What's the GRM opinion on these things? I've run across some decent looking ones for reasonable prices lately.
What's the GRM opinion on these things? I've run across some decent looking ones for reasonable prices lately.
They're pretty reasonably priced because no one wants to touch Saturns since they're a "dead" brand. But it's basically a re-badged Malibu. It's pretty reliable and parts are easy to get. I think that final round of Saturns were the best looking GM cars of that era.
maschinenbau wrote: They're pretty reasonably priced because no one wants to touch Saturns since they're a "dead" brand. But it's basically a re-badged Malibu. It's pretty reliable and parts are easy to get. I think that final round of Saturns were the best looking GM cars of that era.
Yep. I thought it was interesting that GM killed both Saturn and Pontiac after just overhauling the product lines to a point that should, in theory, sell.
The Astra and Solstice/Skyline twins were pretty good looking cars. The overhauled Vue was pretty good looking too. That's to say nothing of the G8.
I'd bet that the Solstice GXP and G8 GXP are going to be highly desirable in the next 15 years.
It's based off the good Malibu, the '08-'12, so it's cheap, reliable, basic service. Take care of it and it will take care of you.
OK, that's pretty much in line with my thinking. Any more details will be appreciated.
IIRC 99% of all the drivetrain and chassis parts are malibu as already mentioned. You might keep in mind that body parts will be more difficult to find since it was such a short run vehicle. A minor fender bender could possibly become a headache just from a parts availability standpoint. I remember there were two engines offered, a 3.5 and a 3.6. I can't remember (it's been 10 yrs since my unfortunate incarceration at a saturn dealer) but one was I think an overhead cam engine and the other just a warmed over 3400. I wonder about the parts availability of the overhead cam engine?? Knowing GM its since made its way into another car but i'm not sure.
In reply to appliance_racer:
The 3500 was just another offshoot of the old 60-degree V6. It's got stones and it's pretty durable. The 3.6L is the same 3.6L that GM has continued to produce up until now, although it is lacking direct injection. The old stalwart 2.4L was also available, although not seen as much as in the Malibus.
I had an Astra and the only major problem I noted was the body parts. Not sure if that is the same for the Aura but I would imagine so.
The0retical wrote:maschinenbau wrote: They're pretty reasonably priced because no one wants to touch Saturns since they're a "dead" brand. But it's basically a re-badged Malibu. It's pretty reliable and parts are easy to get. I think that final round of Saturns were the best looking GM cars of that era.Yep. I thought it was interesting that GM killed both Saturn and Pontiac after *just* overhauling the product lines to a point that should, in theory, sell. The Astra and Solstice/Skyline twins were pretty good looking cars. The overhauled Vue was pretty good looking too. That's to say nothing of the G8. I'd bet that the Solstice GXP and G8 GXP are going to be highly desirable in the next 15 years.
I daily a 5-speed Astra and love it. Drives like a German rental car and looks just little bit unique. I'm doing her first timing belt this weekend. Even though the Astra didn't share anything with other North America products, I can still find everything on Rockauto or Amazon. The Cruze got the same engine a few years later, so I'm pretty well set for parts supply.
In reply to maschinenbau:
The Astra was just a rebadged Opel of the same name no? My understanding is that those things are all over Europe so body parts should be a cinch to get (to the body parts point previously mentioned.) I actually really liked those.
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