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Comments
I got Saturn to put my Bumper Guard on and I asked about the temperature guidelines you talked about before. They said you can put it on anytime. It will seal. Plus I got them to do it, so if it starts coming off, guess who will replace it for free? (Smile)
I'm afraid the towing package may have to wait a little longer as the windshield needs replacing. A pesky truck threw a rock up on the windshield. Honestly, if I had seen the chip when it happened, they could have fixed it but it was over on the side in the tinted area and I didn't see it till it had traveled halfway across the windshield! Now the whole windshield has to be replaced. They are ordering the glass through Saturn. It's going to cost me the deductible ($100) Yuck!
Oh yeah folks, I have another problem to report, I am sorry to say. The plastic piece under the gear shift is peeling a little on the side. Saturn told me to bring it in and they will replace it. It appears that some kinda coating they put on it is peeling. But anyway, it is the square plastic piece that is around the bottom of the shifter. It is time for the 3K mile check-up anyway, so I'll get them to do the work then. So that makes two issues I have had. The first was the loose shell over the steering column which they fixed in a couple of minutes. The second is this peeling plastic piece. (I don't count the windshield as I can hardly hold them responsible for flying rocks, though I was trying to think of way to get the warranty to cover it! (smile))
JBMike15 - I am now close to first 1,000 miles and I LOVE the VUE. It is a pleasure to drive and is the perfect size. The dealer has been very responsive both pre and post sales and it has been maintenance free following an incident with what I believe was moisture in the first tank of gas followed by needing to 'shave' the driver's strut to eliminate a squeak when turning the wheel. I am sold on the vehicle. I also got the extended warranty from Saturn - it is a first model-year you know. :O)
jbmike15 : Are you looking at a V6? Going from a Bonneville to a VUE is a big change.
jbmike15,
As of last Sat. I own a VUE sport plus edition. The vehicle is above my expectations in the mechanical sense, everything about driving it has been a joy. It handles well, not too much body roll and I get plenty of steady smooth power and torque out of the engine. BTW, I don't appear to have the problems with the struct squeak that others had. I had a build date of mid March and we'll see if it holds up after a few more weeks. Considering that one of the test VUE's I drove had this problem, I don't envision it occuring since mine doesn't have it yet.
My major complaint thus far has been interior fit and finish. I have several cosmetic items (i.e. headliner, panel near gearshift, garmet hooks in trunk, visor, etc) that are not tightened/fastened correctly. I am having the dealer fix these tomorrow and I will let everyone know if they don't fully please me.
One great thing about this SUV and the Saturn Company is that you have 30 days/1500 miles to return the vehicle for a full refund if not satisfied in any way. This made me feel more secure in my puchase, sort of a built in lemon-protection clause.
Good luck with your shopping.
-LL
http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying/articles/43091/article.html
You've decided to buy a new car. But standing between you and your dream car is the car dealer. How do you get from here to there without having your wallet vacuum cleaned?
Were you getting a 2WD? You might consider a 5-speed.
Just wondering.
That's what I was thinking too.
:-)
Your problem is exactly the reason they have such a return policy and your situation is exactly the one I would use such a policy for.
Let us know what happens. And Good Luck.
Vue buyers know a lot about the engine and overall Saturn qualities of the Vue. They do not know with certainty how the platform will hold up. By all accounts, I think GM has made a winning platform that will especially pay dividends for them when it is expanded into the Chevrolet and Suzuki lines over the next two years.
I would not be at all reluctant to buy a Vue this year. But I understand why some more conservative people, especially those with a new child and mortgage payments, may be.
Even without the Sport package in Canada - the VUE is a great value. You figure 16900 is worth $27 000 here. I bought the base and added the power package, moonroof & 6 disk changer - even without dad's GM discount it is still cheaper than that - with discount was an awesome deal!
By the way ... dad works at transmission plant and their production has been up'd because of the issues with the VTi - they are more than they are admitting. He said he wouldn't buy one for a few years. Saturn is doing the right thing by holding off on it.
