Every now and then, we look around a grocery store parking lot and see a car from the not-too-distant past that is clearly on the verge of extinction. Sure, it’s a terribly boring car, and one that would have been painfully common 20 years ago—and yet it seems to have vanished from the roads without a trace.
The is unquestionably one of those cars, and we’re guessing you hadn’t noticed its gradual disappearance from our roads unless you live near the Wilmington, Delaware, plant where it was manufactured from 1999 to 2005.
Once the sharper-edged Opel era arrived the L-Series was quickly forgotten, and then a few short months later we were already in the thick of the auto industry crisis that shuttered Saturn altogether. As a result, the L-Series ended up serving as a bridge between the risky early Saturn years and the brief Opel years that saw the quick release of restyled European designs that, in retrospect, were not the worst idea ever had they lasted longer.
So much has happened in the automotive industry in the years since it ceased production that its existence now feels like it occurred several geological ages ago. For starters, Saturn is no longer in production, as are many other domestic economy cars from the era. Second, the L-Series had a number of engine problems that necessitated some recalls that did not completely resolve the issues. Saturn sedans and wagons received maintenance due to their low cost, but by the time they were a decade old, Saturn the brand had vanished, and the cars were only worth a few thousand dollars on a good day if they had low mileage.
Buying a Saturn
According to Consumer Reports, only the Aura received high enough ratings to receive the magazine’s recommendation out of the five Saturns released in 2009. This source also advises against purchasing a vehicle from a discontinued brand due to the lack of rebates and the limited trade-in value these models will have.
If you buy a used Saturn part that still has a valid warranty, GM will honor any claims and provide the necessary maintenance and repairs.
FAQ
Is it difficult to find Saturn parts?
Concerning Saturn
We stock a wide variety of common and difficult-to-find parts, including the following and many, many more: – Radiators You don’t want to risk installing the wrong radiator, so place your order with us to ensure you get the correct GM radiator for your vehicle.
Why did Saturn stop being manufactured?
Saturn, a GM subsidiary that showed great promise in the early 1990s, ultimately failed because senior GM executives were unable to see the benefits of new ways of doing things and a new type of organizational culture.
Will GM ever bring Saturn back?
For the record, we are absolutely certain that GM will not bring back Saturn. With the electric revolution currently underway, all automobile manufacturers have a lot on their plates. In this environment, no companies want to launch a new brand. The other issue is that it never made a penny for GM.
