SaturnFans.com - The Saturn Authority for Saturn Enthusiasts.

Auto Rewind: Pre-Owned Saturn Outlook Review

Charlie — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 05:30:53 +0000

From Auto123.com: Saturn's big family hauler hit the road for 2007, just a few years before the demise of the GM-owned brand. Packing room for up to eight, and riding the same platform as the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia, the Saturn Outlook packed standard V6 power, plenty of size, available AWD, and a long list of available feature content.

Thank You for Participating in SaturnFans.com's 2012 Saturn Reunion, Should We Do this Again Sometime?

Charlie — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 03:59:00 +0000

For the past 24 hours we've spent some time looking back at what made Saturn, well Saturn. I had fun posting articles throughout the day, although to be honest, some were pre-loaded into the SaturnFans.com CMS last night and auto-published while I was at work. Thankfully, everything seemed to go off without a hitch and I picked up where I left off when I got home tonight. I really enjoyed this trip down memory lane. It was great to have an opportunity to catch up with everybody in the forums, in the chat room, and on email.

Follow GM Beat's Coverage of the 2012 SEMA Show

Charlie — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 02:32:39 +0000

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show was always a popular show for Saturn performance enthusiasts. If you'd like to follow this year's show, I'd like to invite you to checkout GM Beat's coverage of the show in Las Vegas.

Reminder: Check Out GMbeat.com for a Look at What Was Going to be the Future of SaturnFans.com

Charlie — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 01:59:43 +0000

It's been more than three years since General Motors announced it was shuttering its "different kind of car" division. At the time, Roger Penske was attempting to purchase the brand and possibly stock it with cars sourced from plants in the US, South Korea, Mexico, or even Europe. Ultimately Mr. Penske couldn't get a deal done within GM's tight timeframes and Saturn was closed. While frantically attempting to keep up with rumors swirling around Saturn that fateful year, I made a decision to rethink the way I was collecting and reporting the news. In the midst of all the uncertainty surrounding Saturn, I began to draw up plans for new and improved version of SaturnFans.com that could not only help visitors track what Saturn news was happening, but where it was happening as it was happening.

Be Prepared with Saturn's Accident Information Kit

Charlie — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Having a car accident is a terrible experience for anyone to go through. If you are fortunate that all the parties involved make it though OK, its important to focus and document the details of the accident as much as possible. But who is thinking clearly after a wreck? To help customers through the situation, Saturn developed a pamphlet that you could stow in your glove box.

Road Rippers Saturn Ion

Charlie — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:01:00 +0000

A few years ago Target sold some motorized Saturn Ion toys that were "tuned for speed." The cars were available in two colors: black/purple (pictured above) and red/black (below). On the top of each car were two buttons. Pressing the triangle caused the car to rev its engine, flash its headlamps and under-body neon lights, and finally zoom forward a few feet. The square button started a caused the car to play a catchy rhythmic tune with the lights flashing along to the beat.

Saturn Chat Tonight at 9pm

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 22:03:01 +0000

I wanted to post a quick reminder that I'll be in the SaturnFans Chat Room between 9-10pm EDT tonight. I'll be taking questions all night. And I'd like to get some feedback from you all too. For instance, was the Reunion worth the effort to put together? Also, I've worked up a couple different concepts for next-gen SaturnFans.com websites, but I am not sure with the direction I want to take the site in the coming years. What would you like to see in the SF of the future?

Did You Know? (Part 2)

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 20:00:00 +0000

Test you knowledge with these Saturn 'did you know' trivia bits from Saturn's yesteryear.

1994 Saturn Indepth Overview

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Model year 1994 marked what Saturn called "Balanced Excellence" in terms of offering customers exceptional value for their money in the small car market. Attaining "balanced excellence" required Saturn to pay critical attention to a host of buyer expectations. Among them were a high level of performance without sacrificing fuel economy or emissions; affordability while maintaining reliability and durability; and an overall commitment to quality without compromise. Accompanied by numerous continuous refinements, the family of 1994 Saturn sedans, wagons and coupes were proof that "balanced excellence" could be achieved through subtle refinements and continuous improvement.

Saturn Vue Preview Sketch

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Prior to unveiling the 2002 Vue sport-utility at the South Florida International Auto Show in Miami on October 6 2001, Saturn released the preview sketch shown above. Even though the SUV charted new territory for Saturn, the vehicle still embodied many Saturn characteristics that were popular at the time, including: a horizontal front lightbar, domed hood, arched roofline, and side "swoosh."

Saturn Manufacturing Techniques

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Saturn's innovative manufacturing methods have not only helped it build world-class cars, but it also helped the company forge stronger labor ties with its workers. While all of Saturn's production techniques cannot be listed on one page, I've attempted to highlight a select few that stand out. These were methods used in Saturn's Spring Hill, TN manufacturing plant.

What's the Name of the Street You Live On?

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:06:00 +0000

Contrary to popular belief, I don't live here... although I wish I did.

Chevrolet Targeted Orphaned Saturn Owners with Summer-Long 'Total Confidence Pricing'

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Over the summer I received a pamphlet in the mail from Chevrolet touting their summer-long "Chevrolet Total Confidence" pricing promotion. The cover of the mailing immediately caught my eye with the italicized words reading "the spirit of Saturn lives on."

2001 Saturn SCX Concept

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:00:00 +0000

With its turbocharged engine and sizzling yellow-to-red paint scheme, the Saturn SCX three-door coupe ignited the passion of performance-car enthusiasts. The SCX's 1.9-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine was modified by Saturn Motorsports of San Diego to yield an estimated 300 hp, more than double the engine's normal output in the Saturn SC2. Along with its hot engine, the SCX boasted a high level of handling and sporty appearance cues that reflected the car's performance capabilities.

