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Saturn VUE

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Comments

  • maynardf1maynardf1 Member Posts: 127
    >I live in NY and I was TERRIFIED about going back to a stick but this is not like any other stick I've ever driven. You can creep along in traffic at 10 or 15 mph in 5TH GEAR without stalling... I don't have a problem with it at all and it really does give the car a sportier feeling.

    Aren't you the same person who's been documenting your inability to shift into 1st gear over on saturnfans.com?
    Sounds like you got it fixed or developed a stronger right arm.
  • mtenamtena Member Posts: 58
    I've owned a couple of new Saturns before - a 1993 SC and a 1996 SL - and am thinking of returning to the fold, as it were.

    I just wish that Saturns weren't excluded from the GM credit card program. I have a $1,200 credit that I've earned and that can be applied to the purchase of other GM vehicles, excluding Saab and Saturn. But I don't want one of those other GM vehicles :(
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Sounds like a very good deal indeed. Glad you are happy with your VUE.

    I'm still surprised you bought one though.
  • mmspealmmspeal Member Posts: 122
    I am very surprised that you can't use your GM points on a Saturn. You can in Canada. When I bought my VUE I didn't have any but the dealership even gave me a GM Visa application and suggested I start saving points for the next time I am ready to buy.
  • jmaterojmatero Member Posts: 253
    Oh, I'm still having difficulty with shifting into 1st but my dealer is going to take a look early next week. I'm sure it's just an adjustment in the linkage.
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    mmspeal - I never understand why you can use the points up there and not here. I didn't have them, but it makes sense that one could use them on Saab and Saturn cars.

    saturnfreak : Sounds like an excellent deal to me. Our V6 AWD was a lot more than that!
  • mtenamtena Member Posts: 58
    The Hummer is also excluded from the GM Card program here. Not that I'm in the market for one of those :)
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    I like the H2, I saw a yellow one on the road a couple of weeks ago. Very cool truck.
  • dirkdaddydirkdaddy Member Posts: 313
    Just a thought, if you're rolling and trying to get into first, try matching the engine RPMs with what they would be if it was in gear already, then it should slip right into gear. The more resistance on a car moving shift, and typically the wrong gear is selected or clutch misadjusted, something like that. 5th gear below 20mph sounds like you need to shift to a lower gear like 2nd or 3rd.
  • a418t1a418t1 Member Posts: 2
    I bought an '02 4 cyl FWD in May. At that time, Saturn was offering alloys, sunroof, power package w/remote lock and a CD player for $16,995. Plus, they threw in rubber floor mats.I thought it was too good a deal to pass up. I was ambivalent- I really couldn't decide if I liked the vehicle or the price. Overall, I found it to be kind of ordinary. It easy blew around in the wind. I never found a comfortable seating position. I also disliked all the plastic. I returned the car to Saturn after about 3 weeks and 700 miles. They were really gracious. I really wanted to like the Vue but it left me feeling kind of unsatisfied. I don't get the whole mini suv thing anyway.
  • saturnfreak01saturnfreak01 Member Posts: 134
    It seems to me that mini SUVS offer versatility, room, and that "go anywhere" attitude with a smaller price tag... Some people might describe them as a station wagon with attitude but imo they are so much more..

    I may be buying a VUE in a few months and I am looking foward to no longer being intimidated on the road, no more annoying tailgaters for I won't even see them. I think SUVs offer a sense of security and confidence a small car could never hope to do. IMHO
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Compared to a car, a SUV does blow around in the wind a little more no doubt. The VUE being a lighter and more fuel efficient SUV probably doesn't help either, but the thing won't blow away or anything.
  • jmaterojmatero Member Posts: 253
    Mini-Suv's eh? Well for me the issues were simple:

    I like driving a car NOT a truck.

    I like camping and going on vacation and bike-riding and while these items can be moved in a sedan, getting things in and out of the trunk is a big problem.

    I enjoy sitting up high like in a minivan but don't want a minivan.

    I don't go off-road.

