Post Aura, Vue, Astra The Case for Saturn?

[Will123w]

I'll admit that I was on the bandwagon of people who thought that moving Saturn upscale was a great idea. But now I'm beginning to think that it was a bad move on GM's part.

When I look at the current line-up, I think wow these should have just been chevy's a year ago instead of now and in the future.

Aura- Supposed to be the upscale lineup, but is outclasses by the Malibu, so whats the point of it? We could of had a Malibu out instead of the Aura when it debuted.

Astra- Could of brought over as a cobalt hatch

Outlook- Replace the old and dying trailblazer/Mini Vans

Vue- Replace the Equinox

Sky- Not needed, improve Solstice

So as is always the case with GM you're just going to have model overlap. These should all of juse been Chevy's and Chevy would have had an amazing year with such a fresh lineup.

IMO Saturn should of been ditched or turned into a Scion competitor. I guess its too late now.

[91 s-10baja]

Old people drive Scions around here.

[SirRaven]

Originally Posted by Will123w

I'll admit that I was on the bandwagon of people who thought that moving Saturn upscale was a great idea. But now I'm beginning to think that it was a bad move on GM's part.

When I look at the current line-up, I think wow these should have just been chevy's a year ago instead of now and in the future.

Aura- Supposed to be the upscale lineup, but is outclasses by the Malibu, so whats the point of it? We could of had a Malibu out instead of the Aura when it debuted.

Astra- Could of brought over as a cobalt hatch

Outlook- Replace the old and dying trailblazer/Mini Vans

Vue- Replace the Equinox

Sky- Not needed, improve Solstice

So as is always the case with GM you're just going to have model overlap. These should all of juse been Chevy's and Chevy would have had an amazing year with such a fresh lineup.

IMO Saturn should of been ditched or turned into a Scion competitor. I guess its too late now.

I agree with some of your thoughts, but here is another spin on some of it.

Aura: I do agree the Malibu might be better, I havent had significant time in each, but with the Aura they were able to get more real world testing of the car so that they were able to improve the Malibu even more and make it an even better overall Competitor.

Astra: More refined and upscale options than a Cobalt, plus they are not similar enough to have the same name, would have to be a different model. It was a good move to replace the Ion to help Saturn have more German feel, which is part of the plan.

Outlook: They are supposivly plans to replace the Trailblazer with a lamda that will be below the Outlook in both price and refinement.

Vue: Again, while this and the Equinox are similar they again are seperate enough. The Equinox does not have some of the attention to details that the Vue does, plus the Equinox is usually considered more of a larger CUV than the Vue.

Sky: Mostly just gives a different styling cues that attract different buyers (in line with the rest of Saturn). So while similar, some people love the Sky and hate the Solctice and the other way around.


Overall I think Saturn is getting closer to thier goal than any of the other GM brands. Once all of the brands start to become what GM intends rather than the stew thats out there mostly right now, everything will start to feel like it is more in place.

[HoosierRon]

Lutz has already said that Saturn is going to be the American sales outlet for Opel. It is not like GM is investing anything for R&D, design or engineering for Saturn products. And believe it or not, there are people who would not touch a Cobalt but would buy a European compact.

[ohmywrd8]

The Aura will be redesigned or re-styled for I think 09 or 10. I think their interpretation of going upscale is to compete with VW. VW isn't cheap and it's not expensive. That's probably their target. They aren't going Lexus style with it or anything.

[roteague]

Originally Posted by SirRaven

Sky: Mostly just gives a different styling cues that attract different buyers (in line with the rest of Saturn). So while similar, some people love the Sky and hate the Solctice and the other way around.

Overall I think Saturn is getting closer to thier goal than any of the other GM brands. Once all of the brands start to become what GM intends rather than the stew thats out there mostly right now, everything will start to feel like it is more in place.

I could see buying a Sky, but never a Solstice. I see GMs brand diversity as an asset it should utilize to its fullest advantage. Saturn just needs to refresh both the Aura and the Astra (it feels like it was rushed to the market here) and be on its way.

[SirRaven]

Originally Posted by roteague

I could see buying a Sky, but never a Solstice. I see GMs brand diversity as an asset it should utilize to its fullest advantage. Saturn just needs to refresh both the Aura and the Astra (it feels like it was rushed to the market here) and be on its way.

I would be torn between a Sky and Solstice, but would probably end up with a sky. The Astra does seem like it was rushed to this market, there are a lot of little things that could be done to make it more suitable for this market, but overall it is still better than a lot of other GM small cars in NA. Once all the brand identities are fully reached, we will all be suprised at which cars share similar structure/powertrains.

[ElmerMCR]

Wait till Gen II Saturns before coming to any conclusions. Those will be the Saturns that really shine and those will help Saturn's place in the market be more easily determined.

[darndot]

Look the G6 to the Aura, and then the Malbiu. GM has made that platform better each time.

I think saturn need to be the one to pull from the VW-Euro buyers. Chevy has it eyes on Asian imports.

[coaster.n3rd]

Threads like this hurt my head. Especially when people start being computer chair CEOs and suggest the fate of a vehicle that has been on the dealer lots for less than 2 weeks.

Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up.
Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up.

Why is that so hard to understand. Not only that. The revitilaztion is not complete. Next gen Aura is less than 2 years away, a new small car is also just as far. This is ridicoulous. If its not Pontiac its Saturn and the doom and gloom is imposing. GM would lose more customers than it would gain or keep with loss of a brand like that.

[roteague]

Originally Posted by SirRaven

I would be torn between a Sky and Solstice, but would probably end up with a sky. The Astra does seem like it was rushed to this market, there are a lot of little things that could be done to make it more suitable for this market, but overall it is still better than a lot of other GM small cars in NA. Once all the brand identities are fully reached, we will all be suprised at which cars share similar structure/powertrains.

You are right. The Astra is light years ahead of cars like the Corolla. I think it would be neat to see the Enclave's blue headlight cluster appear on the Astra.

No complaints about Saturn. I see GM now doing what it should have done years ago .... make each succeeding generation of cars better than the last (and more frequent refreshes).

[Randiglio]

Originally Posted by coaster.n3rd

Threads like this hurt my head. Especially when people start being computer chair CEOs and suggest the fate of a vehicle that has been on the dealer lots for less than 2 weeks.

Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up.
Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up.

Why is that so hard to understand. Not only that. The revitilaztion is not complete. Next gen Aura is less than 2 years away, a new small car is also just as far. This is ridicoulous. If its not Pontiac its Saturn and the doom and gloom is imposing. GM would lose more customers than it would gain or keep with loss of a brand like that.

+1

[CrunkedRL]

Originally Posted by Will123w

I'll admit that I was on the bandwagon of people who thought that moving Saturn upscale was a great idea. But now I'm beginning to think that it was a bad move on GM's part.

When I look at the current line-up, I think wow these should have just been chevy's a year ago instead of now and in the future.

Aura- Supposed to be the upscale lineup, but is outclasses by the Malibu, so whats the point of it? We could of had a Malibu out instead of the Aura when it debuted.

Astra- Could of brought over as a cobalt hatch

Outlook- Replace the old and dying trailblazer/Mini Vans

Vue- Replace the Equinox

Sky- Not needed, improve Solstice

So as is always the case with GM you're just going to have model overlap. These should all of juse been Chevy's and Chevy would have had an amazing year with such a fresh lineup.

IMO Saturn should of been ditched or turned into a Scion competitor. I guess its too late now.

I don't see anything wrong with the Saturn brand today compared to what it was 3-5-10 years ago. The Saturn company have always catered to a unique group of consumers. There not driven so much by volume as they are by providing stellar customer service and offering alternatives to those consumers who would not buy from Chevrolet. Saturn is in a very good position product wise and I think they've more than accomplished their goal over the past year in creating more brand awareness. As I've mentioned in another thread I started, a co-worker of mine just leased an 08' Vue four weeks ago her FIRST American car ever. This should tell you something about perception but there again it takes time.

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by coaster.n3rd

Threads like this hurt my head. Especially when people start being computer chair CEOs and suggest the fate of a vehicle that has been on the dealer lots for less than 2 weeks.

Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up.
Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up.

Why is that so hard to understand. Not only that. The revitilaztion is not complete. Next gen Aura is less than 2 years away, a new small car is also just as far. This is ridicoulous. If its not Pontiac its Saturn and the doom and gloom is imposing. GM would lose more customers than it would gain or keep with loss of a brand like that.

Yep, and once you have a True Dual Market Astra and a Dual Market Aura (similar to the Dual Market nature of the Vue today) there will be no difference between Saturn and Opel save the badge and things like Radio that have XM and OnStar.

[CobaltSScrazy]

Originally Posted by coaster.n3rd

Threads like this hurt my head. Especially when people start being computer chair CEOs and suggest the fate of a vehicle that has been on the dealer lots for less than 2 weeks.

Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up.
Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up. Saturn sales are up.

Why is that so hard to understand. Not only that. The revitilaztion is not complete. Next gen Aura is less than 2 years away, a new small car is also just as far. This is ridicoulous. If its not Pontiac its Saturn and the doom and gloom is imposing. GM would lose more customers than it would gain or keep with loss of a brand like that.

Coaster,
The problem is GM EXPECTED ""MUCH"" higher returns on both Cadillac/Saturn revitalizations reguardless of what they actually ended up being. My thought is they thought at year 2-3 for Saturn and year 6-7 for Cadillac they'd be doing 1.5X the volume each brand currently is doing and optimistically were hopeing for DOUBLE the volume (Maybe not of CTS / Escalade /Vue, but EVERY other Cadillac/Saturn product)...yet this might take another 4 years to get that kind of volume if continuous improvement seems to / will continue. A refined SRX/STS/XLR/and new BLS and BRX should have occurred but won't...it seems like Saturn will get all refining products yet they NEED much higher MPG especially from Vue and higher mpg from Aura/Astra ---JMO---

Yes sales are up, but they should be up a good 200,000 units across the entire Saturn brand in GM's mind.

CobaltSScrazy