1998 Saturn S-Series Review

The Saturn sedan and station wagon are designed mostly to be workhorses, while the slick Saturn coupe essentially is for fun.
Not that the coupe only lets its owner carry just a passenger and toothbrush. It became a lot more practical after its redesign for 1997, when it got the longer 102.4-inch wheelbase of the sedan and wagon. That allowed two 6-footers to fit fairly comfortably in the rear for the first time and provided a smoother ride.

The coupe's styling also was redone last year. But no-rust, ding-resistant body panels covering a tight space-frame chassis were retained. The coupe still comes as the SC1 and higher-line SC2, which has appreciably higher prices.

The SC1, which I recently tested, has base prices of $12,595 with the standard five-speed manual transmission and $13,455 with a four-speed automatic. The SC2 manual-transmission model costs $14,855, and the automatic model is $15,715.

The SC1 is fairly well-equipped and offers sporty, affordable and economical motoring--although its 100-horsepower four-cylinder lacks the moxie of the 124-horsepower version of the engine that powers the SC2.

Figure on 0-60 m.p.h. in 10.5 seconds for the SC1 with the manual transmission, compared with 9 seconds for the SC2 manual model.

Still, the 100-horsepower motor generally is quieter than the higher-output version and gives livelier acceleration at lower speeds. The SC1 also features a better ride than the SC2 because it has a softer suspension and higher-profile tires.

The SC2 provides sharper handling, but the SC1's handling can be enhanced by ordering the $450 double-fin alloy wheels, which come with 65-series tires that are slightly wider than the standard tires and don't affect the ride much.

My test SC1 had adroit handling, which was enhanced by those special tires. The power steering was a delight, being quick and precise with decent road feel. The brakes had an easily modulated pedal and stopped the car quickly and surely.

The slightly notchy manual works with a low-effort clutch and allows the best performance and economy from the SC1 engine. The automatic shifts well and makes the car easier to drive in congested areas.

But the automatic works better with the more powerful SC2. It slows the SC1 0-60 m.p.h. time to 11.5 seconds and forces one to keep the throttle floored a lot to keep up with fast-moving traffic. The SC1 engine also is noisier with the automatic, although Saturn has made its 1998 coupe engine a little quieter.

At least fuel economy doesn't suffer much with the automatic. The SC1 manual delivers an estimated 28 m.p.g. in the city and 39 on highways, while those figures are 27 and 37 with the automatic.

The Saturn automatic still is tricky to operate because its shifter's ``Reverse'' position is far too close to the ``Park'' position. That causes a driver to easily bypass the reverse slot and shift into the transmission's ``Neutral'' position. The car thus just sits there when you want to back up. The shift lever also gets in the way of the dual cupholders.

Other annoyances are a climate control fan with rough edges and climate-control levers that make it hard to quickly direct heat to the desired location. There's no driver-side power mirror. And, while power window controls are on the console, they can be hard to find at night because they're unlit. The inside rearview mirror also blocks too much windshield area.

There's noticeable road noise in the interior, but front seats are supportive and move back a long way to accommodate tall drivers. Most controls are easily reached, but it's impossible to see the trunk when backing up.

It's also a hassle to climb in or out of the stiff rear seat because the cushion is low and front seatbelts get in the way. And there's no surplus room back there for tall occupants.

The trunk is large, but its lid easily can spring down and bang a person on the head if opened in a hurry. Rear seatbacks flip forward to enlarge the cargo area, but don't fold completely flat--as they do in the Saturn sedan.

One key option is $695 anti-lock brakes, which come with a traction control system that doesn't cost extra.

The Saturn coupe has a good reliability record and shares the high customer satisfaction ratings given all Saturn models. While the SC2 version is sexier, the SC1 with the manual transmission offers the most value for the dollar.

But this one will be a big hit, no matter what the equipment level.