We don't just talk cars ... we teach how to buy them.
"Used Saturn Overview And How To Buy At The Best Price!"
Sadly, GM's Saturn brand was discontinued in 2009 due to the financial crisis which seriously impacted all of the U.S. automakers. Sad because after floundering a bit in the 1990's, Saturn had made a strong comeback in the 2000's with the introduction of a number of much improved new vehicles which were well-constructed, attractively priced and with generally quite good fuel economy.
But due to GM's bankruptcy reorganization, and the subsequent falling through of the sale of the brand to the Penske Corporation, Saturn is no more. That said, a number of these vehicles produced in the last ten years now make some tempting choices in the second-hand market.
I'm excluding, however, used Saturns produced prior to 2000. During the 90's, Saturn had lost a bit of its initial luster due to dated platforms and a limited model lineup which could no longer stand up well against the competition. Sales dropped significantly until GM recommitted to the brand in a major way in 2000.
It began with the introduction of the L Series which shared the platform and engine with GM's European Opel Vectra. Also introduced was the compact Vue crossover SUV, the Relay minivan and the S Series was replaced with the Ion (available in both sedan and coupe body styles). Even a hybrid was added to the lineup with the Saturn Vue Green Line.
Coming later was the sporty Sky roadster, the midsize Aura sedan, a second-generation of the Vue, the full-size Outlook crossover and the European-based Astra hatchback. Perhaps aside from the Ion, these vehicles demonstrated that Saturn had once again become adept at providing vehicles that offered good value for the money.
Today, many of these vehicles make a solid choice as a used car purchase. And now that they've been discontinued, there are some great deals to be found as well.
Here's a few of our favorites:
Saturn Sky: The Sky was an instant hit with its introduction in 2007. This fun-to-drive roadster with its striking looks has a lot to offer, whether as a 177-horsepower 2.4 liter engine version with plenty of oomph or as the turbo charged 260-horsepower Sky Red Line. As Edmunds.com says, "A screaming performance value".
Saturn Vue: The Vue is an attractively designed and affordably priced compact SUV. And there's been no sitting still by Saturn on this one. Since its debut in 2002, its been continually improved and the model has expanded to a performance Red Line version as well as a hybrid model.
Saturn Aura: The Aura is a midsize sedan with a distinctive European flavor when it comes to its design and performance ... and we're very excited about this one. It's quite a nice balance of edgy design, precise handling, comfort and upscale features.
Saturn Astra: In 2007, GM decided to end their Saturn Ion line, leaving them without a car in the compact segment. In a smart move, GM brought over one of their most acclaimed and internationally popular cars, the Saturn Astra ("Opel" Astra in Europe).
How To Get The Best Price On A Pre-Owned Saturn:
There are actually several different ways to buy a used Saturn at the lowest price, even at wholesale.
ONE - Car Auctions:
You can go to Open-To-The-Public Auto Auctions in your own geographic area. While this will take some additional time and effort on your part, there are indeed truly outstanding buys for those who shop these events.
Another excellent method involves getting several used car dealers to compete for your business. See the details in this Used Car Buying Guide. It's just amazing what happens to prices when you force dealers to fight among each other for your sale.
Also ...
If you're interested in a "Brand New" Car, there are some great deals to be had right now if you know how.
People swear by the interesting method detailed in this article for getting the absolute lowest prices on new vehicles.
