Saturn....DEAD!

[El Mudo]

Link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091001/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gm_saturn)


DETROIT – For those who expected General Motors' once-funky Saturn brand to live on with a new owner, there has been a sad twist. Saturn, once billed as a different kind of car company, appears as dead as Pontiac and Oldsmobile.

At the brand's 350 remaining dealers around the country, there were high hopes that a deal would be announced for GM to sell the brand to former race car driver and auto industry magnate Roger Penske.

Instead, Penske Automotive Group Inc. announced Wednesday it is walking away from the deal, unable to find a manufacturer to make Saturn cars when GM stops producing models sometime after the end of 2011. GM then announced it would stop making Saturns and soon would close down the brand, just like it did with Oldsmobile in 2004 and soon will do with Pontiac.

The day's events mean an almost certain end to Saturn, a brand that was set up in 1990 to fight growing Japanese imports. Instead of celebrating a rebirth, the announcements sent dealers scrambling for ways to stay open and preserve about 13,000 jobs.


I bought a used 2007 Saturn Vue Hybrid back in March, and its been a great vehicle to drive so far. My chick and her parents drive one as well, and they've had nothing but positives to say about them.

I guess when we're through with our current vehicles its back to Toyota.

[foodcourtdruide]

I thought this thread was about Perry Saturn and I was about to leave work.

[El Mudo]

I thought this thread was about Perry Saturn and I was about to leave work.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arPZb3ycOok/SQow5FOdqHI/AAAAAAAAAbA/Or9MWe6AZPo/s400/180px-Saturn-Moppy.jpg

MOPPPPYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!! !!!!!!

[Chip196]

We have an 08 Vue and love it. It's a shame.

[JohnCharles]

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/2/3588/2761/21468880054_large.jpg

Not gonna miss them.

[GregoryJoseph]

When the Saturn Aura debuted a few years ago I was impressed at how striking of a car it was. I thought maybe they would finally be able to compete with the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord in the mid-size sedan market.

When I went to check one out in person I was amazed at the shoddy workmanship of the interior - jagged plastic corners exposed, poor finish on the dashboard, and the inside of the trunk lid had no lining, leaving it's razor-sharp metal edges to shred someone's hands and/or face.

I thought the Saturn Sky/Pontiac Solstice convertibles might be able to make a dent also, but they also had terribly designed interiors. You actually had to reach behind yourself to get to the cupholders.

Little things like that are the reason Asian manufacturers started thumping the U.S.'s butts years ago, and the Big Three didn't get it until it was far too late.

[JohnCharles]

http://image.truckinweb.com/f/8317474+w750+st0/0502_nopi_07z+saturn_vue_redline+front_side_view.j pg

Blah!

[EliSnow]

Was he killed by his son Jupiter?

[BlackSpider]

I knew this was comming after the killed Pluto...

[A.J.]

Better than Uranus!

[Doctor Z]

But they've been doing right by people since Day 1...

[Cyber Trucker]

GM fucked up. I knew this would happen when they killed Pontiac.
http://www.imcdb.org/images/001/291.jpg

[Tenbatsuzen]

I thought this thread was about Perry Saturn and I was about to leave work.

His physician was Doc N. Gordy

[Tenbatsuzen]

Little things like that are the reason Asian manufacturers started thumping the U.S.'s butts years ago, and the Big Three didn't get it until it was far too late.

I have a feeling in five years, Ford is going to be the only one left standing. They are actually getting it big time, and I'm wondering who dies first - GM or Chrysler - and what assets Ford would pick off.

[instrument]

good.
all the different brands selling the same cars under different names is gay anyway.

mercury mountaineer ford explorer mazda mx6 ford probes are all lame.

now lets get audi and vw in on the action.

[GregoryJoseph]

I have a feeling in five years, Ford is going to be the only one left standing. They are actually getting it big time, and I'm wondering who dies first - GM or Chrysler - and what assets Ford would pick off.

Ford has been extremely impressive as of late.

The new Taurus looks incredible.

[Doctor Z]

I have a feeling in five years, Ford is going to be the only one left standing. They are actually getting it big time, and I'm wondering who dies first - GM or Chrysler - and what assets Ford would pick off.

