Saturn owners get $2,000 incentive to stick with GM

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

Saturn owners get $2,000 incentive to stick with GM

Shawn Wright

Automotive News -- February 13, 2010 - 1:30 pm ET

DETROIT -- In an effort to keep Saturn owners in the GM family, General Motors Co. is offering up to $2,000 in incentives toward the purchase of a vehicle from one of its four surviving U.S. brands.

The deal began Feb. 2 and runs through March 31 on certain 2009-10 Buick, GMC, Chevrolet and Cadillac models. The $2,000 comes in addition to any existing incentives.

To qualify, Saturn owners must have bought or leased their vehicle at least six months ago. Customers aren't required to trade in their vehicle, according to a copy of an e-mail sent to customers.

GM spokesman John M. McDonald declined to comment.

GM broke bonds with some of its least committed customers in deciding to shut down the brand after an attempted sale to Penske Automotive Group fell through in September.

In terms of building corporate loyalty, Saturn lagged behind Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac from 2001 through 2008, according to a December report by R.L. Polk & Co.

The pace of defections increased last year as Saturn's future became murkier, said Polk, which tracks automakers' ability to retain customers.

For the specific incentives on the select GM makes and models, see stayinthefamily.com.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100213/RETAIL03/100219940/1266#ixzz0fYk7AXLY

[RjION]

Stick? I think my next daily driver will be a Honda CIVICsi sedan

Edited February 19, 2010 by RjION

[daves87rs]

Sounds like a good deal....

I have a neighbor with a tired 03 Ion (195k), that could really use this.....

Edited February 19, 2010 by daves87rs

[RjION]

Well sport ... gm has nothing to offer me so off to Honda. Let your neighbor know that gm wants his business, maybe they'll be able to make a deal.

[Justin Bimmer]

Well sport ... gm has nothing to offer me so off to Honda. Let your neighbor know that gm wants his business, maybe they'll be able to make a deal.

What do you want in your next car? How soon are you planning on purchasing?

[GMTruckGuy74]

Well sport ... gm has nothing to offer me so off to Honda. Let your neighbor know that gm wants his business, maybe they'll be able to make a deal.

Please make your purchase soon, Honda needs your sale this month. Don't forget to join their enthusiast's forum too, and begin posting there as soon as you can. We won't leave the light on for you here!!

[RjION]

Please make your purchase soon, Honda needs your sale this month. Don't forget to join their enthusiast's forum too, and begin posting there as soon as you can. We won't leave the light on for you here!!

Not this month not next month and no need to get all defensive. HONDA is not going to go away because they upset you. I will join enthusiast's forum when the time comes and they will be able to afford to leave the lights on for everyone.

Edited February 19, 2010 by RjION

[Justin Bimmer]

Please make your purchase soon, Honda needs your sale this month. Don't forget to join their enthusiast's forum too, and begin posting there as soon as you can. We won't leave the light on for you here!!

I think RjION is trying to be much more constructive on his posts recently. It's not very nice to ask him to leave even in jest.

[RjION]

Would you guys like me to scan or take a picture of the letter GM is sending to Saturn owners like me along with the Exclusive Offer Certificate and other items. Hurry let me know before I file it.

[Drew Dowdell]

Would you guys like me to scan or take a picture of the letter GM is sending to Saturn owners like me along with the Exclusive Offer Certificate and other items. Hurry let me know before I file it.

Yes please!

[ocnblu]

They picked up import intenders and individualists in the beginning, not old-time GM folks. When they assimilated everything, they lost those customers. I predict this will have fewer takers than GM hopes. Will this campaign's success be measured outside of GM, and if so, can we see the percentages eventually? It will be interesting to see its rate of success to the various orphaned customers at Saturn, Pontiac, et al.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Yes please!

If RjION "files" it and you've missed his deadline, I'll be more than happy to scan my letters and e-mail them to you

Tuesday

Edited February 21, 2010 by Oldsmoboi
Now now, no picking fights

[RjION]

Yes please!

Ok good stuff don't ya think ................. This is going to make me rush to my nearest GM retailer. What GMTruckGuy74 do you think you have something to say. If so go ahead and say it I'll not cry to admin about it.

Edited February 21, 2010 by RjION

[daves87rs]

Hmmm...only a grand on the cars?

I wonder if it will be enough....

[RjION]

Hmmm...only a grand on the cars?

I wonder if it will be enough....

