from CR
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Used: Family car Saturn L-Series
Drive wheels: Front.
Reliability: Below par.

Overview: Saturn's midsized L-Series was loosely derived from the European-market Opel Vectra. Available as either a sedan or wagon, the L-Series competes against such family-sedan mainstays as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. As with Saturn's smaller S-Series models, the L-Series uses dent-resistant plastic body panels. It is available with a noisy 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine or Saturn's first V6-a 3.0-liter, 182-hp unit. The four-speed automatic transmission shifts well. Handling is competent but not nimble, and the ride is too stiff. The L-Series is fairly roomy in either body configuration, but its control-panel layout is only so-so.

Safety equipment: Driver and passenger air bags standard. Side- curtain air bags available from 2001. ABS available.
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CR does not list Reliability history for '99 but for '00 there were Electrical and Body hardware issues.

This snipet might prove useful
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Reliable used cars less than $8,000
Ford Escort '97-99 • Ranger (2WD) '94-96
Geo Prizm '94-97 • Tracker 94-96
Honda Civic '94-95
Mazda B-Series (2WD) '94-95 • MX-5 Miata '94 • Protegι '96-97
Mercury Tracer '97-98
Nissan Altima '94 • Pickup '94 • Sentra '96
Subaru Impreza '94-95 • Legacy '94
Suzuki Sidekick '94-96
Toyota Corolla '94-95 • Tercel '94-96
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It all depends on what you want out of it.