Others in Canada - be carefull when buying accessories - all dealerships have different pricing - best prices I've found so far are in Burlington.
Did you buy your VUE in Burlington? I live in Oakville.
oldntired1950 : Did you test a 4 or a 6??
The sport pkg would have been nice as it includes most of the options I added anyway. Saw on another web site that it is being offered again - I take it you have asked the dealers if it is available here?
I live in Burlington and work in Oakville - ordered my VUE in Burlington. It should be here within another month ... I can't wait!
First of all, you are right that the engine is a little noisy on the Vue. It is my single complaint about it.
But talk about an uncomfortable ride??? The Liberty is right up there with the Original Jeeps of old. The differences are there and I guess it depends on what is most important to you when choosing:
The Liberty has two-wheel independent suspension in the rear. The front is stiff. The Vue has four wheel independent suspension for a more carlike ride. Because of this, the Liberty is a more capable off roader than the Vue. However, when on the road, the Vue is a more comfortable ride.
The Liberty has a lot less interior and cargo room than the Vue, even though the tire is on the outside. And that brings up another point . . . That spare on the Liberty is in the wrong place. Many a reviewer has said that it blocks the line of sight and I am wholeheartedly in agreement.
I think the looks of the Liberty put it in a class by itself. It has a sharp looking front design unmatched by anyone. But that is pure opinion. Both the Vue and the Liberty are individuals to the market . . . definitely not cookie cutter designs.
The Liberty offers 4 wheel drive which is great for off roading and rough conditions but terrible for gas mileage. The Vue has AWD which is capable in rough road conditions (as our friend in Alaska has pointed out here several times).
The Vue is also capable of some light off-roading but cannot tackle the things a Jeep can. The protective covers on parts underneath also make the Liberty a better choice off road.
Towing capacity is something I am going to check on.
I guess my point is that both are capable vehicles but capable of very different things. I have said it before on this board, "If you aren't traveling the Rubicon daily, you may want to think twice about a Liberty. If you want a fun, capable offroader as a second vehicle though, the Liberty is the one!"
Now some other details in the comparison . . .
The Liberty can tow 2000 lbs. with the I-4 tranny and 3500 libs. with the V-6. The Vue can tow 1500 lbs. with the 4 cylinder tranny and 2500 lbs. with the V-6. However the Liberty offers an available towing package that upgrades the engine to allow for 5000 lbs. towing capacity.
Both vehicles offer ABS as an option.
The Liberty offers leather heated seating as an option. The Vue has cloth in the 4 cyl. and velour in the 6 cyl. NO leather option. The Liberty has an option for a power driver's seat. The Vue does not, but rather has a standard crank for seat height adjustment.
Both vehicles offer the alternate low gear for towing on the auto tranny.
Both offer six disc CD changer but the Liberty's is a remote and the Vue is in-dash.
Both have power windows, locks and mirrors. The Vue has them standard. The Liberty has them as an option.
Air conditioning is an option on the Liberty 4 cyl. and standard on the 6 cyl. It is standard on all Vues. The Liberty offers lighted vanity mirrors on the visors. The Vue does not.
Both have fold-down rear seats. Neither fold completely flat. However the Vue has a flat-folding front passenger seat and reclining (though only slightly) rear seats.
Both have 12Volt power outlets in the front, rear and cargo areas.
Both offer aluminum wheels as an option. The Liberty has a swing gate with separate-opening window. The Vue has a lift-gate, all-in-one.
The Liberty has an option for audio controls on
the steering wheel. The Vue does not.
Side air bags are an option on both vehicles.
Only the Vue comes with the grocery bag compartment.
The V-6 Vue gets 19/25 mpg. The V-6 Liberty gets 16/23 mpg.
ONLY the Vue comes in Orange (smile). And that was it for me. (LOL)
We have let him drive our VUE a couple of times and he said it was OK other than being a little too VAN like for him. But He did say that after his expierence with a jeep he would nevere look at another one.
