Saturn Vue Hybrid Has a Lot to Offer

[Charlie]

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[drupal=2575]Saturn Vue Hybrid Has a Lot to Offer[/drupal]

Mark Maynard evaluated the 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid and liked its good quality and all the features you get for the price. "Standard features include 17-inch chrome-alloy wheels, low-rolling-resistance tires, body-color front and rear fascias, rear spoiler, single-zone automatic air conditioning and steering-wheel-mounted buttons for audio and cruise control," he wrote.

[Steamrunner]

Apparently, one of the "standard features" that we take for granted is that the vehicle we buy comes with a spare tire and jack. The Vue hybrid I looked at two weeks ago was very appealing until my salesman let me read the Owner's Manual -- NO spare tire! My interest in the Vue hybrid died on the spot.

[kae]

Originally Posted by Steamrunner

Apparently, one of the "standard features" that we take for granted is that the vehicle we buy comes with a spare tire and jack. The Vue hybrid I looked at two weeks ago was very appealing until my salesman let me read the Owner's Manual -- NO spare tire! My interest in the Vue hybrid died on the spot.

Not that it's a bad thing to want a spare tire...but that's all it took to kill your interest in the car? I've luckily never had to use a spare in my life, but every car I ever bought I always replaced the spare with a full size spare anyway...I haven't looked at the Hybrid, but if someone really wanted one could they not just get one and put it in the area where the spare generally is stored? Or does that area not exist on the hybrid?

[Steamrunner]

Originally Posted by kae

I've luckily never had to use a spare in my life, but every car I ever bought I always replaced the spare with a full size spare anyway...

Since I had several flat tires in the past, the spare tire is an important issue to me. I have an 08 Vue XR. I don't want to be totally dependent on OnStar, or AAA, to send help for a flat tire problem. If I did, it is going to be a long wait and that is dependent if I am able to contact them for help. I, too, would like to replace the compact spare tire in my Vue but the space in the spare tire compartment will not allow it.

[tackepj]

Originally Posted by kae

Not that it's a bad thing to want a spare tire...but that's all it took to kill your interest in the car? I've luckily never had to use a spare in my life, but every car I ever bought I always replaced the spare with a full size spare anyway...I haven't looked at the Hybrid, but if someone really wanted one could they not just get one and put it in the area where the spare generally is stored? Or does that area not exist on the hybrid?

The hybrid battery sits partly where the spare would be (at least in our 2007 model). It's really close, but I don't think one would fit. Besides, the battery needs clearance for air circulation.

That said, I really don't have a problem with the inflator kit. Between my wife and I, we haven't had a flat in over 200k miles of driving. It's her car, and she has no interest in changing her own tire anyway (especially with roadside assistance and Onstar).