varmit: thanks for the clarification. I will take a test drive of the 2002 for a fairer comparison. Weird that Canada has leather, but not US, too-- wonder what the reasoning was behind that one?
dindak: yes, I'd like to see the VUE in green, too. (Green with black leather!)-- I designed and priced out the silver black. Sad to say my days of driving an orange vehicle are-- mercifully-- over.
I think Honda just has their head somewhere it doesn't belong. I suspect they are going to add leather as part of an SE package midway through the design life (2-3 years from now). Canada got the LE (same deal as the SE) long before we did.
Anyone hear anything more on the CVT? The V6 gets good enough gas mileage (probably due to the extra gear), but I think the 4 cyl will still sell well.
cberes : Silver black looks good. Orange may be a bit much, but I'll take a look.
varmit : I'd be all over the V6 if they had a cheaper 2WD version. The 3.0L gets great mileage and is a very peppy smooth engine. Wonder if they are still importing that one from GM England or if they are sourcing at Spring Hill now?
After 3 weeks of anticipation, the VUE finally arrived at our dealership. Got a quick look this afternoon. Will test drive tonight. I'll let you know.... At first glance... its an Outback on Steroids. It was bigger than I thought. Unfortunately, they received two WHITE ones and I hate white especially in new styling because it REALLY hits you between the eyes - I'm worried my wife might nix it on looks alone. The door panels looked "big".. I think it needed some lower side body cladding. We'll find out more tonight. Like many of you here, the Trib is my favorite overall, but I hate seeing the accumulating consumer complaints and the CRV is nice, but a bit bland (especially inside) and underpowered (no 6 cyl), so I'm staking a lot on the VUE.... we shall see... By the way, I did drive the Hyundai Santa Fe.... Drove nice BUT NO LEG ROOM (and I am only 6'0") so I dropped that one quick.... Carseeker4
Well we test drove the VUE this evening. As "cberes" reported earlier, liked it but didn't love it. The V6 has sufficient power and smoothness, but its is noisier than I had anticipated. Handling was more mini-van like, not as crisp as the CRV or Tribute - when I made a slow speed (10mph) but sharp turn in a parking lot, my wife said she was "getting thrown all over back here". She also complained that the rear seats were not as comfy as the CRV or Tribute. The VUE had a bit of a "bulky" feel. Interior components weren't the nicest either. Driver's seat was very comfortable and we loved the gearshift/dash much better than either the Trib or CRV. The center console was disappointing (even more so than the CRV) and over all, it needed more interior nooks and crannies for storing little things (or more room in the ones that they did have). The exterior was interesting, not as "elegant" as the Trib nor as bland as the CRV. Ground clearances were a tad less than the CRV or Trib. The price was more than I figured too. With all the features on the Trib, a comparably-equipped VUE would probably be $700-800 more (including little things like a cargo cover which is standard in the Trib). All-in-all for features and ride, the Trib is still the leader. The VUE does SOME things better, but it seems nothing that really is critical. We did get a bit of surprising pressure at the end to put an order in... they even tried to offer $1000 more for our trade (I think they lowballed us with the first trade in figure!) if we ordered tonight. We didn't and we are now officially MORE CONFUSED THAN EVER!!! Sorry if this does not help.... Carseeker4
The VUE is great, but it isn't a slam dunk. I really wish it were. The price is a point of contention, and it can't be reduced by haggling. At $25K, I'd expect more than what one'd actually get. A top of the line CR-V is $23K.
$25K can buy a lot more car than it can SUV, i guess. Of course, each Explorer is $15 thousand dollars profit for Ford. SUV should be pronounced "cash cow".
It never occurred to me, but a good way for saturn to be competitive is to play w/ the trade-in value.
As far as the Explorer being a cash cow.. I think Ford may be getting some of the margin removed on that by the "tire controversy" and the Escape, which has had its share of problems! The thing that did bug me about Saturn was that 3 weeks ago, the VUE price was $1000 less! They probably got a large number of requests for test drives and figured they'd bump it up when the VUE actually arrived! But if most of the test drivers are like you and I they will be impressed but not overwhelmed, especially if they have test-driven other vehicles. So who knows if they won't wind up dropping the price again if demand cools?
My silver AWD V6 VUE is schedule to arrive any day now and ever since I ordered it, I've been told (first) that it had 4-wheel disc brakes, then it didn't, then it did again, and finally today that it definitely doesn't have them...even as part of the anti-lock brake option. Can anyone explain why a newly designed, supposedly state-of-the-art SUV (in its most expensive version) would arrive on the scene with 1970s drum braking technology? I realize that it's probably cheaper to produce without the discs but why would any company design a new vehicle then throw on ancient drum brakes in the rear? The salesman said that in addition to keeping the cost down, this particular sized SUV doesn't have the weight necessary to require them or make a significant difference either way. Odd that my current Oldsmobile Alero V6 has them -- I'm almost positive it's lighter than the VUE!! Does this make sense? I noted, in my research, that the new Jeep Liberty, Land Rover Freelander, Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute twins don't have the 4 discs yet the Hyundai Sante Fe and Honda CRV EX do. The VUE has day-time running lights, front/side curtain air bags, and anti-locks (which are great) but why skimp on the brakes? Safety being a prime concern, isn't it at least as important to avoid an accident as it is to protect the occupants in the event an accident should occur?
Am I missing something important? Can anyone out there elaborate on this issue?
