are looking at (forgot the model).

It's "neat trick" was that the engine would periodically shut down like you turned it off. Would often happen while waiting at a light, clutch all the way to the floor at idle. After a few trys it would restart and run normally.

Several trips to the dealer didn't solve the problem, and someone there questioned whether my mom knew how to drive a stick. She had never owend an auto, and that really ticked her off (on top of having a brand new car that wouldn't run and dealer couldn't fix).

Ususally my parents pay cash for a new car and keep it until the wheels fall off, but they got rid of that thing promptly.

 

LS1 is a 4 cylinder 2.2liter GM ecotech engine. This engine is used in multiple GM vehicles. The saturn LS series is based off the Opel. There were 3 Saturn Ls model variations. LS1 -was you bottom of the barrel, LS2 same powertrain as the LS1, with options similar to the LS3, the LS3 is the top of the line with a 3.0liter V6. These cars are fairly good as long as propper maintenence was performed.