Thinking about 2003 VUE V6 automatic

Looking at a 03 VUE with 17,000 miles any comments...positive or
negative, any recalls ??
Input appreciated
Bruce in West Central Florida

 

IMO Negative,
V6 = timing BELT.
V6 = buried water pump.
V6 = extra labor cost.
V6 = Less than stellar gas mileage.


The 4 cylinder Ecotec is more than enough of an engine for Florida.

Alldata will show you TSB and Recall titles, details you pay for.
http://www.alldata.com/TSB/038301_en.html

 

2002 - 2003 VUEs used a variation of the Caddilac Catera V6 engine 183hp,
which is a variation of what Saturn also used in the L300 series. It uses a
teflon reinforced timing belt, supposedly with a life of 100K miles (or
more). Unfortunately, although this is actually a good engine, it lacked in
the same horsepower and was was noisier than the latter V6 which can be
found in the 2004 and up V6 VUE. The newer engine, which is a Honda SOHC
variation of the Pilot engine built especially for the VUE is 250hp, ULEV
compliant, better on gas mileage 20mpg city and 28mpg hwy and exceptionally
quiet.
A superior engine in comparison.

The ecotec 2.2 liter in the VUE 4 cyl is also great and very reliable and
will give you plenty of hp, especially if in use in flat land as in FL.
Manual trans will yield better performance with the Sport II suspension.
2006 4cyl auto models have done away with the old VTI belt transmissions
(2005 and older) and gone to a variation of a newer hydromatic type auto
trans, which is more reliable, faster and quieter.

Hope that helps, I know it's alot.
marx404