Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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Thanks for you help
wittb
I am interested to hear from someone who traded in a S series for an ION. How is it on trips of one hour or more? If I drive the SL2 for more than an hour without stopping, my feet and legs go to sleep and back aches. Nothing seems to help, pillows, heating, vibrating seat things, nothing. I think It's just too low.
Second trip was to the Toyota dealer to try out the Corolla S were I was pounced on rather quickly by a salesman. The first thing I noticed on the test drive was a rattling sound under the hood like a chain while my foot was on the accelerator, as soon as I took my foot off it quieted but came back as soon as the gas was applied. Sharp turns made me a little edgy as I felt the need to slow down, it had a bit of a top heavy feeling. On my return to the lot I had to back the Corolla back into it's parking space, I noticed that the rear headrest obstruct your view. The salesman was one of those who wasn't going to let you off the lot without buying, and when he went "supposedly" to get me a brochure, came back with his sales-manager in tow who also tried to get me to buy today.
If the ION was not around I would probably settle for the Corolla but I think that Saturn has won my vote hands down both with the vehicle itself and their customer service. For the model and options I was looking for both vehicles ran about the same price give or take a few $100, but the ION has a few more standard features that I liked. I will be purchasing one within the next month.
By the way for anyone wanting to know I also got insurance quotes from 2 companies, and the ION in both cases had the lower insurance rates.
Did you ask? Our store has stock of same colored roof rails.
Also, no disrespect, but why do you need 4 wheel disc brakes? As mentioned by Car and Driver the ION braking power outclassed all of the competition. As I understand it, the benefit of disc brakes has to do with fade when they heat up with repeated braking. Do you race your Civic or go up and down mountains?
Locking gas door? Any lockable gas door can be popped open with a flathead screwdriver in about 2 seconds...does it really make you feel secure?
Frankly, I can think of reasons why some people would chose the Civic over the ION. However the items you have mentioned sound like you're trying to justify your purchase. Which begs the question, why?
Oops I'm ranting again. Enjoy the Civic...
Stringreen:: The Civic didn't even make our final 3. We loved our old Civic, but the new ones are not all that great. Just my opinion.
I traded in a 2001 SL2 for an ION3. It is extremely smooth and quiet on highway trips--which I take every single weekend--3 hours or more. I love it. It handles better also. Not only is it easier to steer, but it is much easier to see out of due to the guages being in the center.
And for those of you who believe that the S-series was a mistake--it is you who is/are sadly mistaken. We maintained a high ranking with only that car in production until 2001. If it was such a terrible car, how did we sell so many. They were one of the most reliable vehicles on the road, and still are to this day. They last for 200,000 miles and more with regular maintenance, and safe, durable, great in the snow, and I could go on and on. From 1991 and on they have been selling incredibly and we have been ranked #1 in JD Powers for both customer service and for the service department. Take a look at the facts again before you say that the S-series was a mistake.
If so, how do they look and how ez are they to install?
My wife thinks personalizing the car would be cool.
www.saturn.com
and see the pics there. Our company will be doing a car with the ground effects that are coming out and putting the roof rails and trim kit on. Once it is done I will post links to pics so everyone can see how it looks.
I agree that they should have come out with something sooner than they did, but I would never say that the S-series was a mistake. I guess they thought that the L-series would be a turning point since it was the first change since the S-series. Then the VUE... and finally the ION. They approved the SKYE and they also approved plans for a 2005 Saturn mini-van. If there is anymore news I will let you all know!
Still enjoying the Ion. Our neighbor is looking for a small car for his daughter and came over to take a look. She thought it was great. I mentioned the base Ion-1 with a 5 speed can be had for a lot less than what our Ion-2 was.
I was also surprised to find out that ABS and side curtain airbags are an option even in the ION3. The airbags should be standard at least on the 2. The Golf/Jetta has ABS and side curtains standard, and are about $16K or so...
This is 2,000 more than a ION 3 automatic.
