'96 Saturn sold, '01 Saturn finally on the road!

[Project84]

So I finally sold my '96 Saturn in an attempt to quickly come up with cash to buy my next motorcycle. Unfortunately it sold before I got ahold of it, but I did get a pretty penny for my '96. I intended to write this big sappy "goodbye" post about it with pics, but I realized that's a bit dramatic.

So I pushed the '01 Saturn SL1 out of the garage for the first time in a year since purchase... changed the oil, aired the tires up, put a battery in it and drove it to Cleveland for my spring visit.

First gaslog entry: 43.9 mpg! Very very pleased with this! I ran the tires up to 45 psi and kept a watchful eye on the speed, I bet my highway average was 58-60mph for that tank.

I'm not expecting my next fillup to be as rewarding, it had a 100mph pull in it (just wanted to see if she'd do it.... haha) and lots of city driving back and forth to work already.

I love these cars so much. S-series are awesome.

[VetteOwner]

lol i dunno, the one and only saturn my family had blew in a glorious oily mess at 130K haha

[spotaneagle]

ive seen em at 200k and 170k and 280k when they went, probably depends on whos driving it and how much oil they remember to add.. my 200ker was cause of a loose spark plug, good oil=long life, using 300k valvoline right now, sounds great

[Project84]

33.64 mixed w/ some beating on it like mentioned. Oil is still crystal clear (well as clear as new oil can be...) which is such a shock! Hasn't burned a drop... knock on wood!

The HIA will probably wait until last week of April or first week in May so I can get an appreciation for what this car will do in stock form and be able to record the difference the HAI makes.

[02SaturnSL]

Saturns are awesome. I bought my 2002 SL new, and it has 208,000 miles. Original just about everything. No timing chain noise/replacement yet. My highest tank was 49.0 mpg, did it twice. Usually, low to mid 40's. Tires at 40-42psi, coasting down hills (pulse and glide on highway, 70 at the top of hill coast to 55, then gas it). K&N air filter put in at 12,000 miles. Original: engine,clutch,trans,axles,exhaust,back brakes. Need to put 1st back brakes on it. Only put new tensioner, idler pulley (both Saturn parts), and the intake manifold gasket. One oxygen sensor, one battery. Good reliable car. Good luck with your SL's. I'll miss mine someday when its crashed/stolen/woreout!

[Project84]

At the rate I drive, I should own this car for at least another 10 years and I would have no problem in doing so.

I still have a quarter tank of gas left and this has been all city and the car is at 231 miles for the tank. I should easily go over 300 again and see numbers in the low 30's like last tank.

[shonus]

have you thought about swapping the thermostat for a stant 195?

[Project84]

I believe the factory thermostats are 195*F but I may be in need of one soon, the temp gauge doesn't seem to quite make it to the 1/2 mark and I know that'll play a factor in fuel economy being slightly lower.

Car is still running great. I did end up replacing the oil pan due to rusting out, and after getting it all back together now I find a leak from the timing cover. It's slow though, I'm not too concerned with it.

Check the gaslog, this little car is performing VERY well for zero mods. I never got around to doing the HAI because I've been too busy with motorcycling and home repairs.

[Midwestzx2]

I love the S series Saturns. I have now owned two of them. The first being a 2000, got 50mpg with that from western Wisconsin to eastern Virgina and back. high 50s around the local area was easy as well.. That one sadly died at the hands of my fiance during our first snowstorm, with 178k miles, still running great too My "new" one is a 99, just getting back into the mpg saving scene, but am already averaging in the low 40s fill-up after fill-up.

[Project84]

I'm gonna be very sad when the day comes I have to say goodbye to the s-series. I expect that to be 8-10 years from now hopefully though. My '01 still only has 104k miles on it and I drive about 8k miles per year so I hope to get 10 years out of it.