Saturn L series

I have a friend looking at buying a 4cyl 5 speed saturn l series. I couldnt find much on them as far as reliability issues, so Im assuming thats a good thing. Either way I figured Id ask if anybody knows anything about them on here. Common issues? Anything to look for? Thanks

common problems off the top of my head:

the tail-light circuit boards burn out.

the steering racks are junk.

random electical problems

clutch slave failures (it's inside the bellhousing too)

suspension geometry/alignment designed to annihilate tires.

pluses include:

a huge engine compartment that seems conducive to turboing the ecotec in it.

gigantic trunk.

fair gas mileage for the size of the car.

probably cheap to buy? hopefully?

Just to clarify, we are taking about these mid-sizers:

There was a recall on the taillight sockets so if they don't work you need the revised parts, I forget the prices but I think it was around $40-50 per side?

The V6 has more problems than the 4 cylinder.

I think it is basically a rebadged Malibu?

A lot of the parts from that Saturn cross over to the NG SAAB 9-3.

more like 9-5

If that's anything like a late-'90s early-'00s Saab (and it is), it is not going to be a reliable vehicle. Everyone at GM was asleep when they built cars around then.

The 4-cylinder is quite reliable but the front subframes are prone to rust. My mother in law's rusted out and all the junkyard subframes I checked were well on their way.

I think there's a reason you don't see many of them. You didn't see that many when they were new.

In reply to belteshazzar:

Brakes I know for sure are shared, I used them on my 99 9-3.

I think there's some Opel DNA in there some where. I'd pass on it and shop for a 'real' Saturn. The 95-02 "S" series.

Friends of ours have a wagon version. They've had it since new and keep it as their "family truckster" and back-up DD. It's been one of the more reliable cars they've owned over the decades. Theirs is a 4 cyl, automatic. Gets decent mileage for what it is: barely into the low 30's.

Thanks guys. Ill pass the info along. I think its a pretty cool little daily in the 5spd version. Ive never driven one, but reviews say they can be pretty fun. I actually suggested the s series since I was looking at them a little while back.