Slow But Steady: the 4-Cylinder 2008 Vue

My favorite car that I've ever owned was my 2002 Pontiac Aztek. Universally derided as one of the ugliest things ever to come out of Detroit, it was a heck of a car to drive (and when you're inside, you don't see its butt-ugliness). You got a lot of little luxuries for the money and it had unique features like a roll-out cargo tray in the back.

But alas, my 6-year-old Tek was starting to have things go wrong with it. Rather than take the chance that it would turn into a money pit, we decided to buy a new vehicle. We already had a 2007 Element that feel like a cheap, sluggish, gas-puzzling box. I wanted something close to the Tek's comfort, yet still with a reasonable price and gas mileage. Preliminary research indicated that the 4-cylinder Saturn Vue might fill the bill.

THE TEST DRIVE
We test drove two nearly identical Vues. From my research, I learned that their body is totally redesigned this year, based on the Opel, and that they are now metal vs. plastic. Unfortunately, the heaviness is very apparent in the four-cylinder motor, which can barely move the metal when accelerating up a hill. I had read that and learned it was true firsthand in the test drive. It pained me; I love a six cylinder, but I had to stick to the four because of the better gas mileage. Sure, I'll look like I'm driving like a grandma, but that might not be such a bad thing since I tend to be a lead foot.

Other than that, it drove very well...much more like a car than an SUV. It was a welcome relief from the trucky-drive Element. Steering was fluid and the brake pedal wasn't mushy like the Element. On one of my test drives it was a windy day, yet the Vue hugged the road pretty steadily.

Since I was only getting it as transportation to get from point A to point B, I didn't pay much attention to the bells and whistles. Now that we own one I've indulged in them more, so I'll share more details on those later.

THE BUYING PROCESS
Saturns are supposed to be no-haggle vehicles, and it should have been even easier for me because I get a supplier discount, which is a set amount shown right on the invoice, plus a cap of $75 on the doc. fees. That is important because I live in a state without a legal cap,so they tend to run from $399 to $999, and they are basically just profit to the dealer.

Unfortunately, I had one thing working against me. I only wanted a base model Vue XE with no options, and that was nearly impossible to find. That narrowed my choices, even without being picky about color, and then I found myself even more constrained because several dealers refused to honor the doc. fee cap. So much for a smooth buying experience. Also, virtually every dealer in my area had loaded their cars with window tint, fabric protector, and all those other useless 1000% mark-up "goodies" that are another source of almost pure profit.

After a week of looking and getting suckered into a couple of dealerships who made agreements over the phone, only to back out when we got there, we finally found the right one. They tossed out the extras and said they'd charge $150 for the doc. fee but finally came down to the proper $75. They had a nice Deep Blue Vue; it DID have optional floor mats, but I just ate the $80 since we had a meeting of the minds on everything else.

Deep Blue was one of my husband's favorite colors, the other being Orange, so he was pleased that we'd be getting it. I favored Cashmere (Gold) and Mystic Blue, and we would have lived with silver, maroon or gray. We ruled out black, white, and Sea Mist Green (actually I liked the green but hubby HATED it).

That last dealership was what I had always imagined a Saturn dealer would be like; the others were all like the old-style shark lots, which surprised me. Even the last dealer had $1400 in semi-worthless extras packed onto the car; most people probably don't even notice/question. Oh well, we got the right car at the proper supplier price, so I am pleased.

THE INTERIOR
It doesn't feel as roomy as my Aztek, but the Vue is still pretty roomy (according to my long-legged husband) and has a good measure of cargo space. I wish they didn't carpet the cargo area. That's one thing I like about the Element, that it's just easy-to-clean plastic. Oh well, I like how you can expand the area by folding down both back seats and also the front passenger seat for an extra-long item.

I had read that the cup holders in front were too low, but I didn't find that to be a problem. I love the nooks and crannies to store things; there's a rolling drawer under the passenger seat, a slot for your sunglasses, and two separate compartments in the center console. There are also three lighter plugs for various accessories.

The speedomoter and gas gauge are small and hard to reader, but I'm happy that this vehicle has a compass and outside temp reading. I got used to that because we had it on the Tek, but it's absent on the Element. Remember, we got the most stripped-down model possible so everything I mention is on every 2008 Vue.

DRIVING
The Vue pretty much drives like I thought it would from the test drive. At times it feels like I should feed the hamsters, but overall it's tolerable. The car has good mirrors and clear sightlines, which is another feature that puts it head and shoulders above the Element. Because it's still a novelty in our household, my husband and I still fight over who gets to drive it. I haven't had a chance to feel the traction control in action yet, but I imagine it will be similar to the Tek. The Element feels like I'm on ice when the pavement is even the least bit wet, so I suspect the Vue will be a welcome change.

You can put the Vue into a manual transmission mode, but I doubt I will ever use that.

THE EXTERIOR
Because it's basically an Opel, this car has very rounded European styling. I'm neutral on it; I never buy my cars for looks anyway. It has "fins" on the doors with a turn indicator, which is nice, and a couple of chrome strips that stand out nicely from the Deep Blue color. It also has pinstripes that were added by the dealer. While I don't like them enough to pay extra for, I think they do look sharp.

SAFETY
I live in an area plagued with crazy drivers, so safety is a big concern. I love the fact that the view has front and side airbags and an almost perfect crash test rating. Combined with the usual anti-lock brakes, traction control, and anti-roll sensors, it's just about as safe as you can get for vehicle in its class.

It also has OnStar (more about that later) which adds another dimension to the safety.

BELLS & WHISTLES
The Vue also has some cool bells & whistles, the first of which is Onstar standard for the first year. When Onstar first came out, its features were more limited and I questioned why anyone would want it. But now it does everything from automatically call the police if you're in an accident and don't respond to find your car if it's stolen to downloading turn by turn directions to your radio. I'm loving the free year of service already and am planning to keep it. We actually get a discount on our insurance, since it's considered a theft tracking device like Lojack, so that will help me justify it.

Another feature is XM radio, which I think we get free for three months. It's cool, but probably not enough to lure me into paying, especially since I rarely drive for long periods of time.

OVERALL IMPRESSION/RECOMMENDATION
It pains me to say it since I miss my Aztek, but I really do like the Vue. If Teks were still being made, that's what I would have bought. But they're out of the picture, so the Vue is a worthy successor. I wish it weren't so sluggish, but I balance my frustration with an internal reminder that I'm saving on gas. Unlike the Element, which feels and rides cheaply, the Vue has creature comforts even in its most stripped down form. When we're in the market for another car, I strongly suspect we will get another Vue unless something drastic happens between then and now to turn me against it.

I recommend it for people like me who just want basic transportation with a few bells and whistles for fun. If you want zippy, the 6-cylinder is much better so that is an option for people who don't want to deal with the slow acceleration.

It may not be my Aztek, but at least I've found something nearly as worthy of my automotive affection. My Element had better watch it...if the sales and rebates are right, another Vue might just show up in its place.