At 200K, my Saturn is the cockroach of cars!

[Vegas Linda Lou]

Last Sunday my American-made Saturn hit 200,000 miles! The milestone was recorded for posterity; if you click here you can see the big transition on the odometer (that is what it’s called, right?) Anyway, it was a very exciting moment.

I’m the first to admit I have an unusual emotional attachment to my Saturn, but only because I have the most awesome vehicle on earth. It was the first car I ever purchased entirely on my own. I bought it new in 1996 after my first divorce and since then, I’ve gone through a whole other husband and more boyfriends than I care to remember. How many people can say their most successful long-term relationship is with their car? Huh?

Unlike husbands and boyfriends, I’ve never had a problem with my Saturn, though the guy at the Big O Tires shop pitched a freakin’ fit recently when I pulled in without a drop of oil in my tank. I promised him I’d keep an eye on the situation, but because I don’t actually know how to check the oil, I use my psychic powers to determine just how many gallons to pour in at a time. That seems to be working.

I really have no idea what’s going on under the hood (maybe I’m not even putting the oil in the right place—who knows?) I just know my car runs perfectly, even though the “Service Engine Soon” light flashes on now and then, but that’s nothing that can’t be covered with a piece of masking tape. And another red light on the dashboard sometimes blinks on and off, but that’s been going on for like a year, so I assume it’s nothing to worry about. I swear, my Saturn can endure anything—it's the cockroach of the automotive world!

At last count I got an amazing 41 miles to the gallon (highway), and I'm telling you, my Saturn is cute as hell. Doesn't it look like it's in a car commercial?

Although it’s kind of small—it’s a two-door SC1 coupe about the size of a kitchen table—I’ve always felt very safe in it, despite the fact that everyone tells me I’m a terrible driver. Knock on wood—I’ve never gotten in any accidents (though I do hear them happening behind me).

Men don’t seem to share my enthusiasm for my beloved Saturn, probably because it’s a little uncomfortable for the big, beefy boys I tend to favor. Plus I hardly ever wash it, and you know how men are about washing their cars. One guy I dated said to me, “Linda, I love everything about you except your car” and I thought, “Newsflash, dude: I guarantee it will outlast you.” Of course, I was right.

I probably shouldn’t brag about my car; I probably should be mortified that at this age I’m driving a dusty 13-year-old vehicle with a dent in the roof (that’s a story for another day). But my Saturn’s been good to me, and I feel bad about the rumors I hear of the brand’s demise. Though when you think about it, I haven’t exactly done my part to support GM, have I? I mean, what would this economy look like if everyone held onto their cars for 13 years?

Well, there’d be a lot of happy Saturn owners. Like me.

XOXO
www.vegaslindalou.com

[David Barnes]

I have a 2000 Saturn SC1 (red) and yesterday it hit 200,000 miles. I have had it since high school, and after high school I bought it from my parents for $2,400. It was also the first car I paid for myself. My service engine light comes on occasionally, but it usually goes away after about 30 miles. The only major repair I have had to have done on it was having the tranny rebuilt. I love Saturns!

[Walter Adamski]

oh ya that spring special is my prefered ride now

[Walter Adamski]

That is a funnt post thank for writing it. I have never gotten to 300k in my milage but I did get to 276k on one and can tell you it was a 1992 blue 4door looked good for all those miles. I was your typical 19yo when i bought it and I "dogged" it bad. When I say that I mean go 50 then pull the e-brake and spin the wheel (lots of fun) I Still miss it and seeing yours brought back memories. Anyway i have owned 5 more since then. Oh ya it hit the back of a work truck in the rain at 50mph! my ex-wife walked away unhurt (no airbag in that model) notice she is now my ex lol.... I drove that car with no radiator or hood fenders or bumper for a month back and forth to work 15min each way GREAT car that can do that without locking up the motor from overheating! then the insurance company took it and totaled it :( !! My second Saturn SL1 had 187K on it when my Brother in law rolled it 6 times in TN then drove it back to the road with no windows and he had to be cut out of the car wish I had pictures of these of course I traded it for the tow bill to the junk yard :(... Third was run into a fence at 176K miles and totaled (same brother in law he will never drive my car again after that) My 2005 Relay just broke 200K (I know it is not a real Saturn, but it has the emblem) I bought it for the first ex-wife so the kids would have a comfortable ride instead of the 76 nova junker she had! And to tell you the truth they did make one more model of saturn that has the same engine as the early 90's models it is the 2002 saturn sl spring special. You know it cause it is only going to be blue-silver in color. Make sure it is the spring special though. Well anyway I am bored out of my mind no kids for the whole summer.

[Darrell Church]

I have a 2008 VUE and the Awd has been greatly inproved over the 2004 VUE I had , I am in Southern Alberta am wondering who is Penske Automotive and is the resale of Saturns going to be affected by this

[Darrell Church]

Linda sounds like your a cool lady , hope the advise on checking your oil helps , if the men folk were worth much they would have helped you with that , oil is rather important , having it changed and servicing your car would make seeing 300 K more likely . good story and good luck

[Donald Ray Rincon]

BTW, it's absolutely wonderful that a CAR GUY, Roger Penske, appears to have ante'd up and bought the Saturn franchise. As I understand it, he plans to build the Saturn for at least 2 years, so maybe something else will come up to keep it alive.

[Donald Ray Rincon]

I just joined the Saturn group, and I am so amused by this post! Gallons of oil?!! Hilarious! At any rate, I am still in gestation; I sold a very nice, owned-from-new 150K-mile '96 4Runner to buy my older bro's '99 SW1 SOHC 5-speed, with its 10mpg higher city mileage. 'Will be good to row a gearbox again, but, better than that, I get to mix with these wonderful people. I'll get the car on the 18th of June, and even though I'm really a performance guy,'dependable' is a rare word these days, and one I hope to embrace. Just dropped in to say I'm happy the group has so many neat people in it!

[Vegas Linda Lou]

@ Thomas: Thanks for the instructions. I'll try my best, but in my mind checking the oil will always be "boys' work."

@ Rikki: I hope you and "Keith" have a wonderfully long relationship. There was a book out years ago entitled "Cars I Have Loved, Men I Have Wrecked." We can so relate, huh?

@ Brian: Yeah, I've heard the first gen Saturns were the best. I'd love to find another mid-90's Saturn that an old lady drove only to church--that would probably get me through the next 13 years.

@ Marco: Yeah, I'm a writer. And a sometimes comedian, which explains the wisecracks.

@ Tom: Thanks! I am all about fun.

[Tom Folger]

Nice Post, lots of fun to read!

[Marco Roya]

This is one of the finest post I've read to date. Absolutely hilarious. I'm guessing you're a writer? Right? 'Gallons of oil' still has me laughing. Congrats on your milestone!