Looking Back on a Year of ImSaturn

[Jill Lajdziak]

It was just a year ago that we launched ImSaturn.com. Creating our own social network was largely an experiment: Would anyone be interested in joining us in a virtual Saturn community? We were thrilled when more than 1,000 people joined in the first three weeks. Now we have more than 4,900 members.

Your comments on this site, whether asking a simple question, offering honest criticism or giving us a pat on the back, have all been very welcome. You’ve also taken time to upload more than 6,000 photos of your beloved cars and more than 100 videos of your favorite Saturn commercials and activities. Several hundred of you even puckered up and kissed an Astra. That kind of passion and loyalty is why I love this business in general, and this brand in particular.

It has been a tumultuous year for both Saturn and General Motors. We are working hard with our retailers as we try to map out an innovative new course for Saturn. We’d love to have you along for the ride. (We hope to have some news for you on that front shortly. You can click on the Saturn FAQ tab for the information and subscribe to an RSS feed.)

I thank you again for the trust that you have placed in us, and we will do our best to take care of you and your vehicle. As always, if you are having problems with your vehicle, please let your retailer know about it. If you need additional assistance, contact our Customer Assistance Center And if you want to drop us a line, our team is here at [e-mail].

Thanks for joining us here on ImSaturn.com. It’s been a great first year for the site, and we are cooking up some great ideas for year two.

Jill

[KT]

Hi Jill,
I saw a Toyota commercial and their advertising campaign, and I noticed they've been using buyatoyota.com domain for all their TV and printed material. I think their main idea is to conduct people to BUY A TOYOTA and I saw that www.BUYASATURN.com is now for sale on ebay.

I hope things gets better,
Karina

[Howard Jones]

Having received Jill's letter of April 25th, I'm really disappointed in Saturn closing the Saturn of Brunswick and Saturn of Freehold dealerships. Now I have top drive 20 miles to the nearest dealership at Saturn of Bordentown. And I bet it'll be hard to get a weekend appointment less than a month in advance since all customers will be directed to that lonely dealership. As a customer having purchased two Saturns and considering a third, I will need to reconsider my future Saturn purchase. That makes me sad.

[Anita Adam]

I have owned Saturn's since 1992. I love everything about the brand: the quality, professionalism and service. They are wonderful and affordable cars. I can't imagine owning anything else. The dealership too is like family. The company has won so many past awards, and at times they were the only profitable auto that GM made. For me and many of the people that I know, they are much more than a car company. Someone needs to wake up and help Saturn survive!

[SparkynSwoop]

I wish that we, as Saturn owners, could band together and keep the brand afloat. Sort of like a credit union. You're a member/ owner. Well, we'd be owner/ owners. I love my Saturns (my SL2, Relay and late SW2). I'd love to find another SL for my oldest son when he turns 16 so he has a safe car to drive to school. (My other 2 kids are only 11 and 10, but I'm looking into an SC for my 2nd son and a Vue for my daughter).
I've read different reports that Saturn will be discontinued at year's end, to GM doesn't know what they're going to do with the brand.
My question is, if the brand should happen to go the way of Pontiac and Oldsmobile, where will I be able to get parts for my SL and Relay, especially since some of the parts for the SL are "dealer only?" The SL is a 95 and going to a junk yard would be very time consuming.
Would there be a way to possibly dump a Chevy engine, say from a Cavalier, into the engine compartment? I know the Relay's the same as an Uplander, but there's nothing in the GM lineup that was comperable (sp?) to the 95 SL2.
Saturn's are the best car's on the road. I know many people that love them, too.

[bdubsee]

Brian - I think you are taking this too personally. The situation is driven by economics and isn't designed to harm you or I. They are just cars and it's just money. To put it into perspective, my Saturn salesman, Dan Davis, died unexpectedly on April 8th. His untimely death is something to get upset about, not the loss of Saturn or uncertain resale values. He was a good man and he worked hard to take care of everyone that he came into contact with.

Your passion is admirable but beating up on these folks while they are fighting for their jobs isn't productive. I hope that your job is secure and you weather the economic storm better than Saturn. I wish you peace and good fortune.

[dreckte]

It's been a year already? Wow. Looking forward to hearing good news about Saturn's future.