Saturn: The Import-Fighting BEAST?

[FenwickHockey65]

Saturn lost its status as an import fighter a very very long time ago...I say Saturn should be GM's trendy brand, based on what the current consumers desire in a car, such as European inspired styling, hybrids, etc.

[Rocket 88]

Saturn is a good brand but GM has moved a long way away from its "import fighter" original mission.

While it is past the point to debate if moving Saturn to a more premium line was a smart move, IMO what Saturn needs now is some high quality class competitive small cars.

While Saturn did not offer great cars originally it did offer strong value small cars. Those days are gone. With $4 gallon gasoline this product is clearly missing. The Astra is a fine car except for two fat flaws: 1) The fuel efficiency isn't there and 2) neither is the performance. Plus, I think they need something smaller and less expensive.

[kilcher]

Well, I would think the first step toward becoming an "import fighter" would be to stop importing Saturns.

[mbukukanyau]

Originally Posted by Rocket 88

Saturn is a good brand but GM has moved a long way away from its "import fighter" original mission.
.

if those Saturns they were making was their idea of imports, boy, Am I glad they moved it. The Ion was just waiting to be maimed by imports without a fight.. it was pathetic in all ways

[mbukukanyau]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

It's got Astra, Sky, and VUE.
Next up... Aura. Discontinuation of Outlook.
Addition of Corsa and Meriva.

Saturn needs to be and should be the anti-Chevrolet.
Everything that Chevy is -- classic American, etc -- Saturn should be the exact opposite.

Saturn shouldn't be shy about touting its superior european driving and design. That's the only way to beat the Europeans at their own game. A true European car made in America.

This is true, just as Buick should behave like Cadillac does not exist, and do its thing. If Cadillac becomes the victim, too bad

[Aprime]

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

This is true, just as Buick should behave like Cadillac does not exist, and do its thing. If Cadillac becomes the victim, too bad

That's quite a stupid way of seeing things, to be honest.

We should be putting an end to canibalization, not REINFORCING it.

[gmSteve]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

It's got Astra, Sky, and VUE.
Next up... Aura. Discontinuation of Outlook.
Addition of Corsa and Meriva.

Saturn needs to be and should be the anti-Chevrolet.
Everything that Chevy is -- classic American, etc -- Saturn should be the exact opposite.

Saturn shouldn't be shy about touting its superior european driving and design. That's the only way to beat the Europeans at their own game. A true European car made in America.

hes right the only way for GM to beat toyota/honda/VW and other imports is to have Chevy offering the high horsepower fun to drive cars ie the camaro and vette. and have saturn offer high fuel economy cars.

[Rocket 88]

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

if those Saturns they were making was their idea of imports, boy, Am I glad they moved it. The Ion was just waiting to be maimed by imports without a fight.. it was pathetic in all ways

You ain't kidding. I rented an ION for a week and hated it so much I returned it after 2 days. I did not mean to imply that Saturn was really successful as an import fighter. Although I do think Saturn currently has a lack of small and less expensive vehicles which they did sell a lot of.

[BigAls87Z28]

Saturn has the tools for the most part, but they lack the advertising.

You know what commercials I see for Saturn all the time?
Is it the new hot hatchback Astra from Europe?
Is it the sexy Sky roadster?
Is it the surpisingly fuel efficent yet massive cargo carrying Outlook?
Is it the 2007 NACOTY winner Aura?
No...
Its the 2 ton Compact SUV, the Vue. In an time where SUV's are the last thingo n peoples mind, lets not advertise the compact car or the sedan that gets 33mpg....lets talk about the SUV.

[Sal Collaziano]

Originally Posted by seeg

Alright, serious discussion here. I made a similar thread in the Cadillac forums.

Saturn was once created to be the import fighter, so what would be needed to accomplish this goal? What would it take for Saturn to compete with Toyota and Honda? More specifically, what would it take for Saturn to be not only considered superior to both Toyota and Honda (in ALL facets), but also literally overtake Toyota in sales for the North American market? I know Chevy factors into this for GM somehow, but for the sake of the discussion let's leave them out of this. Note: This is without Toyota screwing up.

Describe in detail (as well as give some examples and ideas) how far Saturn has come in accomplishing this task, as well as how far it still needs to go in accomplishing this.

There's a very simple answer to this question. How? This can be accomplished ONLY if Saturn makes a BETTER vehicle.. I use a Braun shaver.. I'm not switching to another brand unless somebody makes a BETTER shaver (in my opinion). I don't give a flying F&$K that it's "Woohoo! JUST as GOOD as the Braun!". The only thing that's going to open my eyes is "BETTER than Braun"...

So if Saturn wants to take customers from the foreign brands - it needs to make BETTER automobiles. Not "just as good" or "Just like a Honda!".