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Editors Note: This article originally appeared in the November 1997 issue of Turbo and High-Tech Performance magazine. It is reprinted here with permission.  The popularity of Saturns is not so much because it’s the best car around, but rather as a result of the company’s unique marketing concepts. Saturn buyers are treated as part of a "team" and when purchasing their Saturn they are not subjected to any high-pressure tactics, but rather experience a pleasant buying process. Throw in the fact that Saturns are reliable and quality-oriented vehicles and you have the makings for a fairly zealous group of owners.
John Comeskey was one such zealous Saturn owner. John’s first car was a 93’ SL2 Saturn and he was hooked from the beginning. Later when he purchased his second Saturn SL2 his thoughts turned to making the car even better. John figured if the car was this good right out of the box, how would it perform with upgraded suspension, brakes and performance? In his search for performance parts he realized that other Saturn owners would also be interested in aftermarket products. Out of this realization, John formed SPS, and aftermarket parts company specializing in Saturn automobiles. As a way of promoting SPS, John outfitted the Saturn you see here with a variety of performance parts available from his company. To enhance the 1996 SL2, John basically concentrated on engine upgrades, suspension and handling improvements and beefed-up braking ability. Under the hood, a subtle, but effective mix of parts boost the performance of the Saturn’s 1.9-liter inline-four power-plant by approximately 20 horsepower (stock power is 124hp). Power adders include a Powerstack ceramic-coated intake system by Hotshot, (that utilizes) a K&N air filter; a JG Engine Dynamics throttle body and Hotshot ceramic-coated exhaust headers. A set of NOLOGY Hotwires and Beru Silverstone plugs increase sparking ability and an SPS stainless-steel catback exhaust helps to better expedite exhaust flow. To make the Saturn hug the road and increase its canyon-carving ability, John fitted the SL2 with a set of Carrera gas-charged shocks, H&R springs, SPS front and rear sway bars and SPS upper front strut tower brace. Braking prowess has been enhanced with Stillen cross-drilled front rotors, Carbotech Kelate-metallic front pads and rear shoes. With the Saturn running good and cornering great a new wheel-and-tire combination was required to reflect the car’s new status. Polished Forgeline 16-inch LS forged alloy rims that weigh in at only 14.5 pounds each, are wrapped by Toyo Proxes tires of the 205/50-16 variety. An SPS short-stemmed shifter has been added to the interior for quicker throws. Although this Saturn is mildly outfitted it stands out as fairly unique in the world of Saturns. Aftermarket-equipped Saturns are somewhat of a rarity on the nation’s roads and John’s SL2 gets noticed wherever it drives. We had the chance to test drive the Saturn for a few days and we found the car to be quite punchy for a 1.9-liter. The suspension tweaks were definitely noticeable as the car hugged the road with tenacity. We wouldn’t exactly compare it with on of the 12-second-altered Hondas we often feature, but as far as Saturns go, this vehicle is a real headturner. Since SPS is one of the few companies that specialize in aftermarket Saturn products, John’s car goes a long way in promoting what the company has to offer. And who would have thought a few years ago that the words "Saturn" and "performance" could be used in the same sentence?
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