From: ljb@parkcity.dr.att.com (BLO54620-BonhamLJ(DR2194)240)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Saturn's Allegedly "Noisy" Engine
Date: 30 Dec 92 22:08:19 GMT

In article <1992Dec21.193304.23085@cbnewsd.cb.att.com>, hhm@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (herschel.h.mayo) writes:
|> 
|> From what I've gathered from owners, and my own experience and other
|> sources is that the problem with Saturn's engine noise is a myth 
|> created by car rag testers who were pressed to find anything bad  to
|> report about it. It seems that once something like this is started,
|> it is like a self perpetuating feeding frenzy. I drove one, and I
|> didn't notice anything unusual about the engine noise. But I guess
|> once this sort of thing gets started, everybody probably test drives
|> one with ear cocked listening. Maybe I'm going deaf. Any other opinions
|> from people who have shopped around?
|> 
|> 
|>                                            Larry Mayo

As the very proud owner of a new Saturn SC2 coupe, I must say that the Saturn
DOHC engine is noisy in the same respect that a Porsche 911 or BMW six is noisy.
The only "noise" I hear when I wrap the little beast up is the sound of induction,
cams, timing chains, gear box, and exhaust notes all playing their symphonic song.
In other words, I could (and do) listen to that marvelous little motor all day.

I would agree that the complaints from the media are based in the need to
criticize, no matter how trivial the "fault".  I've also noted that the slams
tend to come from publicationsa which are unabashedly anti-American car and 
derive a significant portion of their advertising revenue from foriegn auto
companies, especially the Japanese.

BTW, the Japanese had better be very worried about Saturn.  The folks in
Spring Hill Tenn. are extremely dedicated to quality and customer pleasure.
My wife and I looked at the small/sporty market segment for over a year, test
drove (flogged mercilessly) every car in that segment (American and foreign) and
decided that the Saturn was the best product available for the money.  The only
thing I didn't like was the lack of bargaining on the price, since I have a fairly
good habdle on how to use the system to my advantage.  Many people, however,
would rather buy a car the same way they would food or dry goods,  the price
is marked, you choose the one you want and take it to the checkout register.

Bottom line is, these guys are not the same old Detroit MBA types we've come to
loath, rather they want you to be happy with your purchase and come back again
in a few years for another.  The Japanese have become so arrogant thinking that
they own the American market, that they are about to suffer the same fate that
Detroit did in the seventies once people saw an alternative to their product.
Saturn is that alternative and the fact that they're back ordered 6-8 weeks shows
that I'm not the only one who has discovered this.

Now if they would just take the SC's drive train, bump the power up to 140-150
BHP and put it in a 2 seat, mid-engine, sports car weighing 1500-1700 lbs, I'd be
back in the show room to buy the SC a stable mate.

My 2 cents.


Larry
"If you're still in control, 
   you're not going fast enough."
		--Parnelli Jones
From: leonglaw@hpsgm2.sgp.hp.com (Lawrence LEONG)
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 00:55:08 GMT
Subject: Re: Bought a 93 Civic LX 4-door....(long post)
Organization: HP Singapore