2009 model info

[Lil GTO]

If the plant shutdown to re-tool for 2009 production happened last month - why is there next to no official info posted on the 2009 models? and no option to Build your own 2009 on the Saturn website. Unless of course there is a glut of 2008 models left to clear.

I don't intend to place an order until January 2009 - but still - would be nice to know what colors and options etc will be available - and which of the various issues have been conclusively resolved from previous model years. I know there are some rumors and other info that has been posted here - but try a google search for 2009 Saturn Sky and you get lots of hits that lead you to Saturn Sky info - but not 2009 model year info - this site has to be the only place where any info that I would ever consider reliable has been posted so far.

I am trying not to be impatient - but I need something to keep me going for the next 6 months - and to stay on track with my plans to have $0 credit card balance when I go to place my order in January.

Also would like to have a complete build out with add-ons etc ready to go so that I can find my best financing option before I even go to the dealer. I will likely not do any serious mods for a while except maybe CAI - and would like to see the rumored factory tune to 290 HP (yes, looking at RedLine, possibly with the new dark red color - definitely manual tranny.

[ParrotHeadNation]

well gto, i feel the same way, im in the same boat as you, waiting on the sky until january.. are you waiting for winter to pass? thats my reason... although i have been waiting for two years, so I think 6 months will FLY by

[Lil GTO]

Originally Posted by ParrotHeadNation

well gto, i feel the same way, im in the same boat as you, waiting on the sky until january.. are you waiting for winter to pass? thats my reason... although i have been waiting for two years, so I think 6 months will FLY by

No - not waiting for winter to pass - in fact around here (Northeast Ohio) winters lately have started in December and run through March.

My main reasons for waiting (despite having wanted one since I first saw the final shipping version) are primarily financial. I have been working diligently to pay off massive credit card debt over the past few years and leased two new vehicles late in 2006. I am currently expecting to have zero credit card debt by late in December 08 or early in January 09. My wife will likely still have some that I will need to take care of in early 2009. So in addition to having $0 credit card balance myself when I place an order - I expect to have most or maybe all of my wife's paid off before I take delivery - which I am expecting to be sometime in March 09 (11 March 2009 is my 40th birthday). I don't know that it will take 2 months for delivery or if there will happen to be exactly what I want on the lot already waiting - but figured that planning for a couple months delivery on a custom order is a good idea.

One of the two other cards I leased in 2006 doesn't end until 2011 - but the buyout on that lease is only about $3000. THe other of the two leased vehicles ends in November of 2009 - which I figure gives me about 6 months to decide whether I need two cars or not. I work at home and my parents live down the street and also work at home - so I am thinking that if the Sky was my only car and I had a need to go somewhere and the weather was bad I might be able to use the wife's car or borrow a car for a day from my parents. I *might* be able to buy the Sky in March and save up enough $ to buy out the Accord in November - not exactly sure how that will go. My goal is to avoid having 3 car payments - and, after the credit cards are paid off, to avoid paying interest on anything except the house and the cars.

And I have accounted for additional insurance and operating expenses - not just the monthly loan amount (although 0% interest or at least very low interest can't hurt).

Then again - if interest rates are very low - financing the buyout on the Accord may not be a bad idea - yes it means paying some interest for 2 or 3 years - but means more $ in my pocket each month to pay for other stuff. On the flip side - if I buyout the Accord in november and then in 2010 or so if I decide I don't really need to keep it - I could sell it much more easily if I own it free and clear.

I will know much better how I am doing towards some of those goals in the next couple months - variables such as whether I get any raise and or bonus between now and then remain - and I am not 100% sure exactly what the Accord buyout will be - I am figuring somewhere around $14,000 for a 2007 LX 4 cyl manual (I do know the milage will likely be around 20,000 - making it tough to give up - I would rather keep the Accord and sell the wife's Lancer).

Then spend a few years paying down the mortgage and doing some improvements around the house so we can make a profit when we move.

And sometime around 2012 - start a frame off restoration of my 1964 GTO Tri-Power, which I bought when I was 16 and is my first car (thus my member name on this forum - which I may change when I get the Sky).

