Saturn VUE

dindak · February 2004

rhouser2 : V6 models have an upgraded interior. 4 cyl models have the old interior.

luv94rx7 : The 3.5L makes the VUE quite a rocket huh? Unless you are getting a base 5-speed manual 4 banger, I can't see not getting a V6. Everything about it is better. That said, if GM decides to drop the new 2.4L Ecotec into the VUE next year, I would consider going 4.

tidester · February 2004

Let's limit quotations from copyrighted sources to (very) brief excerpts! Thanks. :-)

tidester, host

stuckvue · February 2004

I own a 2003 Saturn Vue AWD with the 4 cyl and the new Variable trans. Recently I have had serious problems with the vehicle going into what the dealer has told me a "save mode" basically the computer senses too much wheel spin and shuts down power to the tranny. What I end up with is the car sitting in 2" of snow on a slight incline and it will not move. It wont even let enough power to the ground to spin one tire. I have had it towed into the dealer and after 4 days of looking at it the above explanation is what I get. Even after sitting overnight it will not bump out of that "save mode". I am in the process of going through corporate to try to fix this.

What I am posting this for is to see if anyone else has had problems like this. Also if you are thinking of getting one of these, I would consider not getting the Variable Tranny, at least untill they find a problem to this. The car has preformed flawlessly up untill now, even pulling itself through my driveway with 10 inces of snow down. Just recently has this decided to be a problem.

uga91 · February 2004

That's why they put warranties on new cars. Keep on them until it's either fixed or replaced. Good luck to you!

vuefor2 · February 2004

I agree, this is a warranty issue. Saturn should be able to fix this issue.

CVT issues have not been that many from what I have read on other sites though I think the V6 is preferable if you can handle the extra gas and cost.

wheelz4 · February 2004

Have you seen the ads (newspaper) for the V6 Vue?
FWD V6 Vue actually has a better highway mileage rating than the CRV-EX. Ouch, that's gotta hurt, eh, Honda? A heavier SUV with 250 vs. 160hp (and the engine's made by Honda, to boot!) getting better mileage.

scottgb · February 2004

Wasn't that their slogan when they first started selling cars? Who would have thought that they'd have to resort to using a Honda engine in one of their vehicles. I'd consider buying one, only because of the Honda engine and transmission. The rest of the vehicle is the part I'd worry about.

oxmead · February 2004

the Vue red line has those big 18" wheels. They would look better without those tiny DRUM brakes in back. GM should know better.

vuefor2 · February 2004

GM actually makes the best auto transmissions, I would prefer to have one over any other.

From what I have read also, Saturn didn't have to "resort" to these V6 engines, it had a great 3.0L and these were received from a trade for transmissions with Honda. I think they were originally suppose to go into an extended Vue but the project was scrapped so they had to go in the Vue.

gweilo · February 2004

"GM actually makes the best auto transmissions"
Traditional technolgy trannies? I agree. What kind of history do they have with CVT? Exactly.

julians · February 2004

Does anyone actually wait until the oil change sensor comes on to get the oil changed? I have gone almost 4000 miles since my last oil change and I think 4000 between changes is the longest I can go. The manual says if the light does not go on, to just change the oil yearly.

carguy1234 · February 2004

I asked my dealership that question. They still swear by 3000 mile intervals, due to our 'harsh' climate in MN. More money for them I suppose!

Our light has not went off. We tend to change at 3750 miles, based on our usage (so 3x/year).

vuefor2 · February 2004

I don't think GM / Saturn make the CVT in the Vue. It's bought from a company in Romania or Hungary. According to my dealer's service manager, the CVT "has not been very problematic" and most of the issues have been of an adjustment nature. Take it for what's it's worth, I don't know.

gweilo · February 2004

vuefor2
Did he comment on the 5spd auto substitution?
I mean..if it's good, why switch?
This also suggests it's not a "GM" tranny so it's harder to give it the benefit of the doubt. What kind of history does this tranny have..anyone? I know the initial CVT VUES had some issues..now seems like more.
Dunno..seems like an awful lot of "new technologies" are troublesome.

jerryvue · February 2004

i've had my vue for about 45 days. after a week or so of driving i noticed that at 30 mph the whole car would vibrate. below 30 there is no vibration at all ...it starts and stops very abruptly. also i noticed that the awd tranny became very sloppy. for example...if i take a corner at a nice slow pace and then gently accelerate...there is a very noticeable lag in acceleration. this effect also happens at highway speed. if i accelerate at 60 there is an amount of time before the tranny will get into a gear that will make the car go. very frustrating and disappointing. i was hoping for a good vehicle..not this. today while driving in a parking lot.. if i accelerate nothing happens then suddenly the car lurches forward.

also...remember this is a new car...i'm going to have to have my front and rear bushings replaced due to popping sounds. i just have a real bad feeling about this car.

vuefor2 · February 2004

The 5-speed in the 3.0L Vues is a Japanese made transmission, not a GM. The 5 speed in the 3.5L Vue is simply the same one that Honda uses (japanese sourced also I think). Saturn would not try and mat a different transmission to it, it would cost too much.

