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New Saturn VUE Green Line Owners -Give Us Your Report

369 messages,  Last post on Sep 29, 2011 at 11:59 AM

You are in the Saturn VUE Green Line Hybrid Forum.

What is this discussion about? Saturn VUE, Hybrid Cars, Car Buying, SUV

Messages Page 1 of 37

#1 of 369 New Saturn VUE Green Line Owners -Give Us Your Report by pf_flyer HOST

Oct 27, 2006 (6:51 am)

Congratulations on your new ride! Post your first impressions of your VUE Green Line here.

#2 of 369 Vue Green Line thoughts after 1 week by bmwms

Nov 23, 2006 (8:08 pm)

So far I'm very pleased with my Vue Green Line. I averaged 28.7 mpg during the 1st 272 miles. The interior, while not extremely plush, is fine. No rattles! I choose to get the comfortability package (XM, heated seats) and side airbags. Even as I was signing the purchase agreement, I was a bit nervious about getting a Saturn. I know it's only been a week, but I've got to say that I'm feeling really good about the decision and pretty sure that I made the right choice based on performance, options, and ultimately price. Yes, you will get a little more bling with a Mariner hybrid or a Highlander hybrid, but they also carry a MUCH higher price tag.

#3 of 369 GM is not making this easy by mattorel

Nov 30, 2006 (8:39 am)

It seems that there are no deals on the lease/buy interest rates on this vehicle. GM is not making the purchase of the green line easy. It will cost us an EXTRA $200 per month to lease this puppy. Not exactly what makes sense. Probably will end up with the HHR!

#4 of 369 New Owner of a Saturn Hrybrid Vue by hybridvue

Dec 07, 2006 (10:01 am)

First off let me say that there is very little consumer information out their on the New Saturn Vue Green Line. Granted there is Consumer Reports, Car and Driver and other publications but almost nothing from the average owner. This web site is one of the only places besides Saturn's web site to get this information. That is why I feel complied to write about my experiences with the new Hybrid.
 
Why did I buy the Saturn Vue Hybrid? Prior to buying the Saturn Vue Hybrid I owned a 1995 Saturn SL2 with 160,000 miles. The car was a workhorse and for the past three years I put on 70,000 miles and averaged 33.5 mpg. I kept detailed records of the gas mileage – hence the need for a Hybrid on my next car. I also like to road bike and need room in a vehicle for two bikes. That pointed me towards a SUV. So I was a Saturn owner + I wanted a Hybrid + I needed an SUV = Vue.
 
I looked at the 4 and 6 cylinder Vues and compared the prices. The 6 cylinder was being offered for about $1600 less than a similar Hybrid 4 cylinder Vue. Granted the 6 had more horse power it did have 20% less mpg. Given the fact the government will offer you a $650 tax credit (not a tax deduction) the price difference was about $1000. Given my mileage per year at 25,000 miles, it would only take about 2-3 years to break even. Besides, the thought of owning a Hybrid SUV and helping the environment was very attractive to me.
 
I picked up the SUV yesterday with 80 miles on it and it was a basic model. Blue with Gray interior and just the extra MP3 player. No other bells and whistles. The dealership had to look hard to find me a basic model. To echo a previous post – GM does not make it easy to purchase a Hybrid. Anyway, I am currently at 145 miles and here are my earlier feelings.
 
Besides the fact that it has the new car smell and that I now am seated about 3 feet higher than my SL2 and I now park in a spot that is protected with a column on one side and a passenger’s door on the other to prevent dings – it is cool to drive as all new cars are.
 
Details: when stopping at a light or in heavy stop and go traffic – I noticed that it switches the engine off with the gas. There is a slight but noticeable engine switch. Nothing major and it is something that I did take note of. Saturn states it does this to save gas and increase mileage. (We will see.)
 
My Driving Habits: I commute 90 miles a day and it encompasses every type of driving you can imagine. I commute from a town in Maryland to just outside of DC. The Saturn will be going 80+mph on I-95 one minute and stuck in traffic the next. Anyone that has driven this way will know what I am talking about. I am very easy on the gas and easy on the break. My view is that if I don’t get good gas mileage with this Hybrid – no one will. Heck, I averaged 33.5mpg on an 11 year old car with 160,000 miles on it for a span of 75,000 miles- documented.
 
In the weeks to come, I will be very honest & unbiased and update my real world findings on this web site in the hopes of providing valuable real time information about this Hybrid Saturn.
  
