DFP readers comment on Penske/Saturn

[rfernatt]

It's not really a news article, but thoughts from some readers that were published.

Your advice for Roger Penske | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

"From reinstating the Saturn Homecoming owner's convention in Tennessee to where the cars should be built, what they should look like and what fuel they should use, Saturn owners proved again that their passion is the brand's greatest asset."

"Smart cars fit the image and price point that Saturn originally started at back in the late '80s and early '90s, and I believe that there is a core of Saturn customers that would consider a Smart Fortwo if they saw it sitting on the dealership floor backed by the Saturn dealer's service department."

"Penske's purchase of the Saturn brand is the best thing that happened to Saturn since dent-resistant side panels."

[jediknight36]

And from what I understand, the ONLY thing good that happened since the dent resistant panels.

[jwight]

...if they saw it sitting on the dealership floor backed by the Saturn dealer's service department."

Not gonna happen, per Dave Schembri last weekend.

[forestacademy]

Smart USA and Penske are two different worlds and companies. There will be no merger.

[parnami]

I don't see a merger occuring as such, but, some rebadging of smarts to Saturns makes sense to me. The smart design is a logical extension of the original Saturn philosophy of car design and is the vehicle I always felt Saturn should build: (small, economical, plastic body on spaceframe construction).

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by parnami

I don't see a merger occuring as such, but, some rebadging of smarts to Saturns makes sense to me. ...

Wouldn't make any sense to M-B/smart GmbH. Penske has no rights of ownership - he's just a distributor.

[Woody14619]

Originally Posted by rfernatt

"Smart cars fit the image and price point that Saturn originally started at back in the late '80s and early '90s, and I believe that there is a core of Saturn customers that would consider a Smart Fortwo if they saw it sitting on the dealership floor backed by the Saturn dealer's service department.

I'm one of them. Owned Saturns for 14+ years, now own a Smart.

[parnami]

Originally Posted by Old smart

Wouldn't make any sense to M-B/smart GmbH. Penske has no rights of ownership - he's just a distributor.

I understand that, but just as he's approaching manufacturers about rebadging their cars as Saturn, he could approach smart with the same proposition...and this one..unlike the others, actually would make sense!!! smart and Saturn just FIT!!!