You are right, CVTs are not all that proven yet though it's not new technology. I think the Murano has a CVT so maybe check out that board and see if they are having issues.

julians · February 2004

I brought my 2003 VUE 4-cyl 5-speed in for an oil change (only waited 3750 miles, can't wait for the light to go on) and they said there is a OBD (onboard diagnostic) system software upgrade campaign for '02-'03 VUEs. Said it was like rebooting the car's computer and adding an update. Anyone know what needed to be upgraded? I had it done, there is no charge, the paperwork says it is a warranty sale.

vuefor2 · February 2004

I think I had some kind of "software update" once, a year ago. Had it done with an oil change, but I never asked what it was all about.

moretj · February 2004

My 2002 VUE (V6 AWD) has just over 30,000 km on it. I've recently noticed that the vehicle tends to veer to the left at highway speeds indicating that a wheel alignment may be in order. Has anyone else had to do a wheel alignment at a such low kms (approx 19,000 mi). Would the condition I've described have anything to do with the fact that the steering wheel is very sensitive with it being powered by an advanced electrical system?

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks.

vuefor2 · February 2004

Sounds like you may have hit some winter pot holes.

Alignment can be neccesary any time if you throw it off during the course of driving. I saw on TV that because of the cold winter in parts of the north east, pot holes are the worst that have been in years.

gweilo · March 2004

Check your tire inflation. Many a time I have found this corrects vibrations, pulling etc. It's especially volatile with changing temperatures. The tires don't change pressure equally.

gweilo · March 2004

Anyone have a high mlg CVT/VTi? Apparently, a high mileage issue was the cause for stopping its production.

stever · March 2004

Long-Term Test: 2002 Saturn Vue - Wrap-Up

Steve, Host

vuefor2 · March 2004

I took a test drive of a 2005 Equinox (the Vue's new twin) this weekend. Anyone not liking the interior (or exterior) of the Vue should definitely check it out. It definitely seems like a step up in build and refinement from our 2002.

As for the review posted above.. I have driven the competition and the Vue still seems like about the best choice out there in my eyes. It's not perfect but it's good and little mention was made of the top notch Saturn sales and service which the competition can not touch!

vuefor2 · April 2004

Wow, things are dead here. Ouch!

carguy1234 · April 2004

I'm guessing that CR's auto issue didn't help, giving the VUE a much worse than average reliability now.

Plus posts seem way down overall here since they changed the log in rules.

setzer · April 2004

there are huge cuts on prices here. I checked the Saturn website, and the cheapest Vue was $18,000, and here they are advertizing them for under $15,000. That's over $3,000.

vuefor2 · April 2004

I still have had no problems with our 2002 V6. I sometimes wonder about the accuracy of Consumers Reports.

I do think the new Equinox will hurt Vue sales though, it's a very attractive package.

drzooom · April 2004

Anybody familiar with how frequently Saturn accepts GM Card point? Is it every year, or less frequent?

drzooom · April 2004

Nevermind - found the answer elsewhere on Edmunds. In brief, they have in the past, and may restart at any time in the future.

kernick · April 2004

I'm considering replacing my winter car, and started looking at the V6 - AWD Vue.

Here in New England there is a $3500 rebate and an extra $1000 cash back.

What does everyone think of that? Is it different by area of the country? Is there more money to be had you think in the summer?

Also does anyone know when the factory stops taking orders on the '04 Vues? Since we all pay the "MSRP" prices I see no advantage to buying off the lot. It's actually an advantage to order the exact vehicle you want.

nwng · April 2004

with the 3.5 if you go easy on the options

I do not know where you can find a better deal

johnb · April 2004

In Alabama, they are offering $2500 rebate plus $1000 bonus cash.

I am really interested in the Vue. For the price, I'll probably go with the 4cyl 5sp with the Sport Plus II package which adds sunroof.

Does anyone have any comments about the lower-end 4cyl 5sp combination? Most reviews target the V6 trim levels.

Should I spring for the ABS with the FWD ($600 extra)?

Also, who else is seeing the $3500 plus $1000 rebates that were seen in NH? I'd like to get the best deal I can if I decide to buy.

Thanks.

kernick · April 2004

I saw that rebate listed here on Edmund's a few days ago when I was pricing options on a Vue. However yesterday and in today's paper, I see $2500 + $1000.

I don't know if it was a mistake, or just reduced.