-- HybridVue

#5 of 369 Re: New Owner of a Saturn Hrybrid Vue [hybridvue] by crazedcommuter

Dec 28, 2006 (6:12 pm)

Replying to: hybridvue (Dec 07, 2006 10:01 am)
Thanks for your report on the Vue. I'm in the same boat as you are commuting-wise. I drive from Eastern WV to just outside of DC and do about 112 miles daily. I currently drive an 05 Scion XB and it's great. However my commute might take me to the downtown are soon. If it does I'll need something maybe a little more comfortable for the longer trip. How is the comfort of the seats and driving position? I drive 80 mph to stop and go both ways also. Does the Vue have enough pickup to zip into the fast lane and cruise at 80?

#6 of 369 Re: New Saturn VUE Green Line Owners -Give Us Your Report [pf_flyer] by jtstahls

Dec 31, 2006 (9:05 am)

Replying to: pf_flyer (Oct 27, 2006 6:51 am)
We ordered the hybrid in July and recieved it the end of November. The first 2 tanks of gas got 23 mpg. Now we have 1200 miles on the car and the highest average we have gotten is 27 mpg. I know this is good compared to most suv's on the market, but we were really hoping to see something around 32 mpg since we do a lot of highway driving.
The car is very roomy. We looked at the HHR also, but did not like the middle compartment extending into the back where the back seat passenger would have to sit in the middle and spread their leg.
And lastly, it does not have a lot of pick-up.
Are regrets are the gas mileage, wish we had known that the model was going to change in Spring 2008, wished we would have ordered the chrome roof racks(they jazz of the car), and the storm gray color looks green in certain light, yuk.

#7 of 369 Re: 80mph [crazedcommuter] by hybridvue

Jan 03, 2007 (2:06 pm)

Replying to: crazedcommuter (Dec 28, 2006 6:12 pm)
A fellow long commuter. The seat comfort is good in the driving position - no pains on this end. I am a little disappointed that the drivers and passengers head rests do not tilt forward for an additional adjustment.
 
One important note - as for driving 80mph - I discovered that the gas mileage goes way down - 15 - 20% decrease in mpg.
 
I am currently up to 2500 miles on the Hybrid is less than 4 weeks. Over that span I am averaging 29.1 mpg - very good in my mind. On a recent trip from Baltimore, MD to mid Ohio - I drove between 75 and 80mph over the hills of western Maryland and averaged about 25mpg. On the way back I drove between 70-75 and averaged 25.8mpg. However, while in Ohio I drove the posted speed limit of 60-65 and got my best mileage at 34.5mpg. My local commute to DC has been in the 30.5mpg range.
 
That would explain why some people get in the low 20's while others are around 30+ mpg. If you speed you compromise your gas mileage.
 
By the way - I found my first bug in the Hybrid. The cruise control stopped working after 1000 miles. The light to engage cruise control would go on but it would not set. After two hours in the dealership - they discovered a tech note from Saturn that the Powertrain Cruise Control Module (PCM) sometimes needs to be reprogrammed. They reprogrammed the PCM and the cruise control is working again. I will let everyone know if the problem resurfaces. By the way the dealership was very nice and really worked to solve the problem.
 
I am still very happy with my purchase.
 
PS: The Saturn will get up to 80mph with no problems - good pick up, just remember that the gas mileage goes down.

#8 of 369 Re: Silver.... by hybridvue

Jan 04, 2007 (6:19 am)

Replying to: jtstahls (Dec 31, 2006 9:05 am)
I went with the Deep Blue color and it is a nice looking car. The Storm Gray color looked to plain in my eyes. The dealer did have to look around (50 mile radius) as it seems that most of the Saturn Vue Hybrids around are Storm Gray. As for the roof rack, you can always get it added but keep in mind that your gas mileage will go down with the additional drag.
 
As for the 2008 Saturn Hybrid Vue model, it will be a true Hybrid auto with electric only propulsion up to 35 mph. That will again increase the gas mileage upwards of 10 - 15% from the current numbers.

#9 of 369 Re: Silver.... [hybridvue] by jtstahls

Jan 04, 2007 (8:33 am)

Replying to: hybridvue (Jan 04, 2007 6:19 am)
The 2008 Saturn Vue hybrid will definitely need all the help it can get considering it is gaining almost 400lbs. when the body panels go from plastic to metal. They are not changing the standard hybrid motor to accomodate this. I hear they are coming out with a second optional hybrid motor. So with the current hybrid motor and more weight, I bet the gas mileage goes down. The non-hybrid 4 cyclinder motor is going from 2.2 liter to 2.4 to accomodate the weight gain.

#10 of 369 Metal from Plastic by gunga64

Jan 09, 2007 (7:28 am)

Replying to: jtstahls (Jan 04, 2007 8:33 am)
Oh my, one of my reasons for looking into the VUE was the plastic panels. GM finally got something right with those and now they are going to metal. Not sure I want a VUE now.
 
Oh yeah when they came out with the relay I spoke to a Saturn spokesman who told me they dont have the plastic doors because it was cost prohibit. Give me a break.

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