Buying a Saturn - need comments - Update Got a Sentra GXE 2002

[KamakaziRcr]

<< Read KamakaziRcr's post up above. Saturn is all GM. >>




Dude...you and i replied to the same response at about the same time, except I wrote a long ass paragraph, and you didn't, and you pressed the Reply button before I did. I didn't get to read your reply until after I posted.

 

[JACKHAMMER]

Have you looked into the Mazda Protege - it trounces Saturn in just about every category. IMO he pro is he best smell car period.

 

[KokomoGST]

Look into their domestic competition... the Neon and Focus. I test drove a Saturn... their build quality is ok, but definitely not as good as Dodge or Ford which in general can be had for about the same price.

 

[Freejack2]

Boy talk about people who know nothing but how to insult a car. You can not beat the value of a late model used Saturn. Used imports are way too much but used domestics are a bargain in disguise. Go down to the dealer and get a used Saturn with an extended warranty, even a 1 year old one with the warranty is thousands less than a new one. When you get the extended warranty almost all the dealers give you a loaner if your car breaks down. Unlike some of the other subcompacts that people here are trying to push on you the Saturn has some of the best numbers in safety. You're far more likely to walk away from an accident in a Saturn than in a lot of other cars in it's class. The plastic panels are probably not too useful in California but where you live those plastic panels means a lot less rust worries and of course the fact they flex means they are less prone to shopping cart damage.
Mind you if you had said something like your looking for a new midsized car, I'd tell you to get a Honda Accord.
But for an inexpensive second car. Nothing will beat a used Saturn.
Word of advice though, if you can, get an Sx2. They have better handling, variable speed power steering, sway bars(or whatever they are called), and 15" tires.

 

[AzNmAnJLH]

good cars my friend has one he bought brand new in 98... so that is 4 years and now it is dying...... excellent cars...lol

 

[DaveJ]

I'll toss my 2 cents in...

We have 4 Saturns in my family, and they've been reliable cars... We bought the first one in '93 (a '94 SL1), the rest (2 '95 SL1s and a '95 SL2) were bought used. The 94 now has 177K on it and still runs extremely well. I like my car, but I don't think I'd buy a brand new one. I think the quality has gone down the last few years. The midsize L series is nice though.

I can vouch for their safety though... about a month after my sister got her car I t-boned a Geo Prizm who turned in front of me at a light. I didn't feel a thing... the impact pushed the front bumper back about 2 inches and buckled the hood on one side but that was about it. One entire side of the Prizm was completely demolished... :Q

If you're looking to buy a new car Saturn isn't the best out there, but it's decent. For a used car it's a great value though...

Dave

 

[NicColt]

>Civic starts at $14,800 CAN I think

It's 17,800 and that's just it with the civic's they 'start'.... I live next door to a civic dealership and for a plain civic with a/c the lowest price I could get with all the BS added, and let me tell you they do add BS, they were even going to charge me for the gas in the car. was 20,400. after dealing with Honda canada salesperson's I was totally put off. It's as if, if you don't plan on bying one now don't waist my F* time.

with Saturn sales it's totally different, they were very nice, polite and respectfull, a Saturn with air comes out to 16,200 + $195 Prep fee that's it. Tax and Licence are xtra but that's everywhere. exactly $4000 less than a civic with air.

 

[StageLeft]

<< >Civic starts at $14,800 CAN I think

It's 17,800 and that's just it with the civic's they 'start'.... I live next door to a civic dealership and for a plain civic with a/c the lowest price I could get with all the BS added, and let me tell you they do add BS, they were even going to charge me for the gas in the car. was 20,400. after dealing with Honda canada salesperson's I was totally put off. It's as if, if you don't plan on bying one now don't waist my F* time.

with Saturn sales it's totally different, they were very nice, polite and respectfull, a Saturn with air comes out to 16,200 + $195 Prep fee that's it. Tax and Licence are xtra but that's everywhere. exactly $4000 less than a civic with air. >>

Damn - seems the price has gone up. I could have sworn they were $14,800 base - but honda. ca lists them as MSRP of $15,800. This is for a dx 5 speed without any options. A couple K would get you AC and whatever else junk in there. They aren't cheap unfortunately...if the dealer was such a big ass go to Toyota or Nissan for a Sentra. The last thing you need when plunking down $15-20k is to feel you're doing the guy a frigging favor!