3904 : As far as I know, the drums are fine for this type of vehicle and should not hinder safety. Further they are cheaper to maintain and I think they last longer than discs (I'm not sure, but that's been my experience).
carseeker : There is a lot of choice in the compact SUV market these days. To further complicate things, the Vibe/Matrix combo are coming in January. There are so many trade offs (engines, 4x4 or FWD, ride ect.) and I find it hard to compare apples to apples. In my eyes, the VUE is a very good first effort and definitely should be considered. That said, it's not the clear winner either.
I've been reading these boards for quite awhile and thought I should finally chime in.
I took the VUE for a test drive last week and have some mixed opinions. I mostly agree with most comments previously posted but I'll curtly state my thoughts.
pros: smooth,quiet ride, good sounding CD, red color looks great, brisk acceleration (6cyl). back seat roomy. like the compass amd outside temp gauge. Saturn customer service.
cons: interior cheap looking, still rides more like a truck than a car. radio didn't sound very good. tranny seemed hesitant to downshift.
I own a 99 Accord 4cyl. and have considered the new CR-V but I really don't like the spare wheel stuck on the back and the two stage operation of the rear hatch. I thing the interior like the VUE is also cheap looking.
But I'm trying real hard to like the VUE. My dad has a SW and loves it and I've seen second hand how well they treat you. I've even taken my previous car(Ford Probe) into their service because I felt they were more trustworthy than other repair facilties. I'll take my wife and little boy and see what they think about the VUE.
About the rear disc brakes, I think they did it to save bucks. I think the front brakes in a front driver which the VUE is in most of the time does about 90% of the work. 4 wheel disc is most advantageous on sporty cars where constant hard use causes brake fade. I think most VUE drivers would not notice the difference or Saturn hopes they won't notice it.
The salesman that I talked to said he was invited by Saturn to test drive the VUE and all of its competitors. He said he was disappointed by the acceleration of the CVT VUE. He stated that Saturn told him the 0-60 was in the upper 11 second range.
FWIW, Afraid of the reliablilty of the Escape/Trib. 6 cyl Outback too expensive. The 4 cyl close in price to the 6 cyl VUE and the VUE performance numbers are better.
I'm really hoping the face lift for the LW makes it better looking or Mazda exports the 6 wagon.
I haven't tested the car, though I've seen a few on the road around here (Michigan).
You confirmed my basic concern with this vehicle and that is the cheap looking interior. Photos I've seen show the door trim to be particularly cheesy looking. It just screams $9000 dollar econocar.
By contrast the Liberty has an extremely quality looking interior. Problem there is it's totally a truck and the ride is from what I here is not for me ( Haven't driven one).
It always seems that you can't get everything in one vehicle. Like exterior styling-interior is cheap. Like interior-bad ride, no pickup, etc.
I'm looking at either a mid priced sport sedan or sport wagon or carlike SUV for my next vehicle. I too, would be interesteed in the Mazda 6 wagon but the pictures suggest that it may be more consrvatively styled than the Protege5 and that would be a dissapointment. If the Protege5 were a foot longer I would grab it. Again, it's always something. Great looks, great price, great equipment-too small.
I would like to seriously consider the Vue but honestly short of paying a trim shop thousands of dollars to upgrade the interior I don't think I can.
Another crossover SUV will be out soon from Mitsubishi. It's called the Airtrek in Japan, is Tribute sized and has super looking interiors. Kind of conservatively styled, though I hear they will ugrade the front end for the US market. Should be out by next fall the latest. Definitely worth a look in this catagory.
I test drove the VUE yesterday. My goal was to consider replacing a dodge minivan with it. Our other car is a Jeep Liberty. Sorry guys and gals I have had Saturns in the past and really wanted to like it but I give it a C grade for the following reasons:
Very noisy--the 3 liter engine sounded like my old saturn before they improved the noise problem. Engine has pep but you can barely hear the radio
Steering--electronic assisted and very mushy and destroyed all the road feel that I liked about my old saturn
Interior--adequate but not great. Jeep liberty has far superior interior. Also rear seats thin and flimsy with excess motion around the latches that control the split down. Long trips might be painful.
Price-- high for what you get
All in all they could have done much better. I think the Liberty or the Escape are far superior products. On the positive side the mileage of 19/25 is good, but I doubt I will buy one as it is now. I hope the Saturn people read this column
Drove by a dealer today and peered in at the interior. That sealed it for me. The trim is cheaper than cheap. I was amazed at how plain and hard plasticy the door trim looked.
A restyled L might be a nice car, but what are the odds that GM will get the styling right. Looks like a Mazda 6 if I'm on a budget, Infiniti G35 or Volvo S60 if I'm not. Vibe and Protege5 are too small and Liberty is too truck like.
I have had a VUE on order for several month now. Finally got to sit in one the other day. We just received the first one in Alaska last week, the ice hadn't even thawed off of it before I got to sit in it. I was impressed! Looks like a decent package. We didn't get to test drive it as it was sold and going into the show room. Mine is suppose to be on a ship headed north in the near future(From Seattle). Let me explain the reason that we are purchasing a Saturn VUE, we were limited to the type of vehicle that my wife can drive with here work. It had to be Union/UAW built so we were limited to just a select few vehicles in this size range. We drive in very bad conditions for better than half of the year so FWD/AWD is a must. So that sort of limits us to an Escape or a VUE if we want some economy and AWD. My wife was quick to point out to me how unhappy we have been in the past with Ford service and reliability and how pleased we have been with service and relialibility with our GM Suburban. I will report back as to how it works out on the ICEand Snow. By the way we ordered the optional ABS and side air bags to mate up with the V-6.
Sorry to hear you crossed the VUE off your list. I have no stake in Saturn but would like to see them do well.
