Why Did They Ever Make Saturns? (luxury, joint, coupes, Chrysler)

[bmd69]

Read Bob Lutz book.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by PullMyFinger

Subtract the hatred of GM from this post and it's not far off. They wanted to start a new brand for the young people. Basically, it was supposed to be a great small car for the money with better quality than GM was putting in to their other small cars. Innovations like hard plastic door and fender panels and light weight construction. Also was supposed to be ground breaking in customer service for that price range.
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I actually LIKED and only drove GM vehicles in the 1980s. I really DISLIKED the whole Saturn brand.

First, they produced a car that was a knock-off of the Japanese cars of the era. I jumped in a Saturn and could not find the controls.

Second, the Saturns were WAY OVERPRICED compared to other GM products.

[Lancet71]

Originally Posted by Fundman

When they started Saturn it really was a separate manufacturer and much of the hype was real. After GM got deeper into financial trouble the separate Saturn plant was closed and the cars were then made on the same assembly lines as Chevys and they started to share most parts. That killed the whole concept of Saturn.

I think the fact that they started making Saturn SUV's and sports cars was really straying from the original plan.

[Fontucky]

Two people in my life are diehard fans of the early Saturns. I was always a bit creeped out by the cult of Saturn owners that Saturn tried to promote. Holding cookouts and other social occasions for new car customers seemed a bit creepy. That's what I want to do, hang out with a bunch of people whose only connection to me is the car we bought.

[Wilson513]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

I actually LIKED and only drove GM vehicles in the 1980s. I really DISLIKED the whole Saturn brand.

First, they produced a car that was a knock-off of the Japanese cars of the era. I jumped in a Saturn and could not find the controls.

Second, the Saturns were WAY OVERPRICED compared to other GM products.

I had three GM cars at the time Saturn came out. I did buy the schtick.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by Wilson513

I had three GM cars at the time Saturn came out. I did buy the schtick.

There is NO WAY that I was going into a dealership (at that time) and pay full price. There was just something that was repugnant to me.

And when I finally drove one, I had no regret.

[stilldriveem]

All I know is that Saturn was such a black hole that by 91/92 GM insiders were joking that the company would lose less money if they simply gave a Chevrolet for free to anyone who wanted to buy a Saturn. Something like 1 billion in the red!

[MustangEater82]

They are holding up pretty well considering what they are. I had a friend in college that had one as a beater he had a 99 CAMARO SS. It was in his family for years, his sister didn't change the oil for a year and it actual was in salt water storm surge from a hurricane up to the bottom of the windows. Odometer said like 170k but all gauges stopped working after the storm surge. He drove it for like 1-2 years beating it. The clutch fell apart do to corrosion, replaced it and it was good. Never heard whatever killed the car in the end.

I'd love an 08+ Saturn vue, but they do hold there vralue well.

Sent from my autocorrect butchering device.

[southernnaturelover]

When Saturn was introduced in 1991 they were better made and more reliable than most other domestic small cars, they were the ONLY domestic car that stood a chance of competing with the Japanese.

When they came out with the L series (rebadged Opel) that was the death of the brand.

[Deez Nuttz]

You all are bringing back some memories. I never owned one but I'll never forget the "a different kind of company, a different kind of car" slogan in their commercials...as well as the whole "this door skin is plastic, but it's durable and bounces back if it gets hit" ordeal.