JohnB - being in AL you probably wouldn't need the AWD that much. The 4 cyl. with 5-speed would probably be good economy and power, and of course the best price.

johnb · April 2004

Yeah, I had seen the $3500 + $1000 incentives here on Edmunds earlier in the week, but could never correlate it with any other web sources. Then a few days ago, they dropped to $2500 + $1000 (as you also confirmed).

Yeah, we get about 1-3 days of ice in North Alabama per year, so it's not very taxing weather-wise. It does get hot which may be bad since the Vue looks best in Black (because it hides the chinsy plastic front and rear valences), at least that's the family consensus so far.

We currently have a 1996 Saturn SL2 with 140,000 miles on it. Still running strong, gets great gas mileage, but time to get a newer travel vehicle. That's one reason why I like the 4cyl 5sp combo is fuel mileage. Plus it's $4K-$5K cheaper than the FWD V6 version. I admit the interior of the V6 package is more refined. Plus the fact they are using the Honda Odyssey 3.5ltr V6 engine (which is our other new-car candidate) makes the V6 package very tempting.

I just worry about all the negative press about build quality on these Vues. And I really don't like the look of the white face gauges on the 2004s, but that's just personal preference. We've owned the SL2 so long that I've become accustomed to the gauge layout. And the 4cyl 5sp is on the bottom rung when it comes to equipment (and probably profit for them), so it may have the weakest build quality of all.

Btw, does anyone know of the Vues have an Almost-Out-Of-Gas idiot light?
The SL2 does not, and that's always been a little unnerving. I've never run out of gas, but would like the extra reassurance if I accidently get too low.

bluetrainstop · April 2004

My husband and I looked at the VUE we like the fact that the V6 has the Honda Engine. Is't the VUE a little big to be powered by the 4 Cylinder? Also, if we get the FWD V6 does it have the option of traction control? Isn't traction control like AWD, I mean doesn't it help in the bad weather? Also looking at new Chevy Equinox which is 7 inches bigger and has 5 more cubic feet of cargo space. I'm sure Chevy will come up with huge rebates and make the price comparable to the VUE. Any thoughts?

johnb · April 2004

I drove the 5sp 4cyl VUE a few weeks ago. It had okay acceleration, but nothing spectacular. If you want an automatic tranny, I'd definitely spring for the V6.

What incentives are you seeing in NJ for the VUE?

kernick · April 2004

you: Isn't traction control like AWD, I mean doesn't it help in the bad weather?

me: somewhat and yes. Traction control simply prevents you from spinning a wheel whether you have FWD or RWD. You only have power and traction at one set of wheels. AWD gives you power at both sets of wheels and thus better traction to get going.

If all you're doing is driving in urban areas in NJ, you can get by mostly with FWD. But if you go anywhere challenging or want to get out during a blizzard, AWD will give you more capability.

You've got to answer the question for yourself if paying the extra money and gas is worth the extra traction.

I also second JohnB that a 4-cyl automatic would not be my choice.

bluetrainstop · April 2004

Rebates in New Jersey were $3500 plus $1000. Has since dropped to $2500 plus $1000. We got to sit in one at the dealership and I like the inside, we also got to see the Equinox, love the outside. It was locked and couldn't sit in it but the doors looked rather bland inside. We are gonna wait till the fall to decide, my husband doesn't like to buy a car the first model year or in the VUE's case the first year of the V6 engine change. We also have 2 kids and the reality of life is we need the room of a van. Neither of us wants to buy another Caravan or any van for that matter. Time will tell. Thanks.

johnb · April 2004

[Traction Control]
If I'm not mistaken, FWD traction control and ABS go hand-in-hand. The ABS detects wheel spin on the drive wheel and begins to clamp down on the spinning wheel, thus delivering more torque to the wheel that is currently not spinning. At least, that's the way I understand traction control in general. Don't know any specifics about the Vue.

[Van vs. SUV]
The Honda Odyssey is a great pick for minivan, but they are so darn high. You can buy new ones for what they sell 2-year-used ones for around here. I think I've seen new 2004 Odyssey EX (upper trim level) for as low as $24,600 (regularly $26k-$27k). Dependability and build quality of Honda's is very good, but in my opinion, the sales people and dealerships are rather arrogant. Just my opinion, though.

Saturn is so much better to deal with, though I have ran into some hard-nosed Saturn sales people in my time too.

[First Year Woes]
I totally agree with your husband on first-year any models. Since I am looking at the 4cyl Vue, Saturn has had 2 previous model years to work through that. The Honda 3.5 V6 engines in the new Vues should hold up well, but the Saturn service departments will need a little time to get used to working on and troubleshooting them.

