Last year I had my mind set on buying a new Saturn LX Series. I had decided on a Saturn for the style, gas mileage, safety rating, and price. I loved the ability to order through their website and have the car delivered to me. After some more deep thought, I ended up buying a Durango because I really needed a 4 wheel drive and my husband got rid of his.

Two weeks ago I rented a 2001 Saturn LX in Atlanta, Ga. to drive down to Tampa, Fl. for a long drive and a short vacation. I was excited to jump in to the Saturn since this was just like the car that I almost owned. The Saturn I rented only had about 800 miles on it when I left the lot. It was a 4 door basic model (did not have the sports package) but was equipped with CD, A/C, power windows, and the basic upgrades.

I quickly adjusted to all the buttons, easily figured out how to adjust the seats and mirrors. I was neither impressed nor disappointed in the power of the 2001 Saturn. The stereo had a CD player and average sound quality. I did find the radio uncomfortable to reach. While driving on the highway, the radio stations would get fuzzy and my arm would get tired from the awkward position of changing the stations.

The automatic window controls are in the middle console between the driver and passenger seats. I had a bit of a hard time getting used to their location as well. The hazard light button is in the middle of the dashboard. I did not like that because if my kids had been with me, they would have kept pushing it just because it was so easy for them to reach.

At first the seats seemed comfortable. The back seat does not have much leg room (like most small cars) but would be okay for kids or short trips. After the first 200 miles my seat became very uncomfortable and I decided that I was glad that I had not gotten a Saturn because I do a lot of driving.

The power safety locks are a nice feature. When you remove the key from the ignition, the doors unlock. Then when you place the car in drive, they lock. My favorite thing about this car is the Saturn gets great gas mileage. I got about 30 miles per gallon on the highway and about 26 otherwise. The ride was quiet and smooth although the brakes are very touchy. The handeling is about average, the small size makes it easy to park and turn in small areas.

After 1500 miles of driving, I would have to recommend that you rent one and drive it for a few days before purchasing it. The 100.00 you would spend on the rental would be well worth it to not end up sorry that you bought one and didn't like it. It is a nice car but if you drive a lot like I do, comfort is too important and in my opinion, this is not a comfortable car for the price tag.
Amount Paid (US$): rental
Condition: New
Model Year: 2001
Model and Options: LX Automatic