Saturn Vue......anyone own one?

SkagSig40

SkagSig40

Joined
Feb 1, 2001
Messages
2,671
I'm looking at getting the wife one. Now she drives a z28 Camaro but we are planning to start a family and the Z28 is not the best car for a new baby. She really likes the Saturn Vue(2008). How are these in terms of reliability and longevity? I'll probibly get the 4 cylender for the best MPG but I may get the V6 option if I decide it gets good enough MPG.
I have mixed opinions on Saturn. We had a 2000 L series that was a total POS and everything broke on it and at 36,000 miles the tranny went so we junked it because it cost more to fix then the car was worth. On the other hand we had a 1992 and 1997 Saturn sedans that were great!!!! The 1992 has over 300,000 miles with no problems yet and the 1997 has 130,000 with a few minor problems.

So tell me if the Vue is a good SUV. Many thanks!
 
we are planning to start a family


OK, reconsider....:thumbup:


Best wishes to you, Chris. Talk about life-changing events... I got kids YOUR age and still worry about them.


Nothing like it, though.




Kis
enjoy every sandwich
 
SkagSig40 said:
I'm looking at getting the wife one. Now she drives a z28 Camaro but we are planning to start a family and the Z28 is not the best car for a new baby. She really likes the Saturn Vue(2008). How are these in terms of reliability and longevity? I'll probibly get the 4 cylender for the best MPG but I may get the V6 option if I decide it gets good enough MPG.
I have mixed opinions on Saturn. We had a 2000 L series that was a total POS and everything broke on it and at 36,000 miles the tranny went so we junked it because it cost more to fix then the car was worth. On the other hand we had a 1992 and 1997 Saturn sedans that were great!!!! The 1992 has over 300,000 miles with no problems yet and the 1997 has 130,000 with a few minor problems.

So tell me if the Vue is a good SUV. Many thanks!
Click to expand...

My wifey is in the market for a new car and I am looking at Saturns. At one point you could pretty much write them off as junk but since they have switched to the global platform and most of the engineering is done by Opel I have heard good things quality wise. However the last review I read of the new VUE is that the V6 is a gas hog and at the soon to be 3.50 a gallon it might be something to think about. The VUE Greenlines should be out now and they run just a little more than the base 6cyl ($200 or $300 more I think) and have a mild hybrid powertrain with the start stop feature and regenerative brakeing. All that should be good for 25/32 (city/highway) vs. the 6cyl at 16/23 and 19/26 for the 4cyl. All that aside the VUEs are good lookers and not as much of a step down from the Camaro, style wise, as some of the new people mover small utes out there. Good luck with the future additions to the family (car and kids).
 
My girlfriend has an 06 Vue. She has the 4 cyl. motor specifically for the gas mileage. So far she loves it. It lacks power when you need it but it isn't too terrible. I've driven it a few times and would say it's okay....not my cup of tea...but hey...it isn't my vehicle.
 
Have an 02 VUE. Been a sturdy little ride and comfortable enough for long trips. Only issues I had with it was an unusual light shimmy at 60+ that smooths out after a few miles and a poor turning radius. Both have apparently been improved. 51K under the hood now. It's gets great highway mileage, adequate city/stopngo mileage. Only thing I hate about the rig is the sunroof the wife just had to have. I have a V6 3.0 and have towed max on the hitch over hill and dale. Did fine but struggled for power at the high end of the passes up here.

I won't go to Saturn service after the warranty expired. The techs screwed up a few things that my mechanic had to make right.

However, I am manly enough to admit that a Caravan or higher end minivan would have suited me just as well and held more kids & associated stuff.
 
You may want to check out the auto section in the most recent Consumer Reports annual buying guide (or the most recent auto annual issue). They contain reliability reports based upon the input of drivers with a particular model. I believe CR did a review of the VUE within the past year, but I could be wrong.

Best wishes as you start your family. Once you get your ticket for that ride, you can't get off, but you'll enjoy it all.

Eric
 
You might get more responses in the Gadgets & Gear forum.
As for parenting, damn tough job. But the rewards can be indescribably good.

