On today’s menu, we have two small domestic sedans from the 1990s, both of which are equipped with their optional twin-cam engines. One has a bunch of power toys and an automatic, while the other is more stripped-down and has a stick. Which one of them will you choose? We’ll find out.
Yesterday’s results prove that I can’t predict the outcome with any degree of accuracy. I mean, yes, the Pontiac Grand Am won, but the grossly overpriced Ford Fairmont gathered a lot more votes than I expected it to. Most Fairmont fans wanted to ditch the carbureted four-cylinder, but the replacement engine of choice was not a V8, but rather a turbo 2.3 liter four from a Thunderbird Turbo Coupe or Mustang SVO. I wholeheartedly support this choice. It’s a lot more interesting than just shoving a 302 in there.
I would love to drive that Fairmont, either before or after a turbo swap, but as far as actually owning one, the Grand Am is an easy choice. An N-body with a stick is my kind of car, as unlikely as that seems.
Back in the 1990s, many small cars came with two engine options: a single overhead cam four-cylinder, or a double overhead cam version of the same engine with an extra twenty or thirty horsepower. Often, this more powerful engine came attached to a higher trim level with a bunch of other options, but a couple of automakers offered the twin-cam engine a la carte. Today, we’re going to look at one of each.
1995 Saturn SL2 – $2,500
Engine/drivetrain: 1.9-liter DOHC inline 4, four-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Odometer reading: 131,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Saturn’s original sedan debuted in three trim levels: the basic SL, which came with nothing, the SL1, which added power steering and a right-side rearview mirror, and this SL2, which added bigger wheels, painted bumpers and mirrors, nicer seats, and most importantly, a twin-cam engine paired with lower gearing for quicker getaways.
Fun-loving types ordered the SL2 with a five-speed manual, which made for a legitimately entertaining little car to drive. But as with most cars, the optional automatic was a lot more common. This car has just 131,000 miles on it, which, if it has been maintained, is nothing for one of these cars. The seller doesn’t expressly say how well it runs, but they do call it a “great little car,” so I presume it runs and drives just fine.
In addition to the automatic, this car has a few other options like power windows and locks, and air conditioning. Unfortunately, the air conditioning doesn’t work; the seller claims it just “needs a charge,” but we all know how that goes. The good news is that the rest of the interior is in really nice shape.
It has some scuffs and scrapes in the rear bumper, but apart from that it looks really good. The trouble is that the same plastic dent-proof panels that keep it looking so young can hide rust. The seller says this car was garaged, but it’s in Ohio, so better take a look underneath.
1997 Plymouth Neon Expresso – $3,500
Engine/drivetrain: 2.0-liter DOHC inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Keizer, OR
Odometer reading: 148,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
This is a car I know well, and really like. The Dodge and Plymouth Neon replaced both the K-car-based Shadow and Sundance, and the captive-import Colt, and in both cases it was an improvement. The Neon was never a fancy car, but it was a fun and economical car, and after some early teething troubles, a pretty reliable one as well. This Expresso model was the mid-level trim, with a few sporty touches.
The Neon’s base single overhead cam engine was no slouch, putting out 132 horsepower, but this optional twin-cam engine sent 150 horses to the front wheels through either a five-speed manual or Chrysler’s trusty Torqueflite automatic. I used to own an automatic Neon, and it was fine, but I’ve driven manuals, and they’re a whole lot more fun. The seller of this one says it runs great, and it isn’t due for a timing belt change for quite a while yet. That’s good, because a timing belt job on one of these is a chore and a half.
The Neon was launched in an era when economy car interiors were a lot more fun than they are now. Less fancy maybe, but a lot more fun. There is no reason not to equip all economy cars with seat fabric that looks like the opening credits to Saved By The Bell. It shows some wear, but it clearly hasn’t been abused. There isn’t much to go wrong either, with crank windows and manual locks.
The Neon’s color palette for the first couple of years was nothing short of amazing. You could get a couple of different blues, a couple of different greens, magenta, purple, yellow, and this great aquamarine blue. That’s another thing that should come back: bright colors. I think the last economy car with a decent color palette was the Mitsubishi Mirage. It’s in pretty good shape, with just a few bumps and bruises. It’s a West Coast car, so rust shouldn’t be an issue.
I know, modern cars are a lot safer and probably more efficient, but I don’t care. I miss cars like these, and I’m glad there are still a few around. I have a definite favorite between the two of them, but as always, this is your show. Which one would you drive off in?
Neon: It’s Island Teal! Plus, it’s a DOHC with 5-speed. What’s not to like?
Neon because it’s manual. If the Saturn was a manual then it would win out.
