PurdueGuy

3.8L in my old '92 Regal probably lasted about 250K+. I'm not sure, because the odometer didn't last as long as the engine... 4.?L in my dad's old '92 GMC Sierra 1500 that lasted 340K+, only repair done in the engine (maintenance like plugs aside) was timing chain/gear replacement, and that didn't happen until about 300K miles.

I agree that a premium small car could do decently, but if we're talking premium to the degree of heated seats all around and such, then 1-2 products per market is likely to be all that will work. Most people that want to pay the $$ it takes to get a premium car don't mind spending the $$ on a larger car. There certainly are exceptions, but not enough to justify more than a model or two (and two is pushing it...)

Sounds great

Someone pointed out in a previous thread that the Aura facia is identical to the Vectra base model. If we get the above pictured facia on the Red Line, then... gee... that'd be giving us pretty much the same product as Opel. What a shocker... How do the interiors compare?

While it makes sense business-wise, this still makes me a little sad.

it wouldn't suprise me if the geo metro engine does have a hemispherical combustion chamber...

How can GM "dumb down" a design that they didn't make? I don't think these are GM renderings...

Sounds good. Is this different from the 2-mode system talked about with the Tahoe hybrid? I read this article, but am not terribly familiar with the Tahoe hybrid setup...

Car looks great, color looks great.

Looks great!

I expect the Aura Green Line to be available loaded. Just look at all the goodies that you can get in a Prius - GM isn't going to make the GL an uber-cheapo car, they'll make it also appeal to those that want to look green but not give up their heated seats.

So... how 'bout that Aura, huh? Interesting car... no floppy drive, though.

While I don't think we need an Astravan in the states, I agree a HHR panel should do well. One example I can immidiately think of where it could & probably would be used is for auto parts stores. A good friend of mine works at one that caters more to businesses (repair shops, body shops, industry, etc), and they have 3-4 company vehicles, including some small trucks, minivans, and even a Focus for delivering parts. It's incredibly rare that even a 2nd person is in the vehicle, they just need space for parts. An HHR panel would be perfect for them, especially if the back end was easily cleaned if they hauled something nasty back there. A good diesel would be great, but even just a simple Ecotec engine would probably do for this application.

...apparently you don't understand the value of a brand name. Do you have any idea how many people would have no clue what an "Opel" is? Saturn has a great reputation, and much of it is not product-based but service based, which makes it something great to work with. Also, at the level of production of each badge style, you wouldn't save anything by making all the badges the same. Costs the same to make an opel badge as it does a Saturn badge.

Welcome to a global company. Saturn quit being the old Saturn quite a while ago...

Surely Europeans wouldn't mind the new design including a quad coupe? Please? The mohawk is odd - does it serve a function? How educated are these renderings? Are they just the dreams of a magazine, or based on... anything? AWD would be sweet... make a Saturn Astra Red Line to compete with... the WRX? Running with the WRX ought to make the competition go "WHHAAAA?"

I bet the base Astra, or whatever replaces the Ion, won't be much more than the base Ion. The Ion manual with nothing on it but AC and floormats (which is about as stripped down as you can actually get them from what I'm seeing) is about $13.5K. A base Astra at $14-14.5K with more standard features would be ok, and probably very doable.

Well, today was my first day working at the Saturn dealer, and watching a product video, an announcer for a vehicle introduction at the NYIAS pronounced it echo-tech. I'll have to pay attention to whether any more GM representatives or other "official" sources pronounce it that way...

My dad's '92 GMC Sierra lasted 340K+ before the engine got bad enough to need replaced. Then a used engine got put in, and it lived again. Not sure what happened after that - sold it. He has the base engine (4.?L - same as the S10), and didn't have to change any non-maintenance engine parts until about 310K miles, and I think that was just a timing chain or something. Though, when the engine did finally die, and they took it out, I guess the block fell apart in like 5 pieces. Still techincally ran like that... (before they took it out & it fell apart)

Might check out the Saturn Vue, too. So many options.

A couple of times I've had dreams where I somehow manage to get my first car back, a '76 Mercury Monarch. I get all excited about it, then realize what a piece of crap it really is... lol I liked a lot of things about the car, and would kinda like to have it back again, but I know I'd be sorely dissapointed in it in so many ways. It wasn't in great shape (big hole rusted through the trunk, lots of rust spots all over, headliner coming down, molded out carpet in the back seat, seat fabric coming apart in some places, missing hood ornament and some of the badging letters), and was sorely underpowered (had the straight-6 engine and felt uber-sluggish. Top speed was around 80 I think. lol).

Brand new? None. Used? Bought 2, owned 3 (1 hand-me-down) Chevy Corsica Buick Regal Saturn SC1

lol Those are sharp lookin' little cars.

At least for those who hate the Auras wheels, they can just pick out some nice aftermarket ones and figure that cost into their purchase if needed.

Yup, Toyota covers them for 100K miles. Too bad the break even point is more like 200K miles, so that gives you 100K miles unprotected by warranty for something to go wrong and make sure you never pay off that extra cost...