My dad loves his SW1 and I think the interior material is bargain basement grade. He has 80,000 miles and the interior still looks brand new. He’s always schlepping his two small dogs around and is appreciative of how easy it is to clean up. I still tell him that it looks like it was upholstered with burlap sacks. My 99 Accord and my wife’s 93 Camry have exceptional quality interior materials but it does look like it’s wearing out faster than the Saturn is. I also like the way Saturn treat its customers, past and future and in my book that counts for a little.
I still have not gotten approval from my wife and kid (4yr) so it’s not a done deal. But I have a few other cars that I’m looking at and maybe they’ll be of interest to you. The Highlander is a capable, capacious and luxurious vehicle and in 2WD form just about a grand and half more the VUE. Another is the Subaru Outback. I don’t know much about it but I’ve read a lot of posts from a fervent advocate named "juice" who makes strong cases for Subaru with his infectious enthusiasm.
The other cars you chose are really nice (especially the G35) and it appears you don’t care about AWD. That brings up another point why doesn’t Saturn have 2WD 6 cyl. VUE? It would knock off more than a $1,000 off the price and improve dry performance. I live in sunny San Diego and we get less rain than Los Angeles so I really don’t like to pay extra for AWD.
A few more comment about the VUE interior. The plastic parts where you arms touch are made of a reasonably soft plastic but they have this annoying pimple texture that feels irritating when rubbed. Also what’s with the door pockets? The rear door’s are so small you might get a deck of cards to fit but if you slammed the door they would probably fall out.
I have about 6 months on my Accord lease so I’ll wait and see what else is coming out. Hope you’re not in a rush either because I think they’ll be a lot of nice cars coming!!
I want to replace my 1999 Honda CR-V with something with more power. We have 2 Saturns (92 SC, 94 SL2 which our teenagers are now driving), and I really wanted to like the VUE. But, I drove it twice and just was not moved by it. It was OK, but not great. I feel bad saying that considering I really loved my SL2. The SL2 was fun to drive, very comfortable and great looking. I was hoping for the same feeling with the VUE. But, I just can't get enthused about the VUE.
When I drove the Liberty, I just loved the way it looked and felt. It was fun to drive again. Cost-wise the Liberty Sport was a better deal. So, it's a Liberty for me.
A few people have commented on the interior. I was actually surprised how good it was. Perhaps I was expecting it to be worse than it was (because of comments I read here), but I think it's no different than it's competitors like the CR-V. I also did not find the V6 to be any noisier than the Escape V6. I agree, the Vue is not as car like as I thought it would be but then again, it is not being billed as a car either.
Still looking for a 4 cyl to test. Anyone seen one yet?
Just as I was leaving town for a few days I saw the Vue unloading at the local Saturn dealership.
I am back in town and will be test driving it tomorrow. I took a look at it today after hours. While not impressed with the color (white) I do think it has an appealing look to it.
Looks roomy, and at first look through the window the interior raises no concern (ie, cheap instrumentation and, quality of upholstery)
I will report my observations tomorrow.
ALSO, My manual 4 Cyl is scheduled to be built on Jan 7 with a Jan 21 delivery date. (Color--Orange) we'll see!
Yep, it's the same one, though it's tuned for slightly different HP numbers. It's been reliable in the Saturn LS for 2 years and it was co-developed by GM and Lotus in Europe. It's actually the best 4 banger GM has sold in North America, much better than the Quad4.
I test drove the Saturn Vue today. (6 Cyl AWD). I am probably not as proficient a critiquer as most of you are but here are my impressions.
No doubt the 6 auto has plenty of power. The ride was very comfortable. You sat high on the road yet getting in and out was very easy. the VUE I drove had the step up bumpers which just got in the way as I stepped into the drivers seat.
The steering felt fine to me.
The controls were located very conveniently in the center. (windows, radio, even the side mirror controls) I did not think their quality was cheap. ALthough nothing extravagant either. Durable is probably the best description.
I thought the rear storage area was very adequate. And the grocery carrier case that pops was a unique extra.
I had no problem stepping into the back seat.
I was impressed. the MSRP on the one I drove was 24K. It had a roof rack ($260) in addition to the step up bumpers ($624). It also had the compass and temp which was neat. (Standard on that model I think)
Mine will MSRP at 18,500 not as many bells and whistles but I believe a good value. I am not looking for a luxury SUV.
I think anyone looking for luxury in a Vue is looking in the wrong place. The Vue, CR-V and Escape are suppose to be economy SUVs both in price and in mileage. I think the Vue is very competitive out of the gate and will get better as time goes on.
Brought my L in for an oil change and test drove the Vue. Saturn of Chicago did have a 4 cyl. this weekend, though my sales associate tried to steer me to the 6. The 4 had the manual (usually this dealer only buys automatic spec). I wonder if maybe there is a shortage of VTi transmissions.
I thought the interior was on par with the Honda and Toyota, though maybe not quite as nice as the Escape/Tribute. There were a lot of very thoughtful storage features. I really appreciate the sunken space behind the rear wheels.
The ride is definitely different than my L, but acceptable for a small Ute. The electronic steering is not as crisp as the power steering in the L, but I will take the improved mileage. SUVs are meant to be practical, not raced. The 4 cyl is a very quiet engine.
Finally, the 6 cyl the associate tried to get me to test had the graphite finish upgrade. Perhaps some of the people disappointed with the interior may want to take a look at a Vue with this feature. I found it quite handsome.
