Originally posted by bigMoneyRacing:
Originally posted by sigma:
GM is poising Saturn to move into the $25-40K market. It will be more of a sporty version of Buick than a kissing cousin to Pontiac in the lineup. It will be getting a lot of Opel designs in the near future. This is just their first step at making the move. It'll take time, but I think Saturn is still new enough in the grand scheme of things that it can move up pretty easily as long as their products are good.


Was this not the niche filled by Olds?



Yeap. But with Chevrolet and Pontiac in the lower level they don't need Saturn down there too. GM decided that they needed a "sporty" niche alongside Buick because Saab wasn't cutting it. Oldsmobile couldn't fill it, and was too redundant with Buick, ,so they dropped Olds altogether and set on moving Saturn up to fill the niche.

Most people don't view Saturns as badly as we "car enthusiasts" likely do. Most people really don't have an opinion on them one way or the other, and with an established dealer network, they're GMs easiest brand to move around for minimal cost.

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