What do you like about your L-Series?

[Randy]

Ride and handling ?
Engine / Transmission ?
Ergonomics ?
Styling ?

[Marcus]

I have the 2.2L ECO-tec so there are alot of engine parts available as I am a performance guy. And who can pass up the factory H11 projectors...definitely shows the car has European traits. My ultimate goal when finished is 400bhp. I'm currently at 222bhp and 229 ft lbs. so I have work to do, and the best part is that IT IS possible.

[Randy]

222 HP? That's obscene, its more than the 3.0 V6! It must fly, you can drive around ambushing V6 Accords and Camry's at every light. Can you use traction control when it reaches 400 HP? I think it would be pretty hard to put that kind of power to the pavement on a front-wheel drive car without some kind of control. But then again, that could be just part of the fun!
Cheers,

[Marcus]

My car didn't come with traction control, only the V6 did. I have every option except that and the sunroof. The type of Falken tires I have lets the world know there is more under the hood than you can see. The intake note overpowers the exhaust at WOT but when just cruising it is as quiet as a BMW. People never see it coming when I step on it. If you check out the blog "Project Saturn LST" on my page I have the complete details of what I plan to do. I'm into circuit street racing...setting a start point and an endpoint 40+ miles away and whoever gets to that endpoint first, no matter how they got there, wins the money. Later today I'm going to shoot a final video of the car and what it can do so I'll let you know when it's up. In my other vids the car was never properly tuned and also didn't have the header or 4" intake in the car. This past Monday it was dynoed at 226 BHP and 235 BTQ. I'm always asked what I have done to the car as I like to just floor it at redlights and see who is TRYING to keep up. FUN FUN I tell ya. To think when I started this project in Juno 2008 it was stock at 135 BHP and 142 BTQ...and now as of October 2008 its at 226 BHP and 235 BTQ. My main focus is high rpm power now. I have all the low and mid-range I need but she dies out after 5500 QUICK! Oh well, that's what building is all about, wanting more and not being satisfied until I get what I want.

[Jeff]

I picked up my 01 LW300 used two years ago with 47,000 miles. It now has 72,000. I like the car even though it has not been totally trouble free. I bought the car because I needed a wagon, and did not want an SUV. It gets 21 to 24 mpg, is great in snow and is fun and comfortable to drive. It has moved lots of antique furniture, as well as moving my daughter and fiance's daughter several times. I also own an 02 SC 2 three door coupe.

[Marcus]

I know exactly what you mean when you say it hasn't been totally trouble free. My fuel pump went out unexpectedly when I was out of town. The after it got fixed the starter gear got stuck out and ground my flywheel to hell. Mechanic said it looked like a grenade was dropped in there. Having 2 oxygen sensors outta control is hard to pinpoint, so $211 later and 2 new ones and it wasn't even the problem. The fuel filter was clogged. Gotta love those Saturns! But it's been fine since I've been building it. I average 30 mpg highway and over 400 on a full tank when I'm not hot-rodding it.

[Randy]

Hey Marcus, the fuel pump went on my 03 LW300 too last summer. Must be a lousy parts supplier. Saturn better get on their case to make better fuel pumps! Also had the BCM fail, only weeks after I had the fuel pump fixed.
Hopefully the new Saab 9-5 wagon will be better. Still have the LW300 though, it runs great.

[Randy]

Hey Jeff:
I bought a LW300 new back in 2003, because I like to drive a car not an SUV just like you. Its amazing how much stuff you can get into one of these wagons. We take ours camping, pulling a utility trailer, bicycles on the roof, and a big Labrador Retriever in the back and the camping gear loaded into the trailer with a canoe on top of the trailer.

Too bad Saturn hasn't brought the wagon back. Hopefully they will when the next generation of the Aura comes along.

I actually own 2 wagons a 03 LW300 and an 08 Saab 9-5. Both are great cars.

[Jeff]

Randy, I have been very please with the LW300 even if I did have to replace the steering rack, and several transmission issues. We have used it to travel to the beach several times with my fiance and her kids and all the related beach "stuff." I used to have a Mazda pickup with a camper top on it, and this wagon rivals it for the amount of stuff you can pile in. And the car still pulls along nicely at 70mph fully loaded. Does your LW300 have leather seats. This one does. Never had a car with leather seats before. I looked at it as an added bonus, as i would have purchased the car even if it didn't have leather.

[Randy]

Hey Jeff:
We haven't had any mechanical problems with our L-Series, the problems we've had have been electrical. (Fuel Pump and Body Control Module) Hopefully that will be it for a long time. Car runs great. We don't have leather seats, although sometimes I wish we did. The Upholstery looks dirty all the time. It doesn't help with 2 dogs jumping in and out all the time. (We just adopted another one) It makes for a cramped cargo area...
Cheers,

[Glenn Lego]

With the planned restructuring of GM there may not BE a next generation Aura or anything else from Saturn!

[Randy]

Hey Glenn, lets hope that they will still provide similar products under a different brand :)
I'm hoping that GM survives as I think it would be a disaster for the North American economy.

[Glenn Lego]

My Saturn dealer told me that if Saturn does go away the dealer's parent company in Madison WI will give that dealership another brand to deal in.