First Saturn Prototype

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:00:00 +0000

This was the first Saturn demonstration prototype vehicle. It was completed for evaluation and shown to the media on September 15, 1984. General Motors Chairman and CEO at the time, Roger Smith, and GM's then-President and Chief Operating Officer, F. James McDonald, are pictured with the 1985 Saturn four-door sedan concept.

Did You Know? (Part 1)

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:00:00 +0000

This morning's "Did You Know?" trivia focuses on Saturn and the environment. Saturn was concerned with how its cars affect the environment throughout the car's lifetime -- from design, to manufacture, to use by owners, to final disposal.

2004 Saturn Curve Concept

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:00:00 +0000

General Motors introduced the Saturn Curve concept coupe at the North American International Auto Show in January of 2004. It was one of the vehicles, including the Pontiac Solstice production model and Chevrolet Nomad concept, built on GM's new rear-wheel-drive Kappa architecture.

What is a Spaceframe?

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0000

You may hear longtime Saturn enthusiasts rave about, and then lament the loss of, a steel spaceframe design forming the foundation of their cars. But what actually is a spaceframe?

Remembering the 2007 Saturn Brand Advocate Board Meeting: Charlie and the Saturn 'Factory'

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Its amazing how life sometimes imitates art. Take Roald Dahl's children's book, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," for example. According to the story, candy maker Willy Wonka opened the doors of his mysterious and intriguing plant for a sneak peak at how his workers dream up new types of candy and create the world's best chocolate. The privilege to venture deep inside the walls of the famed chocolate factory was limited to five lucky children who found golden tickets tucked inside the wrappers of Wonka chocolate bars. Inside the plant, Mr. Wonka took this small group of folks on an adventure they wouldn't soon forget. A few weeks ago I had the privilege to attend the Saturn Brand Advocate Board Meeting in Detroit. As I thought about how I wanted to write about my very own Saturn adventure, the story of 'Charlie' kept coming back to me over and over again. Our journey even included a ride in a glass elevator...

Saturn Ion Red Line Sets Speed Record

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Saturn's Ion Red Line quad coupe raced into the record book at the Bonneville Salt Flats on October 17, 2003, establishing a new mark in the G/Blown Fuel Altered class at 212.684 mph.

1991 Vehicle Specifications

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:05:00 +0000

Shown above are the body, suspension, and chassis specifications for Saturn's 1991 sedans (SL, SL1, SL2) and coupe (SC). They were all built off of Saturn's so-called "Z" platform, which was essentially a compact front-wheel-drive steel spaceframe chassis.

1991 Saturn Price List

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Sometimes its fun to pause for a moment at take a look back at how much things cost years ago. Take for instance Saturn's 1991 lineup, when base SL sedan was sold for less than $8000! The SL2, shown above, could be purchased for just over $10,000. Note the simplicity of the option sheet, along with the available anti-lock braking system (ABS) and unavailable airbags.

Saturn Lightship Blimp

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Saturn Corporation was the first North American auto manufacturer to utilize aerial advertising when the Saturn Lightship made its debut in the summer of 2001. The Saturn Lightship, a 165-foot, 6,335-pound A150 blimp, traveled across the United States supporting a variety of events and promotions held to promote the launch of the company's first sport utility vehicle, the Saturn Vue.

Question of the Day: If You Had to Make a Choice Today, What Would Your Next Vehicle Be?

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 07:13:20 +0000

* Chevrolet * Buick * GMC * Cadillac * Other Domestic * Other Foreign

Classic Saturn Brochure Covers from 1991-99

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 07:00:00 +0000

In Saturn's early days, the company's brochures were always a little bit different from your "typical" vehicle brochures. In addition to showcasing that model year's new features, Saturn used the pages of its brochures to tell a story about what made its cars different. You'll notice how none of the brochures below even show a car on their covers.

Original Saturn Pricing Principles

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 06:00:00 +0000

The price for each Saturn vehicle was determined by the independent decisions of three stakeholders: Saturn Corporation, the Retailer, and the Customer.

The Saturn Consultative Sales Process

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Saturn's Consultative Sales Process was developed for Sales Consultants to work with customers focusing on their wants and needs in order to help in the decision to purchase a vehicle.

Flashback to October 1990: Meet Saturn

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 04:24:00 +0000

The following is an excerpt from Saturn's 1991 brochure. The first Saturn was a 1991 SL2 sedan sold on October 25, 1990.

Aerial Coverage of the 2012 Saturn Reunion Provided by a Stuffed Replica of the Saturn Lightship Blimp?

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 01:55:33 +0000

Circling high above SaturnFans.com World Headquarters (that is, my desk) is a stuffed replica of the Saturn Lightship. If it was a little bit larger (this plush blimp is only about 5 inches long) and able to fly through the air (it just hangs from a ceiling fan fixture by a piece of string) it might be able to provide a live video feed of me sitting in front of my PC feverishly typing Saturn updates for the next 24 hours.

The 2012 Virtual Saturn Reunion Starts Now

Charlie — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 01:37:00 +0000

Thanks for visiting! So what's this all about? The reunion was envisioned to be a way for Saturn owners from around the world to gather, reconnect, learn, share experiences, and express enthusiasm for their cars. What can you expect? For the next 24 hours: lots of fun, tons of Saturn-related content, and something new posted throughout the day.