By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Saturn’s last-decade image as a viable American alternative to the Japanese economy brands has been tarnished over the past few years.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Saturn started life more than 20 years ago as a small, unique car company that offered American drivers a choice.

It made vehicles at a new plant in Spring Hill, Tenn., designed to give buyers of small, fuel-efficient cars an alternative to the Japanese invasion. And for the most part those initial cars offered value with ding-resistant door panels and peppy fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engines; maybe not the best, but as adequate as most.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

It wasn’t so long ago that the Saturn division of General Motors was on the ropes with an inferior small car, a less-than-stellar minivan, and a mid-sized sedan that was selling so slowly it was terminated.

What was left was a decent, but slow-selling compact sport utility vehicle, the VUE. Not much to carry an entire division.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The Saturn Sky among other things is a chick magnet – in more ways than one.

We learned this the first night we drove the new roadster. Word quickly spread about the cool car in the parking lot. A parade of waitresses at one of our favorite local eateries filed out and around the car at various times during our meal. It was hard getting refills for our ice teas.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

You don't have to visit your nearest Volkswagen store to buy an affordable European-spec car.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman