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Vue Redline is more than you think! (Reply to this comment)
by software_wiz
I just purchased a NEW 2004 Saturn Vue "Redline" about 1 month ago and here's the scoop! The styling is the BEST ... I get more comments from folks watching me get into my car at the store, or at the stoplight, where ever, and when ever, it's great getting the attention. The acceleration is fantastic, and the handling is more than I hoped for. But as always, you MUST take the good with the bad ... the gas mileage has been disappointing; in town about 20 mpg and on the highway about 23 mpg. I'm currently researching new ways to improve the economy and will keep you all posted on what might work. The All wheel Drive is REALLY a PLUS when trying to negotiate all the hills in the Seattle area, and my hat is off to the engineers who designed it. You can REALLY feel the power as it is distributed to all the wheels, a secure feeling to be sure. In closing, the Vue "Redline" edition is worth the money especially with the factory incentives that were offered to me.
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Jun 21 '04
3:07 am PDT
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Drive for yourself and see (Reply to this comment)
by happy98
I purchased a 04 Electric Lime Redline in April, and I am more than pleased. I'm not a tuner or a ricer, just a 40 year old female that needed a reliable SUV to haul things around in. I also wanted good pick up for passing, and attractive looks. I received all of that and much more in the Redline VUE.
I don't know what this author background or desires are in an SUV, but I do not have any of the problems he mention. My VUE is quiet as a mouse, no squeaks no rattles. It handles well and I enjoy the quick and painless acceleration. My interior has wood trim and the first thing people comment about when they get in is how nice it looks. I wish I could post a picture for you all to see.
Anyway, my last car was a sports car, so it took about a week for me to get used to the higher ride and the torque of a V-6, but now I appreciate both. Try one for yourself, do a test drive or the 24 hour take home trial Saturn offers.
One big advantage of this SUV over the Equinox is the back cargo area. The 'nox has these two huge things jutting out over each wheel in the back... try getting a huge t.v. carton pass those! I just brought home a new 27" inch Sony in my VUE and didn't even have to put the seats down, plus I had about 2" inches on each side to spare. If you own a Sony, you know how much bigger they are compared to most t.v.s, try doing that in the cargo area of the 'nox.
I have found most car reviewer's hate Saturn's in general, and I really don't know why. My last Saturn was an SC2 and it lasted 10 years, in fact nothing was wrong with it, I just wanted a SUV. The polymer panels held up well (no dings, paint chips, etc.) and the car looked brand new. I got 3500 on the trade, which was more that satisfactory for a 10 year old, 4 cylinder car.
So take all of these lukewarm reviews with a grain of salt and check it out for yourself.
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May 22 '04
10:59 pm PDT
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Re: contradicasaurus rex (Reply to this comment)
by mkaresh,  in Cars & Motorsports
Many people like their picture of the world simple. They want everything to be all good or all bad, and so this tends to be how they see and talk about things. As a rater of reviews, I mark a review down when everything it says is either all glowing or all critical. This just isn't reality.
I am also aware that people have different preferences and priorities. I write comprehensive reviews with this in mind. Some people like a strong engine but could not care less about precise handling. The VUE is for them. Especially if they're not particular about the interior materials.
If this is too complicated a thought process, and it eases your decision to read an entirely positive or entirely negative review, then mine are not for you.
As for the ease of cleaning hard plastic, in my experience a textured hard plastic like that in the VUE is if anything harder to clean than a softer, smoother surface. But this is beside the point. How do your kids manage to mess up the instrument panel and front door panels? Aren't they in the back seat?
Car & Driver reviewed this vehicle in the latest issue and came to a nearly identical conclusion. Before anyone accuses me of plagiarism, I wrote my review first. I've been doing this for over four years now, and feel I have proven my ability to write insightful reviews based on test drives.
For more proof, compare the reviews of the Nissan Armada and Dodge Durango in the latest Motor Trend to those I wrote last November. My readers got the scoop on these vehicles three months earlier. (I also must give Motor Trend credit for publishing much more insightful reviews over the past year or so. I need to revise my review of the magazine.)
