automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission
automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission

GM’s Saturn Division has been gone since the final 2010 Auras, Outlooks, Skies, and Vues slunk apologetically out of the showrooms, and I’m doing my best to document the more interesting models from The General’s once-revolutionary brand. Some of the later Saturns began life as Opel designs, but the Vue actually was the first vehicle to go on the all-new GM Theta platform; the Opel Antara was thus a Saturn copy, a fact that Saturn fans no doubt trot out when they get shamed by Opel zealots over the Astra. Today’s Junkyard Gem is a most unusual Vue, in the sense that its original purchaser was fine with both the base manual transmission and the leather-upholstery upgrade.

automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission

Sure, the cheapest way to buy a new Vue— which was sold here for the 2002-2007 model years— was to get it with the base transmission: a five-speed manual. You can still buy a new car with a five-on-the-floor manual right now, but only in a handful of cheapmobiles; by the middle 2000s, a tiny-and-ever-shrinking subset of American car shoppers would even consider a three-pedal commuter vehicle.

automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission

Really, there were only two reasons an American new-car buyer would have considered a non-enthusiast vehicle with a manual transmission in 2004: either an eccentric preference for the good ol’ stickshift or just plain penny-pinching.

automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission

The cheapest possible ’04 Vue was the version with four-cylinder 2.2-liter engine, front-wheel-drive, and five-speed manual transmission, and it started at $17,025 (about $26,080 in 2022 dollars). That’s what we’re looking at here. The optional CVT automatic transmission cost an additional $2,095 ($3,210 today), so it made sense to get the manual if you wanted to save serious money on your Vue.

automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission

However, this car is loaded to the gunwales with nice equipment upgrades, to the tune of at least the Leather Appointments Package ($755) and the Sports Plus II Package ($1,300) and probably a lot more. 

automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission

So, a buyer who didn’t care about power (so no V6 engine), didn’t want all-wheel-drive, liked driving a manual transmission … but insisted on power everything and a full-zoot comfy leather interior … in a cheap small SUV sold by a fast-fading brand. The conversations with the Saturn salesmen about this thing must have been interesting.

automotive history, autos, cars, saturn, classics, crossover, junkyard, junkyard gem, junkyard gems, saturn vue, junkyard gem: 2004 saturn vue with manual transmission

Built in Tennessee, sold new in Denver, will be crushed near Pikes Peak.

Saturn’s big appeal, back in the era of the S-Series, was always the no-hassle/no-haggle buying process, despite the belief among some GM suits that the plastic body panels were the biggest selling point.

Keyword: Junkyard Gem: 2004 Saturn Vue with manual transmission

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

2002 Saturn Sky Concept

This concept vehicle features a supercharged 2.2-liter, four-cylinder engine, mated to a five-speed manual transmission, that generates 180 horsepower. The headlights and taillights are powered by LED technology to give the Sky a distinctive lighting signature. The LED lamps are configured in cubes, and are smaller, lighter and require less ...

View more: 2002 Saturn Sky Concept

2004 Saturn Curve Concept

2004 Saturn Curve Concept DETROIT-Jan. 4, 2004, 12:00 a.m. EST : The Curve signifies Saturn’s evolution, both in styling and product. Saturn is growing its portfolio, planning new vehicles and exploring dynamic, refined designs. General Motors introduced the Saturn Curve at the North American International Auto Show. It was one ...

View more: 2004 Saturn Curve Concept

2007 Saturn Sky Roadster

2007 Saturn Sky Roadster Detroit, Michigan – The Sky, introduced at the North American International Auto Show and slated for production in 2006, is the first vehicle to feature a new look that will influence Saturn’s entire future product lineup. The Sky roadster was inspired by the Vauxhall VX Lightning ...

View more: 2007 Saturn Sky Roadster

2001 Saturn SC2 Concept

2001 Saturn SC2 Concept In Detail submitted by Richard Owen valvetrain DOHC displacement 1900 cc / 115.9 in³ power 92.5 kw / 124.0 bhp @ 5600 rpm specific output 65.26 bhp per litre bhp/weight bhp per tonne torque 165.41 nm / 122.0 ft lbs @ 4800 rpm driven wheels Front ...

View more: 2001 Saturn SC2 Concept

2001 Saturn SCX Concept

2001 Saturn SCX Concept The SCX’s 1.9-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine was modified by Saturn Motorsports of San Diego to yield an estimated 300 hp, more than double the engines normal output in the Saturn SC2. Along with its hot engine, the SCX boasts a high level of handling and sporty ...

View more: 2001 Saturn SCX Concept

Junkyard Gem: 1998 Volvo S90

Volvo began selling squared-off, rear-drive-equipped sedans and wagons here starting with the 140 in the 1968 model year, and continued selling those safe and sensible bricks all the way through 1998. The very last Swedish Brick models sold new in the United States were the 960 sedans and wagons, ...

View more: Junkyard Gem: 1998 Volvo S90

Junkyard Gem: 1983 Saab 900 Turbo 4-Door Hatchback

I’ve been finding quite a few interesting Saabs in Colorado car graveyards lately, including a 96 and a 99 (sadly, a discarded example of a Saab 92 has eluded me — at least in the United States — so far), and now it’s the turn of the factory-hot-rod Saab ...

View more: Junkyard Gem: 1983 Saab 900 Turbo 4-Door Hatchback

1988 BMW M5 Retro Review | The E28 is where it all began

Welcome to our latest series of Retro Reviews that take us back in time through the BMW M performance division’s history. This review of a 1988 BMW M5 will be the first of several classic BMW M car reviews to hit our little slice of the internet in the ...

View more: 1988 BMW M5 Retro Review | The E28 is where it all began

Junkyard Gem: 1953 Chevrolet 210 Sawzall Roadster Conversion

2011-2016 Honda CR-Z | Used vehicle spotlight

VW has been trying to resurrect the Bus for over 20 years

Mini marks International Women's Day with Pat Moss Edition

Junkyard Gem: 1973 Dodge Coronet Custom Sedan

Junkyard Gem: 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible Conversion

Bubba Wallace: A NASCAR Trailblazer

Junkyard Gem: 1990 Chrysler New Yorker Landau Mark Cross Edition

Junkyard Gem: 2005 Mazda6 Wagon with Manual Transmission

Junkyard Gem: 1987 Chevrolet Turbo Sprint

Junkyard Gem: 1995 Mercury Tracer Trio

Junkyard Gem: 1976 Jeep Cherokee

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel