'04 Vue - New owner questions

[LoneWolf]

I've had my Vue about three-plus weeks now and I'm really enjoying it. I do, however, have some questions for those of you who are -- hopefully -- a little more in the know than I.

- Will an '06-'07 stereo (the GM "bowtie" model) unit swap into my Vue? I much prefer the look of the newer stereo if it's a direct replacement.

- Similarly, will the '06-'07 roof rails and rear logo/nameplate fit on my '04 Vue? Further, all I've seen them in is chrome -- was an all-black option available?

- Where can I find accessories? I've found saturnaccessories.com and have a few ideas from there, but otherwise the options seem to be fairly limited.

and, finally (for now):

- Has anyone here added the rear bumper pad? If so, how does it attach and how durable is it over time? Any pics?

THANKS in advance!

[cdp326]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

I've had my Vue about three-plus weeks now and I'm really enjoying it. I do, however, have some questions for those of you who are -- hopefully -- a little more in the know than I.

- Will an '06-'07 stereo (the GM "bowtie" model) unit swap into my Vue? I much prefer the look of the newer stereo if it's a direct replacement.

It won't--the Black Tie radio is physically larger IIRC. Do you have the basic AM/FM/CD player or do you have the CD/MP3 player? (basic CD display is an orange glow; CD/MP3 has multiple text lines, dark face w/ green-blue glowing pixels)

- Similarly, will the '06-'07 roof rails and rear logo/nameplate fit on my '04 Vue? Further, all I've seen them in is chrome -- was an all-black option available?

I can't remember whether the '06-07 rails will work; IIRC they might with some work, but they were a factory installed option. They were all chrome. IDK if you already know, but you do have integrated roof rails in the roof, and there are (black) crossbars that can be purchased as an accessory and IIRC aren't too hard to DIY. Inevitably they do increase wind noise.

- Where can I find accessories? I've found saturnaccessories.com and have a few ideas from there, but otherwise the options seem to be fairly limited.

eBay, the classifieds section of SaturnFans.com, saturnparts.com and saturnparts.net

and, finally (for now):

- Has anyone here added the rear bumper pad? If so, how does it attach and how durable is it over time? Any pics?

THANKS in advance!

Many VUE owners have added the pad themselves and recommend it to keep the rear bumper from scratching up. It's something that we mostly just never got around to getting on our 05. IIRC it just attaches over the bumper step. I would bet that somewhere in the VUE forums on SaturnFans there's a writeup about installing it.

Hope that helps some

[LoneWolf]

Thanks for the insight!

I've got the basic CD player and I'd like to upgrade, but I really hate that most aftermarket head units use such tiny buttons (It's murder on my carpel tunnel ...) and I really want to keep the yellow theme from the dash lights for a more OEM-type look.

I knew about the crossrails, but I don't really care for how they look. My wife suggested the rails from the '06-'07 since it's basically the same vehicle. I've looked at a used '07 on a dealer's lot since I posted that and it looks like it might be a little more work than I want to do at this point -- especially if, as you suggest, it increases the wind noise factor.

I've found the accessory sites you mentioned; I figured someone here might know of some additional resources. IIRC, Saturn at one point had a fairly substantial fan base, so it's been a surprise to me to see just how limited the Web resources (forums, parts suppliers, etc.) there are.

[cdp326]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

Thanks for the insight!

I've got the basic CD player and I'd like to upgrade, but I really hate that most aftermarket head units use such tiny buttons (It's murder on my carpel tunnel ...) and I really want to keep the yellow theme from the dash lights for a more OEM-type look.

There may be some out there that are larger and use larger buttons. Hey, you could always upgrade to a touch-screen aftermarket in-dash navigation system

2002-03 VUEs used a different upgrade stereo:

...than the 04+ models that received an MP3-capable, CD [changer] unit that dropped the cassette player. It has a black display with the blue-green glow but I've never found it to be out of place with the dash on our VUE or other VUEs/IONs that used it as well. Some of these units are XM capable but you obviously need the hookup for it, and possibly OnStar.

I knew about the crossrails, but I don't really care for how they look. My wife suggested the rails from the '06-'07 since it's basically the same vehicle. I've looked at a used '07 on a dealer's lot since I posted that and it looks like it might be a little more work than I want to do at this point -- especially if, as you suggest, it increases the wind noise factor.

I think some people added a different kind of aftermarket rail, but it's still a little more involved.

I've found the accessory sites you mentioned; I figured someone here might know of some additional resources. IIRC, Saturn at one point had a fairly substantial fan base, so it's been a surprise to me to see just how limited the Web resources (forums, parts suppliers, etc.) there are.

SaturnFans (I've seen you on there, w/ a different username) is as good as it gets with Saturns. The information is pretty solid.
Aftermarket, there just has never been much for any Saturn. The ION has been helped by the fact that there's also the Cobalt.