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Feb 26 '04
4:13 am PST
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contradicasaurus rex (Reply to this comment)
by smitty252
This author spends half the time saying Saturn is a turn off and the other half saying that they did a good job. Are these opinions something done as a quick test drive so he can check it off on his list of cars? I also have to argue the roominess feel --in my opinion anyway, the CRV felt very tight in the driver's seat, as a matter of fact my wife said it felt worse than our little saturn sL1 we had just sold.(BTW the Element was roomier) The 2004 Saturn Vue IS a huge step toward the right direction with the 250 hp engine and I LIKE The STYLING. I dont think it is quirky at all. The ride surpassed my expectations and the price to me was reasonable. I think like anyone else you should wait for incentives like 0% down or money back options. I will give a full opinion once I've had the vehicle for 6 months-not a test drive like some people. P.S. for some the plastic interior is a problem --myself?? I think all potential messy areas such as doors should be plastic for easy cleaning. I dont know about these testers but I have to deal with kids and messes not whether or not the valet will be impressed. Now if they can make the floors rubber like the Honda Element!!
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Feb 25 '04
12:07 pm PST
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contradicasaurus rex (Reply to this comment)
by smitty252
This author spends half the time saying Saturn is a turn off and the other half saying that they did a good job. Are these opinions something done as a quick test drive so he can check it off on his list of cars? I also have to argue the roominess feel --in my opinion anyway, the CRV felt very tight in the driver's seat, as a matter of fact my wife said it felt worse than our little saturn sL1 we had just sold.(BTW the Element was roomier) The 2004 Saturn Vue IS a huge step toward the right direction with the 250 hp engine and I LIKE The STYLING. I dont think it is quirky at all. The ride surpassed my expectations and the price to me was reasonable. I think like anyone else you should wait for incentives like 0% down or money back options. I will give a full opinion once I've had the vehicle for 6 months-not a test drive like some people. P.S. for some the plastic interior is a problem --myself?? I think all potential messy areas such as doors should be plastic for easy cleaning. I dont know about these testers but I have to deal with kids and messes not whether or not the valet will be impressed. Now if they can make the floors rubber like the Honda Element!!
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Feb 25 '04
12:06 pm PST
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contradicasaurus rex (Reply to this comment)
by smitty252
This author spends half the time saying Saturn is a turn off and the other half saying that they did a good job. Are these opinions something done as a quick test drive so he can check it off on his list of cars? I also have to argue the roominess feel --in my opinion anyway, the CRV felt very tight in the driver's seat, as a matter of fact my wife said it felt worse than our little saturn sL1 we had just sold.(BTW the Element was roomier) The 2004 Saturn Vue IS a huge step toward the right direction with the 250 hp engine and I LIKE The STYLING. I dont think it is quirky at all. The ride surpassed my expectations and the price to me was reasonable. I think like anyone else you should wait for incentives like 0% down or money back options. I will give a full opinion once I've had the vehicle for 6 months-not a test drive like some people. P.S. for some the plastic interior is a problem --myself?? I think all potential messy areas such as doors should be plastic for easy cleaning. I dont know about these testers but I have to deal with kids and messes not whether or not the valet will be impressed. Now if they can make the floors rubber like the Honda Element!!
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Feb 25 '04
12:01 pm PST
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Re: Excellent; very objective (Reply to this comment)
by mkaresh, in Cars & Motorsports
I'm not sure if shipping is much of a factor. But now that you mention it I suspect the GM of Europe 3.0-liter was an expensive engine to produce. So the Honda engine might be a wash compared to it. Compared to, say, GM's OHV 3.5-liter, though, the Honda engine must be considerably more expensive.
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Jan 19 '04
9:18 am PST
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Excellent; very objective (Reply to this comment)
by sfan13185
My compliments on an excellent review! In response to your suggesting GM is paying dearly for the Honda engine, I offer this. The previous 3.0-liter V6 was actually costing GM more than the 3.5-liter Honda-sourced unit. The reason for this being that the 3.0-liter was manufactured in England, whereas Honda's 3.5-liter is manufactured in Ohio. The cost to ship the engine to Ohio to Tennessee is obviously far less expensive. GM also leveraged the fact that Honda also needed their diesel engines to keep Honda's price for its V6 unit down.
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Jan 18 '04
4:21 pm PST
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Re: Marketing (Reply to this comment)
by mkaresh, in Cars & Motorsports
Saturn is not promoting the engine's source. Salesmen will likely mention it. Mine did not, but I had very little contact with him and might have asked for one "with the Honda engine."
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Dec 04 '03
11:08 am PST
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Marketing (Reply to this comment)
by pvreditor,  in Cars & Motorsports
Terrific review!
Is Saturn promoting the fact that the Vue has a Honda engine, hoping that some of Honda's reliability cache will rub off on the Vue? Or is this something that the salesmen whisper to customers during the sales pitch? Or is it not mentioned at all? Just curious...
Anyway, terrific review!
--Bob
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Dec 04 '03
6:20 am PST
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