Driving two of GM's Orphans - BR's 1996 Saturn SC2 Coupe and 2004 Saturn VUE

Automotive Orphans in America

I've enjoyed driving a long series of vehicles that were later abandoned by their manufacturer or the manufacturer abandoned the US market and retreated back to Europe. In most cases, external factors influenced the manufacturer's decision. For example, I drove a second generation Corvair with its greatly improved rear suspension and a twin carb engine that was fun to drive with enthusiasm. Unfortunately, people continued to fixate on Ralph Nader's Unsafe at any Speed which was written about the very early model Corvairs. GM's corporate mindset made it easier to kill off the Corvair than to clean up the mess GM had made.

Thirty years later, I finally bought another GM product. In 1996, I bought two Saturns, an SC2 coupe for me and a SW2 wagon for my wife, Katy. I still own the coupe (pictured above) which I still enjoy running on the great Arkansas scenic highways and mountain roads.
 
In 2004, "fully satisfied" in Saturn-speak with my earlier two Saturns, I purchased a 4-cylinder Saturn VUE, which was a much larger vehicle for travel. Gas prices were already starting to creep upward so I opted for the manual 5-speed transmission model. Katy calls the VUE my "stupid car" because it isn't smart enough to shift its own gears. I smile, enjoy a few extra miles per gallon and relish that she's not constantly changing the seat, mirrors and other settings so she can drive my car. It works for me!

Both our current Saturns have over 100,000 miles and are still running strong. My favorite local service technician confirmed I still have 70 percent of the original brake pads and shoes remaining. The only things I've changed on the engine are the spark plugs, anti-freeze and the usual oil and filters. I'm running on my third set of tires. In 2009, the VUE achieved a combined average of 28.6 mpg for the whole year. Not bad for a car that EPA expects to achieve 26 miles per gallon on trips and only 21 around town. 

By 2009, Saturn had been pulled back under the close control of GM bean counters, dealers were selling mostly Opel designs manufactured on Chevy assembly lines. General Motors - with their reliance on ever larger cars, trucks and SUVs in an era when smaller, more efficient cars were needed - were finally overwhelmed by the double whammy of the Great Automotive Collapse and the Recession of 2008-09. In a calculated effort to save Chevrolet, Buick Cadillac and GMC trucks, GM put "For Sale" signs on the Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Hummer brands and four more vehicles joined Oldsmobile, LaSalle and a host of classic individual models that became orphan vehicles to be cherished while we can keep them on the road and maybe museum pieces when daily driving becomes impractical. We'll enjoy them while we can.

I still feel sorry for all the dealers who invested in the original Saturn dream of selling a radically new semi-independent brand that would beat GM's foreign competition. For many years, Saturn actually made very tough and reliable cars. Owners were supported by carefully selected dealerships that were in fact "different" in the best sense of the word. I never found a Saturn dealership that I didn't like.

Maybe in about 30 years, I'll consider looking at another GM product if they're still around. Like Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and so many original GM cars and brands they've developed or acquired and then mismanaged, GM started off with a good idea, made quality improvements, and then the corporate bean counters killed off the good cars so they could continue to squeeze out ever higher profits with mundane, over-sized, run-of-the-mill JUNK!

There is some solace to be found as I fire up my original Saturn. There's more than an even chance that a few of the original Saturns will still be on the road long after what's left of GM fails.

Back to Top

"Success is never final." - Winston Churchill

Original Purchase - Local Dealer: Saturn of Lakeland
My current "project car" is still my 1996 Saturn SC2 special ordered in March, 1996 by Saturn of Lakeland (FL) as my half of a matched set of "his and her" Saturns. Katy special ordered a station wagon or SW2 in the same color. Both cars were similarly equipped with automatic transmissions, traction control and anti-lock brakes. In 1997, when the first picture was taken with an early digital camera, the car was still as delivered.  
Wanting a sports coupe that would be comfortable to drive on long trips, I initially concentrated on improving the stock handling. Most of the initial effort was spent on tires, wheels and a few suspension tweaks. Saturn Performance Systems, now just called SPS, provided the solid front and rear sway bars and front strut brace. Since proper sports cars should sound "sporty," SPS also supplied the Borla stainless steel exhaust and K&N air filter. BBS wheels and updated Bridgestone RE950 all season radials keep everything in contact with the pavement rain or shine.

Initial Retirement - Local Dealer: Saturn of Tallahassee When I first retired at the end of 1997, the coupe came into is own as an ideal vehicle for trips with two people.  Often used for travel as an educational consultant and for short vacations, the coupe was at its best when exploring new country roads. Trips were much more fun off the beaten path where handling was more important than top speed.

