Online "Save Saturn" Petition– Just 'Cause?
I’m a fan of Saturn. The dealers, not the products (or the planet). Oh, the product are OK, I guess. But the dealers rock. I mean, despite the fact that the “different kind of car company” was assimilated by the GM Borg years ago, as a group, Saturn dealers are friendly, informed and straight-shooting. Yes, the word “relatively” probably belongs in there somewhere. In fact, considering the justifiably low esteem with which the average car dealer is held, praising Saturn dealers for their business ethics is a bit like saying the average ten-year-old lemonade stand proprietor is a financial genius compared to GM CEO Rick Wagoner. But you have to remember that, in terms of respectful and courteous customer care, Saturn was Lexus for working folks. Cook-outs and all. And as with Lexus, the quality of the cars really isn’t important. You know important, but not that important. Is that worth “saving?” Sure. But GM ain’t savin’ nothin’. That ship has sailed. Still, you can’t blame the Saturnalians at saturnfans.com for wanting to keep the brand alive. And an online petition makes perfect sense. But where’s the justification? And why connect that defense with support for the D2.8 bailout when the feeling is a long, long, long, long way from mutual? Love truly is blind.
More by Robert Farago
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Saturn started out as an import fighter... then started depending on imports itself.
I own a Saturn I liked the no-haggle pricing I guess the macho men like shoving around numbers to basically end up with the same deal I got. Despite what the uninformed might think, you won't get a lower price on a similar car at a haggle dealer. You might think you are, but it never works out. The new Saturns are too expensive for me, they raised the base price of their least expensive car from $12K to $16.5K
I still cannot comprehend why people thought a Saturn buyer who paid MSRP was getting great customer service, while anyone else who paid MSRP was a fool who got screwed. Hint: If you're dumb enough to pay full price, you can get the no-haggle experience at any dealership.