The funny thing is, everytime I see that guy from Dirty Jobs on the street, I'm always asking him, "Hey Mike -- Why Ford? Why now?"

[Tenbatsuzen]

Ford has been extremely impressive as of late.

The new Taurus looks incredible.

Agreed. Even though I love my new edge, I had a twinge of buyer's regret when I saw the Taurus.

[Tenbatsuzen]

The funny thing is, everytime I see that guy from Dirty Jobs on the street, I'm always asking him, "Hey Mike -- Why Ford? Why now?"


Ironic, given your screen name.

[Tenbatsuzen]

good.
all the different brands selling the same cars under different names is gay anyway.

mercury mountaineer ford explorer mazda mx6 ford probes are all lame.

now lets get audi and vw in on the action.

Well... The cross-branding of the Ford vehicles is mainly to appeal to higher-end income folks, although I don't understand why a Ford Edge Limited is just as good as the Lincoln counterpart.

I can understand Ford using a Lincoln marque with it's higher end stuff, but I've never understood why it retains the Mercury brand.

I mean, Lexus and Infiniti are guilty of this as well.

[underdog]

Well... The cross-branding of the Ford vehicles is mainly to appeal to higher-end income folks, although I don't understand why a Ford Edge Limited is just as good as the Lincoln counterpart.

I can understand Ford using a Lincoln marque with it's higher end stuff, but I've never understood why it retains the Mercury brand.

I mean, Lexus and Infiniti are guilty of this as well.

Lexus and Infiniti are actually nicer cars than their cheaper counter parts. Lincoln is basically a very expensive ford with leather seats. They're awful.

Also, how boring are you people that you're impressed by Ford cars? It's like when their Ford 500 or whatever awful sedan came out and everyone was Wow'd. It's a boring, unimaginative sedan, yet people were impressed.

It's why American cars suck. They're so boring and shittily made.

[GregoryJoseph]

I'd take the 2010 Ford Taurus over any other full sized sedan out there in its price range.

[underdog]

I'd take the 2010 Ford Taurus over any other full sized sedan out there in its price range.

I just checked out the pics, it's actually a pretty decent looking car. I stand corrected.

Although, you'd be driving a Ford.

[underdog]

I just checked out the pics, it's actually a pretty decent looking car. I stand corrected.

Although, you'd be driving a Ford.

This whole talk keeps reminding me of when the Top Gear guys test drove a Ford Lightning SVT. I'm pretty sure they said it was the single worst car they've ever tested.

[NewYorkDragons80]

http://gostarters.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/slide9.jpg

The writing's been on the wall for some time now.

[SP1!]

I always just laugh at saturn owners, idiots.

[PapaBear]

I always just laugh at saturn owners, idiots.
Why? They sucked the first few years, but they became very good cars, from everything I've heard.

[Tenbatsuzen]

Lexus and Infiniti are actually nicer cars than their cheaper counter parts. Lincoln is basically a very expensive ford with leather seats. They're awful.

Also, how boring are you people that you're impressed by Ford cars? It's like when their Ford 500 or whatever awful sedan came out and everyone was Wow'd. It's a boring, unimaginative sedan, yet people were impressed.

It's why American cars suck. They're so boring and shittily made.

This is my third ford, and my seventh car overall, all American made. My Explorer, although rolled in an accident, was my favorite car to drive. My F-150 was a solid piece of machinery that never gave me a problem. I am very, very happy with my Ford Edge.

What is so boring and shitty about the Edge? My only qualm about the Edge that it doesn't brake as well as the F-150, but that's about it. Everything else from it's performance and handling has been spot on for the first 3000 miles.

You can't condemn American cars on a whole. Some brands are getting it. Chrysler. on the other hand, fucking cancelled one of their more popular cars (the PT Cruiser) because an exec didn't like it. It took a new regime to smack some sense into them.

[spoon]

ooof, fords almost suck as bad as the now defunct saturns....especially that gay wannabe crossover ford edge.

gee, i wonder if anyone here has one?

I'm pretty sure it's never been mentioned.

American cars really do suck as a whole. Can you find a decent one here and there, perhaps, but not often.

[Crispy123]

http://www.mhtwheels.com/images/gallery/77CORVETTE-NITROUS.jpg

[Ogre]

I read somewhere that GM was going to retool all the Saturn plants and introduce a new line.

New for 2010 The GM URANUS

http://www.automopedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/smart-car.jpg

[spoon]

http://www.mhtwheels.com/images/gallery/77CORVETTE-NITROUS.jpg

Yes, back when it meant something. Nice and current.

[landarch]

http://image.truckinweb.com/f/8317474+w750+st0/0502_nopi_07z+saturn_vue_redline+front_side_view.j pg

Blah!

That thing looks like a stormtrooper. blechhh.

My wife has the Pontiac version of that piece of shit. I'm going to throw a party when that lease is up and its out of my driveway. It gives good service but it's like sitting on and looking at cheap furniture.

[landarch]

I just checked out the pics, it's actually a pretty decent looking car. I stand corrected.

Although, you'd be driving a Ford.

That's not terrible, they're good cars. Boring, yes, but if you take care of them they are nearly invincible in my experience.

[angrymissy]

I had a Taurus as one of my first cars, never again, I don't care how nice they make them. The engine fell out of that goddamned car

[underdog]

This is my third ford, and my seventh car overall, all American made. My Explorer, although rolled in an accident, was my favorite car to drive. My F-150 was a solid piece of machinery that never gave me a problem. I am very, very happy with my Ford Edge.

What is so boring and shitty about the Edge? My only qualm about the Edge that it doesn't brake as well as the F-150, but that's about it. Everything else from it's performance and handling has been spot on for the first 3000 miles.

The Ford Edge is exactly what's wrong with American car makers. It's just a copied style from everyone else. Ford had to be one of the last automakers with a cross-over. And it's one of the worst looking cross-overs. It looks like a station wagon.

You can't condemn American cars on a whole. Some brands are getting it. Chrysler. on the other hand, fucking cancelled one of their more popular cars (the PT Cruiser) because an exec didn't like it. It took a new regime to smack some sense into them.

The PT Cruiser is another awful, awful car. It was at least semi-original, though.

That's not terrible, they're good cars. Boring, yes, but if you take care of them they are nearly invincible in my experience.

My old boss used to drive Lincolns all the time. And it was LincolnS because he'd end up just turning in his leases early because the cars would start falling apart. He ordered a Lincoln LS and the car never saw 5,000 miles because it was such a piece of shit.

American cars, for the most part, are just really badly made. The interiors of most are awful looking, loosely fit plastic.

[GregoryJoseph]

I can't tell you how many people I know that have owned Escorts and Rangers with over 300,000 miles on them.

Yes, Ford has put out some shitty products. They've also put out some workhorses, as unexciting as they may have been.

They're changing all that now, though.

[JohnCharles]

I love my Mazda.

[underdog]

I can't tell you how many people I know that have owned Escorts and Rangers with over 300,000 miles on them.

Yes, Ford has put out some shitty products. They've also put out some workhorses, as unexciting as they may have been.

They're changing all that now, though.

I will give you that older Fords are well built, especially their engines. I still see those old Broncos on the road everywhere.

[Tenbatsuzen]

I will give you that older Fords are well built, especially their engines. I still see those old Broncos on the road everywhere.

The Ford trucks period are well built. There's a reason why they are the biggest seller in the US.

[Tenbatsuzen]

The Ford Edge is exactly what's wrong with American car makers. It's just a copied style from everyone else. Ford had to be one of the last automakers with a cross-over. And it's one of the worst looking cross-overs. It looks like a station wagon.



Yes, but they were the first to market with a hybrid SUV and a hybrid mid-size sedan. The automotive press has been falling over themselves regarding the Fusion Hybrid and the Taurus. Plus the Edge was very highly rated. If you've got three cars in your lineup that the automotive critics love... you gotta be doing something right.

[boosterp]

I will give you that older Fords are well built, especially their engines. I still see those old Broncos on the road everywhere.

1996 Bronco is still running with no major issues ever.

1996 Ford Ranger still running, need to finally replace the clutch.

Previously:

1981 F-150 nearly drove the wheels off of it and it was still running like a champ when I sold it.

1992 F-150 kicked ass, been all over the US, traded it in

2006 F-150 was a good truck, I already had the Bronco and Ranger when I retired so I made a deal with the finance company and gave it back. Only complaint was it did not ride as solid as my Bronco or Ranger. Meaning it felt a bit soft when off road.