I am on the fence regarding the restoration - while I would like to do most of it myself - at a guess of about $10,000 - it might take many years to complete - versus finding someone else with a lot more experience in such things to pay to have it done - which I would guess could easily increase the price to $20,000 - but would almost certainly mean that it would be done in less than a year. I know there are folks out there who have spent $100,000 doing a full restoration of a 1964 GTO - I spoke to one such person - but in that case the restoration was 100% perfect and original factory correct. In my case my goal would be to make it safe and look good without spending $100,000 even if that means for example some parts which are not historically accurate for the 1964. I probably could start working on a more accurate estimate since I know that items such as all the wiring and all the weather stripping and pretty much the whole interior have to be replaced. The body is good shape and I think the frame is okay - the tranny was rebuilt a number of years ago - the carbs were rebuilt but could use some work - the engine could use a rebuild - some of the chrome is missing and aside from the bumper most of the chrome has seen better days. but maybe I do not want to know what the true cost will be until I am closer to making that happen.

anyway - need to stop rambling on for now.

[Griz]

Wow... sounds like a call in to the Dave Ramsey show!

[Ahnuld]

well... there is this:
May 2008 order book for 2009 redlines
Even indicates "New" stuff

May 2008 Orderbook for 2009 MY

[Helios]

The economy is doing so poorly that GM has decided to discontinue the production of the Kappas until further review.

[Helios]

HAHAHA!!! Just kidding...

[mbeardsley]

Well, I wouldn't be very surprised if 2009 is the last year for them.

If GM is moving the production to Kentucky, they will have to spend big bucks for re-tooling (on a low production platform). All for a rather niche vehicle that is starting to (at least for the Solstice) see a reduction in demand.

As GM is trying hard to find cost savings right now, dropping the Kappa platform might make sense.

I would think that another solution would be to develop a more main-stream "commuter" Kappa version that would be cheaper and get better gas milage (assuming that this is even possible).

[WishfulThinking]

Interesting. That guide shows that both cup holders are still standard equipment...

Cup holders, 2 front in the center console between the seats, stowable S S
Cup holder, front center console, passenger-side, stowable S S

[lorennerol]

Originally Posted by Ahnuld

well... there is this:
May 2008 order book for 2009 redlines
Even indicates "New" stuff

May 2008 Orderbook for 2009 MY

FYI, I just ran and uploaded a new copy of the orderbook (it's attached to my original message in the other thread). I haven't looked to see if there are any changes, but it does still show the console cupholders and the infamousouly breakable passenger cupholder.

Edit to add distribution update list for 2008:

Updates for SKY
Week of 3/31/2008
Effective 3/31/2008, the following changes will be made to the Vehicle Order Guide:
Solid Paint Color and Trim section-(25U) Midnight Blue, added a new footnote 3 to read "No longer available for ordering as of April 2, 2008. Not available with (19B) Black cloth interior.". Old footnote 3 becomes footnote 5 for (38U) Forest Green and (50U) Polar White.
Solid Paint Color and Trim section-(72U) Bluestone, added a new footnote 6 to read "No longer available for ordering as of April 2, 2008.".
D30 Custom Color and Trim Combination Color and Trim section-(25U) Midnight Blue, added a new footnote 3 to read "No longer available for ordering as of April 2, 2008.". Old footnote 3 becomes footnote 4.
D30 Custom Color and Trim Combination Color and Trim section-(72U) Bluestone, applied new footnote 3.

Week of 3/3/2008
Effective 3/3/2008, the following changes will be made to the Vehicle Order Guide:
Exterior section-Added (ACX) Weekend Getaway Package, includes console storage bag with Saturn logo, trunk storage bag with SKY logo, windscreen with storage bag, molded splash guards and all weather floor mats with SKY logo. It will be "A1" on ZMB67, ZMC67, ZMG67 and ZMJ67, with footnote 1 to read "Not available for Fleet or Government order types.".

Week of 2/11/2008
Effective 2/11/2008, the following changes will be made to the Vehicle Order Guide:
Home page-Deleted "NOTE: Ordering not available for ZMC67 and ZMJ67 Carbon Flash Special Edition models at this time. Ordering date to be determined."
All sections-Removed footnote from ZMC67 Carbon Flash Special Edition and ZMJ67 Red Line Carbon Flash Special Edition. Carbon Flash models are now available to order.

Week of 1/21/2008
Effective 1/21/2008, the following changes will be made to the Vehicle Order Guide:
Exterior section-Headlamps, halogen projector beam with reflector optics and automatic exterior lamp control, changed symbol on ZMC67 Carbon Flash Special Edition from "S" to "--".

[Lil GTO]

Originally Posted by Griz

Wow... sounds like a call in to the Dave Ramsey show!

I am not sure who Dave Ramsey is - but I left out that I have also been trying to eat better and exercise more - I lost about 50 pounds over the course of 3 years - got off track a bit and have put about 10 back on - but trying to get it back under control - need to start adding more to my work out routine. As a side goal I would like to get down to about 175 or so when I pick up the car - instead of the 230 or so I was back in 2004.