2005 Saturn Vue

I'm thiking about buying a midsize SUV to pull my boat (2700 lb with
trailer). I see a lot of Jeep Libertys, Ford Escapes, etc., with a trailer
hitch but never Saturn Vues. Anybody with experience using a Vue with a
hitch pulling around 3000 lb? Thanks. jrf

 

If you haven't bought the vue yet, you want to research it more.
We've seen vue's being advertised by local dealers for 0% interest.
Makes me leary why they have to sell the vehicle so hard.

just thinking out loud.....


tom @ www.ChopURL.com

 

Part of the reason is that everyone else is offering large dollar discounts
and Saturn doesn't budge (often) on the sticker, hence lower interest to
make up for it.

Personally, I cannot stand the inside plastic door panels which look cheap.
That is going to rattle in a few years once the heat molds the plastic into
a form-fitting shape and then the rattles will come (my SL2 seat-belt
adjuster cover panel is driving me crazy!).

Too bad they don't paint the bumpers to match the body, excluding the
Redline model with it's few color picks. Reminds me of the cheaper SL with
black bumpers verses the more expensive SL with the painted ones.

B~

 

To answer your question, the MAX that a V6 VUE can pull is 2500lbs, and that
is considering total weight including occupants of the car.

If you are pulling 3K lbs, you need to look at a more serious utility type
vehicle.

marx404

 

I prefer the unpainted ones. There's no paint to get scratched.

 

I don't have a Vue, but my retired parents ordered theirs with a factory
installed class one hitch on their V6 AWD. I can't tell you how it tows,
because I haven't towed with it, but it seems that at least the V6 Vue has
the factory "OK" to tow.

However, as with any tow vehicle, to me one of the more important factors
with towing anything besides drivetrain/suspension ability is the wheelbase
length. The vehicles you described are NOT midsize SUV's, but the
small/mini size. I personally wouldn't tow anything other than maybe a 4X8
utility trailer for dirt bikes and waverunners, etc with any of the "mini"
SUV's (esp on highways - A nice crosswind will have you fighting and swaying
all over, never-the-less stopping capability). bigger Boats, large pop-ups,
small camping trailers are good for the bigger mid SUV's (blazer, explorers,
Durango). Then you get into the large (Expedition, full size Pick-ups, etc)
for anything else....Just my opinion....

Scott

 

----- Original Message -----
From: "The Real Tom" <Tom @ www.WorkAtHomePlans.com>
Newsgroups: rec.autos.makers.saturn
Sent: Saturday, March 05, 2005 10:01 AM
Subject: Re: 2005 Saturn Vue

So what vehicle don't you worry about? Virtually all SUVs (except for high
priced German ones) have rebates and/or special financing.

Regards,

Ed White

 

Actually the V6 is rated to 3500lbs.

http://www.saturn.com/saturn/featurespricing/index.jsp?nav=510&cat=Spe

However, I am not sure I could see that much being towed behind the car,
because it is so short. Also it is FWD so even the AWD model will mostly be
putting the power to the front wheels.

We have had ours since 1/2 and my wife really likes it. I've driven it a
few times and - except for the smallish size - it feels great and seems
well-built.

Let's not forget, too, that beautiful Honda engine. I'm sure it'll last
longer than the POS Vortec 4300 I had on my Jimmy.

--
kai - - www.perfectreign.com

kai:/> format a:
Error: The DOS concept of formatting disk media is screwed.
To format a floppy, use "fdformat /dev/fd0"
and then "mkfs.minix /dev/fd0".

 

Amen on the V6 -- have had mine about a month and only have the following
negative feedback...
1) wish all cars co$t le$$, especially the ones I buy
2) wish all cars got better fuel economy, especially the ones I buy
and
3) my VUE is a "red line" with leather interior and because it handles
fairly well I wish Saturn had put seats with a little more lateral
support into the red line. I don't try to drive it beyond reasonable
limits (except once in a while when all alone) -- but the lateral support
issue surfaces before any concern about suspension & body roll, lack of
feedback thru the wheel, etc.

 

Are you kidding? The 4.3 sounds like a reflection of ones ownership and
that Honda engine is a trash design! I cant stand maintenance on those!
Japanese engineers are inconsiderate to mechanics and dont consider we
keep licencing our cars after 3 years. The 4.3's were damn cheap to
maintain and hauled ass without mashing the gas.

