Is Saturn slipping?
I began to wonder after a recent test drive in the new SC1 coupe.First, there was difficulty starting the car. The engine turned over and over and over the first time, but didn't start. The second attempt was successful, but a bit of a struggle.
Over a week's driving, the 4-cylinder engine seemed consistently hesitant to ignite, a trait I don't see very often on new cars, even on hot days at mile-high altitude.
Once up and running, the 1.9 liter, 100-horsepower engine seemed painfully underpowered, especially for a coupe with such sporty styling.
The upside of the anemia, of course, is terrific fuel economy of 28 city and 40 highway miles per gallon. That's sort of like saying, "Yes, you're sick. But at least you're losing weight."
A further irritant was the rubbery stick shift that resisted efforts to shift into reverse on a downhill slope.
And when I parked the car, the warning chime continued to sound, indicating that either the lights were on or the key was in the ignition.
No, the lights weren't on. And the key was in my pocket. So, I studied the ignition switch and found that it remained depressed in its socket after the key was removed. I pried it out of its stuck position with the key, silencing the chime. A one-time occurrence? No, it happened every time I parked the car.
Funny how when one problem pops up, you begin to notice others. The seating position, low to the floor, began to get on my nerves after a while. Combined with an up-sloping dash, the effect is somewhat like peering over a hedge. And the handling is not as crisp as the competition's.
For those who recall Saturn's original mission - to fight the imports with comparable quality, superior customer service and better pricing - the flaws stand out like ragweed in a rose garden.
That's not to say the SC1 won't outlive other cars. You just might not want it to.
Has the competition whizzed past the lovable family of sedans, wagons and coupes from Spring Hill, Tenn.? Maybe.
Despite a redesign of the coupes for 1997, not much has changed mechanically since former General Motors chairman Roger Smith drove the first front-drive Saturn sedan off the assembly line seven years ago.
The new coupes do have a longer wheelbase (102.4 inches vs. 99.2 in the first generation) and roomier back seats that offer a full 4.5 inches more legroom and about an inch more headroom. Cupholders are also copious front and back. And the exterior styling is somewhat sharper with a modified fastback and rounder tail.
But the noisy, underwhelming base engine and the rubbery stick remain on board, causing the driver to remain simply bored.
Meanwhile, competitive targets such as the Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra and Mazda Protege have gotten better. There are also new models such as the Ford Contour and Dodge Neon that offer greater sophistication and power at ballpark or better prices.
The review car's final price of $16,425 with options such as air conditioning, power locks, windows and mirrors and remote keyless entry fell just $725 under Ford's price for the top-of-the-line Contour with a 170 horsepower V6 engine.
Even the Chevrolet Cavalier, once among the least ambitious cars on the market, is a more rewarding driving experience since its makeover a couple of years ago. And the Cavalier is actually cheaper: $11,250 for the coupe compared to a $12,495 base price for the Saturn SC1.
Consider the fact that even the Cavalier's base powerplant is 20.3 horsepower stronger than the Saturn SC1's. That gives the Cavalier a power-to-weight ratio of 21.8 pounds per horse, slightly better than the SC1's 23 pounds per horse.
Beyond that, the Cav is more ergonomically correct, though possibly not as impressive stylistically.
Yes, you'll still probably have more fun shopping for a Saturn than any other car. The Saturn customer service philosophy - one price, no hassles, please come to the barbecue - remains intact.
But the product has some catching up to do.
PLUSES: Styling, fuel economy, resale value.
MINUSES: Difficult to start, anemic power, rubbery stick shift, ignition switch that sticks.
BOTTOM LINE: 1997 makeover a missed opportunity for Saturn.