    Now, the perfect solution would be a small-mid sized wagon but there are few if ANY of those on the road anymore. This is why people are drawn to vehicles like the VUE, SantaFe, Escape, Tribute and CR-V. They are based on CARS so they have independant rear suspensions and DRIVE like cars. They have nice flat floors, low liftover height and high seating positions like minivans but don't LOOK like minivans. They have a variety of powertrain offerings from FWD to AWD and every possible combination in between. That's the draw for me. Maybe if there were more stationwagons for under $20,000 I'd bite but the only I know of is the Kia RIO and that's IT. The only other is the Jetta but you can't get that with even a MINIMUM of power options for under $20 and there's not THAT much room back there.

    That's why I like my VUE: Drives just like a car and there's very little wind issue that I've seen. Nice seating position and MPG. Fun to drive with the 5-speed, VERY affordable. Cargo organizer. Spare INSIDE the car... and more, and more and more. Does it drive as nice as my Passat? NO WAY... but the trade-offs are well worth it... and I'm a DRIVER. It's a great American vehicle... and a great deal.

    Oh, and I drove the vehicle in the storm last week... FWD with ABS and Traction control and it was better controlled than my Outback Sport with AWD... no stopping it with those tall Bridgestones.

    I know Mini-SUV's aren't for everyone but I hope this helps explain why somebody like me (and a zillion others) gravitate towards them.

    And don't think the high seating position is not an issue... MANY car makers are adjusting the HIP up in cars... BMW, Toyota, Chrysler, Honda and others are realizing people do not want to sit in a hole. If they made an Accord Wagon (reasonable price) I might bite but there is NO wagon (or OTHER mini SUV) on the road today with ALL the power options, ABS, Traction control, Front AND rear side air curtains, self dimming mirror with compass and temp control, remote entry, alloys, moonroof , CD player and MORE for $18500.
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    I never thought I'd see the day that you were defending the Vue. I don't disagree with you as we love ours, I just remember a couple of months ago you were not posting the most wonderful comments about the Vue.

