Someone Needs To Talk Me Out Of Buying a Saturn Vue

"Blake Noble" (blake-noble) 06/09/2014 at 02:25 • Filed to: Stupid Things I Shouldn't Say

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Lately, I've been considering purchasing a late model, low mileage "beater" I could swipe for less than $4,000. And wouldn't you know it? I found a 2008 Saturn Vue with less than 70,000 miles for less than my theoretical budget at a local used car lot.

It has the 2.4L Ecotec and it's wrong-wheel drive instead of four-wheel drive, which means it's terrible to drive and virtually useless off-road. But despite knowing this, I still want it. Hear me out and then talk me out of it. Please. Seriously.

Now, the first-generation Saturn Vue was about as appealing as a muddy old work boot filled to the brim with rice pudding and maggots, but the second-generation model actually had a few things going for it. For starters, it wasn't terrible to look at. That's because it was actually an Opel Antara from Euroland instead of an actual Saturn.

That means the Saturn Vue is a technically a European car without the proper badging. Sure, GM did dumb it down a bit for Jerry BigMac — for some reason, they neutered the center stack so that it couldn't have sat-nav, and I think they made the suspension a tad more spongy — but it wouldn't take much to turn it back into an Opel. Mainly a few hundred bucks, an eBay account and a couple of weeks time.

There are also quite a few cheap mods for the 2.4 liter Ecotec that could boost the Vue's anemic 169 horsepower rating. Just as an example, if I could find a trashed Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged in a local wrecking yard, I could bolt the supercharger from the Cobalt SS/SC's 2.0 LSJ onto the 2.4. and make it good for many horsepower.

I also think it wouldn't be out of the question to add maybe an inch or two of lift to the suspension to clear a meatier set of off-road wheels and tires. After all, if Jeep Patriot owners can do it, why couldn't you do it with a Saturn Vue?

Yep. I bet you can sense where I'm going with this. So here's a visualization I whipped up in Photoshop.

In the name of confounding my countrymen, I would buy that Vue, convert it back into an Opel, supercharge the 2.4 four-pot, lift the suspension and add some big ass wheels and tires. I know I'd also totally trash the transmission at some point soon after all of that, but screw it. I think it's pretty neat, in a Subaru hiking shoe sort of way.

Anyway, I'm going to go to bed now and try and sleep on this some more. If you could make me see reason, I'd gladly appreciate it.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 02:32

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BUY IT. OH MY GOD BUY IT. YOU'LL LOVE THE LIVING SHIT OUT OF IT.

Source: my mom has an '08 V6

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 02:40

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Jeep Wrangler. That's what you actually want. You want a jeep wrangler. Or a cherokee. Or something with actual aftermarket support. You're going to be fighting a lack of parts and knowledge for this at ever turn and at the end of the day you'll have something "different" but probably not very enjoyable. You'll end up dropping 10 grand on this project at least and at the end of the day you'll make about 200hp, have no acceleration, no off-roading capabilities, and in general a ruined driving experience when compared to something that was semi-designed that way from the start.

If you really want to do something like this then save up some more money and get an Isuzu Vehicross if you want an out of the box off-roader that can handle the pavement, or get a honda CR-V/Toyota RAV-4 for toughing up a cute-ute. Either one will be a better use of your money IMO.

And for the record, you are one of the few people who like the way the updated Vue looks. Especially over the old one. So don't expect too much love from the modified communities. You can;t off road it so no one in the jeep world will take you seriously (and why should they) and if you brought that up to a euro car show and parked it next to something of mine......I'd move to avoid being associated with you. If you want to do the Opel swap, I reocmmend lowering it, and putting on cobalt SS wheels or something if you want to tune the engine. That could work. Put a big stereo in it and clean the interior up. Maybe do a blackout treatment to trim/windows with some gloss black and dark tint. Could look pretty cool.......Just, don't lift it. Go down, not up.

Blake Noble > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/09/2014 at 02:41

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YOU AREN'T HELPING. MUST RESIST. MUST RESIST .

My hovercraft is full of eels > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 02:41

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One of my pals has a V6 (a Chevy Captiva, that is). If it had the same engine, I'd say BUY IT, but with that ecotec...

