# Article about the fall of Saturn Motors? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914 "2011-07-21T23:24:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/1 "2011-07-21T23:24:39Z")
I remember back when Saturn was being closed down, ther was an in depth article about the rise and fall of Saturn, I thought it was linked from “Truth About Cars” website but I couldn’t find anything One part of the story describes how the japanese were shaking in their boots about the new competition, and then bought a satur, took it back to Japan, and took it apart, and kept muttering a japanese term best translated as “unbelievable” at the low-quality manufacturing of the vehicle. They figured saturn would never compete. Can anyone find this? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/2 "2011-07-22T17:51:53Z")
I loved Saturn, and owned three of their cars in turn. This isn’t the article you meant, but might be of interest: [http://www.thinkingleaders.com/archives/1166](http://www.thinkingleaders.com/archives/1166) ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/3 "2011-07-22T18:28:43Z")
[Is this the article you’re looking for?](http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2008/06/saturns-sad-legacy-nothing/) ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/4 "2011-07-22T19:03:01Z")
If you’re interested in the US/Japan car wars, you should listen to this excellent podcast on NUMMI: > **[NUMMI (2010) - This American Life](https://www.thisamericanlife.org/403/nummi-2010)** > > A car plant in Fremont California that might have saved the U.S. car industry. ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/5 "2011-07-22T19:35:44Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I loved Saturn, and owned three of their cars in turn. > > This isn’t the article you meant, but might be of interest: [http://www.thinkingleaders.com/archives/1166](http://www.thinkingleaders.com/archives/1166) Jesus Christ, is this one of those shitty Google spam websites where the author gets paid per hit? The article was such gibberish that I could hardly tell if it was generated by a computer. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/6 "2011-07-23T02:25:48Z")
> [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](#): > > The article was such gibberish that I could hardly tell if it was generated by a computer. On the contrary, had it been generated by a computer it wouldn’t contain such spelling atrocities as “\*effected \*Saturn’s business in a negative way” and “may have \*mad \*a big difference”. ---
**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/7 "2011-07-25T16:12:49Z")
Found it > **[How GM Crushed Saturn](https://www.newsweek.com/how-gm-crushed-saturn-77093)** > > Instead, GM crushed Saturn. Here's how. ---
**Author:** ![Smurfie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@Smurfie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smurfie)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/8 "2011-07-25T18:42:17Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I loved Saturn, and owned three of their cars in turn. > > This isn’t the article you meant, but might be of interest: [http://www.thinkingleaders.com/archives/1166](http://www.thinkingleaders.com/archives/1166) I work in market research. Saturn was a weird company because it had insanely high satisfaction ratings but one of the lowest repurchase intention brands. Drove Saturn nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/9 "2011-07-25T18:58:31Z")
> [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](#): > > Found it > > [How GM Crushed Saturn - Newsweek](http://www.newsweek.com/2009/04/03/saturn-was-supposed-to-save-gm.html) Good article - thanks. Almost brings a tear to my eye. I was one of those Saturn groupies. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/10 "2011-07-25T19:42:11Z")
I bought a 2008 Vue, which was the year they went out of business. I’m one of the few people who actually got a deal on a Saturn (it was below factory invoice). I really liked the vehicle; it had a lot of room and a lot of power from that V-6. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/11 "2011-07-25T20:04:18Z")
> [@Smurfie](#): > > I work in market research. Saturn was a weird company because it had insanely high satisfaction ratings but one of the lowest repurchase intention brands. Drove Saturn nuts. too bad, because the reason was blindingly simple. the cars just weren’t very good. it’s all well and good that the dealer kisses your butt constantly, but when the car itself burns oil (bad valve seals/guides on the SOHC motor) or is rife with squeaks and rattles, y’ain’t buying another one. ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/12 "2011-07-26T02:53:34Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I bought a 2008 Vue, which was the year they went out of business. I’m one of the few people who actually got a deal on a Saturn (it was below factory invoice). I really liked the vehicle; it had a lot of room and a lot of power from that V-6. The line has been restarted and the Vue is back as a Chevy. > **[MotorTrend: New Cars - Car News and Expert Reviews](https://www.motortrend.com/)** > > Trust MotorTrend for the best car reviews, news, car rankings, and much more. With more than 70 years of experience, we're your home for everything automotive. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/13 "2011-07-26T03:06:57Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Good article - thanks. Almost brings a tear to my eye. I was one of those Saturn groupies. I got 150,000 on my 2000 SL1 and the only thing I’ve done to it is replace a tie-rod end. The car has no personality except it just keeps rolling along. I’m thinking of rebuilding the motor when it dies. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/14 "2011-07-26T12:16:01Z")
I have owned 6-all have been great cars. Truly sad what happened to them-Roger Smith’s vsision died. The Spring Hill Plant (Tenn.) was fully integrated-they made engines, transmissions and bodies. The all alminm cast engine block was a technical feat. However, the UAW did not like the Saturn labor system-it took too much power away from the nion shop stewards. It was really America’s lat chance to be competitive in automobiles. The ironic thing-for what GM spent on Satrn, they could have bought Toyota-lock, stock, and barrel. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/15 "2011-07-26T13:23:38Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > The Spring Hill Plant (Tenn.) was fully integrated-they made engines, transmissions and bodies. A type of vertical integration. Seldom a good idea. Toyota does some of this, but most manufacturers have moved away from this (and even for Toyota it’s hardly universal). > [@](#): > > However, the UAW did not like the Saturn labor system-it took too much power away from the nion shop stewards. Actually the local was quite happy with it. They were getting bonuses that the main GM block wasn’t getting for years and years and years. Then Saturn’s bubble burst, and they weren’t getting bonuses while national was, and they decided they wanted to join the national. > [@](#): > > It was really America’s lat chance to be competitive in automobiles. Are you kidding? Aside from Chrysler and GM, America is very competitive in automobiles. Heck, with the bailout, GM is competitive again (for the short term; they should have gone through traditional bankruptcy). ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/16 "2011-07-26T15:05:54Z")
I wanted a Saturn, just because of the name. Saturn. How Sci-Fi! Bought a used L-series in about 2002, and it has served me well. Joe ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/17 "2011-07-26T16:48:22Z")
My three Saturns were well-built and very reliable - hardly ever needed to do anything other than change the oil. But if I ever could say this, I certainly can here - YMMV! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/18 "2011-07-26T17:08:18Z")
Odd thing I remember: When Saturn came out they produce a very simple TV ad with the car and a single word ‘Hi’. It was oddly effective and the Saturn became very popular with Generation X. By comparison, Subaru of America tried some harsh, pander-to-Generation-X ads with a guy screaming about how the Imprezza was ‘like punk rock’. The ads actually hampered the sales, badly. The odd thing? The Imprezza is still around, the entire Saturn line is gone. I knew Saturn was doomed with their last ad campaign where a guy walks into a Saturn dealership, sees the cars available, and goes back to check the sign. the staff then assure him he is in a Saturn dealership. The message seemed to be: We’re now just like every other car company. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/19 "2011-07-26T17:46:16Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Good article - thanks. Almost brings a tear to my eye. I was one of those Saturn groupies. Gah. The “Happy Saturn Family” schtick drove me nuts. Yes, I own a Saturn. Yes, it’s a car and does the things a car is supposed to do. No, I don’t want to go to a Saturn owners picnic. I don’t want to join a Saturn owners club. We’ve owned 2 Saturns, and the second one, 10 years old, will probably be replaced in the next year. It’s not fun to drive. It’s not exciting. It doesn’t go Zoom Zoom. A Saturn was a basic, boring car that got you from point A to point B. Once Saturn forgot about that, and got absorbed back into the parent company, the cars were no longer worth buying. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914/20 "2011-07-26T17:55:56Z")
I always wonder how GM could pull the plug on Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Saturn, yet keep Buick. I’ve never understood that decision. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-the-fall-of-saturn-motors/589914.md?page=2)