Do yourself a favor and look at a Hyundai Elantra GT 5 door hatch which is a tad bigger, I think. For $15 and change, you will get a combination of ride, content, and warranty that are hard to beat, plus a rather roomy hatchback. With leather, 4 wheel discs, traction control, ABS, fog lights, alloys, Michelins, 6 speaker CD, trip computer, heated mirrors, and even intermittent rear wipers, this is one neat package. 18,000 miles on mine and really loving it.
While Hyundia has made great strides in quality, I'm still pretty weary of long term quality. Even more recent models I see on the street do not seem to be holding up well.
logic 1 : What did you think of the I-4 power? Was it sufficient or did it seem a bit slow?
I only drove it for around 15 minutes, but from what I could tell, the power did seem a little off. The 4 in the Vue did not seem as lively as it does in my L200. Nevertheless, I think it will be fine for urban and suburban commuting and light hauling.
Moreover, the Vue seemed to have more oomph -- and is noticiably quieter than -- my friend's 1999 CRV. I do not think I would want to pull a trailer with the 4. (With a 1,000 pound rating, it does not appear GM really wants me to any way)
If you drive on interstate or country highways a lot or will be towing a trailer, I think you should consider the V6.
Have any of you SATURN owners purchased a service plan (Basic car care; car care; extended power train; OR extended vehicle coverage plan) from Saturn?
I purchased a 7yr/100,000 extended warranty when I purchased my 1994 SL2. The price was around $1500 in 1994. I have had 2 power windows fixed, the EGR valve replaced, the Air Conditioning fixed, plus some other smaller problems all under warranty. The biggest advantage was that each time, I only had to pay the $50 deductable. I didn't have to worry about budgeting in a major repair at an inconvenient time.
I know some people say that if you invest the cost of the warranty you can pay for the repairs yourself. That is great, if you have the money up front and will actually invest it and never touch it until a repair is needed.
I bought the basic oil change plan. You get 12 oil changes for either 36k miles or 3 years. The price per change is a little (maybe about 5 bucks) more than at a place like jiffy lube. The two times I have used it, the dealer washed the car and did a computer analysis for no extra charge. All in all it seems a pretty good deal.
I have been looking for similar vehicle like this. I have driven Mazda MPV, 2002 Honda CRV,and today the Vue. My impressions of the Vue V6 AWD: 1.First is sticker shock around $25k with several options--many needed that should be standard. This is a thing to look at, because Saturn won't discount their sticker and will only give you wholesale for your car according to salesman. 2.The motor is extremely noisy and especially so under acceleration. I had read that this was true and even worse on the four cylinder, which I did not drive. 3.Seems to wallow around when driving. 4.Cheap manually adjustable height driver seat--no power seats. Interior is very plain. Window switches located in console--bad idea. 5.Only good points is ding resistant plastic panels on doors and fenders. And, spare is not or rear of vehicle, but is hidden. I would not consider buying this vehicle, especially at the price. The Mazda Tribute is the most refined and laid out, which is not saying much for SUVs in this price range. I am leary of reliability of the Tribute. I have tried out both a 2001 and the new 2002 Honda CRV and find the new CRV much improved over the 2001, but still a bit plain and no V6. If only I could have a Mazda Tribute made by Honda, that would be my choice if they made one! I have nothing to do with any of these companies, I am only a customer looking for a newer/new vehicle than my 1994 car.
The echotec 4 is a quiet engine and was very quiet in the Vue I test drove last Saturday. I did not drive the Vue with the 6, but have driven an L300 with the same engine. I found it to be very quiet and with a lot of pop. I like the console mounted switches, as does Mercedes Benz.
I like the Escape/Tribute, as does just about every reviewer, including Edmunds. I doubt you will get a similarly equipped version for less than a Vue.
Dealers are independent of the auto manufacturer and there is no such thing as a brand wide return policy. Possibly your dealer does not want to more than wholesale for the trade you are offering. It would be an illegal restraint of trade if the independent dealerships joined together and colluded on a trade in policy.
I test drove the V-6 Vue today. Engine power fine. Steering slow/little feel. If you have wide shoulders & tall, your left shoulder & arm is pressed against the side pillar, while driving very uncomfortable. I notice some strange but slight noise coming from engine area every once in a while. Wife heard noises (rattles) from back area. The Vue has promise, but needs more refinement. Sorry but could not pay sticker for this auto.
If you are financing a saturn. i wouldn't get the plan. then you are paying intrest on it. Even if I was paying cash I wouldn't either. Pay for the oil changes as you go. If you move or your dealer closes you may have to go pretty far to get to another dealer. Also you may decide after you get the car to take it elsewhere for service.
I wouldn't lock into the car care plan.
As for extended warrantys. I diddn't ask what was available. but a 5 year 60k one wouldn't be worth it. It is really only a 2 year 24k add on. If you put alot of miles on your car. Defintley no. Most parts will last 100,000 miles before they need replacing with just regular maintenance. After 6 years and 100k on a car look for exhaust and water pumps and altenators going. Now if they had a affordable warranty just for the electronic parts for 10 years 100k. That would be worth it. most likley mechanical problems will show up in the standard warranty time. But electronis like sensors and modules can be big expensive problems.
Thanks all for your review and suggestions about car care options. I am getting ready to take delivery (in about 2 weeks..I hope) of a 4 cyl Vue w/ standard trans.
The dealer is already asking about dealer add-ons like glass etching in case it is stolen. and adding a chrome or graphite package to the console ($180-for a few pieces of stick on.)
I ordered what I wanted so I think I will stick to just that. Thanks for all of your input!
I test drove the 6 cyl auto and did not think it was noisy.
