vt_hokie

I put 220,000 miles on my 1997 SL2 with no major problems. And the body was still in great shape at the end, thanks to the plastic panels! Like I said, GM earned my business by doing something right and creating Saturn, but I will likely never buy a GM car again. And I really don't want my tax dollars going to support a failed company with inept management, so that GM can keep wasting money on muscle cars and SUV's.

In terms of dent resistance, my Saturn was unsurpassed! The thin sheetmetal on all of today's cars isn't an improvement when it comes to door and fender dings.

I'll support a bailout of GM if the company agrees to build affordable, reliable small cars with dent resistant plastic panels at its plant in Spring Hill, TN!

Why would I buy an ugly Cobalt with its rear drum brakes and torsion beam rear suspension when I could get a Mazda 3 for the same price with 4 wheel discs, fully independent suspension, and a more impressive feature list?

GM could at least offer a car with dent resistant plastic body panels! Not everyone prefers dings to slightly larger panel gaps.

That's the attitude that typifies GM. Ignore the customers who were loyal to the original Saturn concept, and tell them exactly that! GM deserves to go bankrupt, as far as I'm concerned, and I don't want my tax dollars subsidizing the company.

Saturns sold well when they were actually unique and better than typical GM crap. I miss my old dent resistant Spring Hill built SL2, but I have no interest in the imported Opel rebadges. I will likely never purchase another GM vehicle.

Honestly, I don't think the panel gaps were that bad. I mean, if I look at an old S Series, L Series, etc. it's not like the first thing I think is, "Oh my God, look at those panel gaps!" I'm sure most people wouldn't even notice, and have no idea the body panels are plastic.

If returning to its roots meant US built reliable, sporty, affordable cars with dent resistant body panels, I'd go back to buying Saturns! If it means rebadged European Opels, then no thanks.

If Saturn gave the Inisignia dent resistant doors, maybe I'd consider buying one!

1. Zero 2. Not unless they bring back the dent resistant body panels that my 1997 SL2 had!

Personally, I just want a car with dent resistant doors, regardless of what label is on it!

Subaru of Indiana Automotive, apparently. http://www.subaru-sia.com/ I almost went to Purdue, btw! Was my second choice after Virginia Tech...

I actually bought a used 2000 SL2 to replace my 1997 SL2 after putting 220,000 miles on the '97. But even by 2000, GM's cost cutting was evident. (Replacing the rear disc brakes with drums? Come on!) But, after owning the 2000 for just over a year, a tree fell on it and destroyed the car. It's almost impossible to find a loaded SL2 in good shape, and they are getting old now, so I figured it was time to upgrade. I bought a new 2007 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited. I do miss the dent resistant panels, but obviously in every other way the Subaru is a superior car! And unlike many of the new "Saturns", at least my Legacy was assembled in the United States!

I think Saturn's days are numbered given the state of its sales, and the state of GM as a whole. But it's too bad. I think the real Saturn died when it became just another crappy GM division, but I'll always miss my little dent resistant, reliable, economical Spring Hill built SL2!

Pontiac's public perception sucks. Most people still think of it as the division for cheesy plastic clad boy racer cars. Anyway, if Saturn is a failure, it is because of what GM had done to the once semi-autonomous subsidiary. The original Saturn concept was a success, but instead of building on it GM screwed up a good thing as only GM can!

The polymer panels were one of my favorite features of Saturn vehicles. GM has what, 5 other divisions for people who prefer steel panels? How about letting Saturn keep the polymer for those of us who like that feature? What's the point of keeping the division if you're just going to make it the same as all the other divisions?

I miss my plastic paneled dent resistant U.S. built SL2! If I could buy a modern equivalent today, I probably would! I have no interest in the Opels that are being sold as Saturns today.

Kiss Saturn goodbye if its lackluster sales continue. The S Series outsold any of the Opel crap that Saturn is selling now. I just hope sooner or later some automaker starts using dent resistant panels again for car exteriors.

Give me a Saturn that I can hit with a mallet and not have it dent, and I'll be interested again! GM has a whole line of other divisions for people who care about panel gaps - give Saturn the dent resistant panels back!

After seeing the new Mazda 6, I'd say GM's got its work cut out for it!

The problem with that reasoning is that the G6 is selling well, while the Saturn Aura is not.

It should be a sporty AWD car. I'm not interested in RWD, especially having to deal with Pennsylvania winters, but I think that AWD would be cool. (Perhaps that's why I'm now driving a Subaru Legacy! )

Wow, did Lutz actually say that? Oh brother...give me a break. (Regarding your bold, red signature....)

Aerospace Engineering, class of 1997. Man, guess I'm getting old!