I know manual transmissions aren’t for everyone, and newly minted drivers today most likely don’t know how to use a clutch and never will. This beautiful, Aquamarine 1995 Saturn SL2 is posted here on craigslist in Lynnwood, Washington (of course, it is, the good ones always are!), and they’re asking just $3,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Jack M. for the tip!
Whether new drivers don’t know how to drive a vehicle with a manual transmission because they don’t care about vehicles other than having reliable transportation, or because they weren’t brought up with manual transmission vehicles in the family, I’m not sure. It may be a combination of the two, but I think that as our vehicles get more tech-heavy, smoother, and easier to drive with one finger while you text with the other nine fingers, it’s hard to explain to someone with a fresh driver’s license how much fun it is to drive a car with a clutch. That isn’t to say that it’s always fun, like on Seattle’s hills at a stop light with the hulking SUV behind you just inches from your rear bumper, or while in stop-and-go rush hour traffic.
All that being said, I’m sure glad that there are still cars like this 31-year-old Saturn out there with a 5-speed manual. That it’s a four-door sedan makes it even cooler. This car is from Saturn’s first-generation of cars, back when car companies were thinking outside the box and not just as far as how many features and functions can be connected to your phone. They were thinking about different materials, different manufacturing processes, and different ways to buy cars from dealerships. Page 7 of this brochure shows the 1995 Saturn SL2.
The first-gen Saturns were made from 1990 for the 1991 model year until the end of 1995 for those with four doors. The SC (coupe) was made until 1996. They’re known for their wedge-like shape, and the SL2 is the one you want for its fantastic double-overhead cam engine, which puts out around 25% more horsepower than the SL1 engine. This is the ideal car, in my opinion, or at least the year and model. I’d like power windows, as much as I complain about modern features… But 1995 is when Saturn did away with the creaking automatic shoulder belts. You can see the 5-speed, along with seat covers and a steering wheel cover that would go away instantly under my watch. The back seat looks perfect. We don’t get to see inside the trunk, and there are no underside photos, but this is said to be a one-owner car with just 82,700 miles, and being from the Pacific NW, I’m assuming it’s as solid as most vehicles there are.
The 1.9-liter DOHC fuel-injected inline-four has 124 horsepower and 122 lb-ft of torque, and power is sent through the 5-speed manual to the front wheels. I had a 2002 SL1 sedan with a 5-speed, and it only had 100 hp. I had to use trucker lanes on trips across the country whenever I went over mountains; it wasn’t the best. The extra 24 horsepower would have come in handy. I got 42 mpg on the freeway with mine, and this one should be in the mid-30 mpg range. The seller says it starts easily, runs great, and has regular maintenance. I don’t know how you could go wrong with this car. It looks like a fly-in, drive-home car to me. Have any of you had a Saturn SL2 from this era? If so, did yours have a 5-speed?
Someone will end up with a good solid little car in great condition! Nice find!
When I saw this on Fast Finds I immediately thought of two things. 1. I really like this Saturn, it’s in absolutely mint condition. 2. I figured Scotty would write it up, and I’m glad you did. My wife and I came super close to buying an SL 1 ( more like Scottys than this one). These are terrific cars, very well engineered, someone is going to get a great car here. Thanks Scotty!! I knew you wouldn’t let me down.
I had a ’93 SL2, as mentioned on the last Satren[sic] post. It’s not something I would normally have bought, but needed a cheap beater, the Saturn covered both bases. Cheap, $500 bucks ( in 2000), and had 220,000 miles, qualifying it as a beater. While I didn’t really care for the car, everything still worked, and still got 30mpg. I respectfully have to disagree with Dave, I thought it was a very poorly engineered car. One had to remove the right front tire to get at the oil filter, changing a starter was a nightmare, and the belt tensioner, FORGETABOUTIT. Might want to keep a spare coil pack on hand. Took me a while to find the fuel filter too, and the seats were terrible. Hardly what I’d call a “import fighter”. Then,,,I hit a turkey with the darn thing, shattered the windshield, just try and find one. When I did, it cost almost as much as the car. The motor was the best part, and I did put at least another 20K until the speedo broke. I sold the car for $450, so almost cost free driving, but I’d never buy another. Now, my daughter had a SC1, that was a much improved car, but I read Saturn operated in the red since 1998! We won’t even begin to talk about the Ion, the poster child for recalls. A pretty clear example of you simply can’t win against the big guys, but a heck of a try.
I remember one of these came into my body shop years ago for a collision repair. Needed a quarter panel replacement and I groaned thinking about the 20 hour repair job. Book time for it was under 2 hours I think – oh yeah plastic panels!
Stock up on the parts you can find now if you buy this. They are already difficult to find.