Have You Toured the Saturn Plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee? [Archive]

THX712517

09-07-2003, 09:11 PM

I was going to go, but it turned out that the week I begged off on bended knee was the same week that the plant shut down for turnover. That sucked, big time. Hopefully the Homecoming will show up sooner rather than later, in which case I can say I need time off from work for "religious reasons". I'm goin' to Mecca, baby.

MaxSL2

09-07-2003, 09:39 PM

That's funny! I had the same prob. this summer. I was going down to visit some relatives in FL in late June and was going to stop but found out the plant closed 2-3 days before I was going to leave and woudn't be open again until the day after I had to be home :(

John10

09-07-2003, 09:40 PM

I was fortunate enough to get on all of the three different tours provided in the 1999 Homecoming. From everything I was told, that included more than what is normally available. If I ever get back to the Nashville area, I'd be very interested in seeing the plant again as it is now configured to produce the VUE, ION and the Ecotec engine.
What has been particular frustrating to me is Saturn's lack of a tour through the Wilmington plant because that is only a 90 minute drive from my home.

Xanatos

09-07-2003, 09:54 PM

Unfortuantely I have never had an opportunity to go. I think next time I'm out in Ohio I'll take a day trip to Spring Hill to go tour the plant however.

Maybe Homecoming will come in 2004, and we can all meet there :)

Stn Dvr

09-07-2003, 09:54 PM

I toured the plant during the last Saturn Homecoming. Yes, I was impressed with the cleanliness and the overall operation of the facility.

swoker183

09-07-2003, 11:10 PM

i havent been there, but hope to go there someday

mikthehickNC

09-07-2003, 11:48 PM

i want to go, but not by myself--Homecoming or a Saturnfans kinda ordeal would be awesome :)

John10

09-08-2003, 07:35 AM

Originally posted by mikthehickNC
i want to go, but not by myself--Homecoming or a Saturnfans kinda ordeal would be awesome :)

Ordeal?????? Don't tell me that you are one of those who sits in the backseat and asks "Are we there yet?" ;)

Spazie

09-08-2003, 08:02 AM

Originally posted by Xanatos
Unfortuantely I have never had an opportunity to go. I think next time I'm out in Ohio I'll take a day trip to Spring Hill to go tour the plant however.

Maybe Homecoming will come in 2004, and we can all meet there :)

That's one heck of a long day trip! It's a good 8 hour drive from the southernmost Ohio border to Spring Hill, Tenn. That's where my dad's family is from and he goes there all the time, but I haven't gone with him yet, and haven't seen the Saturn plant, but my brother has! He didn't tour it, though.

Galileo

09-08-2003, 08:15 AM

I haven't been to Spring Hill, but I did get the opportunity to tour the Wilmington, DE plant where they build the L-Series. Cynthia Trudell was there that day and talked to our group.... pretty exciting.

On a side note I met Jill Lajdziak a few weeks ago when she visited the Saturn of York, PA facility. She's not very tall but very well spoken and easy to talk to. Sorry, I had to brag! :p

eRic 02sc2

09-08-2003, 09:02 AM

i've been there three times. homecoming (1994), homecoming 1999, and the saturn performance pilgrimage in 1998.

CanVueYes!

09-08-2003, 11:40 AM

Visited there during the 1999 Homecoming.

Things must have changed a lot with the addition of the VUE and ION production lines.

Sure would like to go back if there is another Homecoming. Last time the Homecoming was for my former little SL2, and next time for my little VUE to see its mama.:cry:

rebelchic

09-08-2003, 01:36 PM

Nope, but I don't really have an excuse. One of my friends lives out there so one of these days I'll drive west and check it out.

bravesfann23

09-08-2003, 05:11 PM

No but maybe one day soon.

Hiddenlites

09-08-2003, 11:48 PM

Haven't been there, YET.

BradJK

09-09-2003, 04:58 AM

I haven't been there yet as it is just too far away. Now if they offered Spring hill delivery of new Saturns So I could fly one way and drive a new car home I would be there in a flash

SaturnWife

09-09-2003, 10:56 AM

I was very fortunate to visit the plant during the Saturn Homecoming in July of 99. I went down with three of my friends and my, at the time, brand new red three door coupe. My husband is a sales consultant with Saturn and actually had to work, so I went without him! Needless to say, he was a "little" jealous!
The workers were all so excited to see us and most of them had signs that they held up saying, thank you. We were able to sign a wall and wave at everyone. It was a hot, but fun three days!