After owning two Jeeps that leaked, rattled, and rusted away in no time flat I wouldn't give that new Jeep Liberty the time of day. Besides that I'm 6-4 and my son is 6-6. We don't fit in a liberty.
You can read back through the posts to see complaints but they are few and far between. Perhaps the one that more than one of us has had is that a couple of things needed tightening in the interior (ie. turtle shell over steering column, center console catch) Before they were tightened, they made a rattling sound or didn't catch properly.
One owner had a sensor problem in which his Vue would not start every time. They had a devil of a time locating the problem but I believe he said it is fixed.
I think another guy had to have a strut adjusted or something as it squeaked a little on turns.
As far as widespread issues, none of the owners on this board have talked about any.
There was a guy on here that had tested the Vue and he said that many of the finished front doors were not exactly flush. I myself have not heard of that as a problem except from him.
By the way, congratulations and welcome to this small Vue family. Stop by and let us know how things are going. This board is a great place to talk about issues you may be having or get questions answered since there are many owners on here.
I work for an auto shipping yard in the (Oshawa) Toronto area. I have driven everything G.M has made for the past 18 years. The Tracker or whatever G.M is calling it this week, is a terrible
vehicle, reminds me of somehthing you pay a quarter to ride in at the mall ! The rest of G.M's SUV choices are just plain overpriced.
The Vue on the other hand is a happy compromise between size and price. Car like handling, with an open feeling within the vehicle. The interior feels like it was done by fischer price, but it is quiet enough.
I have driven the 4 cylinder with the automatic, it's gutless, with the 5 speed it's quite peppy.
The six cylinder, is nice, but I prefer the standard transmission, and the acceleration difference
between the 4 cyl standard and the 6 cyl auto is not noticeable.
Every Vue I have seen has a package containing floormats in the back, and they are not listed on the window sticker. So if your dealer tries to sell them as an additional cost, I think he is pulling a fast one.
I hope that the sport package is soon available in Canada, as I intend to order one, when it is, actually, i will order one anyway, but I will hope it is announced soon.
My wife really wants a yellow one, and my local dealer says Saturn will announce the new colours etc. for the 2003's on April 15 and yellow is believed to be one of the new colours. Anybody interested in comparing what your local dealer wants for accessories ? I understand that the dealers all price their own. So let's support the dealer that offers the best deal on the roof rack , bumper guards etc.
"Anybody interested in comparing what your local dealer wants for accessories ? I understand that the dealers all price their own. So let's support the dealer that offers the best deal on the roof rack , bumper guards etc".
******************************************************************
I am also planning to order soon, but I am waiting for the 2003's. So I will support the dealer who gives the best price on accesories.
Here are the prices given to me by one dealer:
Canadian Dollars:
Cargo Mat - $85.00
Liftgate Air Deflector - $122.75
Splash Guards - $158.10
Rear Bumper Protection Pad - $56.10
Wheel Locks - $64.85
Cargo Cover - $199.00
Hood Air Defector - $122.75
Carbon Fibre Trim Kit - $322.25
Side step bars - $572.50
Front Grille Guard - $579.25
The last three seem quite excessive.
Okay Folks, lets hear what prices you got.
I will be contacting my dealer this afternoon about their pricing. In the meantime I have all of Saturn.com ( american site, and far superior to Canadian one, we are second rate again).
So all of these prices are Saturn suggested list and are in American dollars. I think I feel a trip to Buffalo coming on, when I get the new Vue.