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > My hovercraft is full of eels 06/09/2014 at 02:43

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Even with the 4-banger, at that low of a price, I think it's too low. I'd question what's wrong with it.

webmonkees > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 02:43

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They dropped the price $500..

Blake Noble > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 06/09/2014 at 02:44

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The Carfax checks out clean. I can't quite work out how it's so cheap either, if I'm honest.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 02:46

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DO IT THEY'RE GREAT CARS.

Blake Noble > My hovercraft is full of eels 06/09/2014 at 02:48

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Yeah, the Ecotec makes me make the same sort of face that I imagine I'd make if I were eating a lemon and someone just slapped me on the ass.

...God it's late.

Garrett Davis > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 02:49

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Nope. Don't do it! Look at everything else you can get in that price range and category!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 06/09/2014 at 02:50

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Whoa there friend slow down there saying he's one of the few who likes how it looks. Tell that to the droves of people buying used Captivas and bought Vues new.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Garrett Davis 06/09/2014 at 02:52

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NOPE DON'T LISTEN TO HIM BUY THE VUE.

Garrett Davis > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/09/2014 at 03:01

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False! A vote the the Vue is a a vote for communism!

Blake Noble > webmonkees 06/09/2014 at 03:01

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They raised it by $498, you mean.

Hey! Wait a second. That's not a Vue. That's just a mess. An overpriced mess.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Garrett Davis 06/09/2014 at 03:02

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NO. ITS A VOTE FOR A GOOD CAR FROM A GOOD BRAND THAT WAS KILLED WITHOUT REASON.

Blake Noble > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/09/2014 at 03:04

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WHY ARE WE YELLING? MAKE LOUD NOISES.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 03:05

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BECAUSE I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT MY SATURNS SIR.

RayRay > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 03:06

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If it's at a used car lot, they have to be ripping you off. They only make money if they can sell high. That seems sketchy to be so cheap from any source, let alone a stealership

Blake Noble > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 06/09/2014 at 03:06

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You make a compelling argument, but I'm not sure if you're talking XJ Cherokee here or the new KL Cherokee.

If it's the KL Cherokee, well, I just noticed that my lifted Vue might would actually have a better approach angle than it does...

Blake Noble > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/09/2014 at 03:09

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IT'S COOL. I OWNED AN ASTRA ONCE AND MY MOTHER DRIVES AN AURA. :)

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 03:09

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IF YOU DONT GET A VUE YOURE DOING A DIS-SERVICE THEN

webmonkees > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 03:15

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Overpriced? Perhaps, but this is a region where they purchase and drive Aztek with no sense of irony. Also the same end result in some cases. Do not attempt.

Okay, sorry, back to the topic.

Bricks > webmonkees 06/09/2014 at 06:09

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I find this funny because of the picture of bryan cranston, who drove a aztek in breaking bad. (I have not clue if yo're making a reference to that.)

Have car, will drive (now has a motorcycle too) > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 06:29

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I was going to talk you out of it, but actually, I think you should buy it. You can still buy these here in Australia as a Holden Captiva 5, and while the design is getting on a bit they have an odd appeal. Maybe you should add some Holden badges instead of Opel?

However, any ideals that these are 'European' cars are unfortunately misguided, these are definitely GM vehicles of the South Korean Daewoo variety.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 06/09/2014 at 07:03

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i would like to see the wrangler you're talking about for 4k. in my area that gets you a rolling rust bucket with 200k from the early 90s.

Conan > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 07:27

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If I was gonna get a Saturn it'd be an Astra. With that said, you're safe from middle generation Saturn awfulness. It has potential.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 07:40

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XJ, of course.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/09/2014 at 07:42

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Most people bought them because they were cheap. My friend's mom leased two of them simply because there was always so much money on the hood. Maybe the styling is better described as "inoffensive"

Nibby > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 07:43

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Get a Chevy Captiva instead. /trololo

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 06/09/2014 at 07:49

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90's 4 cylinder Wrangler makes a better toy to wrench on and pay around with than a saturn VUE if you want to make some kind of faux off road vehicle. I see a few in my area with 5-speeds to make the most of the limited power for about 4 grand with an odd scuff or beginnings of edge rust. Nothing 50$ of primer and rustoleum can't get trail ready. And you'd actually have some capabilities once the road ends unlike the vue. If he wanted a daily beater, I'd say take the vue all the way. 4 grand? Shit man, rip the rear seats out and make it into a cheap cargo vehicle or just drive it as is.

