NAC: My new ride

[Andrew Buc]

In August 2014 I got a 2003 Saturn L200 sedan with the 2.2-liter Ecotec 4-cyl engine. It shares its GM2900 platform with contemporary Saabs and the Opel Vectra B.

When I asked for suggestions for a replacement for the 4kq, no one on the list suggested this, so I assume none of you had any BTDT. I got it on the advice of a longtime (35+ years) friend whose automotive opinions I respect. He leased a 2001 Saturn LW300 (V6 wagon), then got a 2004 LW300, which is still his daily driver. In his case it replaced an ’84 Saab 900 turbo.

If it hadn’t been the L200, it would have been an early-2000s 1.8t Passat. I made the choice I did because:

1) L-series Saturns can be picked up pretty cheaply because they aren’t in demand.
2) The Passat would have gotten about the same mileage as the 4kq, but on premium, so I would have been paying more for gas. The Saturn gets better mileage than the 4kq on regular, in spite of being heavier, more powerful, and quicker. That’s what good aerodynamics and a modern engine-management system will do for you.
3) With no turbo, I don’t have to buy special expensive oil, although I do use synthetic, as I did on the 4kq.
4) I have a friend who’s a parts guy at a Chevy dealership. Thanks to him, I got replacements for the somewhat hazy headlights for $600 for the pair—full retail would be $800.

The car had 180K on it when I got it, and I recently passed 202K. I’ve had to put some work into it, but not a lot, and that was expected. The only time it’s failed to go was when I left the headlights on and ran the battery down. I now have 4 cylinders totaling 2198cc, versus 5 cylinders totaling 2226cc. I’m having it serviced by Thomas & Thomas in Seattle, who serviced my 4kq. They said it was in good shape and had been well cared for.

The car isn’t the driver’s car the 4kq was, and I didn’t expect it to be. But it doesn’t handle like a lead sled either, and it’s fine as a daily driver.

I’d put my past and present cars into 2 categories:

1) Relatively small, tossable cars—Saab 96, Fiat 128, the 4kq.
2) Larger, softer-sprung (but not sloppy-handling) cars—Peugeot 504, the Saturn.

All told, the 4kq was a good car for me when I had it, and the Saturn is a good car for me now.