ION has 0.0% APR for 60 months.
Don't get me wrong, I like the Jetta better. I especially like the 1.8 Turbo Jetta! (TMV 19,984) Its just hard to compare them due to the prices being so different.
By the way, I agree with you. Saturn should have made head curtain airbags standard on all models. As I type this you can't buy an ION with headcurtain airbags yet. Nor a Moonroof.
I agree that the head curtains should be standard, but I have to disagree about the ABS. You would be amazed at how many people come in and would refuse to purchase a car just because it DOES have ABS. Some people I know have had terrible experiences with it. Part of it is because they weren't sure how to use it--which happens a lot. But other times people have been driving and the ABS has locked up. Granted I have never heard these complaints from a former Saturn owner. They were usually other makes and models. But it is enough to turn a person away. I personally love my ABS, but they are smart to make it an option instead of standard.
When I went to the Saturn ION drive thing, they had a Jetta there, which I thought to be weird. I wouldn't think the ION as a competitor of the Jetta, considering the price and refinement differences between the two. Everyone seemed to like the Jetta better on the test loop too...
And the 1.8T is REAL fun. That's what I have.. :0
Finally saw an ION as on TV last night, maybe they can start moving some cars now.
Looked at the ION this weekend. The car is appropriately priced. But I didnt waste the incredibly nice salesperson's time- this simply wasnt a car for me. Styling not to my taste, didnt like the center pod, and the materials felt flimsy. Went with a Sentra 2.5LE (ABS, auto, side airbags, alloys, pwr win/lks/mirr, 165 hp all standard!). Awesome car! It's my first new car ever (I'm 21), and it feels great to buy it with my own dinero. Good deal- 900 under invoice, at 2.9 for 60months. I only wish my car's discussion board was as lively and informational as this one!
Happy Motoring,
alpha
I wasn't the salesperson or hey would probably be driving in an ION now.
I bring it up simply because with the ION (and the VUE) Saturn is bringing in a whole new breed of customer. People who would not consider Saturn before now have them on the shopping list. This flys in the face of the auto critics who dismiss the ION based upon the looks. The average Joe Buyer likes the looks.
I still maintain Saturn will sell many many IONs.
If you specify reasons for not liking the 15k car, your comments are fair. In your original post, you said only that you went from Saturn to Honda, suggesting you bought a Civic. Now the Civic is an ION competitor. If you had bought a Civic over an ION, it would be relevant and interesting to know why.
In fact, you bought an up market V6 Accord. That you passed on the Civic as well as the ION suggests you were clearly in the market for the increased level of design and refinement those extra nine thousand dollars can buy.
I just hope the crash tests on the Ion are as good as the crash tests on our Vue. Saw the other day that Consumer Reports is now recommending the Vue. Nice to see they agree with us that it is a very good little SUV.
However, they knew this was the case! I guess in a way they said "screw you" to those who wanted those things.
My opinion, they should have kept both, maybee limit the models of "s" cars, maybee just keep a base model with no power group and a top of the line model, provide only a few colours, I think it would have sold.
That's my 2 cents!
ION is a good replacement and that's all Saturn needs. They need to keep quality up and start marketing the heck out of the thing.
~alpha
I saw a SpecV sentra with aftermarket leather...tasty!
All of the entries in the compact segment have their strengths. Aside from plastic panels and a (finally) up to date powertrain, I am not sure which traits the Ion has that are superior to other compacts that distinguishes it from the competition.
(See, made it all the way through an ION post and didn't even bring up the gauges)
I have the L, and when I bought it in 2001, it was a great car for the money. It has performed flawlessly and I have no regrets.
In 03 you have new platform Accords, Camry and Altimas on the market. GM will counter with a new platform Malibu with the L replacement to follow in about a year or two. Most cars have sales drop off in the last year or so of their runs.
L-series is a nice car. I like the 2003 update. Unfortunately when it came time to buy, the Alero was less for the same car by a fair margin so we bought it instead.