newbster

This thread may or may not be too relevant but I thought I would write anyways because it may be interesting. My sister is back home in Africa having fun and in the meantime, I am driving her Saturn Vue. For those who do not know, the 2004 Vues have the Honda J35 engine. I actually find it kind of similar to my Acura CL so I thought I would pretend to be a car editor and make a review of it.

Exterior:
Looks like a lego car and assembled like one... I actually like it however because it has a distinctive chunky look that stands out from the cliched off-roader/sportster look currently blighting the current stock. The big chin on the Vue reminds me of Jay Leno!

Interior:
Erm...cheap and ugly but endlessly functional. I have never seen such haphazard fit and finish but seems to be hard wearing. I would never guess the car had 90K. The radio/CD notably sounds better than the BOSE in the Acura! Other things, I prefer the seats to the Acura-I have always found them too reclined for comfort. Visibility is excellent.

Road Performance:
This is where the Honda/Acura similarity makes its presence known. The engine, albeit related to the J32, sounds different in the Saturn. It sounds truckier but does not whine loudly like my Acura. At higher RPMs, it sounds the same. It does not exactly leap off the line but after 30mph or so, it launches like a piranha seeing blood. This plastic bucket is seriously fast. I actually believe it is faster than the CL in terms of highway performance. In normal city driving, the engine is practically silent and very smooth. Sounds exactly like the Honda Odyssey shuttle cars the Acura dealer has.

Some peculiarities with the transmission exist. Does anyone know why the car refuses shift out of first gear until after 3000rpm? Even with very slight pedal pressure, it will not shift until that point. It also seems to have a harsh 2nd gear shift. I am not sure but I will probably have the transmission oil changed. Another things I like about the Vue over the CL is the fuel economy because it is slightly better and at 60 mph, it revs only 1600rpm so it sips the dead fossils at a negligible rate.

Other things...it is much quieter. Road noise is low as is wind noise although I believe my CL probably has bad bearings. Also, it rides substantially smoother. It bounces over bumps a bit and to be honest, I like that. There is nothing wrong with the suspension-it just behaves like that. It feels like one is driving on a water bed...

Handling wise, it is as good as its blubbering looks suggest. Whereas my CL can carve up roads, the Saturn heels over and begs for mercy. The handling on the Saturn seriously leaves much to be desired-it absolutely hates changes of direction. Driving home around a curving road, the Saturn screeched and plowed all the way. The Acura can manage approx. 50mph on that road and the Saturn, probably less than 35mph. Not good.

However, the steering is excellent. It is extremely light and feels like a video game. Some people do not like it but I find it oddly appealing. Image turning a wheel and not knowing how much you are turning...

Hmm...anything else to write? Cannot think.

Anyways, my Acura is nearing the 300K mark. At this point, I will need another timing belt, fluid changes, obligatory inspections, definitely front brake rotors, suspension bits and others I cannot think of at the moment. I will probably skip those valve adjustments because frankly, I notice no difference before and after, and it is quiet right now.

Some people have told me there may be something wrong with my car. I have lent my car to some friends and they have reported some problems that I have become complacent to. I have been complaining about whining and it may actually be transmission bearings. Also, someone else noticed the car shaking between 20-30mph. It is faint but noticeable. It has been doing that for a long time and I have ignored it but hopefully it is not a bad omen to come.

Nersh7

Should probably be in car talk but good write up lol

DC3328

iTrader: (22)

J35a_?

YeuEmMaiMai

prolly the same as used in the pilot. wonder how that thing will hold up to dexcool......honda specifically recommends against putting that in their engines

RoccoRock

iTrader: (1)

j35a3 - or GM L66 thats the V6 in the VUE 2004-2007

F23A4

IIRC, the Car and Driver article featuring this Vue V6 stipulated that although it has a Honda V6....don't expect the Vue to be a Honda Pilot or Acura MDX. Basically aside from the heart (Honda J-series), the rest of the package is typical GM.

charliemike

Is this the Red-Line? Because I thought only the Vue Red-Line had the Honda V6 in it.

mcflyguy24

Nope. The redline has GM's 3.6 VVT, the normal V6 is the Honda J-35. I thought the Vue didn't look bad exterior wise when it had the running boards and spare tire (package?), but it looks kinda bland without them.

Kinda crazy to see we have someone from Zimbabwe on our boards too

mcflyguy24

I wonder if they even thought about this too in their service depts. I actually don't like that they killed off Saturn personally. They were beginning to turn it around towards the end. The Sky was pretty damn sexy lookin.

newbster

Lol...who's from Zimbabwe!? Actually, I am from Zuid-Afrika hence the ZA.We Afrikaners still call it Zuid-Afrika.
Let me clarify because it seems people do not know.

2004-2007 Saturn Vues (Old Design)
Engine choices included:
2.2 Ecotec
J35A3

All V6 models were the J35A3 engine from 2004 onward.

2007-Onwarn Saturn Vues (Completely New Design)
Engine choices included:
2.4 Ecotec
Ancient 3.5 OHV
AND the 3.6 DOHC

I myself own a 2001 Acura CL Type-S. I find there are some interesting similarities hence the reason I decided to write. I am actually starting to like the Saturn more than my Acura!

mcflyguy24

at myself for thinking you were from Zimbabwe.