2000 Focus ZTS vs. 2000 Saturn SL2

Looking at used cars for my son.

I've been looking on the 'net about these, but I'm not getting any good/bad feeling about either one. Both seem to be ok. Both of the examples I'm looking at are automatics (yuck).

Any help would be appreciated.

Stan

2000 was the first year for the Focus and not considered to be the best year to choose from.

The Saturn is what it is "the tupperware tourer." They are a bit plastic-ie but that is also their redeeming quality. The DOHC Saturn is smother than the SOHC Saturn offered in the SL1 cars. Both Saturn engines are known to burn a little oil but also know to run long and strong if you just keep up on the oil. For Saturn owners that I know, I recommend keeping a quart of oil in the trunk and the instant that you see the oil light flicked, pull over and add a quart. A co-worker of mine did just that up till 180k miles.

I think the oil problem may have been largely tankeb care of by 2000 in the Saturn?

Joey

Maybe, my co-worker had a '98 SL2.
My sister has a '02 SL1 with over 75k miles and has yet to reach for the quart of oil in the trunk.

I have had (and still have) many saturns. They run and run and run.

the Saturn also gets pretty good gas milage.

I have no expierence with the Focus.

My vote is the Saturn My brother has a ’93 with 150,xxx and it is still going strong. It burns less than a quart between changes.

I have a friend with a first year focus and she says it has been in for recalls over 20 times and that new ones are still coming out for the car.

Butch_86 wrote: I have a friend with a first year focus and she says it has been in for recalls over 20 times and that new ones are still coming out for the car.

E36 M3 There were never that many recalls for the 2000 Focus. And some of them were only for a limited number of vehicles.

Stan: Get the VIN off the Focus and go to your local Ford dealer. Ask them to check if there are any outstanding recalls on the car. They can get that info off their computer system.

Recalls that are of concern to you are battery cable relocation, rear wheel bearing seal, and rear door latch.

Battery cable relocation was because the cable could be stretched and seperate if not routed properly. My car was fine and did not need anything done.

Rear bearing seal was because of corrsion problems on cars in the "salt states" . Even though mine showed no signs of a problem they replaced the seals

Rear door latch only applied to sedans in the "salt states". Once agin it was a corrosion problem. Recall involved insepection and and replacement or the application of a special grease. Mine showed no signs of corrosion so they greased it up and put a sticker on it about using the special grease.

I will warn you that the automatic transmissions are not the strongest in the world. They are fine when driven sensibily but don't like "neutral drops", etc.

SATURN!!!

and yes, by 2000, the oil consumption issue was taken care of. My girlfriends late 99 has not consumed a quart since she got it.

SATURN!!!

and yes, by 2000, the oil consumption issue was taken care of. My girlfriends late 99 has not consumed a quart since she got it.

oops, double post.