I tested the V6 and although it's noisier than a V6 in a midsize sedan, I didn't think it was worse than Escape/Tribute. It probably could be better though.
Saw one of those Land Rover cute-utes today on the road. Very nice, but way out of my price range. Too bad!
I really wasn't impress with the so-called saturn experience. After I told salesman that I was not comfortable in the Vue,due to shoulder against the pillar, he said, he would be right back and left us standing outside in cold weather for several minutes. I bet if I were placing an order, I would have been invited inside.
I had a bad experience at a Saturn dealer also, about 3-4 years ago. I was at Midtown Saturn in Toronto and was completely ignored the entire time I was there. Couldn't find a sales man anywhere. I finally asked for one and it was almost like I was interrupting his coffee break. I think most Saturn dealers are good, but they aren't all like they are suppose to be.
It’s unfortunate to hear about the unsatisfactory treatment received at various Saturn dealerships. I bet that if you went to 10 Saturn dealerships and 10 of another brand that you would have a higher percent of satisfaction with Saturn. I still believe after a couple of test-drives that the VUE is still a fine vehicle. It’s not perfect but it still has many good things about it. I think as with most vehicles they are trade offs and I guess it’s up to each individual to deem what they feel is important. My feelings are that Saturn will stand behind their products and always treat you like kings/queens. If you go to the Saturn website; go to design and price a car; towards the end of the process you will see pricing, length of contract and deductibles for most of their extended service plans. One other advantage Saturn has is their service dept. I’ve been to Honda and Toyota service places and there are a million cars in line and usually backs up to the street. In contrast Saturn which I guess doesn’t have as many cars on the road as the other are not nearly as busy.
Everone has lots of comments about the window control switches and fabric seats, but I don't hear much about the AWD and ABS. Has anyone had a chance to drive the VUE in ice and snow conditions? I would guess that most dealers are most happy to let you drive the VUE a little to fast for conditions to see how that ol' rear end hold the road then lock up the breaks on the ice to see if you can maintain some control. I drive on these type of road conditions here in Alaska for 6 months each year so these are important concerns. We have not had a chance to test drive one yet 'cause it seems that the ship took a detour to Japan or something. Actually weather delays.
I've heard you can get an option or two throw in for free, but given the VUE is new, they may not do that yet. If I buy, I'm going the try and get the Firestones replaced with Goodyears or Michelins.
As for noise....I have never driven a Tribute, only several different Escapes. At speed the VUE is SOOO much quieter than the Escape its not even funny. On the other hand the V6 lets you know its there when you mash down the accelerator.
As for the price and standard equiptment....I agree with the poster - at 23K for V6 and AWD ABS and head curtain airbags should be standard - as should lighted vanity mirrors. These are standard on the L series. Too bad Saturn chose only to match the competition in these areas and didn't chose to exceed what they offer.
Handling....If the VUE you drove seemed to "Wallow" about a bit then there is something wrong with the one you drove. Having driven several different ones I have found them all to be quite good in the handling department - I would only wish for a bit more feedback from the road (like the L)
As to the "Saturn experience" I am not sure what you expected. Sorry to hear you were left outside for a few minutes. Other than this vast oversight how was your trip? I to couldn't own a VUE due to the B pillar intruding on my shoulder space. My wife on the other hand really wants one.
As for not wanting to pay sticker - its a beautiful thing really. You know EXACTLY how much you will be paying and don't have to spend a moment shopping that price. Bottom line is you either feel its the best way to spend your money on a mini-ute or you don't. There is an HUGE 1200 to 1500 dollars difference between invoice and MSRP depending on equiptment. I personally wish there were a lot more but thats the markup folks. Not that it matters because you will pay MSRP regardless.
As for negoiating retailer installed options its always worth a try. I wouldn't get your hopes up since there probably isn't too much profit to negotiate plus currently demand far exceeds supply.
I was Very impressed with the vue that I test drove. The 4 banger ran well was quiet and had nice highway gearing. It was not the fastest off the line but i did not expect as much. I can only afford the 4 cylinder. Trying to get a total package around 20,000. I have tsted the Honda crv and did like that car but for me it was a little smaller up front. I am 6'5" so fit and size matter to me. I am currently a honda accord owner but i want a different type of car this time around. Especially one that I could sit onto not sit down into if you know what I mean. I am concerned about the 4 cylinder engine and how dependable it is. My accord 4 cylinder has a lot of miles 170,000 but i did pay to maintain it well. I am wondering if a extended warranty is needed and how much one would cost. I really want Saturn to be successfull. I really want to buy American. The difference to me betwween the 2 is that the vue felt heavier and bigger than it really was. Almost like a pickup. Nice on the highway. The crv was nice also but smaller in feel but very peppy. Also my son informs me that the crv had a little more leg room. I am still gathering infor on these vehicles any comments or help is appreciated thanks Mark
One point about the steering: It is electric rather than powered by the engine. It does feel different than convential power steering. The body of the Vue however is stiff. Cornering should not be a challenge.
I also want to test the Vue in bad weather conditons. Unfortunately, winter has stayed away from Chicago this year. Maybe I'll have to fly to North Carolina.
A post above disagreed with the VUE handling being described as "wallowing". However, I agree with that description. The handling is not nearly as good as the Escape/Tribute/CRV! The dealer called me back about 2 weeks after my test drive, but I am no longer interested in the VUE. It will either be a Trib or a CRV or maybe the new 2003 Forester after I get a look at it.
Comments
dindak: yes, I'd like to see the VUE in green, too. (Green with black leather!)-- I designed and priced out the silver black. Sad to say my days of driving an orange vehicle are-- mercifully-- over.