--Mike L.
 
You guys are scaring me about having a kid! Maybe I should the kid and buy more khukuries and guns! LOL
 
You know looking at all these MPG ratings for these small SUV's are extreemly disapointing!!!!!! Even the 4 cylinders engines have piss poor MPG ratings IMHO. I kid you not my 2002 Z28 Camaro with it's LS1 V8 get 24 mpg city and 30mpg highway consistantly!!!! Now why if F*** is my 6 yeard old V8 getting as good or better MPG then these V6 and I4 engines. I was expecting 40mpg+ from the 4 banggers and 35mpg+ from the V6's.
If they can make a V8 that gets high 20's to low 30's mpg they should have new V6's and 4 cyl's that double that!!!!

Maybe I'll just keep my Camaro since it gets as good of gas mileage as these small SUV's and figure a way to make it work as a family car. Hell it's paid off too.
100_0258-1.jpg


Rant off!:D
 
The trouble is that the Vue and other similar vehicles punch a big hole in the air and have a bunch of power robbing accessories.
 
SkagSig40 said:
You know looking at all these MPG ratings for these small SUV's are extreemly disapointing!!!!!! Even the 4 cylinders engines have piss poor MPG ratings IMHO. I kid you not my 2002 Z28 Camaro with it's LS1 V8 get 24 mpg city and 30mpg highway consistantly!!!! Now why if F*** is my 6 yeard old V8 getting as good or better MPG then these V6 and I4 engines. I was expecting 40mpg+ from the 4 banggers and 35mpg+ from the V6's.
If they can make a V8 that gets high 20's to low 30's mpg they should have new V6's and 4 cyl's that double that!!!!

Maybe I'll just keep my Camaro since it gets as good of gas mileage as these small SUV's and figure a way to make it work as a family car. Hell it's paid off too.
100_0258-1.jpg


Rant off!:D
Click to expand...

One word answer. WEIGHT
 
Might I recomend the Subaru Forester. Good gas mileage with a boxer 4 cylinder, enough pick up for a family car, good handling, good 4wheel. The only down side is that if you are going for a large family it only seats 5.
 
Hey Chris..

certainly am not an economist, nor do I play one on TV, but if I might suggest:

Don't spend money until you need to. If the red car is paid off, safe, and tolerable, you have no need for another vehicle.

rule of thumb which has come in handy over the years: If you can't pay for it now, you can't have it now.

doesn't always work, but serves as a monitoring philosophy.


Best wishes.
Kis
 
Chris way back when and even in most places today a "family car" is what you already have, not something you make a decision on and then purchase. My "family cars" were a 1950 Hudson 4dr sedan, 1948 Plymouth Coupe, 1952 Nash Ambassador 4dr sedan, 1957 Ford 4dr sedan, and finally a beat up 1953 Ford 4dr sedan that we had when we divorced.
A 2dr just makes life a little more difficult because of having to put baby in an anchored child seat in the back seat but can be done.
If it were me I'd wait until my child was born and then purchase a new vehicle if needed because until a child is born there are way too many uncertainties, after all y'all could have twins.:p ;)

Anytime you go too a truck like vehicle your mileage is going to suffer.:(
 
Random thoughts:

1) what Kismet said

2) congrats on the possible kid thing; my 6 & 10y old are growing up way too fast

3) you can get an online subscription to Consumer Reports for about $6 a month to check out the car reviews

4) consider also the 2008 Toyota Highlander and 2009 Honda Pilot (to be released in '08); both are spendy though

5) I have 175K miles on my Explorer and like to drive cars until they disintegrate; mine about has. Were I you, I'd stick with the Camaro and start paying yourself a car payment. $400 a month turns into over $10K in 2 years, which will buy you a nice used Camry or whatever. Not a fun as a new car, but once you live debt free for a while (like the Powernoodles :)) you'll never go back.

6) I am cogitating on a Saturn Outlook (mid/large SUV, same thing as GMC Acadia). Sweet.

right on
 
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