Greetings! Might someone have some insights for me? They would be much
appreciated!

I’m the original owner of a 1997 Saturn SL2 with about 54K miles on
it. For a number of years I have had a problem with a rumbling sound
under the front of the car, which I’m not sure how to fully describe,
but which makes the car very unpleasant to drive as the sound
continually comes and goes and is quite loud. The car runs very rough
and at 25 mph or below, there is a deep persistent rumble under the
front of the car. It comes and goes based on the tilt of the vehicle,
yet this is not always predictable. It is VERY common and evident
when driving downhill; not as much on the flat or uphill, but it does
occur then as well. I can be coasting on a flat road with my foot on
neither the brake nor the accelerator and it makes the noise. The
steering wheel is not much affected by the rumble; I don't feel
excessive vibration there, or so it seems. The noise appears to have
gotten worse when I got new tires last fall, which might just be
coincidence. At faster speeds the noise diminishes and, on the
highway, the car still runs like a champ -- and I’m thinking the road
noise drowns out the rumble so it only seems like it less?

What else might be helpful for folks to know? I have had oil changes
roughly every 2,500 miles from Day 1 (Aprils and Novembers). I just
had a motor mount replaced (the transmission one if I have that
correct). The one on the top left of the engine was replaced a while
ago and still passes whatever test they use. I’m on my fourth
catalytic converter, this one being an original Saturn ($$$) as the
aftermarkets pooped out after a year each time (I am accustomed to
exhaust system problems in all my prior vehicles due to my low annual
mileage, so this was no big surprise to me.) I've heard something
about Saturn engines getting out of balance over time and, while the
car is safe to drive, at some point the noise will get too annoying
and it’ll be time for a new car? Naively, I keep thinking a car
should function well for more than 54K miles? But perhaps in Saturns
“It’s not the mileage -- it’s the years?” (apologies to Indiana
Jones).

I just thought I’d run this past some Saturn folks to see if there
were some possibilities I wasn't considering in trying to solve this
problem, because, while I would like to keep the car longer, I think
I'm about ready to trade away the noise problem for a new 2011/2012
vehicle. Thanks much!