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Comments
-We are in the "same boat" on most VUE issues.
-Your #1954 message ... what report ?
Later
"Just found this very comprehensive owner review on the Saturn site" by simonov. While it is an overall good review, this is not the corporate Saturn website. The website in which this was taken (Saturnfans.com) is not connected with Saturn Corp.
If you click on the link I put in post #1954 it will take you to the saturn fans site which has the interesting owners review that I mentioned.
Published reports indicated Saturn has contracted with Honda for the purchase of their V-6 engines for next year.
Any chance that these may show up in the Vue ??
There is a website SaturnAccessories.com but I don't think they are selling at any discount.
Thanks!
Steve, Host
Wow! those are incredible #'s. Why the big jump,was it the 0%financing or did everybody hear about GEHE's "Vivienne" in blue and rush down to their Saturn dealer and order one????
Note that the above article was from the Tennessean, home to the factory, and apply the usual grains of salt ;-)
Steve, Host
steve : No 0% up here so sales must be ok. They JUST introduced 3.9% for 36 months, whoopee!! Glad to see sales are going well in the US. Some people are probably catching on to this vehicle, it's still not well known.
-Yup. ! LOL ! I am 'sure' it was the blue that encouraged sales (!) But, I am glad my sale was part of their great October. It has to be zero, zero.
re:-First trip 'home' ...
-I took Viv in for her first oil change @ 1500. I usually like to do that @ the first 1000 to flush metal fragments etc, but I have been flying around on business so this Saturday was my first chance.
-The first service was free so that was a nice surprise. And the service reception is superlative . What can you say. I love driving up to the gates that open automatically and driving right into the bay. Most places hate customers even parking in front of the service doors. Picked up my cargo mat ; the last of my accessories.
-Saw a Green/Tan. Their first. I liked it alot. Not the tan so much, of course, but it's a great outdoorsy green.
-Still no other blues. I'm enjoying my " 15 minutes ".
re:-Pretty Woman ...
-Sat and watched the movie Pretty Woman for about the 11 th time just to hear them say "Viv Babe" and "Miss Vivienne" !!
-Wanted to catch the credits to see how they spelt Vivienne, but good ol' TNT split the screen and promoted the next show. My eyes aren't that good any more.
re:-"New Saturn" ...
-I had a couple nights stay in NYC last week on business and arrived late after a tough drive in from Philly. (Love that AWD !!) I had Viv parked out on Park Ave with her blinkers flashing waiting for the Hotel Valet to get around to her when my client from Dallas arrived back from dinner.
-She wanted to go check out this overly mentioned VUE so we met in the lobby. She rushed out and even opened the passenger door to check it out inside. The Valet got nervous and came over to see what this crazy women was doing.
-She quickly explained that it was her friends new car at which the valet said excitedly ... 'Yes. It's that new Saturn". It felt so NEAT ! (with BIG letters !!!)
Later ...
Steve, Host
http://www.thecarplace.com/agvue.htm
We took an Ion-2 for a test drive a couple of weeks ago as we need to replace our small car (currently a 95 Civic). We were quite impressed with the car and we like the Saturn sales and service folks a lot. My wife prefers the Corolla but who knows. Perhaps there will be some incentives around Christmas. We aren't in a big rush.
Still enjoying our Vue. We are doing some work on the house so it come in handy bringing stuff home from the Home Depot!!
As for the press, the VUE has not received ANY glowing reviews as far as I know and I understand why. It does nothing better than any other mini SUV out there... with the exception of the plastic panels perhaps. No HP advantage, ride advantage, quality advantage.... nothing. The Other small Utes have rear glass that lifts independent of the full hatch. The VUE doesn't. The interior of the VUE is constructed of the cheapest plastic materials and carpeting this side of Fisher Price (and I'm really considering one of these so I'm not trying to beat it up... just being honeest... I mean, with 0% for 60 months, I WANT to buy one of these). The VUE just doesn't stand out in any one area. The Tribute/escape have locking 4wd and a high HP v6.... The SantaFe has a zillion features that the Saturn doesn't even offer. I went out and finally drove one and it was "ok".... nothing to write home about.
Now as far as I'm concerned, the only real advantage to the VUE is the price. Meaning, if you purchase a 5-speed Front Wheel Drive 4-cyl with minimal options, you can get a hell of a deal for under $17,000. HOWEVER... I would NEVER buy a loaded VUE for $25,000+ as the competition is just too great. I'm considering the model I mentioned above with perhaps ABS, CD, Power stuff and moonroof and hope to pay around $20,000.
