Saturn being closed

**Dredly** · September 30th, 2009, 04:49 PM

Looks like Penske just backed out of the Saturn deal and GM has announced they are being closed...

no more Saturn car company

**d90king** · September 30th, 2009, 05:02 PM

He must not have been able to secure proper manufacturing facilities. My understanding initially was that it was Roger and other Saturn dealers buying them...

**dc dalton** · September 30th, 2009, 05:31 PM

I'm actually surprised one of the Japanese companies didn't scarf them up.

**MTechnik** · September 30th, 2009, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by dc dalton

I'm actually surprised one of the Japanese companies didn't scarf them up.

They're waiting to buy the factories and tooling, without labor contracts, for pennies on the dollar.

Does saturn still have its own factories? Or is this just the dealerships and the product line, but the factories still stay GM because of shared platforms?

**FNG19** · September 30th, 2009, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by MTechnik

Does saturn still have its own factories? Or is this just the dealerships and the product line, but the factories still stay GM because of shared platforms?

According to cnn.com, GM makes multiple brands at the plants that are impacted, so the plants should remain open.

**viva la ben** · September 30th, 2009, 06:22 PM

I liked Saturn, I have a 2001 SL with 139k miles on it without any major issues. It has it's original clutch which I taught my wife to drive on too.

**MTechnik** · September 30th, 2009, 06:51 PM

some mo' info: http://www.ketv.com/automotive/21163258/detail.html
looks like it was the dealership network and brand, not any manufacturing involved.

going the way of the plymouth.

**God's Country** · September 30th, 2009, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by viva la ben

I liked Saturn, I have a 2001 SL with 139k miles on it without any major issues. It has it's original clutch which I taught my wife to drive on too.

That's nothing.

I had a '87 ford escort with 255k miles (all mine).
Original clutch, belts (not timing), hoses, MUFFLER, and on and on and on.
The only think I changed was tires, brakes, plugs wires and such, outer tie rods, couple timing belts, water and fuel pump. Had it for 12 years, and only ditched it after I creamed a deer. Great car.

**dc dalton** · September 30th, 2009, 09:12 PM

I know when they first came out they were absolute junk but over the past 10 years I've heard the quality has come WAY up, have some friends that swear by them.

But in a sense if GM can't find a buyer it's probably best to dump them. I think the biggest mistake they made was too many brands, especially when the Chevy, Buick and Pontiac versions of a car were the same damn thing with different trim.

Back in the day it used to drive us NUTS when as Chevy came in and we had to play 'identify the engine', Pontiac engines in Chevys, etc etc.

And personally I am so damn glad Pontiac is gone ... granted in the 60's they had some cool cars but then they became a Chevy with different body trim.

They (GM) needs to get back to building a solid line of cars with each 'company' geared towards a specific audience. I'm a big fan of both Buick and Cadillac and I hope they get them back on track.

**ChamberedRound** · September 30th, 2009, 09:21 PM

Originally Posted by MTechnik

They're waiting to buy the factories and tooling, without labor contracts, for pennies on the dollar.

Agreed. Why would auto companies that don't have to deal with unions do so when it's nowhere near cost effective? Unions have force-fed their overpriced labor to American auto companies for decades, and now it's finally catching up with them.