Good morning! Today we’re looking at cars from two dead GM brands that will have you asking, “Why couldn’t they have killed off Buick instead?” They’re not very similar cars, but they both represent what each of their brands did best.
Yesterday, we looked at a couple of little stickshift stuff-haulers, one that’s a secret Toyota and one that’s a secret Mitsubishi. It’s hard to beat something with as much Corolla DNA in it as that Geo has, and I figured it would take the win. Early-mid 1990s Corollas and Prizms might just be the best cheap beaters out there, as long as you can avoid rust.
But I’ve already had that Prizm’s predecessor (a 1987 Nova hatch) and successor (a 1995 Corolla), so I would choose the Eagle Summit, just for a different experience. Besides, it’s purple, one of the few car colors I’ve never owned.
The full list of General Motors brand names is an eye-opener, even if you think you know them all. Some are barely remembered at all, while others are still mourned by fans to this day. Oldsmobile’s demise in 2004 was an especially hard pill to swallow, considering it began in 1897, and made a name for itself in performance car circles several times. And poor Saturn, begun as a completely independent arm of GM to build “A Different Kind Of Car,” eventually ended up as another exercise in badge-engineering before falling victim to the post-bankruptcy reorganization. Today, we’re going to look at one of each division’s greatest hits. Here they are.
1988 Oldsmobile Toronado – $3,650
Engine/drivetrain: 3.8-liter overhead valve V6, four-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Pahrump, NV
Odometer reading: 113,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The Oldsmobile Toronado lasted twenty-six years, and never varied from its mission as a cool, stylish front-wheel-drive personal luxury coupe. It gave the middle finger to the malaise era, weathered the Brougham years with more dignity than a lot of other cars, and bowed out before Oldsmobile had a chance to ruin the formula. This final-generation Toronado is a sleek, trim, and highly underrated car.
The original Toronado broke the mold with its front-wheel-drive design, but by the time this one was built, most cars were FWD. It shares its platform with the full-size H-body sedans, including its Buick 3800 V6 and 4T60 automatic transmission. It’s a proven drivetrain with a reputation for durability and reliability. This one has had only one owner, who kept it in excellent condition until they passed away recently. It has only 113,000 miles on it, and it runs and drives great.
It looks practically new inside; someone really did take care of this car. 1988 was right in the middle of GM’s “Button Era” of interior design. Look at all those tiny square buttons on the stereo and HVAC system. The fancier Trofeo model of the Toronado used a CRT touchscreen like its Buick Riviera cousin, but personally I’d rather have the buttons. I also love that basket-handle shifter. If you must have an automatic, you should at least have a cool way to put it in gear.
I’ve always liked the style of this era Toronado; it’s well-proportioned and a good size. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen one with a landau top, like so many Rivieras and Cadillac Eldorados of this era had. The hidden headlights are also a nice touch. This one is as clean and shiny as you could hope for, but the aftermarket wire wheels don’t do it any favors, in my view. Your mileage may vary, of course.
2001 Saturn SW2 – $2,200
Engine/drivetrain: 1.9-liter dual overhead cam inline 4, four-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Riverside, CA
Odometer reading: 171,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Fun fact: Saturn was founded on the day I turned twelve, January 7, 1985. It was created as a completely separate company from General Motors, with its own car designs, its own factory, its own dealers – everything. This bold idea built up a lot of expectations for the cars, which finally arrived for the 1991 model year, and as it turns out, they were pretty good. The basic design was refined over two generations and eleven years before being replaced with the Ion, which marked the end of Saturn’s independence from the GM mothership.
The second-generation S series came in three body styles and two trim levels. This is an SW2, meaning S series, Wagon, level 2. It has Saturn’s 1.9 liter twin-cam “Power Module” (why they couldn’t just call it an engine, I don’t know) and a four-speed automatic. Saturn engines and transmissions proved to be reliable, if a bit thrashy and prone to oil consumption. This one has 171,000 miles, and the seller says it’s a strong runner that just passed a smog test.
Saturn interiors are, let’s say, uninspiring but functional. This one looks pretty good inside, and since it’s an SW2, it has all the power goodies that were available. The cloth seats are in good shape, and everything is nice and clean. Having owned a Saturn SC1 from this era, though, I can practically feel that cheap Fisher-Price grade plastic through this photo.
The wagon is far and away the best of the three Saturn body styles. The coupe has terrible outward visibility, and the sedan is boring. The wagon looks a little funky, because it uses the same rear doors as the sedan, but it’s distinctive-looking, and practical. I find it amusing that the seller mentions that it has no dings or dents; of course it doesn’t. It’s a Saturn. All the vertical body surfaces are plastic, and bounce back if you hit them.
I suppose the behemoth that was General Motors in the mid 2000s was too big to sustain itself without shedding some brands, but Oldsmobile was always cooler than Buick, and Saturn was really on to something for a while. These were both good cars that deserved proper successors, but it wasn’t meant to be. But hey, we still have these two. So what do you think – personal luxury coupe, or efficient little wagon?
As someone who’s first car back when I was 18 was a ‘91 Toronado Trofeo coupe, I voted for the glorious Oldsmobile. Was only missing a sunroof and the ahead of its time optional touchscreen (CRT!!). Mine was an updated version of this body style, longer and a somewhat newer interior, also a supremely comfortable cruiser and all the goodies it could have at the time. About 60ish thousand miles when I acquired it 7/17/98. A little jealous of the basket handle trans lever though.