My point about the wrangler is that even the unloved 4-banger 90s models have a fair amount of aftermarket support for whatever you want and at cheap prices. There isn't much for the Vue and probably not for what he wants to do. Not for cheap anyways. So unless he plans to keep it stock I don't think it will be that cheap to get the vue over a wrangler or even a CR-V or Rav-4.

LongbowMkII > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 07:59

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theres a reason its 4k. Rebuilt?

I was on board until the lift idea, even if you can doesnt mean you should.

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 08:03

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I hate those things. For that price though, even I would snag it. Also, the HP isn't the issue in those. Its the lack of torque. Get it and put that blower on.

Alfalfa > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 08:08

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It really isn't the worst decision. But you could buy an xj instead.

George McNally > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 08:30

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It's been a few hours since your original post........hopefully, you have come to your senses.

As a Saturn owner, you need to realize that parts are already becoming scarce in certain instances.

Owning a European based SUV no longer in production made by a defunct GM division?

......and you want to modify it?

Please don't get mad at me, but you can't get much dumber unless you start hitting yourself in the face with a ball peen hammer.

Dest > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 08:32

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What about an SX4?

Newsboy > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 09:53

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NOPE.

The VUE has a history of VTi (i.e. CVT) transmission failures. You'll be dropping several grand (as much as $7500) every 50-75k to get it fixed.

Old GM settled a class action lawsuit years ago because of the number of failures. New GM doesn't recognized the settlement, and will not help if yours fails.

http://www.saturnsettlement.com/

jbm0866 > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 10:37

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At that price I'd say sure..go ahead and buy it. My wife has a 2010 Chevy Equinox which is essentially a longer wheelbase version of that Vue and it's been rock solid since we bought it new in December 09. Sure there are a lot of improvements such as a much better interior and 182 horses and more torque out of the 2.4....but the basic underlying platform is still Opel/Saturn. I doubt the 08 Vue will be as trouble free as our Equinox, but for only $4k you really can't go wrong...it's not exactly an exotic with unobtainable parts made of unobtanium..

Garrett Davis > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/09/2014 at 11:30

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Without reason? Come on, you don't believe that.

deekster_caddy > Blake Noble 06/09/2014 at 16:49

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Well I was with you on the supercharger from the Cobalt idea... but lifting and going to big wheels... you've got the wrong vehicle. Just get a good set of snow tires instead and you'll go anywhere you need to with it. FWD is miserable for offroading - the wrong wheel drive part will kill you for anything involving a slippery incline. Weight shifts the wrong way. In general I find GM's FWD transmissions on the weak side. Not sure what's in the Vue but adding the supercharger and pushing that much weight around means you'll want at minimum a very big transmission cooler.

If you do it (and are near Boston) I volunteer to help tune it when you put the SC on!!!

infectthis > Blake Noble 06/10/2014 at 11:20

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If you buy it, be prepared to replace the wheel bearings and related hardware often. My Aunt has had two, and every 12-24 months had to replace the bearings. One could be a fluke, but two (Vue's) ?

SVTyler > Newsboy 06/12/2014 at 05:01

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EDIT: Nevermind, you're good for the 10pm race. I made a mistake in the spreadsheet and thought someone else signed up for the last spot before you did. Sorry dude, I'm about at the end of my rope organizing these damn races and it's showing, isn't it :P

Newsboy > SVTyler 06/12/2014 at 09:08

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Clearly! Since you're posting this in the wrong thread.

I feel your pain, I've been doing this for years, and have hosted more than my share of lobbies. Once the race gets going you'll forget all about the headache and have a great time.

alan > Blake Noble 04/14/2015 at 10:19

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old post, but i really like my sisters 08 saturn vue. some of my favorite features are all the storage assessories. the trunk nets, the under the passanger seat compartment, the fold flat passanger seat for extra long items.