Not for me

[GMTruckGuy74]

Not for me

How much in incentive $$$ is Honda throwing your way to get you to purchase from them?? Or are they so perfect that you don't need any incentives to buy their perfect product??

[RjION]

How much in incentive $$$ is Honda throwing your way to get you to purchase from them?? Or are they so perfect that you don't need any incentives to buy their perfect product??

GMTruckGuy74: let me help you understand

They (HONDA) have a car I'd buy .... at this point GM does not. So a $1000.00 off of something I don't want is the same as nothing.

Edited February 21, 2010 by RjION

[Drew Dowdell]

GMTruckGuy74: let me help you understand

They (HONDA) have a car I'd buy .... at this point GM does not. So a $1000.00 off of something I don't want is the same as nothing.

He has a point GMTuckguy, right now (ever?) Honda doesn't have anything I'd want. So even if they threw us $2,000 for having our CR-V, it wouldn't be enough to get me into the showroom.

RjION, what is it that you are looking for in a car? Which Honda are you interested in?

[ocnblu]

He was saying Civic Si sedan earlier... the car that hasn't exactly set the world on fire, even among Honda enthusiasts, let alone the buying public at large. Peaky engine, no torque. Ask jlgolden, he didn't keep his long, he's got a GTI now.

[RjION]

He was saying Civic Si sedan earlier... the car that hasn't exactly set the world on fire, even among Honda enthusiasts, let alone the buying public at large. Peaky engine, no torque. Ask jlgolden, he didn't keep his long, he's got a GTI now.

That si is a nice little rig, could be the one.........but time will tell cars may change.

A 2.4LVVT Cruze would be a nice to drive to and from work with much more torque and good HP all without a turbo.

Edited February 21, 2010 by RjION

[Drew Dowdell]

It's a decent car, but I just couldn't deal with the lack of torque grunt at low RPM.

[RjION]

It's a decent car, but I just couldn't deal with the lack of torque grunt at low RPM.

Thats the only hold back with the si .... I need something to replace the ION-3 I drive now. Heck a Cruze with the 2.2L VVT at 155hp and 150 ft lbs of torque would almost do the trick.

Pictures and specs in the garage

http://www.cheersandgears.com/index.php?app=garage&do=view&id=51

[Drew Dowdell]

Thats the only hold back with the si .... I need something to replace the ION-3 I drive now. Heck a Cruze with the 2.2L VVT at 155hp and 150 ft lbs of torque would almost do the trick.

Pictures and specs in the garage

http://www.cheersand...e&do=view&id=51

Well, let me see if I can find a torque curve for the turbo engine the Cruze is actually going to get. Since it's both DI and Turbo, the low end torque should feel real nice even if the max torque isn't quite as high as you want it to be.

Edit: Max torque for the 1.4t is 148 ft.lbs. I've emailed a contact at GM to request the power graphs for both engines for you.

[RjION]

Well, let me see if I can find a torque curve for the turbo engine the Cruze is actually going to get. Since it's both DI and Turbo, the low end torque should feel real nice even if the max torque isn't quite as high as you want it to be.

Edit: Max torque for the 1.4t is 148 ft.lbs. I've emailed a contact at GM to request the power graphs for both engines for you.

Almost do the trick, but niether one does the trick.... I found the the turbo 1.4L will be 140hp and 130 ftlbs. This 2.4L in the 2866 lb car works so well. While the Cruze is going to add more heft and less power all around it just does not work.

Edited February 21, 2010 by RjION

[Drew Dowdell]

Almost do the trick but niether one does the trick....

Well, before you pass judgment, let's see what the area under the curve looks like. There was a lot of gnashing of teeth when Ford said they were going to put the 3.5 Ecoboost into the F-150, but with 350ft/lbs of torque available at 1,500 rpm, that truck is going to have a lot of snort. That's what DI and Turbo really buy you.

I found the the turbo 1.4L will be 140hp and 130 ftlbs. This 2.4L in the 2866 lb car works so well. While the Cruze is going to add more heft and less power all around it just does not work.

Not according to GM.

Enhanced with its exhaust-driven turbocharger, the Cruze’s Ecotec 1.4L turbo performs like a larger engine when needed, but retains the efficiency of a small-displacement four-cylinder in most driving conditions. It is standard on LT and LTZ models, with power ratings estimated at 138 horsepower (103 kW) and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm).

And keep in mind that you'll be going from a 4-speed auto to a 6-speed auto...... unless you're going to buy a manual.