Deal of the Week: Saturn Sky
While the official start of winter is still more than a month away, many areas of the country have already had their first encounter with the white and powdery (and then dirty and slushy) stuff. This means that, unless you live in southern California or Florida, buying a new convertible is not at the top of your list.
In the wake of the government-backed bankruptcy and a failed Penske buyout, GM announced that the Saturn brand would cease to exist in 2010. What do these two dissimilar topics have in common? The Saturn Sky, and the great incentives that are being offered as the sun sets on this convertible and all Saturns, to clean out the dying brand's inventory.
Now through the end of November consumers can choose from between $4000 cash back or 0% financing for up to 72 months. Current Saturn owners can also get a $1000 loyalty rebate.
As Saturn's nearly 25-year run comes to an end, great deals can be had on all Saturn models. With seasonally slow sales of convertibles on top of that, the Sky looks to be a great deal right now for consumers. Yes, there are the concerns of resale value and obtaining service, but GM has already addressed the latter by pledging to stand behind all Saturn (and Pontiac) models when it comes to parts and service. Resale value? Well, nobody has purchased a GM vehicle in the last 30 years with resale value being a major concern. Why start now?
The latest incentives and rebates for all vehicles can be found here.
- Posted by
- Lee Scott November 5, 2009, 3:00 AM
- Permalink
- Categories:
- Deal of the Week, Saturn
Nice little GM slam at the end. WTF?
This is a fun car! Drives like a go-cart. Visibility isn't all that good, but you can see forward just fine. :)
"Well, nobody has purchased a GM vehicle in the last 30 years with resale value being a major concern. Why start now?"
Awesome.
@brn, not a slam, just observing a fact. GM vehicle resale values have indeed lagged seriously behind many import brands. The same holds true for Ford and Chrysler. However, resale values have improved for the newer models from both Ford and GM.
The fact remains that if resale value was a top concern, you likely would have looked elsewhere for your vehicle. Then again, poor resale value is what makes a two-year old GM or Ford a great used car buy vs a comparable Honda or Toyota.
The question of resale value is one that some consumers have also raised when it comes to considering models from brands that are being phased out.
"@brn, not a slam, just observing a fact."
I agree with Lee here.
I would like to see the study that suggests that NOBODY who has bought a GM vehicle in the last three decades has cared about resale value.
@greenpony, I didn't suggest that nobody cared about resale value, I said that it wasn't a major concern.
The last GM vehicle I purchased was a 1998 Z/28. Trust me when I tell you that resale value wasn't a consideration.
Unfortunately Consumer Reports has red-flagged the Sky and Astra in particular of how different they are from other GM vehicles.
Resale is a killer and Saturn was really mauled on that . . . CT taxes cars based on KBB value . . . so it stings a bit more that you get taxed based on $8k of value on a $3.5k car :(
The Sky & Solstace were two vehicles that were apart from most GM (Vibe and Astra were too) but they axed Pontiac and Saturn . . .
I was *so* hoping some smartalec was going to show up at Monticello for the Cadillac event with a G8.
It was unnecessary. Are you going to mention it every time you talk about domestics?
Also, if it's true, it only make sense that you recommend against imports when purchasing used. After all, the resale value very much favors domestics when buying used.
brn, sometimes the truth hurts, if you take it personally.
I have been leasing VW's and Audi's for the last 10 years. But I am not going to get upset if someone tells me that nobody would get them if they were primarily concerned about reliability. I am not, so it doesn't bother me.
When someone comes to me for buying advice, I tell them the pros and cons of the vehicle(s) they are interested in. One down side to most domestics is that if you buy one, expect to be upside-down for at least four years if you are financing it for five or more years. That is just a fact.
That fact has not prevented me from suggesting domestics. In fact, I told my brother to look at both the Chevy Traverse and Equinox when he was interested in a new CUV.
"brn, sometimes the truth hurts, if you take it personally. "
Now you're just being condescending.