The Saturn is a cute little appliance, but the Toronado has character. Plus, my first car was a 1977 Buick Century Special with the 231 c.i./3.8 L V6 and an automatic transmission. That thing was so much fun and the powertrain was un-killable. It was eventually subdued by the South Alabama Tin Worm, but it was glorious to cruise around in when I was in high school. The Toro would be even nicer as a weekend cruiser.
Toronado all day long. This one has lived its life in the desert, so no worries on salt/rust, and it appears to have been gargage kept, so the sun damage is very minimal – only see one little split seam on the dash, not the usual fault lines. I’d probably shop around to see if I could find some period-appropriate factory alloys for it – Olds had some great ones. Love the shifter too, tons of buttons for the win.
I don’t understand the fondness many people have for Saturn. I never owned one, but I drove an SL on several occasions and was unimpressed. It was loud and uncomfortable, performance was mediocre, and the interior was worse than cheap. I considered an SL briefly in the early 2000s. A Civic was slightly more expensive, but far more refined and just as reliable, so I bought the Honda instead. Aside from wanting to buy an American car, I don’t see why someone would have chosen one of these over a Civic, Corolla, or Protege/3.
Toro gets my vote today.
The first car I bought with my own hard-earned money (and the first showroom-new car my family had seen in … ever? was a 2001 Saturn SW2 (but with the manual transmission). It was a wonderful car and I was most sad when it got totalled in a wreck a few months after I paid it off.
I’d love another car in the same flavor – simple, inexpensive, reliable, wagon.
Toro, 100%. Not even a hard decision to make. The only version better would be a Trofeo and those still look cool today!
I like the Toronado but that Saturn screams long term.
Venn diagram on these is barely touching (GM + Abandoned Nameplate).
So…taking the overlap out of the picture… its an Apples and Oranges decision.
I’m not doing fruit salad today.
Have no need for a 2 door pseudo lux cruiser or high mileage scooter.
If it was only brown with a stick…
Sitting this one out.
Wagon is the best body type, I’d rock the Saturn.
What the heck is wrong with you people? Saturns are great cars!
Random detail, both of these have similarly styled 2 spoke steering wheels. Love that!
I can’t resist the PLC. I’ll take the one that makes old people mobile.
OldsMan take a look at my life / I’m a lot like you

As a resident Olds Man(TM), I approve of this comment.
My wife had the L-series from 2003, which is functionally very similar to this, but with a slightly newer and bigger engine. Shockingly, we sold it for half what we paid after 6 years and about 50k miles, never gave us a bit of trouble (because there wasn’t much to break in the first place). I was semi-impressed.
But for the SC/SW series, I’m gonna say first gen or forget it. The later ones just didn’t have the character…or the curb appeal.
Toronado all the way.
The road to Dullsville is littered with Saturns. But hey, at least it’s a wagon, so – reluctantly – SW2 today.
That Toro is GLORIOUS!!! The Saturn is just okay.
My first car was a midnight blue ’89 Toronado Trofeo that I bought from my parents (who had a nearly identical ’88 Trofeo before that). I can confirm that the CRT was an option, as neither of our Trofeos had them. I agree, buttons are the way to go. My ’89 even had them on the steering wheel.
That car was so supremely comfortable, and so unique and cool looking. If this was a better color, I’d be severely tempted. Hell, even in this color, I’m still tempted. I’d be looking hard and fast for some original alloy wheels though.
Bulletproof drive train or bullet(er, ding) proof exterior?
If I still had kids at home that needed a car for the high school parking lot, the Saturn would be a no-brainer.
But I don’t, so I’ll go the lazy way and spend the extra on the 3800.
It’s the better value, in terms of dollars per milliliter.
Fun fact: A potato shot from a potato gun will go through those plastic door panels clean as a whistle.
Ahh, college…
We had two SL’s for this exact purpose…cheap/reliable teen drivers. 1st one (’00 auto) had been passed down to a distant family member and is still going. 2nd one (’02 stick) was totaled 5yrs ago when a dump truck clipped the back corner of my son’s car when merging (truck claim he didnt see my son). The car then slammed into front of dump truck and then ricocheted across 3 lanes of rush hour interstate into the center barrier. Air bag surprisingly still worked and son was fine, but the Saturn was not…front end was shifted approximately 6 inch off center.
Son was really disappointed that he could not find another one at time…ended up with a Mazda3 that’s done well for him.
After driving a 3800 for the last eight years- with no engine problems whatsoever- I’m almost at a point where it seems silly to buy anything else.
While these Toros are not as cool as the ’79-’85 generation, they are true PLCs.
I would have said Toronado all day.
…if the Saturn were a sedan. I went the cheaper option. Plus less dashboard gremmies to bother with.
As mentioned, this could be a “both” day. The Buick v6 or wagon…..
“…but the aftermarket wire wheels don’t do it any favors, in my view.”
If they were a bronze/gold color it’d look pretty sweet. Sure, it’s gaudy, but a Toronado is a GM chest puffer from the get-go.
For $3600 that is a damn fine ride.
Today’s a both day, but I went Toronado.
Toronado. I didn’t even read the article. I have a weird thing for those 80s GM designs that I just don’t for anything Saturn. If it was closer than Nevada, I’d go look at this thing, even in two-tone mauve.
Hard vote today, both are fantastic! If the Saturn wasn’t the wagon it wouldn’t have been close, but I am a sucker for a wagon, especially a weird one like this. In the end I still went Toronado just because I can’t resist a 3800 and hidden headlights.