Just saw this in the news.

GM to sell Saturn brand to Penske dealership chain - Yahoo! News

Wonder what Penske will do with it?

 

Probably make a ton of $$$$$$$$$ with it. Everything Penske does makes money. Saturn has a large following, combined with his name and business sense, it could develop into a viable company.
Here is another story on the deal: GM to sell Saturn to Penske - Jun. 5, 2009

 

a single guy is saving 13000 jobs....crazy

 

I salute the man, hopefully he can turn thier quality around in the process.

Tim

 

Stay tuned to this. I heard one report that he is looking for an overseas company to continue production.... No source given for that info, have not heard a follow up to it.

 

And exactly what quality issues are they experiencing right now?

 

It would automatically give him a bunch of ready rental locations without paying for the overhead.

 

Well, I don't know exactly right now, but, as I've stated in previous posts, I've had friends and aquaintances that have experienced premature transmission failure and head gasket failure. If they've worked through that then good for them, if not then so be it.

Tim

GM halts output of troubled CVT; Saturn owners report problems.(continuously variable transmission ) | Article from Automotive News | HighBeam Research

 

According to an article in yesterday's LA Times, GM is going to continue producing Aura's, Vue's and Outlooks for Penske for two more years.

Penske is buying all the Saturn parts, and is planning on keeping the dealer network, but is not buying any GM assembly plants.

During the time GM will produce these three models, Penske will prolly look for European and/or Chinese vehicles he can make over (re-badge) as Saturns.

Since it usually takes two years for foreign brands to make changes specifically for the US market, and to get the vehicles approved for sale by the EPA and NHTSA here, producing current Saturn's will give Penske something to sell in the meantime.

The Vue was developed by and is a product of both Daewoo and Opel, and is assembled in Mexico. So it's already sorta considered re-badged.

The Saturn Aura and Chevy Malibu use an Opel platform. The Saturn Outlook is based on the Buick Enclave, and whatever the GMC and Chevy versions are called.

When it comes right down to it...basically...all three of these Saturn vehicles are re-badged.

The slow selling Saturn Astra (a re-badged Opel) and the Saturn Sky (based on the Pontiac Solstice) are being dropped.

 

I will agree with the CVT trans failure. These were used in Ion coupes for 2003-2004 models and Vue's 2002-2005. Most of the problems were in the AWD Vue. Saturn extended the warranty to 75k. There is a class action lawsuit to extend them beyond 100k, haven't heard about the outcome yet.

You'll have to throw me a bone about head gasket failure cause I have been working on everything Saturn for over 4 years and have yet to replace a head gasket due to failure.

Just a note it has been told to me Ford stopped using CVT's also due to problems. Seems Nissan is the only company who has them figured out.

 

What about 2004/2007 VUE's with the Honda V6 engine, did they use CVT's or something else?

 

The guy is no dummy,,,he will make it work somehow.

 

Rebadged huh? Lets see,
F-150, Lincoln Mark LT
Expedition, Navigator
Explorer, Aviator, Moutaineer
Fusion, Milan, LTZ.
Etc, etc, etc.
At least most of GM's "Rebadged" cars are more than different headlights, tailights, leather seats and some interior bling.

I won't go into Chryslers 'Plastic Fantastic' cars.

Astra is what I would consider a rebadge in the purest sense. Not a bad car just too expensive and they should have brought the sedan over and not the hatch.

 

No, those used Honda's 5 speed auto they put in their Accord, Pilot, Ridgeline, etc. The problems this combo has had from my experience I can count on 1 hand. Alot of people buy Vues just because of this engine/trans.

The CVT (or VTI) was only used in the 4 cyl Vue's between 2002-2004 and AWD in 2005. For the 4 cyl FWD beginning 2005 they went with the good ol' 4T45 auto that been around forever, which is still being used in the 4 cyl FWD up to 2009. The 2002-2003 V6 used a 5 speed Aisin trans, very reliable. The 3.0 V6 was an Opel engine, tough engine but leaky.

 

I agree...I bought a 2004 VUE because of this combo, couldn't recall what trans it had.

If the front seats had been better, I'd prolly still have it.

On trips of over an hour, those front seats were back killers.