I fell in utter lust with the 2000-L series Saturn. It was a beautiful car, but I’m always skeptical on purchasing a first year model car. I’m so glad we waited. We dropped by for an oil change for our 1999 S Saturn and spotted the new 2001 L300 Saturn on the lot. Just as gold and beautiful as the Saturn I lusted after last year. The L300 isn’t just another luxury car in the vast sea of automobiles. It stands proud above the rest easily giving any higher price luxury car a run for its money.

It will be an easy competition because our new L300 Saturn will only cost a grand total of $21,050.00. The break down on that price is the basic car $19,495. We will add the power sunroof for $725.00. The 6-way power seats are $325.000. The upgrade on the already magnificent audio system $255.00. The handsome but worthless rear spoiler which includes the alloy wheels $250.00. The destination charge is added to that for the final cost ($500.).

The V-6, 3.0-liter engine with 24 valves, dual-overhead cams has plenty of power to pass everyone on the freeway. Unlike our 1999 Saturn that has a manual 5-speed transmission the L300 has an easy to drive four-speed automatic transmission. The Four-speed automatic transmission is a standard feature. It would have been a couple thousand dollars more if we had chose the automatic transmission on our 1999 Saturn. Since were on the subject of standard features there is a standard CD player. Also standard features is the power windows, door locks that can be programmed to unlock when the key is removed. Heated mirrors, how many times did my outside mirrors freeze up in Northern Minnesota? You can’t see a thing! Now you don’t even have to freeze your fingers because there is a power mirror adjust also!

When we test-drove the car I was the first to sit in the back seat. There was plenty of room in fact to make a point the sales lady moved her seat all the way back and I still had plenty of room for my long legs. There was also a beverage holder in the back seat that folds up for a third person. A shoulder seat belt was available in all three back seat positions. There are two reading lamps in the back seat.

The front seat area was just as comfortable as the back. The dashboard was handsomely accented with wood trim. The steering wheel is leather wrapped that provided a nice comfortable grip. The ashtray is bigger than the tiny little one butt bucket that is in our 1999 Saturn.

The front seat has everything you could want. A tilt steering wheel to make getting in and out of the car easier. A nice center console with a cup holder, lighter, ashtray and storage area. Dual mirrors on the visors with a light on the driver’s side. Hmm, where is my light? The drivers seat has the same adjustable lumbar support that we have grown to love and appreciate on our 1999 Saturn. It makes a big difference on a long trip. There is an electronic cruise control that is rather unique. It goes up in mile increments with each push of the button.

The safety and security features are rather impressive. There are reduced forced air bags in the driver and passenger dash. Three-point seat belts with adjustable shoulder- belt guides. The modified space frame is pretty much the same as our 1999 Saturn, this is supported and reinforced for safety with steel panels which creates the side-impact protection. The front and rear impact protection has crumple zones. The engine and transmission are designed to breakaway incase of an accident. One sales person at Saturn had been in a very serious accident with her Saturn. The engine broke away just as it was designed to do. The air bags inflated. She had no bruising from the air bags. The only injury she had was a broken foot. I saw a picture of the car and it was totaled! Head curtain air bars are an available option for the L-Series. The front and rear has vibration-isolating sub frames. The steering column is designed to collapse which helps reduce the frontal impact. There is also energy absorbing instrument panel and knee bolsters that are padded. If I ever had to be in an accident, I would have to choose the Saturn!

The color choices for the L300 are rather nice. The interior choices are black, tan and gray. The exterior colors are blackberry, bright silver, cream white, dark blue, dark red, green medium gold, and silver blue. Our choice is gold in this nice parade of colors!

One thing that truly impressed me was that our hot rod sales-person, Ina Ross from Saturn of Stockton showed us how will this car cornered. She gunned it and went zipping around almost a full circle. This car held on to the full turn. I think this is thanks to the independent MacPherson gas-charged struts and stabilizer bar in the front and the independent, multi-link with gas-charged shock and spring module and rear stabilizer bar. The power assist rack -and-pinion steering certainly did its job as well. The anti-lock braking system with traction control came in real handy at the end of the demonstration!

For those of you stuck on the idea of luxury there is an optional leather appointment package. The leather is on the seats, on the door panels, parking-brake handle and the automatic shifter. The appointment package also comes with a heated front seat and the six-way power driver’s seat. A courtesy light is included on the driver’s side.

One of the things I love most about Saturn is the trade in value. Saturn really retains its value over time. Even with the number of miles on our 1999 Saturn it’s still worth $8,500.

The Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety says that the Saturn has the best record in 1999 avoiding disputes. The lemon law index has Saturn with the best record of only one unsettled dispute per 13,764 new cars. Who had the worst rating? Ford, one unsettled dispute for every 369 cars sold. Of course Ford said that that was inaccurate and misleading. The JD Power and Associates annual sales satisfaction survey has Saturn placed in points at 143 while Cadillac and Lexus both scored 141. The industrial average is 124. Ford was below average on this scale also.

The L300 2001 Saturn has brought my love affair with the Saturn to an all time level. Before you go out and blow a fortune for a luxury car give the L300 2001 Saturn a spin. I know you will be thrilled you did!