Still I can't say the guy was completely wrong or had it in for Saturn from the get-go. I own a vue, so don't get me wrong, but he has some valid points, especially if you load up the vehicle with options.
The plastic is cheap; the dimmer switch is in a dumb place; the window switches are too far apart from one another; he didn't mention the steering but it's not that great either.
On the other hand, I think the outside door handles are among the best I've ever used, so I don't understand that complaint. I like lots of other things about it too, but I don't expect reviewers to love it and I don't worry when they don't.
FYI, Motor Week on PBS / SPEED Channel named VUE the best small SUV. I'd say that's pretty glowing. Car and Driver also gave it very good marks in their comparison of the V6 VUE / CR-V / and I believe Escape. Local paper and a Canadian magazine I sub to also gave it excellent reviews.
VUE is not perfect and a loaded V6 gets too pricey for me, but I think the base 6 and 4 cyl models offer excellent value.
As for rattles, it is not one of the complaints I have seen listed here. I doubt it will be a problem.
Hyundia would have a winner with the Santa Fe if it wasn't so butt ugly.
Sorry man, we love it. I agree there are some cheap bits here and there, but over all we would buy again in a heartbeat if we had to do it again.
Clearly, the items you dislike in Saturn vechicles will not be changed by some magical Saturn king who happens to read this board and realizes, hey, this guy is right. Lets dump thousands into redoing this to make a handful of people more satisfied. I think NOT.
With Saturn selling in excess of 200,000 cars this car, I don't think the VUE will get a major makeover till at least 2006, excluding the use of the HONDA V6 in 2004.
the delta between the 4 cyl and the FWD v6 give saturn a lot of profit. Also, I just cannot believe after you spend 22K on a vue You are still expected to shell out $300 for a tiny tow hitch. I can see not including it in the base 4 cyl but come on, isn't this an SUV?Saturn should consider throwing in either side airbags or anti-lock brakes with the alloys/hitch then I would agree it is a good value.
I'm not the only one here who finds the interior an issue when it comes down to laying out cash for the VUE... go to Saturnfans.com where even OWNERS are commenting about it. MANY there (and it's a pro Saturn site) have reported a zillion rattles, clunks, squeaks, etc. In fact, a number of Saturn Sales staff the post regularly on the site have indicated there may be a major overhaul of the interior in 2004 due to owner feedback.
As for features, I drove in a friend's Grandparent's new Subaru Forester this weekend and I was really shocked at the features that came standard.... little things.... like rear adjustable shoulder seatbelts and seat backrests. Things like standard outside temp readout... and a number of little things that really make you feel like you're getting a lot for your money... and they paid what I would pay for an AWD 4-cy VUE (only with 20+ more horsepower). Also, the vehicle.. interior and all... are built like a TANK. I also think the Saturn is more of a looker than the SantaFe but I mentioned it only to compare the interiors and standard features for the money.
The new L-series wagons are nice, but not cheap. I guess if you can get 0-2% for 60 months, probably a decent deal. I prefer the look of the VUE so if there is an overhaul for 04, I will look again then.
Wow. That is crazy.
Perhaps some of them have rattles but I know some people who have them also carry around a lot of junk in the trunk and the rattles they think they have are self inflicted. Only rattles so far are my CD boxes in the glove box.
Personally after seeing the Sorrento at an autoshow, and looking over the interior materials, I believe it is worse than the VUE. The black plastic KIA emblem on the steering wheel nearly made me lose my lunch.
Anyhoo, things to consider. The VUE would no doubt save you on insurance, it wouldn't ding, nor rust. As far as "America's supposed best warranty" goes. With the KIA, your're going to need it.
Steve, Host
It will be interesting to see what Saturn comes up with in 04.
Going away in our Vue this weekend and carrying some stuff back from my in-laws house. Nice to have the space though I'm not sure I want the "stuff".
1. Rear glass that opens separately from the hatch.
2. Passenger assist handles.
3. Conventional dash switchgear placement (window/mirror control on the door.
4. A standard quality cargo cover because there is NO under floor storage as the spare is Inside the vehicle. The L-wagon has an inside spare AND under floor cargo storage. In fact, I would rath give-up the folding cargo-organizer for under cargo storage.
5.Rear disc brakes... if for no other reason then to improve the e-brake feel... it ratchets and comes almost vertical before holding the car on a hill.