    The Vue is no better or worse than any other small SUV in the wind. With the V6, ours is a little heavier, but I think the 4 cyl models aren't that different.
  • jmaterojmatero Member Posts: 253
    Shocking.... isn't it? I'll be honest, the low price definately made me take a second look. It' s not the greatest vehicle in the world, but I really enjoy it. Also, I love how much it can swallow in that cargo area and the cargo organizer is a real treat. Also, it drives like a car... I mean, it really drives like a car.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    The car like ride and space are 2 big selling points of the VUE. I will be watching the upcoming Equinox (built on the same platform) closely at the Detroit auto show. I have heard it will have some special options not found on the VUE. We shall see.
  • ottawascottottawascott Member Posts: 13
    Anyone else hearing a lot of pops and squeaks around their windshield and doors? Admittedly I have a "thing" for rattles in a car, but this time even my wife is complaining about the symphony of plastic squeeks especially on cold days. I would really like to get them fixed but Im not sure how helpful I can expect the dealership to be when I say there is an annoying squeek that appears periodically from somewhere in the dashboard. Overall Im happy with my Vue, but like many I question why they use plastic materials with all the integrity of my son's toys.
  • saturnfreak01saturnfreak01 Member Posts: 134
    With temps in the single digits lately in NY, my windshield is making creaking noises, or pops as you say.. I also heard other noises coming from my 2001 SL1... Stuff expanding or something due to the cold weather?
  • purduealum91purduealum91 Member Posts: 285
    dont forget, most of us do not qualify for the $700 discounting :)
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    We have had some cold nights and no creaks or rattles yet.
  • vue4mevue4me Member Posts: 1
    I have done a lot of research on the VUE, test drove one last night and I felt very comfortable in it. I am looking for a vehicle that can make regular runs to Home Depot, etc. With the fold down seats, I know I can get 8' long lumber in it, but can it hold a 4x8 sheet of plywood? I realize it wouldn't be able to lay flat, but has anyone been able to get one in diagonally? I suppose that's what the roof rack could be used for. No one at Saturn could answer this.
  • jmaterojmatero Member Posts: 253
    I don't believe you can fit 4x8 plywood in there with the hatch shut... that's what minivans are for. :)
  • jmaterojmatero Member Posts: 253
    I have to tell you, just about every car out there will produce more noises in the winter months. Plastic parts are designed to expand and contract. When warm, everything is nice and tight... but when it gets COLD things tend to free up a bit and thats when the sounds start. My 2000 Passat was BAD when it came to interior sounds. Quiet in the heat of summer, a rattle/buzz-box in the winter as soon as it got below 40 degrees F.
  • purduealum91purduealum91 Member Posts: 285
    I guess I am wanting to know if it is possible to keep the rear hatch closed but leave the rear window up?
  • maynardf1maynardf1 Member Posts: 127
    It's all one piece, like a minivan tailgate.
  • jmaterojmatero Member Posts: 253
    While you'd think the separate lift-glass is a great feature, it isn't needed in many cases. For instance, it is useless on vehicle with high window lines as you can't reach over. Take the average minivan.... an arm could barely reach up over the lower window edge. A friend of mine with an Escape told me not to worry about it in my VUE for that very reason... he never uses it. The BEST version is on the new Explorer/Mountaineer/Aviator where the glass AND metal below it lift up so a LARGE area in the rear can be accessed without opening the whole hatch. The other problem with rear flip-up glass is that it makes the rear of the vehicle look cluttered as you now have two hinges and a handle back there. The rear of my VUE is clean... so clean it looks like a concept vehicle.
  • purduealum91purduealum91 Member Posts: 285
    You say that the FWD Vue handles better than a subie? No offense, but I find that hard to believe. Driving in any inclement weather with the subie was almost supernatural. I never felt so calm. Right now I am back to a FWD car. No comparison in handling.
  • markopolomarkopolo Member Posts: 27
    I am currently having two problems with my Vue. In case anyone is wondering it is a four cylinder sport package with 8,000 miles. The first problem is a popping noise when you accelerate. If you let your foot of the gas and accelerate again you hear the pop. The second problem is the windshield wiper sprayers have failed. The fluid still shoots out, but not in a spray pattern. I know other people had this problem by the postings. Has anyone heard about roof rack problems or any resolve to the rumbling in reverse? I still like my Vue alot. It is nice to drive and Saturn service is the best. The Vue goes in Monday for service.
  • oarloxoarlox Member Posts: 45
    Problems.. I got the same problem with my windhield washer systems. Give it a squirt and youv'e got a serious stream of fluid hitting the passengers side. Drivers side works fine. We recently took it to the dealer to have it repaired but the fix lasted less than a week. Guess we'll have to go back to town and have them take a better look. Maybe we are on the cutting edge of a total recall! Actually this is the only problem that we've had with our VUE after 28000 miles.
  • 56795679 Member Posts: 88
    Saw my first blue VUE. Got my tongue stuck on it!
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    The blue would be my choice. I have seen a couple of them and they are real head turners.
  • tqmtqm Member Posts: 9
    I just bought a 2003 Vue a few weeks ago. V6AWD. Have noticed the vehicle has a general "shake" to it at highway speeds. Looked at the tires and the yellow paint markers on the new tires don't match where the counter weights are. Have not brought it in yet. Was at a party over the weekend-other Saturn owners there said they hear this is common with the VUE.

    Anybody else experiencing this???????
  • jmaterojmatero Member Posts: 253
    My 4-cyl with 5-speed is smooth as silk up to 90mph.
  • jmaterojmatero Member Posts: 253
    My Subaru was great in the rain and light snow, but the sport has low-profile tires and in deep-snow it used to shift left/right and didn't feel sure-footed at all. And on ice the AWD means nothing.... 4 slipping wheels. However on my Passat with traction control and again on my new VUE with traction control, I can accelerate in snow and the car pulls forward straight with wheelspin in control.
  • simonovsimonov Member Posts: 25
    I have a v6 awd vue with 6000 miles. I get absolutely no shake at any speed including hwy which I drive every day back and forth to work. Take it in ASAP, could have a bad tire or maybe just balance. Regarding your comment about the party you went to and people saying they had heard it was a common complaint for the vue to shake. In doing exhaustive pre buy research I've read most every comment on this forum and others and I don't recall hearing anything about a shaking problem with the VUE????? Probably the people at the party worked for Hyundai, just kidding!!!
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    We regularly drive 70-80 mph and no shaking going on. Might want to get that checked out. Maybe the alignment is off.