Good input from all-- thanks.
Anyone hear anything more on the CVT? The V6 gets good enough gas mileage (probably due to the extra gear), but I think the 4 cyl will still sell well.
varmit : I'd be all over the V6 if they had a cheaper 2WD version. The 3.0L gets great mileage and is a very peppy smooth engine. Wonder if they are still importing that one from GM England or if they are sourcing at Spring Hill now?
arrived at our dealership. Got a quick look
this afternoon. Will test drive tonight.
I'll let you know.... At first glance... its
an Outback on Steroids. It was bigger than I
thought. Unfortunately, they received two
WHITE ones and I hate white especially in new
styling because it REALLY hits you between the
eyes - I'm worried my wife might nix it on
looks alone. The door panels looked "big".. I
think it needed some lower side body cladding.
We'll find out more tonight. Like many of you
here, the Trib is my favorite overall, but I hate
seeing the accumulating consumer complaints and
the CRV is nice, but a bit bland (especially inside) and underpowered (no 6 cyl), so I'm
staking a lot on the VUE.... we shall see...
By the way, I did drive the Hyundai Santa Fe....
Drove nice BUT NO LEG ROOM (and I am only 6'0")
so I dropped that one quick....
Carseeker4
As "cberes" reported earlier, liked it but didn't
love it. The V6 has sufficient power and smoothness, but its is noisier than I had anticipated. Handling was more mini-van like,
not as crisp as the CRV or Tribute - when I made
a slow speed (10mph) but sharp turn in a parking
lot, my wife said she was "getting thrown
all over back here". She also complained that
the rear seats were not as comfy as the CRV or
Tribute. The VUE had a bit of a "bulky" feel.
Interior components weren't the nicest either.
Driver's seat was very comfortable and we loved
the gearshift/dash much better than either the
Trib or CRV. The center console was disappointing (even more so than the CRV) and
over all, it needed more interior nooks and crannies for storing little things (or more
room in the ones that they did have). The exterior was interesting, not as "elegant" as
the Trib nor as bland as the CRV. Ground clearances were a tad less than the CRV or Trib.
The price was more than I figured too. With all
the features on the Trib, a comparably-equipped
VUE would probably be $700-800 more (including
little things like a cargo cover which is
standard in the Trib). All-in-all for features
and ride, the Trib is still the leader. The VUE
does SOME things better, but it seems nothing
that really is critical. We did get a bit of
surprising pressure at the end to put an order in... they even tried to offer $1000 more for our trade (I think they lowballed us with the first trade in figure!) if we ordered tonight. We didn't and we are now officially MORE CONFUSED THAN EVER!!! Sorry if this does not help....
Carseeker4
Remember - do not underestimate the power of polymer panels.
$25K can buy a lot more car than it can SUV, i guess. Of course, each Explorer is $15 thousand dollars profit for Ford. SUV should be pronounced "cash cow".
It never occurred to me, but a good way for saturn to be competitive is to play w/ the trade-in value.
Am I missing something important? Can anyone out there elaborate on this issue?
Thanks (sorry about the ranting) ;-)>
carseeker : There is a lot of choice in the compact SUV market these days. To further complicate things, the Vibe/Matrix combo are coming in January. There are so many trade offs (engines, 4x4 or FWD, ride ect.) and I find it hard to compare apples to apples. In my eyes, the VUE is a very good first effort and definitely should be considered. That said, it's not the clear winner either.
I took the VUE for a test drive last week and have some mixed opinions. I mostly agree with most comments previously posted but I'll curtly state my thoughts.
pros: smooth,quiet ride, good sounding CD, red color looks great, brisk acceleration (6cyl). back seat roomy. like the compass amd outside temp gauge. Saturn customer service.
cons: interior cheap looking, still rides more like a truck than a car. radio didn't sound very good. tranny seemed hesitant to downshift.
I own a 99 Accord 4cyl. and have considered the new CR-V but I really don't like the spare wheel stuck on the back and the two stage operation of the rear hatch. I thing the interior like the VUE is also cheap looking.
But I'm trying real hard to like the VUE. My dad has a SW and loves it and I've seen second hand how well they treat you. I've even taken my previous car(Ford Probe) into their service because I felt they were more trustworthy than other repair facilties. I'll take my wife and little boy and see what they think about the VUE.
About the rear disc brakes, I think they did it to save bucks. I think the front brakes in a front driver which the VUE is in most of the time does about 90% of the work. 4 wheel disc is most advantageous on sporty cars where constant hard use causes brake fade. I think most VUE drivers would not notice the difference or Saturn hopes they won't notice it.
The salesman that I talked to said he was invited by Saturn to test drive the VUE and all of its competitors. He said he was disappointed by the acceleration of the CVT VUE. He stated that Saturn told him the 0-60 was in the upper 11 second range.
FWIW, Afraid of the reliablilty of the Escape/Trib. 6 cyl Outback too expensive. The 4 cyl close in price to the 6 cyl VUE and the VUE performance numbers are better.
I'm really hoping the face lift for the LW makes it better looking or Mazda exports the 6 wagon.
It's about time you chimed in - glad to have you aboard!
tidester
Host
SUVs
I haven't tested the car, though I've seen a few on the road around here (Michigan).
You confirmed my basic concern with this vehicle and that is the cheap looking interior. Photos I've seen show the door trim to be particularly cheesy looking. It just screams $9000 dollar econocar.
By contrast the Liberty has an extremely quality looking interior. Problem there is it's totally a truck and the ride is from what I here is not for me ( Haven't driven one).
