Saturn is a defunct General Motors brand that sold cars in the USA and Canada between 1990 and 2010. Since 2010, the only way to get one was to buy a used Saturn. There is still a fair number of Saturn used cars to buy in America today. If you’re shopping for a cheap Saturn second-hand, the good news is that there is still a decent selection of cars available. Saturn attempted to do things differently and compete with affordable Japanese imports, but with a new factory, construction technique, and workforce, the massive $5 billion investment was not offset by sufficient sales and after GM’s bankruptcy following the 2008 financial crisis, Saturn was discontinued in 2010. Thanks to almost a dozen models and 20 years of sales, though, it’s quite easy to find and buy a Saturn near you, almost regardless of where you live. And, if you’re unsure which Saturn models are most suitable, peruse the CarBuzz site and shop online to track down a Saturn near you; this will make it easy to go for a test drive before you decide.
People buy Saturn cars online by visiting CarBuzz’s used-cars search page to find what they are looking for near them. To find Saturn models close to your location, simply set the search radius to ten or 25 miles and see what comes up. If there aren’t many results, cast the net a little wider until you find a cheap old Saturn of your liking in your area. Old ’90s and 2000s models cost a few hundred dollars used for the cheapest ones and you can set filters in terms of mileage and year to reduce the number of results. Once you have a shortlist, you can work out a route and view and test drive them all.
A Saturn’s reliability can be sound if the car has been properly maintained. Some models had specific trouble areas though, such as the mid-2000s Ion whose key can become stuck in the ignition. The 2007 Aura was known for warping brake discs, easily distinguished by shuddering under braking. The Vue had several issues, notably failed transmissions for the 2003, 2004, and 2008 models, a problem that also afflicted the 2008 Outlook. The 2004 Ion was subject to the most recalls of all models - a total of 11, for issues ranging from the ignition-switch problem, as well as problems with its lights, power steering, fuel lines and filters, bumper mounts, and sunroof. Check the NHTSA website for recall information and make sure that any recall work has been performed on a model you’re considering. To be safe, insist on a vehicle history and a full service report. Take a mechanic along on the test drive to identify problems and avoid cars with a salvage title.
Fuel types include:
Model | Deals | Starting Price | Average Price |
---|---|---|---|
Saturn Aura | 153 | $1,000 | $6,058 |
Saturn Aura Hybrid | 2 | $4,999 | $7,949 |
Saturn Outlook | 78 | $2,495 | $7,540 |
Saturn Vue | 294 | $895 | $6,234 |
Saturn Vue Hybrid | 9 | $5,995 | $6,812 |
Saturn Sky | 139 | $6,299 | $12,823 |
Saturn Astra | 9 | $3,995 | $5,286 |
Saturn Astra Coupe | 3 | $3,975 | $4,655 |
Saturn Ion | 115 | $1,995 | $4,654 |
Saturn Ion Coupe | 18 | $2,995 | $5,456 |
Saturn Relay | 4 | $5,599 | $5,797 |
Saturn L Sedan | 19 | $1,500 | $3,690 |
Saturn LS | 4 | $1,450 | $1,450 |
Saturn LW | 4 | $3,500 | $3,999 |
Saturn SC | 9 | $795 | $1,029 |
Saturn SL | 35 | $500 | $1,910 |
Saturn SW | 5 | $950 | $950 |