2002 VUE

I might be purchasing a 2002 Saturn VUE...How dependable are they...My
wife and I owned a toyota corolla. She was involved in an accident the
other day. An 18 wheeler hit a pickup truck and that pick up truck went
into the back of our car and it looks like its totaled...we had close
to 130,000 great miles on that car and the engine still purred.

Is the 2003 Saturn VUE a good purchase..MY wife and I want a dependable
4WD SUV.

Thanks

Rich

 

----- Original Message -----
From: "rich" <>
Newsgroups: rec.autos.makers.saturn
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 9:21 PM
Subject: 2002 VUE

I have a 2003 4 cylinder Vue with the VTi transmission. I have been happy
with it. However, to be honest, I think I prefer my Sister's 2001 Escape.
The Vue rides better, but the Escape is more comfortable and quieter. My Vue
gets better gas mileage, but hers is a V-6 and is much faster. I've had mine
back to the dealer for a few small problems, and one major concern. Her's
has not been back except for routine service. My Vue cost a little less (it
is AWD, hers is FWD). If I did it over again, I'd probably buy the Escape,
but I am not looking for a "do over" at this point. The Vue is very easy to
maintain. I like the durability of the plastic panels. The Vue does seem to
waste a lot of space somehow. I have a friend with 5 speed 4 cylinder Vue's.
He seems satisfied. Judging by used Vue prices, they are a bargin. Vue's are
very popular in my area (Raleigh, NC), but used prices are still very low.
The Vue has great NHTSA crash results.

Ed

 

I have an '02 Vue - AWD V6. We got a great deal on it because my
mom-in-law works for GM and the dealer was offering lots off in
incentives.

It's a decent vehicle to drive - pretty comfortable on long trips.
It does very well in the snow and sand. (I don't know about the
front-wheel drive model, though).

The variable transmission smaller engine model seemed too anemic
for me; the V6 ain't all that wonderful, either, but it's tolerable;
there's no problem going up steep hills or passing other cars.

Reliability is a huge factor for me. I have owned Hondas in the
past and have had -no- problems with them. The Vue has been in the
shop a couple times (wheel bearing, horn croaked). Everythin was
covered by the warranty, of course. I guess in the relative scheme
of things it would qualify as pretty reliable.

Brian

 

Brian:
What were your wheel bearing symptoms? I've got an '03 FWD V6. I
was hearing some rattling on sharp right-hand curves. That stopped,
but now I'm hearing a droning noise at highway speeds.

 

I heard a very noticable (I wouldn't say "deafening" but it was loud)
droning noise at highway speeds. It was the rear passenger wheel
bearing. This problem cropped up very early on - under 10k miles. I
have not had any other wheel bearings go.

I had a creaking problem when turning sharply at low speeds (forgot
to mention that problem in my last note) at around 25k-30k miles. I
don't recall the exact problem, but it took three visits to get it
fixed (twice when it was turning to the right side, once for turning
to the left).

All in all, I have asked for one repair or another at just about each
scheduled oil change. I'm coming up to my 36k change. My warranty has
expired. I'm a bit nervous.

The Vue is a nice vehicle in many respects. But if it starts costing
me money to keep it on the road, I will ditch it quickly and not
look back (at Saturn); I'll go back to Honda. I would *like* to stick
with an American car, but the loyalty goes both ways: build a car at
least as good as the competition, and we can do business.

Brian

 

Thanx Brian - my feelings also.
I was getting that creaking too, but less since it got cold
(bushings?).
I think my droning is coming from the front, but I'm not positive. I'm
out of warranty so I'm debating taking it in, or trying a DIY.

 

Some Hondas are more American than some Saturns, aren't they?

-DanD

 

Not really... Honda doesnt pay the same taxes nor nearly as much tax as
US "based" companies have to so it doesnt matter if they are
"assembled" here.

 

That's absolutely true in that they many are manufactured here by
Americans. The question is where the lion's share of the revenue
goes: does it stay in America or go to Japan? (I don't honestly
know the answer.)