And at least the Neon doesn’t have the “power window” option, so you don’t have to explain to people why the front windows are powered and the rears are manual. IYKYK
Repeating what everyone said but transmission and color win the day for the Neon.
“The seller doesn’t expressly say how well it runs, but they do call it a “great little car,”
I think the Saturn owner is mixing it up with the Mazda GLC.
Simple. Blue = choice.
Is this a broken AC vs no AC situation? Because no AC is a non-starter.
Neon, because stickshift and I’m a sucker for Teal cars.
What’s amazing is the dash hasn’t crumbled to pieces. I test drove one of these with the same powertrain but in a much duller black paintjob almost 15 years ago and the dash was all cracked despite having less mileage than this one.
It could have an Iron Duke for all I care: That Saturn has some hardcore cool styling! So that one.
The Neon’s alway been too bubbly late 90ies styling for me.
I drove a Saturn SL2 as my transportation appliance for 16 years. I remember the sales guy being disappointed when he said “are you excited to get a new car?” and my response was basically, “meh”. With that said it served me well for 16 years and it was collision damage that killed it, not mechanical issues. However, mine was a five-speed and this one’s an automatic which kills any fun factor whatsoever. Rust may also be a factor as we’re matching up a midwest car vs. an Oregon car.
Hence, I’ll pay the extra grand and take the Neon as a more interesting and fun car but if you’re just looking for basic, reliable transportation I couldn’t fault anyone for taking the Saturn.
I didn’t even have to read the details re: mileage, condition, etc… A teal Neon? F-ck yeah! 😀
Also, its seats look like the first pass at the multi-pass printing process for Autopian Labs’ new stain-proof shirt. 😉
I voted Saturn, but I’m not going to blame anyone who voted Neon–fun, cheap little cars are all but extinct nowadays. (In today’s dollars, that Neon would have cost $27,853.82.)
GM should have paired Saturn with Oldmobile, especially with the shared design language at the time. Maybe Olds would have survived.
Saturn killed Olds.
The first small fun car I ever got to drive was a Saturn SL2. It was a revelation after learning on Caprice Classics and suburbans. That being said, the vote will be for the obvious:
Stick>Auto
Color>Blah
Friend of mine had that SL2 and it treated him well, and I miss seeing Saturns on the road, and fie on GM for abandoning the brand.
But nostalgia isn’t enough to make me want it over something that’ll be a lot more enjoyable to own. Purty blue Neon for me please.
Even though I gag a little at the edition’s nomenclature and want to get a custom badge that says “Eckspecially“. Or maybe “Eck Cetera.”
Tough one but almost indestructible Saturn I think. Too bad it’s such a boring color. If the neon was that spec and a two door it would be hard to turn down.
I actually like the Neon; their fans have swayed me over the years. Plus, this is a fun example in both looks and pep.
not a Neon Fan, but the engine and trans in this one is pretty solid for the era and it would make for a decent first car for my daughter if she managed to not destroy it learning to drive the stick.
Neon. Not terribly well made cars, but good handling in a great color with a manual. Were the Saturn a manual, it would have been a tougher choice as I liked the Saturns, especially the twin cams. Not great cars, but fun for being honest, simple, and cheap. Both would be good for ’90s car shows that cost little to run, but the Neon is more of a stand out. I still occasionally see early Saturns, but I haven’t seen a 1st gen Neon in quite a while and even 2nd gens are a rare sight.
Hi.
Neon! This was a more difficult one…at first was gonna go Saturn since I like the body style a little better but mainly because I used to not like the Neon but now like it a lot more. I used to hear Neon and think unreliability and junk. Have never been a huge Saturn fan but still like them and don’t have anything against them. All the positives just kept leaning towards the Neon:
-MANUAL!
-Such a fun, fun, FUN car
-Such a beautiful blue
-Totally radical seat design
(Cuz I’m saved by the bell!”)
-teething issues solved
-timing belt changed
-Oregon vs Ohio
-“Expresso”. I didn’t know about this but love it: One of my favorite car model names is the (Suzuki) Cappuccino- it’s just so awesome
Manual transmission appliance is slightly less appliance-like than the automatic transmission appliance and therefore wins.
Easy today, and only partly because of the transmission. Both of these are quintessential basic ’90s transportation but the bright, happy Neon really is the best of everything mid-90s, collated into car form.
Saw the headline and came to vote for the Saturn, went for the 90s-rrific Neon instead. I think I still have a couple restaurant napkins from the late 80s in that color.
Same, I like the look of the Saturn but the manual and fun fabric in the Neon swayed me