Bye Bye Saturn

[Pop_Rivit]

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/penske-walks-away-from-saturn-deal-cant-gaurantee-future-produ/

Sounds like they'll be winding the brand down since Penske walked from the deal.

 

[mstrjon32]

Disappointing, but I can't say I'm surprised to see this happen.

 

[Gilitar]

Oh well... no real loss IMHO. They were to just be re badged lineup anyway.

 

[simple_gifts]

Not sure it is "no real loss"; lots of people there. They succumed to one of GM's biggest downfalls, as mentioned, constant rebranding.

 

[Gilitar]

On a side note, it is absolutely ridiculous GM couldn't make Saturn successful. Keep Buick and GMC but kill Saturn. ????

 

[Gilitar]

Anyone know how much cash this was to bring GM?

 

[Pete591]

Saturn's styling was as if it came from GM's "Central Design Cookie Cutter Operations Division...engineering and Styling" when they marketed it as if it were a "New Car Company". Not! Nothing innovative about them.

How about twin turbo diesel engines like BMW has coming or perhaps a car like a Benz C-Class...but better.. which would be a world class car. Even something that can compete and beatthe Accord that actually sells? They just can't anymore.

Ever notice that GM's cars are not wanted overseas...never were either! American companies need to be world car engineering and design leaders. Better than BMW/Benz/Porsche' and the Japs to get the business. A 2 week get your money back last ditch effort is insulting. Damages the "brand" further. Pure desperation.

The internet makes everything transparent...in 30 minutes you can make a decision on what you want from many tests that are posted too. It's times to take the gloves off and make things that are wanted.

 

[artificialist]

I declared Saturn dead once the cars had no plastic body panels.

 

[Turk]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
I declared Saturn dead once the cars had no plastic body panels.


I LOVE the plastic body panels.

I LOVE getting 45 MPG easy.

I LOVE my Saturn!


BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[MONKEYMAN]

I have been stocking up on dealer OEM parts for my SL2. One of the best cars I have ever had. Not that I have had a lot of great cars. The great thing about the Saturn is it is easy to work on. Reminds me of a simpler time like when I started maintaning vehichles in the 70's. I does everything I need and gives me an excuse to stock up on oil.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: Pete591
...
Ever notice that GM's cars are not wanted overseas...never were either! American companies need to be world car engineering and design leaders. Better than BMW/Benz/Porsche' and the Japs to get the business...


No need to make a RACIST REMARK in discussing car.

 

[Cutehumor]

I bet the Saturn plant in Spring Hill, TN was glad their plant was retooled to make other GM models like the Chevy Traverse. GM spent 700 million retooling the plant and reopened two years ago. oops, they are idling the plant in Novemeber 09

 

[HM12460]

the only "real" casualty here will be the displaced worker's. just what we didn't need in this economy.

 

[dishdude]

This is ashame, I had a 2008 Saturn Aura that I really liked. I never owned any of the s-series cars, but I always did think they were neat, and different in a good way.

The biggest mistake GM made with this brand was the lack of product in the late 90-s and early-mid 2000's. The Ion was a joke, and the s-series was old news by 2000.

 

[Turk]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: Pete591
...
Ever notice that GM's cars are not wanted overseas...never were either! American companies need to be world car engineering and design leaders. Better than BMW/Benz/Porsche' and the Japs to get the business...


No need to make a RACIST REMARK in discussing car.


Too high of sensitivity. I bet he didn't mean it. It's short for Japanese. A person can easily shorten many other full words.

BTW, no I am not a racist. My 1st GF was Mexican, I had a black GF and now have a Asian GF that I plan on marrying. Most of my best friends are minorities.

 

[mpvue]

the [censored] comment has been discussed before; people DO find it offensive.
and Pete's comment about GM cars not wanted overseas is just that- a comment. you would have to show some data to explain that for those of us who don't live there.
GM is still going to suffer for awhile. they have demonstrated that they still don't know what they are doing. too bad for them AND the American people.
EDIT: SEE? I used the singular version of the offending word and it got censored. how come the plural didn't?

 

[VNTS]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
I declared Saturn dead once the cars had no plastic body panels.


I declared them dead the first year when they thought people would be stupid enough to buy there snotty sales pitch and pay sticker price when the cars were medicocre and over priced compared to other car you could buy at invoice with rebate.

Everyone I knew who got suckered and fell for it had buyers regret and never went back. The cars never lived up to their reputation. GM wasted 11 billion back when, huge sum of money which was desperatly neede by Chevy and the other divisions. I would say the failed Saturn experiement is what helped sink GM.

Liquidating them is actually a smart move, why not, if they got anything it would have been chump change and why have them stick around to become a chinese competitor. too bad for the people but there are a lot of other manufacturing plants in this country which have closed.

 

[ET16]

I actually think that there was a future for rebadged Opels.

 

[Turk]

Now, should we be offended by the word chump?

No. Geez. Let it go.

I'm not going to launch into a full explanation of my relationships with most every minority and how wonderful it is (they LOVE how I handle the different areas of heritage). I work with people from about 12 different Countries, daily.

Now, back on the subject.

Time to stock up on OEM parts!

 

[froggy81500]

Originally Posted By: ET16
I actually think that there was a future for rebadged Opels.


there was. The Ion was the test bed for bringing the Opel line over. The Aura I believe was a rebadged and renamed Opel, and the Astra was a straight up rebrand. I felt that making Saturn a division under Opel under GM's European line would have been the way to save Saturn instead of chopping it off completely.