16 Inch Alloy Wheels - Style 2 $400
Power Sunroof $725
Front End Cover $85
Front Grille Guard $320
Hood Air Deflector $65
Liftgate Air Deflector $68
Roof Rack Crossbars - removable $140
Bike, Fork Mounted Attachment
$60
Bike, Wheel Mount Attachment
$90
Cargo Box
$398
Cargo Strap
$18
Kayak/Canoe Saddle
$120
Ski/Snowboard Attachment
(Attachment has a Driver and
Passenger side attachment that are
sold separately for $100 each)
$100
Surfboard/Sailboard Cushion
$75
Side Step Bars
$380
Side Window Air Deflectors
$62
Splash Guards (Front and Rear)
$60
Sunroof Air Deflector
$43
Trailer Hitch
$180
Vehicle Cover
$98
Wheel Locks $26.00
Cargo Cover
$110
Cargo Mat
$40
Cargo Net
$25
Engine Block Heater and Cord
$76
Floor Mats-rubber
$75
Interior Bike Rack
$143
Front Seat Covers - Neoprene
Fitted
$225
Windshield Sunshade
$32
Brushed Aluminum Trim Kit
$135
Carbon Fiber Trim Kit
$178
If you go to www.saturndan.com/vue_accessories.htm all of the US prices are listed. I've gone through and compared prices with shipping to Detroit (fortunately Grandma lives there and I can send them to her house instead of dealing with customs) and by the time you figure out the difference in exchange - some are worth it and some are not. I am going to order the crossbars and molded splash guards from the US for sure.
The other thing to keep in mind is that if you buy from your dealer and have installed before you take delivery, they fall under the new vehicle warranty for 3 years, otherwise only under warranty for a year.
I hope that helps!
My guy at Saturn doesn't think so. I also like the 5-speed so it would be perfect!
Apparently this is not just a Saturn issue though ... is issue with all vehicles. I wouldn't be surprised is vehicle prices in Canada start going up significantly since our dollar doesn't seem to be improving any.
Well here it is , the most comprehensive list of Canadian Accessory prices that I have seen on the Net. Got it From My dealer in Whitby today. I definately will be going to the States to buy some items. Those items roof rack $140 american but 479.33 Canadian
Hood air deflector $65 american 128.89 Canadian etc etc.
Apparently even with our pitiful dollar, a trip to the States would be worthwhile. What I am talking about is driving down there and installing items in the parking lot. No duty No fuss No GST.
Ok I will shut up now and post the complete LIST OF CANADIAN PRICES ( Whitby )
All weather floor mats Front 79.80
All weather floor mats Rear 79.80
Ashtray 39.22
Ashtray (deluxe ?) 69.56
Bike Carrier, trailer hitch 465.68
Block Heater 4 cyl 175.77
Block Heater 6 cyl 76.34
Cargo Bike Carrier 271.69
Cargo Box 756.53
Cargo Liner 89.25
Carpeted Floor Mats 180.73
Convenience Net 67.99
FRT and RR Window Deflector (4) 117.86
Frt end Brush Guard 608.21
Frt end cover 191.89
Glove Box lock 68.25
Gunnel Bracket 113.93
Hood Deflector 128.89
Instrument Brushed Aluminum 256.46
Carbon Fiber instrument 338.36
Liftgate Air Deflector 128.36
Lighter 10.19
Locking Fuel Cap 37.28
Luggage Shade 208.95
Mudflaps Flat Frt 23.78
Mudflaps Flat RR 23.78
Mudflaps Molded Frt 83.00
Mudflaps Molded RR 83.00
Rail 2 Rail Air Defelector 123.64
Roof Rack 479.33
RR Bumper Step Pad 58.91
Saddle Bracket (kayak, boat etc.) 227.85
Seat Covers Neoprene 427.61
Seat Covers 256.46
Security lock and Cable 38.27
Side Step Brushed Aluminum 601.13
Sunroof Air Deflector 80.80
Sunshade 60.80
Trailer Hitch wiring inc 341.99
Wheel Locks (4) 68.09
Cheers
Jeff
I assume those do not include installation, where necessary?
My 2 favourites are installation of the locking gas cap is $14.20 and the best is the roof racks which they will slide into the track that's already there for only $140.00 . What a deal.
Again the roof racks are available in the states for $140.00 u.s. and the dealer here
wants $479.33 or $621.33 with installation. Add the 15% tax and you get a total worth driving to Buffalo for.
Thanks