Would You Splurge $10,000 On A 4K-Mile 1996 Saturn SL?

Saturn was a quirky automaker that billed itself as a “different kind of car company.”

Designed to battle imports, the GM brand was best known for no haggle pricing and using plastic body panels. While Saturn was axed over a decade ago, one of the lowest mileage SL sedans is currently listed on eBay.

Showing just 3,800 miles (6,115 km) on the odometer, this 1996 SL is an automotive time machine. While it looks virtually brand new, there are a few issues including a scratched front bumper and a “small clear coat imperfection” on the rear spoiler. That being said, the underbody appears to be completely devoid of rust.

Also Read: We All Miss Saab, But Would You Pay Nearly $30,000 For This Low Mileage 9-5 Aero?

Moving into the plastic fantastic interior, there are two-tone fabric seats which are in good condition but definitely old school. While the listing is light on specifics, the model appears to have air conditioning, power windows and locks and a cassette player.

Under the hood, there’s a 1.9-liter twin-cam 16 valve four-cylinder engine. This means the model has the ‘performance’ engine which developed 124 hp (92 kW / 126 PS) and 122 lb-ft (165 Nm) of torque. It’s pair to a five-speed manual which sends power to the front wheels.

While 124 hp (92 kW / 126 PS) isn’t much these days, the seller says the car is in “great mechanical shape” and has been “started and used a few times a week since new.” The listing also says the car has been outfitted with new tires and a sunroof assembly as well as a new headliner.

While it’s unusual to see a Saturn with such low mileage, the listing says the car was an engineering and development vehicle for Zexel. The GM supplier reportedly used the car to calibrate their wind tunnel for testing and kept using it until around 2017.

After the company was done with the car, they reportedly held an in-house auction where it was bought by an employee. As a result, the 25-year-old vehicle was first registered in 2019.

It can now be yours for $9,999 (£7,279 / €8,298), which is roughly ten times as much as your typical 1996 Saturn SL.