Saturn Vue

PerfectReign wrote:
> On Sun, 23 Apr 2006 20:07:47 -0400, Tom The Great took a five-minute break
> from flipping burgers to boot the etch-a-sketch and scribble out:
>
>> On Sun, 23 Apr 2006 21:15:36 GMT, "Haggar"
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> <<snip>> Any year to stay
>>> away from??
>>>
>>
>> Check Consumer Reports for this advice. Rather than rely on customer
>> loyality biasing people's option.
>>
>
> Heh, that's a good one! I've yet to have seen an unbiased opiniion in CU!
> That magazine is about as biased as they get!


I don't know about intentional bias, but they tend to want to test
everything like a toaster. They're OK for appliances and gadgets, but I
find their car tests to be lacking.


> Read Edmunds and other online sources for a much better grip of what a
> car or truck is like.
>
> Oh, my wife's 05 is doing quite well. The car is FWD with the Honda 3.5
> engine. (Yes, it apparenly has a belt, though I don't know if it is an
> interference engine.)

It has a belt and it's an interference engine. My advice would be to
change it every 5 years or 100,000 miles (at most...I change mine every
75,000)...regardless of what the recommended interval is. New engines
are VERY expensive and you'd lose the use of your vehicle for a week or
three in the event of a failure. You'd also change the water pump
(which is driven by the timing belt) and the tensioner at the same time.

Cheers,

The wife's 04 4-cyl manual is treating us good outside of some
suspension rattles that conveniently popped up at 36,001 miles (maybe
not quite that, but close - hehe). Traction control is pretty nice,
but can be annoying at times, so you just lock it out with the button
if you don't want it on. Really a solid vehicle all-in-all, and it
fits my toddler great.