It always seems that you can't get everything in one vehicle. Like exterior styling-interior is cheap. Like interior-bad ride, no pickup, etc.
I'm looking at either a mid priced sport sedan or sport wagon or carlike SUV for my next vehicle. I too, would be interesteed in the Mazda 6 wagon but the pictures suggest that it may be more consrvatively styled than the Protege5 and that would be a dissapointment. If the Protege5 were a foot longer I would grab it. Again, it's always something. Great looks, great price, great equipment-too small.
I would like to seriously consider the Vue but honestly short of paying a trim shop thousands of dollars to upgrade the interior I don't think I can.
Another crossover SUV will be out soon from Mitsubishi. It's called the Airtrek in Japan, is Tribute sized and has super looking interiors. Kind of conservatively styled, though I hear they will ugrade the front end for the US market. Should be out by next fall the latest. Definitely worth a look in this catagory.
Very good performer - lots of room - and with the reskinning perhaps you will like the styling.
Very noisy--the 3 liter engine sounded like my old saturn before they improved the noise problem. Engine has pep but you can barely hear the radio
Steering--electronic assisted and very mushy and destroyed all the road feel that I liked about my old saturn
Interior--adequate but not great. Jeep liberty has far superior interior. Also rear seats thin and flimsy with excess motion around the latches that control the split down. Long trips might be painful.
Price-- high for what you get
All in all they could have done much better. I think the Liberty or the Escape are far superior products. On the positive side the mileage of 19/25 is good, but I doubt I will buy one as it is now. I hope the Saturn people read this column
A restyled L might be a nice car, but what are the odds that GM will get the styling right. Looks like a Mazda 6 if I'm on a budget, Infiniti G35 or Volvo S60 if I'm not. Vibe and Protege5 are too small and Liberty is too truck like.
My dad loves his SW1 and I think the interior material is bargain basement grade. He has 80,000 miles and the interior still looks brand new. He’s always schlepping his two small dogs around and is appreciative of how easy it is to clean up. I still tell him that it looks like it was upholstered with burlap sacks. My 99 Accord and my wife’s 93 Camry have exceptional quality interior materials but it does look like it’s wearing out faster than the Saturn is. I also like the way Saturn treat its customers, past and future and in my book that counts for a little.
I still have not gotten approval from my wife and kid (4yr) so it’s not a done deal. But I have a few other cars that I’m looking at and maybe they’ll be of interest to you.
The Highlander is a capable, capacious and luxurious vehicle and in 2WD form just about a grand and half more the VUE. Another is the Subaru Outback. I don’t know much about it but I’ve read a lot of posts from a fervent advocate named "juice" who makes strong cases for Subaru with his infectious enthusiasm.
The other cars you chose are really nice (especially the G35) and it appears you don’t care about AWD. That brings up another point why doesn’t Saturn have 2WD 6 cyl. VUE? It would knock off more than a $1,000 off the price and improve dry performance. I live in sunny San Diego and we get less rain than Los Angeles so I really don’t like to pay extra for AWD.
A few more comment about the VUE interior. The plastic parts where you arms touch are made of a reasonably soft plastic but they have this annoying pimple texture that feels irritating when rubbed. Also what’s with the door pockets? The rear door’s are so small you might get a deck of cards to fit but if you slammed the door they would probably fall out.
I have about 6 months on my Accord lease so I’ll wait and see what else is coming out. Hope you’re not in a rush either because I think they’ll be a lot of nice cars coming!!
Happy car hunting.
Steve
When I drove the Liberty, I just loved the way it looked and felt. It was fun to drive again. Cost-wise the Liberty Sport was a better deal. So, it's a Liberty for me.
Still looking for a 4 cyl to test. Anyone seen one yet?
I am back in town and will be test driving it tomorrow. I took a look at it today after hours. While not impressed with the color (white) I do think it has an appealing look to it.
Looks roomy, and at first look through the window the interior raises no concern (ie, cheap instrumentation and, quality of upholstery)
I will report my observations tomorrow.
ALSO, My manual 4 Cyl is scheduled to be built on Jan 7 with a Jan 21 delivery date. (Color--Orange)
we'll see!
engine in the 4 cylinder Grand Am/Alero and the
top of the line Cavalier (LS-Z24) and Sunbird GT?
If so, how is that engine in terms of reliabilty
(Note: it is not related to the old Quad-4)
wes19 : Let us know your impressions.
No doubt the 6 auto has plenty of power. The ride was very comfortable. You sat high on the road yet getting in and out was very easy. the VUE I drove had the step up bumpers which just got in the way as I stepped into the drivers seat.
The steering felt fine to me.
The controls were located very conveniently in the center. (windows, radio, even the side mirror controls) I did not think their quality was cheap. ALthough nothing extravagant either. Durable is probably the best description.
I thought the rear storage area was very adequate. And the grocery carrier case that pops was a unique extra.
I had no problem stepping into the back seat.
I was impressed. the MSRP on the one I drove was 24K. It had a roof rack ($260) in addition to the step up bumpers ($624). It also had the compass and temp which was neat. (Standard on that model I think)
Mine will MSRP at 18,500 not as many bells and whistles but I believe a good value. I am not looking for a luxury SUV.
Let us know when you get your 4 cyl model.
I thought the interior was on par with the Honda and Toyota, though maybe not quite as nice as the Escape/Tribute. There were a lot of very thoughtful storage features. I really appreciate the sunken space behind the rear wheels.
The ride is definitely different than my L, but acceptable for a small Ute. The electronic steering is not as crisp as the power steering in the L, but I will take the improved mileage. SUVs are meant to be practical, not raced. The 4 cyl is a very quiet engine.