MydnightMyst

09-09-2003, 02:47 PM

The first time I went was in 1998 with the SPC and SPS Rally. Our first SPC Rally!!! It was hot, humid, yucky, but FUN!
Second time was just this year, again with the Rally! Much better weather wise (except for the rain during the autocross IN Saturn's parking lot!), and still TONS of fun!!!
I know we will go again someday. :)
You're missing out on quite the experience if you haven't gone yet, but if you don't find that kind of thing interesting, then there's no point in going.
I am always fascinated because I am a factory worker and I had never been in a plant bigger than my own on Dryden Rd. until I visited the Corvette and Saturn plants. The Saturn plant could fit two Corvette or Truck and Bus plants in it, it's THAT huge!!!!
The people there are really cool. The tour is really awesome..
The area is just beautiful to visit. :grnjump: :grnjump:

ralheid

09-10-2003, 05:07 AM

Yes, toured the plant with SPC RALLY 2003 this spring.
Snuck out two Cylinder heads in my back pocket (Not).

Cap138

09-10-2003, 02:28 PM

I haven't toured the plant yet and look forward to doing it sometime soon ('04 homecoming???).

<------- I did stop at the welcome center as we passed through the area on a trip but couldn't stay too long. It was way cool driving a Saturn on the Saturn Expressway... :)

XtremeGrandAm

09-11-2003, 10:13 PM

Ive always meant to go but never have made it. I have driven by it though

YELO_SC2

09-12-2003, 07:00 AM

I toured a couple years ago when the retooling was going on for the VUE, so instead of the standard tour just through assembly, our group went through the main part of assembly and then did a thorough tour of the powertrain unit. Cool stuff with the lost-foam casting process. I'd definitely go back again! I still use my goggles from the tour quite often. :D

CyberSmoke

09-12-2003, 08:28 PM

We went and toured the plant in our New Vue 2 weeks after delivery. The plant is impressive and the area is full of history too! We also have a 96 SL2 with over 125,000 miles that was jealous that it didn't get to visit home too.

TommyH

09-12-2003, 10:25 PM

Just visited it this past summer with the SPC gang. I would go back on a moments notice.

SL2Ghost42

09-12-2003, 10:32 PM

I really want to go during the next homecoming, or sometime possibly sooner than that. My step-grandmother lives VERY close to the Saturn plant, about an hour away. So if I did go, I would have somewhere to crash.

SilverNickelQC

09-16-2003, 10:17 AM

Sorry, i do not know how to get down there but if i had directions and a companion i might take the journey.

Qlara

09-16-2003, 12:40 PM

Other than Saturn's plant tour, any more attractions worth visit around the area of SpringHill?

DJDaddyG

09-17-2003, 12:37 PM

Originally posted by Qlara
Other than Saturn's plant tour, any more attractions worth visit around the area of SpringHill?

Nashville isn't very far from Springhill. There you have Opryland and a lot of really cool bars with a great variety of live entertainment. I was in Springhill for a week in 1994 for sales consultant training. It ranks up threre in the top ten experiences of my life.

FireMate

09-18-2003, 03:30 PM

I got to see some of the last S-series produced last year, and saw the expansion and changes being made for the Delta platform etc.... It was a great time, and I'd go again in a heartbeat. Saturn had me stay at an incredible Sheratin(sp) hotel nearby. Great service both there and when I was undergoing training at the plant.

BrenSaSC2

09-19-2003, 08:55 PM

I also toured the plant with the SPC Rally this year...

I wanted to sneak out an engine, but TommyH wouldn't let me. Haha, j/k

Greetings SPC peeps-I finally made it to the right place!

TommyH

09-19-2003, 11:14 PM

Originally posted by BrenSaSC2
I also toured the plant with the SPC Rally this year...

I wanted to sneak out an engine, but TommyH wouldn't let me. Haha, j/k

Greetings SPC peeps-I finally made it to the right place!

It's not that I wouldn't let you; I just thought that trying to hide a 2.2L Ecotec under your shirt would have looked a little conspicuous, that's all...if you could have pulled it off...I'd have sent you back in for a second one...mine!

cncguy2000

09-20-2003, 03:36 PM

been there twice, when we first got the car in 96, then for the homecoming... that way lots o fun!
cant believe how much money they spent on that!

wlhawk

01-07-2004, 06:56 PM

Been there a few times. The first time was with a group of owners using prodigy. The last time was before the vue was in production. It is worth the time if you're in the Nashville area.

SilverNickelQC

01-07-2004, 10:21 PM

Never been, i will try to go someday.:tear:

Dr. Bob

01-07-2004, 11:51 PM

Never been there, but I'd sure like to take a tour.

But, maybe those who have there can post pictures - maybe Charlie and SaturnFans can set up a "virtual tour"?

matt2791

02-01-2004, 01:23 PM

I'd rather go to Nashville if I'm ever in TN.

PAGuy77

02-02-2004, 11:50 AM

I haven't been to Spring Hill yet. I have always wanted to go, but the time and the finances haven't been right to make the trip. It's hard to get time off work especially when the weather is decent because everyone else is asking for time off too.