2003 SATURN Vue

My 3rd Saturn - My "Blue Beast"

Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

I have been remarkably lucky with my 2003 Saturn Vue. I have the base model with the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). I have the leather/heat package, which means I have leather topped seats, heated front seats, leather wrapped steering wheel, and the leather topped dash area. My Vue is now 16 years old, and after all the living we've done in it the leather is kind of ratty. The dash, surprisingly, has held up the best, along with the back seat. The two front seats and the steering wheel cracked and peeled, but I also was not truly vigilant about using the leather conditioner after my initial supply ran out. LOL. The "entertainment" package in my car has a tape player believe it or not, but it has a CD player as well. I've never had a bit of trouble out of the players, and the AM/FM radio is pretty standard stuff. OnStar, bluetooth, navigation devices, etc. were still pipe dreams when my car was new. As far as my ownership eperience, I have to say I love my car. It is plenty powerful to get me where I need to go, and I've taken it to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Tennessee with no trouble climbing the inclined roads. We took it on a road trip once where we literally drove 27 hours straight with just stops to hit the drive through and get more gas and it was right there chugging along faithfully. We have exposed it to salt air many, many times and it's never shown any damage to the finish or the performance. It has only gone into the shop for minor issues, though now at 13 years old I need to replace the universal joints on the front axle on both sides. I cannot say too much about how much I love my car. It has been 100% reliable for 13 years of pretty much daily driving, safely transporting me & my family from the beginning when it was purchased specifically because we had a preemie newborn with tons of medical stuff to be lugged around, to now when that boy is a big, active teenager with all of his "gear" needing transportation. I only wish I had the ability to replace my 2003 Saturn with a new one!