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April 16, 2009 12:46 p.m. Nashco SuperDork

I get the feeling that at least 75% of those who posted above haven't stepped foot into a Saturn showroom in the last year or two. Go check out the latest Saturn has to offer, you might be surprised. Their products have done an about-face from where the brand was five years ago! The rebadged Opels are pretty good bang for the buck, and IMO the hybrids they've got are also really, really good value when you consider the tax kickbacks you get.

I completely agree that Saturn lost their way after their great beginnings, but even though they're no longer sticking to their original mantra, I think the products are pretty good right now.

Bryce
April 16, 2009 12:56 p.m. belteshazzar Dork

EricM wrote:

Fast forwad to 2005. I baught my 05 Minivan The RElay 9a rebadged GM van) adn the Dealer ship was nothing like it was in 1992/1993. LOTS of pressure and they upset my wife.

berkeley saturn

I sold saturns from 99 through 04. when the sales process changed I left. I didn't have anything against negotiating, the dealer I went to did it. It was the "tell them we don't negotiate and if that doesn't work pressure them and if that doesn't work pressure them somemore and if they leave call them and start negotiating."

I still see my old customers from time to time. Without exception they tell me due to the change they're never going back. In fact, I had another one of these conversations this last weekend with someone who'd bought 4 from me.
April 16, 2009 3:08 p.m. Ian F Reader

Nashco wrote:

I get the feeling that at least 75% of those who posted above haven't stepped foot into a Saturn showroom in the last year or two. Go check out the latest Saturn has to offer, you might be surprised. Their products have done an about-face from where the brand was five years ago! The rebadged Opels are pretty good bang for the buck, and IMO the hybrids they've got are also really, really good value when you consider the tax kickbacks you get.

I completely agree that Saturn lost their way after their great beginnings, but even though they're no longer sticking to their original mantra, I think the products are pretty good right now.

Bryce

One could probably say this about many of the Big 3's current offerings (I did NOT say all...).

But old opinions die hard...
April 16, 2009 3:09 p.m. Jensenman SuperDork

I drove a Malibu recently, other than the bug eyed styling I liked it. It felt solid and well put together.

One of our employees has a L200? and her large breasted roomie has an Astra. I've driven both, they look cheap inside but seem reasonably well screwed together.

The thing is, GM STILL has to overcome the perception of crappy quality left over from the '80's and '90's. A lot of that is well founded; I watched 'Fargo' again the other night and the cars were mid size and large Oldsmobiles (if you have never seen it, William H. Macy's character is the sales manager of a GM dealership) and the interiors of the cars just look cheap; shiny plastic everywhere. People who owned those cars won't soon forget how bad a screwing they got.
April 16, 2009 3:11 p.m. Xceler8x Dork

Jensenman wrote: they look cheap inside but seem reasonably well screwed together.

I'm lost. Were you talking about the cars or the busty roomie?
April 16, 2009 3:15 p.m. Jensenman SuperDork

The cars. I'm a married man. Doesn't mean I can't ogle, er, look.
April 16, 2009 3:27 p.m. CrackMonkey Reader

Ian F wrote:

One could probably say this about many of the Big 3's current offerings (I did NOT say all...).

Last week, I had a new Impala as a rental. Not bad. Doors made a good thunk when closed, interior wasn't too cheap looking. Engine was ok - adequate, but not fast by any means. Fuel economy was so-so, low-20s. Really not much to dislike.

But, goddam if it didn't have some of the worst seats I've had the displeasure of resting my arse upon. Flat, no support, and so wide that the seat-belt never felt tight enough because it didn't wrap around my hips much. I felt like a little kid in the seat. I know the average American is a fat-ass, but these seats were suitable for the morbidly obese.
April 16, 2009 3:47 p.m. poopshovel SuperDork

Salanis said:
The car rattled and shook and generally made noises and sensations that made me feel like the car was going to disintegrate if it went any faster. Apparently this car was only about a year or two old.

+1. The impression I got of my Mom's Saturn, which is several years old, but barely has any miles on it (she drives 4 miles a day,) was "Holy crap, what a piece of E36 M3...." right before the CEL came on. OTOH, i popped the hood and was amazed that there weren't 20 plastic covers between me and the motor. Everything was surprisingly accessible, plenty of room to move around, and the CEL culprit was a loose connection to the O2 sensor.
April 16, 2009 3:55 p.m. Jensenman SuperDork

The absolute worst seats I have ever driven on were in a 1997? Toyota Camry. Rock hard and no butt grip. I drove it from Chucktown to Jax and back, both times I had to stop at the halfway mark to let my ass refill with blood. I thought it was just me, one of my employees rented the same car the next week and she said the same thing.
April 16, 2009 5:50 p.m. suprf1y Reader

Jensenman wrote:

I watched 'Fargo' again the other night and the cars were mid size and large Oldsmobiles (if you have never seen it, William H. Macy's character is the sales manager of a GM dealership) and the interiors of the cars just look cheap; shiny plastic everywhere. People who owned those cars won't soon forget how bad a screwing they got.

Whats not to like about a tan Cierra? Now I have to go watch it.
April 16, 2009 6:54 p.m. Twin_Cam Dork

EricM wrote:

I ordered a 1993 Model year SL2 Blue Black with a 5 speed.

Ahh! That's identical to my first car. [/first car nostalgia]

I second the 'easy to work' on bit. The oil filter is in a crappy spot, and I always complain that the car's hard to work on when I'm working on it, but in retrospect, everything's really easy, I just makes things harder than they need to be. After trying to work on friends Hondas or Nissans or Mazdas, it's a sinch.
April 17, 2009 10:24 a.m. neon4891 SuperDork

I have dealt with 3 saturns. A 93 SL1/auto, 02 SL1/5spd, and an Ion Quad Coupe.

The 93 has the disticntion of being the worst car I have ever driven.

The reason I don't have the 02 is that the bank turned me down for a loan. Otherwise it fit the bill perfectly for a reliable DD.

The Ion, it was my friends car and I have ridden around in it a few times. It was rather unremarkable
April 17, 2009 11:52 a.m. Jensenman SuperDork

suprf1y wrote:

Jensenman wrote:

I watched 'Fargo' again the other night and the cars were mid size and large Oldsmobiles (if you have never seen it, William H. Macy's character is the sales manager of a GM dealership) and the interiors of the cars just look cheap; shiny plastic everywhere. People who owned those cars won't soon forget how bad a screwing they got.

Whats not to like about a tan Cierra? Now I have to go watch it.

Obviously the big blonde dude liked it, too. That was the subject of the argument that landed his bud in the wood chipper.
April 17, 2009 11:59 a.m. ignorant SuperDork

astra needs turbo

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