6. Redesigned center console as the one now is cheap and not very usefull.
7. A bit more sound insulation.
8. Standard side airbags/curtain as vehicles like the Sorento and 2004 Santa-fe will have them standard.
However.... with the current 0% financing, 0 down and 0 payments for 90 days, I can do without all of these things and bite the bullet.
Has to be good news regardless as a lot of people read the magazine.
Ethanos : We find the Vue has lots of room for everything, much better than most small SUVs. With 2 big kids, things might be different though. I guess it depends on what they and you do as a family. I would think for most it would be just fine though.
-I am alone, but every time I pass a CRV or RAV 4, I count my blessings that I went with the VUE. They just look small. I even noticed a PT Cruiser with it's trunk open as I was waiting in line for the auto car wash, and it looked small.
-I thought that I was just talking myself into the VUE when considering the space, but I have done nothing since, but load up that baby. Nice not to have to use the back seats.
-The space between driver and door is also roomie.
-Go with V6 if you can afford it. The power will be great when all the family is on board. (I need this when my Mum & Dad come visit from the UK with all their "Titanic" trunks ! The ballast is always useful for cruising).
re:-Wish list ...
-I have very few revisions that I would make on the VUE.
-I really don't like the horn. With the air bag, it is impossible to blow. A side horn button would be great. Of course, it's sure peaceful without me laying on it all the time !!!
-The power buttons "European Centre" mount is just fine. (I finally got out of the habit of hunting for the window winder with my left hand !!)
-I would love to have a place for a box of Kleenex. I used the passenger grab handle on the Tracker. Worked great. Now I leave it on the back floor where it is still easy to reach.
re:- Big WHOOPS ...
-I started to make a signalled move into the right lane on the highway and nearly collided with one of those black 'stealth' Chrysler Concordes that had come up from no where, fast, and was making an impatient zip around the traffic. I swear blind that I had just checked my center mirror , but didn't wait long enough after a quick glance in the side mirror before starting my move. I quickly corrected myself and was relieved at how well the VUE handled the sudden movement back and forth.
-(She) is also great ... I have noticed ... when scooting around those sharp, curved exit ramps, especially in the wet. Sterling Moss has got nothing on me and "Viv"!!! So great to let fly when entering the traffic.
-How quickly one forgets that I was once one of those folks battling along in an 'econo' car letting time and patience deal with entering heavy traffic !
Later ...
I will get myself in trouble again, but we have two girls aged 5 and 7. So space was important to us as well. We want to be able to carry all their paraphenilia, shop at Cost Co and separate the girls if necessary.
You aren't going to get 2 kids and 1 car seat in the back seat of Vue very comfortably. The space behind that back seat is going to accomadate a stroller and diaper bag, if you are lucky, and that's it. No groceries, no luggage, no room for anything else, unless you strap it on the roof.
Now the question of the optional side curtain air bags, since you are a Dad, I bet you will feel they are required equipment.
Gas mileage was also an issue for us. What we did was compare the cost of a Vue, with a v6, air bags, roof rack, to the larger Buick Rendezvous. The Buick came standard with all of this stuff, gave us the option of a 3rd row of seats, rear head phone jacks to keep the girls happy listening to Brittany Spears, and much much more. The Rendezvous cost little more than a Vue similarly equipped, and there is only about 2 miles per gallon difference between the 2 vehicles on the highway.
Space was important to us, as was safety ( 4 wheel disc brakes standard)and price, and quality of inside materials, seating comfort.
We chose the Buick, but still admire the 4 cyl, 5 spd, Vue as a great priced, vehicle, but we didn't think much of it as a v6 auto, expensive
alternative
just like Enniskillen, I was hesitating between the Vue and the RDV. For many months actualy.
Although I though the Vue looked sharper, and I already own a Saturn, the logic won: the RDV is of better value (even if it is somewhat more expensive this year).
But do not take our word for it, just keep it in mind(especially if these items are important for you: comfort, room, finition, up to 7 seating, independant radio in the back, towing capacity, internal storage capacity, lockable storage, 4 disc-brakes, ABS, traction control, lombar support driver and pax, electric air pump, negociable price).
Good luck shoping, there are a lot of choices out-there.
But I suspect their may be a few 2002's on the lot still.
And I still think 2 children and an infant in a car seat in a vue, would be uncomforable for most day to day tasks.
Jeff
RE : Noises. We have not had any yet but it's always best to bring it in as it could be anything.