If I could figure out how to get that extra $1000 in rebate money back ($3500 plus $1000), I'd be more apt to go ahead and buy one.

bluffhouse1 · April 2004

In Roseville, CA. This one is almost naked, but is black with CD & side airbags. So far, no problems, but the factory installed the passenger side lock tumber upside down. Was an easy fix. My fuel economy can vary. I haven't spend much time on the freeway, but I suspect it should get close to 30. In town, short trips, with a lot of cool downs, it seems to be settleing in close to 23. If performance is not your priority, the 4 cyl is the way to go. Altough the stock 4 is quite tame, the race industry is quite impressed with GM's 4 cyl platform called the ecotec. There is numerable performance parts articles regarding this motor platform. A simple supercharger can give you between 200 & 300hp without compremising relibilty.I think the advantages with the 4 cyl are: better fuel economy, less motor maintenance (no timing belt), less front end weight promoting better handleing, environmentally friendly oil filter (internal, no case) price, & race proven durability. After reading the consumers magazine on performance I noticed a lot of the other SUV's, maybe a few hundred pounds heavier had slower 0-60 times. I'm still a little skeptical about the CVR transmission. Any experience out there? To change the oil filter, I took a 1-1/4" socket and sawed down with a chop saw to make a real shallow socket. This allows access to the oil filter cover. It comes out real easy and oil doesn't pour out under the car like most the other vehicles. Just make sure you hold a rag umder it to catch the few drops off the element. Best of all, I bearly felt guilty when I tossed this little tiny oil soaked element into the garbage. For the price I paid, it think it would be hard to find a better deal. With the imcentives out there, the FWD sixes could probably be had for about $19,000. Maybe this would be a good alternative for the Highlander for about $10,000 less.

dwabid · April 2004

I ordered my VUE w/o the roof rack. But now we have a need for it. I have no problem ordering the parts from the dealer, but they tell me it is easier for them to install the racks because "in earlier models they are a pain to install...its better that we do it to save you the hassle". I don't know about that. Has anyone added these to a 2002/2003 VUE. If so was it hard?

riccd2001 · April 2004

I've done enough research here and elsewhere to make our lease-renewal decision. Of course, I had to select from the best balance for our needs considering manufacturer's lease rate, pros & cons of each vehicle, dealer performance ( or lack thereof), and best bang for our buck.

The final three were Saturn Vue with Honda V6, Mazda3 Sport GS and Toyota Matrix XR.

The true final dealbreaker - Wife wanted Indigo Ink. That did it. Toyota won. Game over.

afk_x · April 2004

Just to clear up any misperception -

Currently you can get either 0.0% APR or 2500 rebate.

Also there is $1000 "Truck cash" that is added to both.

afk_x · April 2004

The 2.2 ECOTEC can handle about 220-230 or so ponies before you start to stress the engine internals.

Sooner or later there will be bolt on supercharger kits available for this engine for a reasonable price.

afk_x · April 2004

Saturn calls this a "luggage rack" and indeed it is a pain in the behind to install yourself.

Nothing is gonna stop you from trying. The problem is the bolts are difficult to remove the first time.

If you have a heat gun and some power tools and some patience then you should be ok. If not just cough up the cash and have the dealer do it.

Many people have tried and failed, because what seems simple, and should be simple, isn't. You'll probably strip the bolts and then it will cost you even more.

Goodluck

ems1 · April 2004

I installed the roof rack on my '03 Vue. There are 10 stand off studs that can be installed. If you know where you want the cross bars to stay, you only need to remove 4 screws and install 4 of the stand off studs. I installed 9 of them. 1 screwhead stripped out. The fewer you install, the less chance of stripping 1 or 2 out. It is easier to remove the screws if you stand on a small stepstool or ladder and use the best Torx bit you can buy. I think it was a T25. There is a TSB about those screws. Even the dealer has problems getting them out. Good luck.

kernick · April 2004

Yes but a supercharger will drop the fuel economy several mpg, and probably require premium fuel. It'll cost $4K - $5K depending on who installs it, and any engine/transmission issue would be a warranty hassle.

It seems clear cut that if you want the extra power just get the V-6 to start with. The 4-cyl w/supercharger would be sensible if the v-6 wasn't available.

kernick · April 2004

you: If I could figure out how to get that extra $1000 in rebate money back ($3500 plus $1000), I'd be more apt to go ahead and buy one.

me: end of season clearances will be starting soon, and the rebates should be increased to match other brands.
I have a few month old brochure also where Saturn had a $750 college grad rebate. It's good not just for recent undergrads, but anyone enrolled in any grad school program. So if anyone related to you is, get it in their name.

joey2brix · April 2004

The Vue listed price mentioned $4K incentive until 4/24. There was no around from Saturn to talk to but that's gotta be the $1K Truckfest plus $2500 or 0% financing. There was also some kind of $500 autoshow incentive.

Saturn VUE

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