[Zorro]

1999 - Honda CRV

2002 - Honda CRV

2007 - Honda CRV

Never had to do anything, but scheduled maintenance on any of these 'em.

[topless_mike]

Gm always enjoyed taking the same shitty car and smearing it across different brands just to appease the "brand only" faggots. imports were kicking their ass because they were being built by non-union labor that actually gave a shit. not just the makers, but the designers as well.

Pontiac really fucked it self. It didnt come out with the solstice early enough, and well, sadly before that, it shit the bed with that GTO bomb. i know when i heard that the GTO was going to be made again, i was excited. when it actually came out and turned out to be that piece of shit that looked nothing like a GTO, the other companies got it. Hence, the success of the Ford Rustang re-issue, the Dodge challenger, and 2 years too late the chevy camaro.

imo, i think Gm should have killed off its GM brand. they should have kept the saturn brand, and retooled it to compete with the hyundai / kia / scion / etc brands. you know, the kids cars. get a lil creative and do something.

besides, i enjoy watching these mega corporations implode and close up shop.

as much as i hate fords, i really hope they get their shit together and pull through. as for chrysler and gm, fuck em. i wouldnt shed a tear if they didnt exist tomorrow.

[biggestmexi]

Gm always enjoyed taking the same shitty car and smearing it across different brands just to appease the "brand only" faggots. imports were kicking their ass because they were being built by non-union labor that actually gave a shit. not just the makers, but the designers as well.

Like toyota and scion, or mitsubishi and eagle? They all did it really.

Pontiac really fucked it self. It didnt come out with the solstice early enough, and well, sadly before that, it shit the bed with that GTO bomb. i know when i heard that the GTO was going to be made again, i was excited. when it actually came out and turned out to be that piece of shit that looked nothing like a GTO, the other companies got it. Hence, the success of the Ford Rustang re-issue, the Dodge challenger, and 2 years too late the chevy camaro.

The solstice wasnt a company saver whenever it came out. The solstice is a horrible looking vehicle. No matter when they cam out with it, it would end up like the SSR.

The GTO actually has a decent niche following. Almost as much as the other cars.

imo, i think Gm should have killed off its GM brand. they should have kept the saturn brand, and retooled it to compete with the hyundai / kia / scion / etc brands. you know, the kids cars. get a lil creative and do something.

The main gm brand is GMC. it actually sold a lot of trucks. Buick on the other hand which the decided to keep sold less than Pontiac. Pontiac was a good brand because there G6 sold like nothing for teen girls.

[biggestmexi]

Yes, but they were the first to market with a hybrid SUV and a hybrid mid-size sedan. The automotive press has been falling over themselves regarding the Fusion Hybrid and the Taurus. Plus the Edge was very highly rated. If you've got three cars in your lineup that the automotive critics love... you gotta be doing something right.

what was a these firsts that ford did?
ok ill give you the SUV but chevy and dodge came out with there trucks that same year
and who is highly rating this edge?

[Drew85]

The GTO that came out in the last five years or so, is all just a Holden Monaro coupe.
Same as the Pontiac G8.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/2004-2005_Holden_VZ_Monaro_CV8_coupe_01.jpg

Gm always enjoyed taking the same shitty car and smearing it across different brands just to appease the "brand only" faggots. imports were kicking their ass because they were being built by non-union labor that actually gave a shit. not just the makers, but the designers as well.

Pontiac really fucked it self. It didnt come out with the solstice early enough, and well, sadly before that, it shit the bed with that GTO bomb. i know when i heard that the GTO was going to be made again, i was excited. when it actually came out and turned out to be that piece of shit that looked nothing like a GTO, the other companies got it. Hence, the success of the Ford Rustang re-issue, the Dodge challenger, and 2 years too late the chevy camaro.

imo, i think Gm should have killed off its GM brand. they should have kept the saturn brand, and retooled it to compete with the hyundai / kia / scion / etc brands. you know, the kids cars. get a lil creative and do something.

besides, i enjoy watching these mega corporations implode and close up shop.

as much as i hate fords, i really hope they get their shit together and pull through. as for chrysler and gm, fuck em. i wouldnt shed a tear if they didnt exist tomorrow.