The Vue is still no looker, but the body package does help. Not only do you get the Honda powertrain, you can upgrade to the more attractive silver dashboard trim that replaces the cheap black plastic. That explains why the Saturn's horsepower figures are different from the Hondas'. . Bought some studded winter tires, and laugh at snow and ice now. Honda has provided the Vue a far more powerful engine than it offers in its own entry in the compact utility segment.
Subreddits you may also enjoy: My buddy had a 2003, the last year of the Opel engine. TruckCabinFilter selectedCabinList, null ; truckCabinFilter. The Red Line package addresses many of my complaints about the original Vue. NewUsedFilter selectedNewUsedList, null ; newUsedFilter. Model year 2004 Year of manufacture 2004 First year of ownership 2008 Most recent year of ownership 2011 Engine and transmission 3. Vue Red Lines are available with either front- or all-wheel drive, painted either Black, Silver, or Lime. The only transmission is Honda's respected five-speed automatic.
SellerTypeFilter selectedSellerTypeList, null ; sellerTypeFilter. Saturn is giving the Vue sport ute a shot of testosterone and it's turning to Honda Motor Company for the injection. WheelSystemFilter selectedWheelSystemList, null ; wheelSystemFilter. The Red Line's steering is better yet, with tighter on-center feel and even faster response. For the Vue, it delivers 250 horsepower at 5800 rpm and 242 pound-feet of torque at 4500 rpm, and is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.
With regular maintenance, it has proven to be one of my favorite cars of I've ever owned. Technical posts are welcome here however. Sport steering improves on-center feel, the lack of which was a disappointment in last year's Vue V-6. Stock tires are not very good in the snow. Note that this subreddit is unofficial, and you may get responses from anybody. These changes make the handling much crisper, with tighter control over body motions and lean.
The new powerplant standard in any V-6-equipped Vue, Red Line or not offers 38 percent more power and a 24-percent bump in torque over last year's Opel-based V-6. Included with the Red Line package are stiffer and shorter by 26 mm springs to reduce body roll and lower the center of gravity for improved handling. Enhanced utility comes from increased towing capacity up 1000 pounds to 3500 , thanks to a 3. I drove several versions of that new vehicle, the Vue, with various engines, transmissions and drivetrain combinations, and while I found the size and price appealing, the overall package seemed rather uninspired. The Red Line has a tougher, more serious appearance than other Vues -- Saturn calls it a ''slammed'' look, like that worn by customized import cars -- with distinctive front and rear panels. EngineFilter selectedEngineList, null ; engineFilter. If you ever find a Redline, buy it.
The Red Line's performance is much more lively than that of the old Vue, even though the vehicle still has a slightly nose-heavy feel. In addition to the Red Line, other Vue models soldier on. If that's the case, a more palatable alternative might be a regular Vue with the V-6. Found out Shell has the lowest amount of ethanol, and switched to Shell, and have had no problems since. The Red Line sits 26 mm lower than a standard Vue, and sports stiffer springs, performance-tuned steering, and 18-inch wheels with Bridgestone Turanza tires. I like the look, which has a bit of the chunky bulldog appearance of Toyota's Scion xB.
But the big news this year is with the V-6 models, including a new performance-oriented package called Red Line. Model year 2004 Year of manufacture 2003 First year of ownership 2010 Most recent year of ownership 2011 Engine and transmission 3. Some people at General Motors must have felt the same way, for they quickly set to work on a number of improvements that have begun to show up on the 2004 Vue. Yes Review Date: 17th March, 2011 Faults: Check engine light issue. Saturn also announced that in 2005 it will sell a hybrid Vue that delivers nearly 40 mpg.
The electric power steering, which used to feel loose and wooden, with an alarming tendency to wander, is better on all models. It handles extremely well, is great looking, everything is laid out really well in the interior exception: window buttons should be on the doors, not on center console. While the Red Line equipment makes it much easier to like the Vue, the rather high price may prompt some fiscal self-examination among prospective buyers. Most significant, the giant automaker went shopping for a new V-6 and a new transmission, which it found not in the corporate parts closet, but on the shelves of a competitor, the Honda Motor Company -- a bit of irony that Car and Driver magazine summed up in a headline: ''G. The Honda V-6 is powerful and refined, eager to respond when passing and willing to relax for peaceful Interstate cruising. It automatically stops the engine when the vehicle comes to a halt and instantly restarts it when the vehicle must move again.
It was a very economically sound investment that has served me well over the years. DealRatingFilter selectedRatingList, null ; ratingFilter. It has been a very reliable car and given me no grief or major problems. I learned later that Saturn engineers were working to change the calibration for gear shifts, which occur at higher engine speeds than they would like. Yes Review Date: 10th February, 2010. The designers did some visual trickery, too, adding trim below the side rocker panels so that the vehicle looks lower than it actually is. Upgrades included a redesigned interior with higher-quality materials, a new bumper and grille, and some minor cosmetic pieces to the exterior.