Stupid Question About '96 SL Series

slackersam · 02-09-2004, 09:05 PM

Ok, so last year I bought a '96 SL2. Actually, the dealer tag said it was an SL1, but it's an SL2. It has a DOHC engine and the bumpers are painted to match the rest of the car. So that makes it an SL2, right?

I know, it's crazy to own a car and not even know which model it is, but I just realized a couple of days ago that the armrest/console accessory came standard on the SL2 and I don't have one, and now it's driving me crazy. (I've had some problems with my car and the lack of an armrest is just kind of a slap in the face, if you know what I mean...)

far_from_sane · 02-09-2004, 10:06 PM

It could have been a SL1 and some one did a motor swap. what does it say on the title?

Anony00GT · 02-09-2004, 11:29 PM

Check the VIN number. If the 8th VIN character is 8, it was SOHC (SL1) from the factory and it evidently got either a headswap or motor swap somewhere in the past. If the 8th VIN character is a 7, then it was DOHC from the factory. Most likely it was a Type-O when someone typed up the dealer's window sticker.

I don't know if it's because its a coupe, but my SC2 doesn't have a center console/arm rest thing and it was definitely a SC2 from birth. It's got 4-wheel discs with ABS and traction control, yet it has no power locks or windows. To make things wierder, I do have a power moonroof. My friend's old Grand Am SE was exactly the same way, maybe it's a GM thing?

The lack of a center armrest drove me nuts for awhile, but since I cut my shifter (short shift mod), I just rest my arm on the lowered E-brake handle and it's OK.

slackersam · 02-10-2004, 12:55 AM

Yeah, I checked the VIN and also found my old carfax report from when I bought the car... It's an SL2. Apparently just a VERY low-end model. I don't have power locks, windows, traction control, ABS, cruise control or an armrest.

I guess I'll live though... I'm not sure how much longer my poor Saturn is gonna live. The crummy dealer I bought it from just finished replacing the auto trans with another one because of the reverse bang problem (he wouldn't believe me or my AllData TSB about the upper valve body, which I'm sure would have fixed it permanently), and already my transmission is acting weird again. (It shifts funny around 35mph). Add to that I just fixed the valve cover gasket and the oil pan gasket, and found out that I'm using about a quart of oil every 1000 miles or so, and I'm pretty much done with the car. It's a shame, too. I really like my Saturn. But should things work out for the best, I'm definately going to get the armrest. It's the only thing I don't like about this car. (Besides it's seemingly endless mechanical problems, which I can't blame on the car...)

workingonSC1 · 02-10-2004, 06:39 AM

When I bought my SC1 the dealer told me it was a SL2, I knew nothing about saturns at the time so it took me a couple of days to find out what it really was. lol