    They had a blue Vue last time I was at the dealer. Very nice. Still like our red better though.
  • tqmtqm Member Posts: 9
    Thanks for the comments back. I have an appointment set up. Noticed the yellow tire "paint marks" don't match the balance weights at all.
  • tqmtqm Member Posts: 9
    When position "1" is selected, I hear a very loud "chirping" or "squealing" noise. Not sure how to best describe it, but it does closely sound like the noise that a cricket makes...only it doesn't stop until the fan is either turned up to "3" or "4", or is turned off. Very annoying. It's mettalic in nature...almost like the shaft is rubbing against the housing or something. And you can hear it fade away as the fan winds down when it is turned off.

    Anybody else experiencing this??????
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    Probably a lubrication issue.
  • maynardf1maynardf1 Member Posts: 127
    My fan started making a similar sound a few weeks ago. I can only hear it in pos. 1. Above that the blowing air sounds drowns it out. I'm having it checked this week.
  • mmspealmmspeal Member Posts: 122
    Is the rear window washer fluid supposed to spray or just dump a glob on the window?
  • maynardf1maynardf1 Member Posts: 127
    The rear sprayer just pours a steady stream. If it sprayed like the front, the fluid wouldn't make it to the window if you were driving with any speed.
  • raine4llhraine4llh Member Posts: 14
    I just ordered a FWD V6 Vue, it's scheduled to be here the second week in January I am so excited. Does anyone have a pet net for their Vue, the dealership didn't have one for me to look at?
  • gehegehe Member Posts: 78
    -Hey Cyber Buddies ... Seems lots has been going on since I last looked ... ages ago.
    (jmatero)
    -Congrats on your VUE. I think you did that just for all the attention you have been getting. I think it's neat. See. Even "Crabapples" get welcomed back. And there is nothing like a bargain to "float your boat".

    - " Miss Vivie " update ... (Oh ! By the way ! You other folks now just buying Blue VUEs. I'll have you know that "The Late Miss Vivienne VUE" is the first, the original, " THE " only true BLUE VUE and " Miss Viv " won't even consider any other competition for attention ... so don't even think about it !!!)
    - Over 3000 miles since 10/12/02. ' She ' is doing just fine. The fuel gauge konked out suddenly, but just as suddenly started working again so I haven't fussed about it. (I always " zero " the odometer ).
    - As far as noises go ... I just ignore them like my own noises. The VUE has a great warranty. I'll deal with any issue when it's an issue. Makes one carzy focusing on ever creak and groan.
    -Had an early heavy snow fall in South Jersey. My Tracker did her usual 4x4 chewing thru the snow. Viv just sailed ! I guess the extra weight helps. Brief as it was, I was pleased with the first snow test.
    -Not loving the car payments, but every time I go out long distance, I am thankful to have a strong vehicle to do it in. Every time I shop, I thank my lucky stars for all that space.

    -To Ya All ... Wishing you all a peaceful, calm 2003. Thank you for all your input, help and encouragement thru this site. I've enjoyed it immensely.
    -Later ...
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    Congrats! I'm sure you will love your Vue. Why did you order, were there none available that you liked?
  • raine4llhraine4llh Member Posts: 14
    Thank you, I am so excited. I had to order it because I wanted a specific color with specific items and they didn't have one on the lot. I just hope when I go to pick it up the second week in January they are still offering 0% interest.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Would you not have locked in the 0% when you ordered the vehicle??
  • raine4llhraine4llh Member Posts: 14
    Well my credit was approved when I ordered the car, but I didn't sign any paperwork so I guess not. I didn't think you could buy a car without it physically being available. Should I call them and ask, because I really want that 0%?
  • garrettda2garrettda2 Member Posts: 16
    Just picked up my new VUE (2003 V-6 FWD, Blue, no options) today. Seems like a nice car. Dealer was great. Got one just like I wanted and waived the cost of the Decor package and tinted glass because I hadn't asked for it.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    I would.. 0% will likely be there when your VUE arrives, but it's nice to be sure.
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