EDIT: See my later post about Lease Back offers to owners of other brands with leases out to June of '09. GMS prices and rebates.

YMMV I know this is long , but please read to understand. We just purchased an '09 Saturn Aura XR-4 and found out some interesting details in the process. We got the XR-4 with the 6 speed automatic transmission which is standard for the best fuel economy. I was just checking the Saturn web site to check out some of the listed features on our car. To my surprise the base price of $23,450 on our car sticker is $1,755 less that the new base price ($25,205) on the Saturn web site for an XR-4. I noticed the comparable Chevy Malibu is also up this year on the Chevy website. But some models currently on lots have LOWER base prices than on the Chevy or Saturn web sites. GM has done this traditionally on new model year cars delivered to dealers. After a few weeks or up to a month or so, the base price creeps up sometimes. I think this is a marketing thing so that when rebates kick in later in the year, GM is really not taking as big of a hit on prices as it would seem. However, if a person happens to FIND an earlier released car from the beginning of the model year release, it can be a real savings. It is easier to qualify than most would think. Here is a list to qualify:
Link
Having said all this, there is also a LARGER GMS rebate then the current $1,000 that dealers promote on even 2009 Auras. If you can qualify for a GMS family/friends purchase or GM supplier discount , you can qualify for a $3,000 regional rebate ( YMMV) on Saturn Auras. Malibus only have a $1,000 rebate for anyone. The bottom line is we did get the GMS price, with a $3,000 rebate and it was on a car with the LOWER $23,450 base price. This amounts to some substantial savings . These saving are good till either Nov. 3 or October 31.

Bottom line we saved approximately $2,235 off MSRP for GMS price, plus $3,000, plus $1,755 off the current listed Saturn website base price for a Saturn XR-4. $2,235+$3,000+$1,755 = $6,990. Even without the $1,755 difference between the new website price, it's a savings of $5,235. Depending on the particular car sticker price it would amount to a 20% - 26% savings. Our particular Saturn XR-4 had all 4 of the extra option packages also. Even with that, the savings were about 22% off for a new '09 car. If you have a GM card with the "right" conditions you can also add GM card earnings you can potentially stack that. Again YMMV. Anyone looking at Chevy Malibus should take a look at this.

This sounds like a good deal, but I would never buy another Saturn. Just google "saturn leak", and you will see how many hits you get. The car's doors, sunroof, battery, and other things frequently leak. When you go to the dealer, they say it's the fault of the factory (but there is no recall), and that they cannot fix it. Once you contact the factory, they say that dealers are responsible for all the repairs. It sucks to pay a lot of money for a car that leaks through the doors every time it rains, and there is nothing you can do about that. Just FYI.

momov said:This sounds like a good deal, but I would never buy another Saturn. Just google "saturn leak", and you will see how many hits you get. The car's doors, sunroof, battery, and other things frequently leak. When you go to the dealer, they say it's the fault of the factory (but there is no recall), and that they cannot fix it. Once you contact the factory, they say that dealers are responsible for all the repairs. It sucks to pay a lot of money for a car that leaks through the doors every time it rains, and there is nothing you can do about that. Just FYI.

Google any type of car and leak, and you will get pages and pages of listings about leaks.

I got a Saturn back in 91. Fairly trouble free throughout its life. Still driving well after 17 years and over 160,000 miles. Loved the plastic body, it still look nice when I got around to wash it. Don't need wax and doesn't fade. I would probably buy Saturn again if they kept the plastic body.

You shouldnt post crap that does not have anything to do with the item being discussed. The cars that come up when you google "Saturn Leak" are the old S-Series cars, they quit making these almost 7 years ago. The Aura is based on the same platform as the new Chevy Malibu, Pontiac G6, and Saab 9-3. The Saturn Aura was the 2007 "North American Car Of The Year". It also won "Most washable car 2007", I dont think this would be something that a car that leaks would win.

Wow. Lot's of emotion on this original post! I read the stuff about Saturn "leaks". Most of what I read related to earlier "plastic" bodied S models as another poster noted. There were also posts on Edmund's about rocker panel "gaps". Mine has none. Fit and finish are exceptional. It rained on us all day Saturday while we were out and about. 150 miles on the car in various amount of rain. No leaks so far. Maybe I'll drive it through the car wash and make sure!

I completely understand that SOME dealers of all car makes have there respective "attitudes".
We had a 2001 Toyota Sienna mini van with the oil sludge, endless rear brakes squeeling, cheap interior rattling, etc. The Toyota dealer here had the nerve to have us pay a $70 "inspection fee" since they claimed Toyota did not compensate them for warranty "inspections of dubious problems".
And we liked the Sienna well enough that we kept it for nearly 5 years and traded it in on an '05 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. We put 54,000 miles on that car and it got great gas mileage for a 6 cyl. There were even a few re-calls for the car and the dealer replaced the radio 3 times to resolve an XM Radio problem. We couldn't have been happier with the Chevrolet dealers response to any issue we had with our Malibu Maxx. They were always completely resolved to our satisfaction. The point is, sad to say,we all have had bad individual owner experiences of some sort from time to time.

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL POST: In our Sunday paper GM has a big 2 page add offering leased owners of many brands ( Toyota, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, etc.) very substantial rebates and GM supplier pricing for leasebacks going out to June of next year. I am searching for a link if I can find one. It says to call your GM dealer about special the Lease Back Offer with GMS pricing good till 11-03-08. On this same Saturn Aura they show $5,000 savings combining GMS with the special rebate. Other GM products are also being offered similar rebates or better.

Had 95 sl2, no leaks. Have a 2007 Saturn Aura XR-4, no leaks.