I tend to admire innovators and innovative organizations. In 2002 while attending a state education conference, my SC2 and I visited the site of Smokey Yunick's garage just across the bridge from Daytona Beach where he built some of the most innovative racing cars in the world. In their own unique way, the Saturn Corporation and the original S-series automobiles made in Spring Hill, Tennessee, were likewise some of the most innovative vehicles in the world in their original designs, manufacturing innovations and unique marketing.

Back to Top

Speed costs money.  How fast do you want to go? - Smokey Yunick

FSU Auto Show

In April, 2004, with over 130,000 miles on the odometer and the original paint job, Greg Berger, Parts Manager at Saturn of Tallahassee, encouraged me to enter my SC2 in the annual FSU Auto Show at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. With little more than a good detailing, my 1996 was berthed right next to Greg's 2004 electric blue Saturn Ion show-stopper.

At the awards ceremony that afternoon, I was pleased when Greg received a well-deserved first place. I was completely surprised that my green SC2 was awarded 2nd place in the same "Domestic - mild" category. Both my car and I were among the more "senior" competitors in the event.

Back to Top

The Zen of Saturn Maintenance
Installing all the modifications with helpful advice from SPS and with an occasional suggestions from our local Saturn mechanics has always been a form of recreation away from my day-to-day work with computers. I also believe the trick to enjoying trouble-free use, even with higher performance, has been Saturn's excellent dealer service network, following Saturn's basic service plan at regular intervals and keeping the vehicle in compliance with all emission and safety regulations. Keeping good records is also important. The complete maintenance log is kept in the glove box and updated after each service is performed.

I suspect most Saturn owners will miss their local Saturn mechanics. From my personal experience, Saturn trained "technicians" were always well-trained and had the quickest access to quality Saturn factory parts and test equipment. Because my SC2 is "almost stock," it can still be repaired by any competent local mechanic and I think I've found one. Parts may get scarce in a few years however. I've been using NAPA parts recently since I discovered the NAPA valve cover gasket was shipped flat in a cardboard box rather than folded and stuffed into a tiny plastic bag like the similar GM original equipment gasket found at a Saturn dealership just before it closed. I liked the NAPA valve cover gasket better than the stock GM item. But having a quality dealership network provides real peace of mind while families are on long trips away from home. That's the difficult part of driving an automotive orphan.

But overall, I'm still amazed at the overall durability of the original S-series cars made at Saturn's Spring Hill facility. A couple of examples from the maintenance log:

• The original spark plug wires and ignition coils were finally replaced in January 2005. Part of my 2004 Christmas present, the red SPS wires and MSD coils were a finishing touch to the new aluminum AEM air intake. The wires and coils really dress up the engine bay but change was mostly out of a "guilty conscience" for not having replaced the wires any sooner. The originals had lasted over 130,000 miles. 
• The original stock brake pads were replaced at 107,000 miles, but then "old racers" were taught to carefully use the brakes and even then no more than necessary.

There is a strong argument for making quality cars right the first time - the original Saturn way.

Back to Top

Races are won not by the fastest, but who slows down the least. - Anonymous

Second Retirement - Local Dealer: Saturn of Northwest Arkansas

Now retired a second time and moved to Northwestern Arkansas, my Saturn and I found another excellent service department and some of the most scenic sports car roads in middle America. The Saturn dealerships in Lakeland, Tallahassee and Fayetteville were super to work with keeping this particular Saturn owner "completely satisfied" on all of Saturn's frequent owner surveys.

My wife, Katy, and I particularly enjoy birding and the scenic views found along Hwy 71 in the Boston Mountains north of Mountainburg during the Fall. The Boston Mountains Scenic Loop is always worth a Sunday afternoon drive no matter what the season. When Lake Fort Smith State Park reopened in 2009, the new park also provides lake access, camping and picnic area for residents and out of state visitors.

It's important for a racer to have complete confidence in his race car and the mechanics whose careful preparation allow a driver to win races. It's equally important to have full confidence in the mechanics who maintain the car you drive every day. That's the confidence I felt about the Saturn service technicians who helped maintain all my Saturn automobiles for the last decade.


Sadly, all three of my original dealerships have closed. GM still sends an occasional flyer offering a thousand dollars discount for buyers loyal to GM. I've twice experienced GM's loyalty to their customers. Right now, I'd rather give some other manufacturer, domestic or foreign, the same thousand dollars to drive a better, more reliable car from a more dependable car company. The journey continues...

Back to Top of this BRT page.

Return to main Web Workshop Home Page

Updated: 11/27/11 (during transfer to new website)