 

I should specify - I had one of the early CPI models - a '95 Jimmy. In the
six or so years I owned it I went through three fuel injector spider
units, two EGR valve units a head replacement, valve replacements power
steering pump, water pump, and an alternator. All that in a mere 145K
miles. By comparison, I put 120K miles on my Z24 Nissan engine and only
adjusted a throttle valve once.

I really wish I had one of the TBI units
from '94 and earlier, cause they were so much more reliable, AFAIK.

 

That RedLine looks like a nice car! I would've sprung for it but this is
the wife's car and she wanted a regular V6. She did go for 17" tires
though. Darn things are huge!

 

Wait till you have to get the water pump on the 3.5 replaced... I'll
trust the timing chain in the jimmy for 800k before I trust the timing
belt in the honda or nissan for 10k. I havent heard or seen hardly any
problems with CSMPFI (Injector Spider unit) other than sticking poppit
valves. What did your's do to warrent replacing so many times???

Alternators for GM cars are cheap and usually only go bad when the
battery goes bad or is discharged to many times. Water pumps are easy to
replace on 4.3s and they seldom become a problem unless you go past the
coolant change interval.

"EGR valve units a head replacement, valve replacements power steering
pump" Didnt follow any of that. EGR's can be cleaned though.

 

Hmmm, hadn't seen anything when I googled. What is the cost that you know?

Well, we'll see on this one. Fortunately they gave us a 5/60 plan in the
deal.

Exactly those. The CSMPFI unit was later than mine. My unit was a CPFI
model. It was the first year of that unit, which replaced the TBI
"injector" from '94. On several occasions, the valves clogged and the
cylinder would go dry. Apparently on one of the occasions, cylinder 5 was
firing with no fuel and this caused (somehow) the valve guides to go bad. I
ended up needing a new valve guide and cover at that point. This was the
third CPI unit - replaced at around 120K. The first was replaced at 70K and
the second at 100K.

I did clean the EGR regularly. I used to go the route of putting sea foam
in the vacumn hose, like GM recommended. At around 75K teh first unit went
bad and I tried to limp along with the sea foam solution. I eventually
replaced it. It then went bad again at around 130K


--
kai - - www.perfectreign.com

kai:/> format a:
Error: The DOS concept of formatting disk media is screwed.
To format a floppy, use "fdformat /dev/fd0"
and then "mkfs.minix /dev/fd0".

 

A bunch considering all the timing belt crap has to come off first. I
dont have the "Labor Time Guide" for this but I est it to be in the 300-
500 dollar range just in labor. My personal GM LTG only goes from 96-01
and doesnt cover saturns.

You should follow the severe use interval for your timing belt or split
the difference.

If they just clogged then it required no replacement. A pressurized
injector cleaner would clean those right out.

I've never seen such problems. Kind of sounds like some upselling took
place? The only majore issues I've seen with that era of s/t platforms
have been worn valve bodies and leaking lower intake manifold gaskets,
which lead to brown coolant with people to inept to check their cooling
system. The 95-96 4.3's were a test bed for the 1997 5.3/5.7 vortecs and
those are good engines.

 

I wish. I actually took it in to two mechanics - the one who did that work
has been working on my father-in-law's '86 Chevy Van 20 since forever.

Never had a cooling issue. OTOH, GM had so many complaints about this
model engine that they ended up giving warranties to 100K for parts. I
took adavantage of it once, since the darn spider unit cost IIRC $500
without labor.

Other than the engine issues and a minor power window
issue, I really liked driving that little truck.

And I shouldn't complain too much. I did put on 145K miles in six years.

http://www.perfectreign.com/uploads/jimmysale_sm50.jpg

I do miss having a truck.

All I've got now is a minivan and the vue.

 

I've had my 2004 Vue V6 AWD since 11/03 and still love it. The engine is
a delight, very good acceleration and smooth. I have almost 25,000 miles
on it with only one problem (RDM replacement) which was handles under
warranty. I have the 0% GMAC loan which is great and Saturn gets to make
a reasonable profit on the vehicle on the initial sale.
Paul
04 Vue V6 AWD
05 Relay 3