Finally, the 6 cyl the associate tried to get me to test had the graphite finish upgrade. Perhaps some of the people disappointed with the interior may want to take a look at a Vue with this feature. I found it quite handsome.
logic 1 : What did you think of the I-4 power? Was it sufficient or did it seem a bit slow?
Moreover, the Vue seemed to have more oomph -- and is noticiably quieter than -- my friend's 1999 CRV. I do not think I would want to pull a trailer with the 4. (With a 1,000 pound rating, it does not appear GM really wants me to any way)
If you drive on interstate or country highways a lot or will be towing a trailer, I think you should consider the V6.
from Saturn?
How much are they?
And have you found them beneficial?
I know some people say that if you invest the cost of the warranty you can pay for the repairs yourself. That is great, if you have the money up front and will actually invest it and never touch it until a repair is needed.
My impressions of the Vue V6 AWD:
1.First is sticker shock around $25k with several options--many needed that should be standard. This is a thing to look at, because Saturn won't discount their sticker and will only give you wholesale for your car according to salesman.
2.The motor is extremely noisy and especially so under acceleration. I had read that this was true and even worse on the four cylinder, which I did not drive.
3.Seems to wallow around when driving.
4.Cheap manually adjustable height driver seat--no power seats. Interior is very plain. Window switches located in console--bad idea.
5.Only good points is ding resistant plastic panels on doors and fenders. And, spare is not or rear of vehicle, but is hidden.
I would not consider buying this vehicle, especially at the price.
The Mazda Tribute is the most refined and laid out, which is not saying much for SUVs in this price range. I am leary of reliability of the Tribute. I have tried out both a 2001 and the new 2002 Honda CRV and find the new CRV much improved over the 2001, but still a bit plain and no V6. If only I could have a Mazda Tribute made by Honda, that would be my choice if they made one!
I have nothing to do with any of these companies, I am only a customer looking for a newer/new vehicle than my 1994 car.
I like the Escape/Tribute, as does just about every reviewer, including Edmunds. I doubt you will get a similarly equipped version for less than a Vue.
Dealers are independent of the auto manufacturer and there is no such thing as a brand wide return policy. Possibly your dealer does not want to more than wholesale for the trade you are offering. It would be an illegal restraint of trade if the independent dealerships joined together and colluded on a trade in policy.
I wouldn't lock into the car care plan.
As for extended warrantys. I diddn't ask what was available. but a 5 year 60k one wouldn't be worth it. It is really only a 2 year 24k add on. If you put alot of miles on your car. Defintley no. Most parts will last 100,000 miles before they need replacing with just regular maintenance. After 6 years and 100k on a car look for exhaust and water pumps and altenators going. Now if they had a affordable warranty just for the electronic parts for 10 years 100k. That would be worth it. most likley mechanical problems will show up in the standard warranty time. But electronis like sensors and modules can be big expensive problems.
The dealer is already asking about dealer add-ons like glass etching in case it is stolen. and adding a chrome or graphite package to the console ($180-for a few pieces of stick on.)
I ordered what I wanted so I think I will stick to just that. Thanks for all of your input!
I test drove the 6 cyl auto and did not think it was noisy.
Saw one of those Land Rover cute-utes today on the road. Very nice, but way out of my price range. Too bad!
I still believe after a couple of test-drives that the VUE is still a fine vehicle. It’s not perfect but it still has many good things about it. I think as with most vehicles they are trade offs and I guess it’s up to each individual to deem what they feel is important. My feelings are that Saturn will stand behind their products and always treat you like kings/queens.
If you go to the Saturn website; go to design and price a car; towards the end of the process you will see pricing, length of contract and deductibles for most of their extended service plans.
One other advantage Saturn has is their service dept. I’ve been to Honda and Toyota service places and there are a million cars in line and usually backs up to the street. In contrast Saturn which I guess doesn’t have as many cars on the road as the other are not nearly as busy.
Steve
$245 for a roof rack.. Should I get it? I don't know it's just a cosmetic addition.
Has anyone ever "negotiated" the price of an option with a Saturn Dealership???
As for the price and standard equiptment....I agree with the poster - at 23K for V6 and AWD ABS and head curtain airbags should be standard - as should lighted vanity mirrors. These are standard on the L series. Too bad Saturn chose only to match the competition in these areas and didn't chose to exceed what they offer.
Handling....If the VUE you drove seemed to "Wallow" about a bit then there is something wrong with the one you drove. Having driven several different ones I have found them all to be quite good in the handling department - I would only wish for a bit more feedback from the road (like the L)
As to the "Saturn experience" I am not sure what you expected. Sorry to hear you were left outside for a few minutes. Other than this vast oversight how was your trip? I to couldn't own a VUE due to the B pillar intruding on my shoulder space. My wife on the other hand really wants one.
As for not wanting to pay sticker - its a beautiful thing really. You know EXACTLY how much you will be paying and don't have to spend a moment shopping that price. Bottom line is you either feel its the best way to spend your money on a mini-ute or you don't. There is an HUGE 1200 to 1500 dollars difference between invoice and MSRP depending on equiptment. I personally wish there were a lot more but thats the markup folks. Not that it matters because you will pay MSRP regardless.
As for negoiating retailer installed options its always worth a try. I wouldn't get your hopes up since there probably isn't too much profit to negotiate plus currently demand far exceeds supply.
I also want to test the Vue in bad weather conditons. Unfortunately, winter has stayed away from Chicago this year. Maybe I'll have to fly to North Carolina.