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R.I.P. Saturn
The Associated Press is reporting that unless some sort of a miracle happens, GM’s Saturn will be going away.
“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.”
People really seem to love their Saturns, so as an homage to these loyal drivers and the people who built these cars, we present you with a brief look at Saturn cars, past and present.
Photo Credit: SD Rebel
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Saturn S Series, 1990-2002
The Saturn SC, which included coupes, wagons was made between 1991 and 2003. Powerdrive.info writes, "In its category, Saturn SC2 represented the most fuel-efficient vehicle with a manual transmission. At the time when it was launched, the Saturn SC2 engine required one gallon of fuel for forty miles according to the highway tests performed for the car."
Photo Credit: Bull-Doser
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Saturn L Series, 2000-2005
The basis for the L-series sedans and wagons was the Opel Vectra B, another GM brand. The Garage Blog writes, “The marketing was brilliant, the sales and customer service was excellent, but those qualities alone cannot carry a brand. Without a great car, you’re sunk. If you bought a Saturn new in 1990, when you were ready to trade in four or five years later, you walked into a showroom to find the same car you already owned. The competition had moved on with newer, even better cars, and Saturn had virtually no progress. It took NINE YEARS to add a second car, the forgettable L-Series.”
Photo Credit: Bull Doser
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Saturn Ion, 2003-2007
This car was available as both a coupe and sedan and evidently faired either marginally or poorly on various crash tests. Nevertheless, people loved this car, which is why it was on the market for a few years. As Used—Cars.biz points out, “The position of the instrument panel was pretty striking in the interior design of Saturn Ion, thus instead of being located behind the steering wheel specific for most other car concepts, it occupied a frontal position in the center of the dashboard.”
Photo Credit: raybdbomb
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Saturn Relay, 2005-2007
The Relay was Saturn’s only mini-van and it didn’t last very long. It also has the dubious distinction of being one of the least stolen cars of 2008, the year after it was discontinued.
Photo Credit: IFCAR
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Saturn Sky, 2007-2009
The Sky was Saturn’s only sports car and is definitely one of the cooler looking rides the company produced. Check out this post from one owner who just bought his Sky a couple days ago:
“I'm loving it so far. I traded my 07 Ford Mustang for it. While the Mustang had more power and cost about the same price I feel so much different driving the sky. I think it's the fact that everyone looks at you and thinks you're rich or something like that. When in a Mustang they just think ehh it's just a Mustang.”
Photo Credit: Rundvald
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Saturn Astra, 2008
This is really a European car, the Opel Astra, rebranded as a Saturn (in Latin America is was a Chevy). It was a hatchback, either 3- or 5-door and evidently the reason they didn’t release it in 2009 was because it didn’t sell well in 2008. According to Autobloggreen, “The car hasn't been a star seller, having found about 12,000 owners in the U.S. during 2008.”
Photo Credit: Blue387
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Saturn Vue, 2002-2009
The Vue is one of two Saturns that is available as a hybrid (the other is the Aura). Soon after the Vue hybrid came out, HybridCarNews.org wrote:
"Saturn Vue Green Hybrid is the greenest SUV you can find. This hybrid SUV posts fuel economy at 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, better than any other SUV. This SUV doesn’t just beat other SUVs when it comes to fuel efficiency, it betters Toyota Camry hybrid and Honda Accord hybrid as well.”
Photo Credit: IFCAR
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Saturn Aura, 2007-2009
The Aura was meant as a replacement for the L-series and many hoped that it would rejuvenate the Saturn brand. In its review of the car, MSN Autos wrote, “Saturns always lacked the refinement to match Toyota or Honda models, but the Aura in upscale $23,945 XR trim drives much like an upscale foreign sports sedan, despite its front-wheel-drive layout. It has such features as a potent 252-horsepower dual overhead camshaft V6, supple ride and polished handling with a sport suspension.”
Photo Credit: aharden
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Saturn Outlook, 2007-2009
The Outlook is Saturn’s entry into the big SUV market. It’s enjoyed some very positive reviews like this one on MarketWatch:
“Slip into the seats of our test Outlook and you can see how serious GM is. It has a luxury car feel with some nearly soft-to-the-touch dash surfaces that are well integrated and do not look cheap. Add in easy-to-decipher controls, soft leather seats, effective sounding deadening, a top quality auto system, and seating for six real people, plus one small one, and you have a crossover vehicle that demands attention.“
Photo Credit: IFCAR
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Are You Clueless About Credit Scores? What You Need to Know
Nothing sends fear through the heart of a child more than report card day. Prepare yourself for a sense of déjà vu when applying for a loan... many say the situation ignites that same type of blast-from-the past feeling as they sit on the edge of their seat awaiting their financial fate. And what to do if, ultimately, that application is stamped "denied"? Figure that your credit score had a lot to do with it, and start making big changes.Read more »
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