Paging Al Clapsaddle: Huge Incentives Help Build the Case for One Last Saturn Purchas

[Charlie]

A new story entry has been added:

[drupal=3441]Paging Al Clapsaddle: Huge Incentives Help Build the Case for One Last Saturn Purchase[/drupal]

Unprecedented discounts on the last remaining Saturns present an enticing case to anyone in the market for a new car, especially if you're a Saturn owner. Al Clapsaddle, senior sales consultant at Saturn/West in Ohio, sent me an intriguing e-mail the other day detailing the laundry list of incentives available until November 30

[fotovue]

You wouldn't. You couldn't. Would you? Would you really hurt my feelings?

Trade in your red line Vue? Gasp!

[XRL]

It sounds like a good deal at first, until you factor in a few things. Firstly, it's *at most* a $6500 rebate. If you're looking at a higher priced, slow selling vehicle, that's really not a whole lot. I mean, for a lot of vehicles over $30k, that's the normal rebate. And there's more, that $4000 rebate is not available with 0% financing. On the Pontiac G8, they were throwing about 7k on the car WITH 0% financing.

I guess it depends what you want though, it's certainly a pretty decent deal if you're buying a very cheap car, but if you're looking at a more expensive model, it's the "Deal of the Century"*

*Note deal of the Century does not imply that this deal is a good deal, or better than any other deal at any other time. It is simply a name.

That doesn't even begin to factor in the incredibly dismal residual value the vehicles will have. Or that they already do have.

But really, you have a *paid for* Vue Redline, why would you want to pay to own a lesser vehicle?

[Saturndude82]

The "current" offers are still crap! If you are really in the market for a good deal, just look on ebay, I have seen 2008, 2009 Auras selling for half of what KBB is! One just sold the other day for $8500 with 18k mi on it 2009 V6 fully loaded! I kicked myself for not having a higher max bid, I bid $8300 Oh well, just keep your eyes open and you will see. I am guessing once it comes closer to closing time for good, whatever is left will be put on ebay with no reserve! That would be sweet.

[davidsky]

Originally Posted by Saturndude82

If you are really in the market for a good deal, just look on ebay, I have seen 2008, 2009 Auras selling for half of what KBB is! One just sold the other day for $8500 with 18k mi on it 2009 V6 fully loaded!

Those are used cars. The incentives are on new Saturns with full warrantys.

[XRL]

Originally Posted by davidsky

Those are used cars. The incentives are on new Saturns with full warrantys.

But wouldn't you rather pay 25% for a car with 75% of its warranty than 90% for a car with 100%? I mean really, you can buy a hell of a nice extended warranty for the difference in price.

[Casimmmm]

Still not worth it. I can do just as good or better with a 2010 here, for basically the same sticker price. Additionally, selling or trading the Saturn in the future is historically lower, who wants a car, without a company. Other than purchasing the car dirt cheap, not this deal.

[David 93 SL2m]

My experience has been dealers including Saturn dealers never offer the full KBB trade-in value. It is always much less. Maybe that is why right now 80%+ of the Saturns produced are still on the road...?

[ClapDaddy]

Originally Posted by Charlie

A new story entry has been added:

[drupal=3441]Paging Al Clapsaddle: Huge Incentives Help Build the Case for One Last Saturn Purchase[/drupal]

Charlie,

Thank You!


That was really nice of you. If you decide to get the Aura, let me know so that I can hold the one that you are interested in.

Just think, you will be one of the few that have a LAST Year Saturn!

I now wish that I had NOT modded my 2008 Aura. If I had left it original, then I would be in a position to trade it and get the 2009 Aura XR 4 cylinder.

BUT my smile turned upside down when I saw some of the replies. I am glad that there are so many EXPERTS out there.

Typically on Saturn trade-ins our facility has used KBB and rated the trades equal or greater than KBB shows. Though there are times when KBB has been higher than the actual value.

It is also interesting to see SOME of the most negative posters on this forum have been here a year or less. Wonder if Steve Scharf is posting here now?

[davidsky]

Originally Posted by XRL

But wouldn't you rather pay 25% for a car with 75% of its warranty than 90% for a car with 100%? I mean really, you can buy a hell of a nice extended warranty for the difference in price.

Some people just want new cars, something satisfying (or satiating?) about buying a car with little miles on the odo, even if the price is double.
It's never 25% for a decent used car, maybe 50% for an ex rental, 80% for Toyota or Honda

[05SaturnRL]

Unless you are just feeling the real need for something newer, the 2.4 Aura is kind of a step down IMO. The 2.4 is way underpowered for it, the V6 is a different story and has plenty of power

[eRic 02sc2]

Hi Al!
got any new 2008 Astras?

[davidsky]

Originally Posted by Casimmmm

Still not worth it. I can do just as good or better with a 2010 here, for basically the same sticker price. Additionally, selling or trading the Saturn in the future is historically lower, who wants a car, without a company. Other than purchasing the car dirt cheap, not this deal.

2010 what?

[XRL]

Originally Posted by davidsky

Some people just want new cars, something satisfying (or satiating?) about buying a car with little miles on the odo, even if the price is double.
It's never 25% for a decent used car, maybe 50% for an ex rental, 80% for Toyota or Honda

50% isnt that uncommon in brands with poor residuals, or in extremely expensive vehicles. In any case, I was going off the one guy's $8500 on ebay one.

[RicksVue]

Originally Posted by ClapDaddy

It is also interesting to see SOME of the most negative posters on this forum have been here a year or less. Wonder if Steve Scharf is posting here now?

Ow. That brings back bad memories. He was very good at trolling, dumping baloney onto the rec.autos.makers.saturn newsgroup just to get a rise from people.

[VWCarcrazy]

I just checked e-Bay through my account. There have not been any clear-titles non-salvage branded titled Auras of any year (let alone a 2009 with 18K miles) sold for under $11,821 (2008 with 49,525 miles) in the last 30 days. Even Salvage titled or accident repaired Auras do not sell for $8,500. If the final bid on e-Bay is not highlighted in Green (and remains Red), it did not meet reserve and actually sell. If you have proof otherwise, please post the e-Bay link for us to see.

In our area of the midwest, Saturns are holding their values just fine, thank you. I will admit that the deals in our area are not that great. The extent of the current offers is GM Supplier discount (about $1000) plus the $5000 Saturn Loyalist rebate for a total of about $6000 off sticker. This is not much better than I received on my 2008 Aura purchased within the model year in May 2008, when I received about $3,500 off sticker. Considering that the units on the Saturn lots are a model year old and orphans, I would expect a better deal if I were in the market.

[VUEmaniac]

Love 'em or hate 'em, I think a lot of people are not comfortable buying product from a company that's going out of business, even if they get a steep discount. That doesn't make them bad people or trolls. I wouldn't buy a refrigerator from a company that was going out of business either so that sentiment is not limited to cars.

[davidsky]

Originally Posted by VUEmaniac

I wouldn't buy a refrigerator from a company that was going out of business either so that sentiment is not limited to cars.

For smaller items I doubt you would ever know. Often the manufacturer changes but the brand stays the same.
Ever heard of Funai?
In Saturn's case the company (GM) is not going out of business.

[XRL]

I think the point that stands out is the discounts aren't really any larger than you would expect for an end of the year sale from a company that's sticking around. They're not in line with a "closing the brand" sale.

[Chazberry]

Originally Posted by RicksVue

Ow. That brings back bad memories.

Ditto on that!