GM Opens Wallet To Clear Saturn Vehicles: $4000 Cash + $1000 More To Saturn Owners

[Perian]

Source: Automotive News special email alert

Jamie LaReau - November 3, 2009 - 12:16 pm ET

DETROIT -- In an effort to clear out the remaining Saturn inventory, General Motors Co. today began an incentive program that runs through the end of the month.

Consumers can get either $4,000 off of any 2008 or 2009 Saturn or 0 percent financing for 72 months.

“Since we’re not producing new cars, this is a way to give owners an incentive to get into a new Saturn product,” said John McDonald, a GM spokesman.

In addition, a loyalty mailing to current Saturn owners offers an additional $1,000 in cash. That’s regardless of whether they trade in their Saturn vehicle.

“They have to have owned or leased their Saturn vehicle for a minimum of six months to qualify,” McDonald says. “They get $1,000 cash, and that can be combined with other incentives.”

McDonald says Saturn has about 10,000 vehicles in inventory in the United States.

[Perian]

Now is the time to find the SKY you always wanted...two years ago it was $5000 over list, now it's (at least, if qualified) $5000 under list...

http://www.saturn.com/tools/vehiclel...ancedsearch.do

[rbarrios]

hmmmmmm- my brother always liked saturn... was always treated well and his cars were always great... last year bought a hybrid VUE... then the baby came along--- and the vue just isnt big enough...
He can trade in that hybrid--- get the 4000+1000 on a nice Outlook... he needs the size...
hmmmmmmm

[fp115]

I might just get a Sky for ****s and giggles at this price.

That's insane. I hope they offer it in Canada.

[jcgable]

That puts a new Aura XE in the $16,000 range. Jeebus.

[K-1]

If I didn't already have 2 new-ish Saturns, I'd be all over this.

[JeffInDFW]

Originally Posted by rbarrios

hmmmmmm- my brother always liked saturn... was always treated well and his cars were always great... last year bought a hybrid VUE... then the baby came along--- and the vue just isnt big enough...
He can trade in that hybrid--- get the 4000+1000 on a nice Outlook... he needs the size...
hmmmmmmm

Good Lord. How big are babies these days?! Are we talking ONE baby? Does it have Polio, and you have to take the iron lung with you everywhere you go??? I'm trying to figure out why people have a baby, and instantly think they need a Suburban to carry it around. When my daughter was a baby, we did fine with her in a CAMARO!!!

I posted in a thread a few days ago about the resale value on my Saturn dropping like a rock, and GM offering me a free oil change. People asked me to explain why I thought it was dropping. Well, HERE YOU GO. The 2009 Saturn I paid $34,300 for now cost $29,300 brand new. So, since mine is used with 10,000 miles on it, it will be worth much less. GM just knocked $5,000 off the resale value of my car.

[camaro_freak]

so GM makes no sense
-drop Saturn and deaers (dealers lose millions)
-clearence of remaining inventory (lose more revenue)
-damage GM (can't give that an estimate)
-kill the resale market with new cars at ridiculous prices

Sounds like the game plan of what NOT TO do with a car brand.

Saturn moved upmarket when it should have moved down...

[K-1]

Originally Posted by JeffInDFW

Good Lord. How big are babies these days?! Are we talking ONE baby? Does it have Polio, and you have to take the iron lung with you everywhere you go??? I'm trying to figure out why people have a baby, and instantly think they need a Suburban to carry it around. When my daughter was a baby, we did fine with her in a CAMARO!!!

We do just fine with an Astra. I agree - no need for something that hulking for just one kid.

Originally Posted by JeffInDFW

I posted in a thread a few days ago about the resale value on my Saturn dropping like a rock, and GM offering me a free oil change. People asked me to explain why I thought it was dropping. Well, HERE YOU GO. The 2009 Saturn I paid $34,300 for now cost $26,300 brand new. So, since mine is used with 10,000 miles on it, it will be worth much less. GM just knocked $5,000 off the resale value of my car.

Are you planning on selling soon? In a few years, it's not going to matter one bit.

[rbarrios]

HeHE.. I know what you mean....
But think of it this way.. its not just dad,mom, and baby..
it also includes grandmother- baby seat, baby stroller. all the baby related stuff.
the dogs (about 3 of them).
Since hes also in emergency response- he also carries an assortment of 'stuff' that is work related.
He also lost part of his foot while on deployment to the middle east- and does carry a spare prosthetic- he has one for normal use- and one for running.. and sometimes Crutches-
As he soon found out--- cargo capacity in the Vue soon ran out- and since he has the hybrid model--- it doesnt come with a roof rack.

I found this out 1st hand when I went to visit him....no more room.
A Traverse, Acadia, Outlook would fit the bill perfectly for him...... especially with a roof rack and a tow hitch--- a hitch mounted rack would do wonders for him.

[BerettaZ]

Originally Posted by JeffInDFW

Good Lord. How big are babies these days?! Are we talking ONE baby? Does it have Polio, and you have to take the iron lung with you everywhere you go??? I'm trying to figure out why people have a baby, and instantly think they need a Suburban to carry it around. When my daughter was a baby, we did fine with her in a CAMARO!!!

I was thinking the same thing...my wife drives my 3 kids - ages 5, 4 and 2 - around in our Vue Hybrid, all in car seats. Granted, if we take a trip, we need the van. But the Vue works 99% of the time...

[BerettaZ]

Originally Posted by rbarrios

HeHE.. I know what you mean....
But think of it this way.. its not just dad,mom, and baby..
it also includes grandmother- baby seat, baby stroller. all the baby related stuff.
the dogs (about 3 of them).
Since hes also in emergency response- he also carries an assortment of 'stuff' that is work related.
He also lost part of his foot while on deployment to the middle east- and does carry a spare prosthetic- he has one for normal use- and one for running.. and sometimes Crutches-
As he soon found out--- cargo capacity in the Vue soon ran out- and since he has the hybrid model--- it doesnt come with a roof rack.

I found this out 1st hand when I went to visit him....no more room.
A Traverse, Acadia, Outlook would fit the bill perfectly for him...... especially with a roof rack and a tow hitch--- a hitch mounted rack would do wonders for him.

Well, that explains the need for more room! Its true there is not a ton of cargo room in the new Vue.

[Plague]

Originally Posted by camaro_freak

so GM makes no sense
-drop Saturn and deaers (dealers lose millions)
-clearence of remaining inventory (lose more revenue)
-damage GM (can't give that an estimate)
-kill the resale market with new cars at ridiculous prices

Sounds like the game plan of what NOT TO do with a car brand.

Saturn moved upmarket when it should have moved down...

Keeping it around made sense?

[JBsZ06]

Better to move the inventory. (I do feel bad for the loss in value of existing owners..) but if it makes you feel any better...my corvettes value dropped 20 grand in two years..and it doesn't matter to me..cause I'm keeping iT!!!!!!

I suggest you do the same..

[rbarrios]

he did go back to dealer to have a roof rack put on--- and was told- its not available for the hybrid. (aerodynamics Im guessing)...
so he cant carry his kayak on it.
Want to carry the baby jogger (the special 3 wheel kind for runners).. and that means you need to remove stuff from the back- (meaning his response gear)- and get creative with passengers/cargo.....

On my traverse- fold down the 3rd row. fill it up with cargo- you still have the 5 passenger seating or the ability to do the 60-40 on the 2nd row--- AND he could use the roof rack- and hitch carrier if needed----