 

[GLudlow]

Mak sure there is an right-arm armrest for the driver. My sister's Saturn doesn't have one, it drives me crazy!

 

[NicColt]

well I just came back home the owner of a brand new Nissan Sentra GXE and get this, earlier in the day I was at the Saturn dealer and for some reason just when I was going to buy the damm car, they put me on hold and asked to come back in 2 hours because the sales person had an 'appointment' with other clients.

I went to Nissan and the GXE (which now in my opinion is better built than the saturn) with the "Power Convenience Package: Cruise Control, Dual Power heated Mirrors, Power Door Locks, Power Windows, Remote Keyless Entry and Anti-Theft and Panic Feature, and ABS" which are all optional on the Saturn SL2. The final price sticker was just $240 more than the Saturn SL2 that was without the Power Package and ABS.

 

[CKDragon]

<< well I just came back home the owner of a brand new Nissan Sentra GXE and get this, earlier in the day I was at the Saturn dealer and for some reason just when I was going to buy the damm car, they put me on hold and asked to come back in 2 hours because the sales person had an 'appointment' with other clients.

I went to Nissan and the GXE (which now in my opinion is better built than the saturn) with the "Power Convenience Package: Cruise Control, Dual Power heated Mirrors, Power Door Locks, Power Windows, Remote Keyless Entry and Anti-Theft and Panic Feature, and ABS" which are all optional on the Saturn SL2. The final price sticker was just $240 more than the Saturn SL2 that was without the Power Package and ABS. >>



Sweet, sounds like a good car. A lot of pro-Nissan feeling around here, I'm sure it's for a good reason.

CK

 

[Thegonagle]

Cool, so let me get this straight. You got the GXE with ABS and power stuff (options and trim levels must be different up there, the US model has the power package standard) for only $240 more than a Saturn SL2 that didn't have power anything? Sweet deal. I bet the Saturn "Happy Family Automotive Retail Consultant" (or what ever the hell Saturn calls a salesperson) just about crapped his pants when he tried to call you back, and got the news that you bought a different car!

Well congratulations, I think that?s a much nicer choice.

 

[TurtleMan]

a fully loaded Civic Ex with everything power win/ sunroof, abs all for 16060 ... automatic ..
that's cheap price !

 

[Bobomatic]

since you already got a car I will continue with the saturn bashing. My sister has one and my dad has one. My sisters shakes insanly loud when the car is idling and the car shakes a lot in general. With my dad's sl1 the friggin door handle brokeand I couldnt open the door, I had to jump into the back seat and get out from there. My brother has an accord though, and I like it I lot, much more than the sl1. The ride is much smoother and everything. Saturn is suck.

Oh and why do you want a car built in North America?

 

[NicColt]

>so let me get this straight. You got the GXE with ABS and power stuff for only $240 more than a Saturn SL2 that didn't have power anything?

that is correct... Look here at Saturn Canada SL2 1SF package which is 18,945 + $195 prep fee and they would not budge on price, this is what they offered me. which comes out to $19,140 Cdn. (tax excluded) even the SL2 Power options package 1SH was $20,365 Cdn. minus ABS. $1,000 more than the GXE.

My final invoice with everything on the GXE with ABS and all Power options, PDI, freight ect. was 19,380 (tax excluded).

I though for sure that Saturn would be the lowest priced car around but I was wrong. I still can't beleive it.

>I bet the Saturn "Happy Family Automotive Retail Consultant" just about crapped his pants when he tried to call you back, and got the news that you bought a different car!

they didn't even call back and it's been like 2 days now and they have all our info. I guess they were too busy hehe.

The only thing I can only say is that if you are looking to buy a saturn SL2 you have got to test drive and check out the Nissan Sentra GXE, there is no doubt in my mind that I made the right choice.

 

[AmigaMan]

You should drive down to the Saturn dealership and let them take a gander at your brand spankin new Sentra. I hate stupid car salesmen/women. Note: I don't hate sales people in general, just the ones who don't think you're worthy of their time.