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Saturn ION

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  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    Yes. My wife and I own a farm in Rio de Janeiro State, in the mountains about half way between the City Rio and Sao Paulo.

    The country is beautiful, the roads surprisingly good, and the weather is always manageable. Rio and Sao Paulo have huge ghettos (they are called Favelas there). You have to be careful where you go in those cities.

    In rural Brazil it is much different. The people everywhere are very nice and really like to see visitors from other countries. On one trip we took up the coast from Rio, we stopped at a little restaurant. I am sure the owner will not make in his life what I make in a year. Nevertheless, he refused to let me pay for my lunch. I was his guest.

    That said, there is one city you have to visit: Salvador, Bahia. Large parts of the city remain as the Portuguese made it hundreds of years ago. It is Lisbon without the huge earthquake damage.
  • vcjumpervcjumper Member Posts: 1,110
    03 Ion
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Fair assessment I think. Car is not the best in class, but it's competitive with the other cars. I still don't understand why the Ecotec does not seem to perform as well in the ION vs other cars with the same engine. Very strange.
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    Interesting review though I think the interior materials are pretty good for a car in this price range. The Corolla was a bit better, but it also cost a bit more.

    Saw 2 Ion ads on the Superbowl last night. I thought they were a bit quirky, but the car looked good in them. I really like the look of the Ion more every day.
  • gsgman69gsgman69 Member Posts: 75
    Looks like the Ion 3 has a 26/33 rating with manual(5) and a 24/32 with the automaitic(5).

    These numbers don't seem so thrify anymore especially when you consider that a 5 speed Accord gets 26/34 with more horsepower, a larger engine and in a bigger car. Also the Corolla gets 32/40 if I am not mistaken.

    I think this is not good news(regarding the Ion) because most cars do not quite reach their EPA rating in real life driving(something the agency doesn't utilize in their testing). I'm also disappointed since there are so few high MPG cars left on the road today between truck, big cars, and sports cars.

    BTW, my old '95 SC2 manaul(5) averaged 29mpg over 7k miles.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I saw another ION on the street tonight in Baltmore's Fells Point. This looked like a base model, and it was dark ruby red.

    I also saw an ad in the paper today from Saturn of Alexandria (VA) for an ION1 with AC for $190 a month purchase for 72 months at 1.9% financing. The link to their site is www.saturnofalexandria.com if anyone's interested in the area.
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    People seem to want bigger small cars with more hp. Given that, you will see fuel economy go down as engine output goes up. Frankly, I prefer this larger Ion to the S-series which I simply would not consider. I did not fit into that car and found it cramped.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Totally agree about the S Series. I couldn't fit in it either, but I am 6'3 and a good 260lbs., so the S Series isn't the only car that doesn't fit me. :)
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    I remember sitting in an S a few years ago and thinking the seat must be set in the mid range. When I tried to move it back I found it was one notch from all the way back. Needless to say I was not impressed with the leg room. Great car for shorter people though.
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    The S-series was ok, nothing special. The Ion is a much better car.

    We said good-bye to our old Civic last night. The Ion and Vue look nice in the driveway though. I think we would have waited on a new car, but the 0% financing was too juicy to pass up.

    Saw a couple of Ions on the road this week. Looks like they are finally marketing the thing so sales should pick up.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    So did you decide to sell/donate the Civic and not trade it in when you got the ION?

    I can't blame you about the 0% financing deal, but I am sure deals like that will be around for a good while yet, at least until the economy picks back up.
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    Civic was sold to my 18yr old brother. Sold it at a bit of a discount to the market rate as he doesn't have a lot of money. He just needs wheels as his 88 Escort was just about dead.

    Ion is a great deal. The economy is likely going to be in the dumper for some time, so the deals should be around for a while still. I wish George W would just get this war over with so he can start fixing up the economy. The government is totally consumed with this thing while people all around me are loosing their jobs. Brutal!

    Time to step off the soapbox.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Forgot to mention, I heard that the ION is now being offered with 0% financing for 60 months.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    I think that's what he got.

    No cash incentives in lieu I suppose. Up here, it's 3.9% for 36 months, no deals at all.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    You're right. I scrolled back and read that he got 0% for 60 months. I wish my credit was good enough to get that.. :(
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Do you have bad credit? Are they strict about that down there? GMAC Canada is pretty easy about loans here, my brother in law has awful credit and he bought a Grand Prix GTP.
  • juliea55juliea55 Member Posts: 1
    I recently purchased a 2003 Saturn Ion. The car is running well, but I am getting an average of 13-15 miles per gallon in the city, 24 miles per gallon highway. The sticker reads 24mpg city and 32mpg highway. I took the car to Saturn and they ran diagnostic tests that said the car was running within their operating specifications and there was no problems w/ the fuel system. They told me the mileage is lower when the car is new (2500 miles now on the car) and that gas mileage should be in that range in the winter. If I had known the gas mileage would have been this bad, I would have bought an SUV (a friend gets 19mpg in the city in his Envoy). Any thoughts/suggestions?
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    maybe it just needs some break in time.....which tranny do you have? The ecotec is know for good mpg in the Saturn L.

    Lay off the throttle too? :)

    My guess is the tranny is horribly inefficient.

    Try some good gasoline also, some higher octane pure gas from a well known source....some of this fuel they sell in large urban areas is either oxygenated or has ethanol in it.
  • vcjumpervcjumper Member Posts: 1,110
    Ion
  • afk_xafk_x Member Posts: 393
    Interesting review...

    I have to say... I could not agree more with nearly everything he had to say.

    Solid car

    Perfect? No.

    Minor tweeks would make it a Homerun.
  • afk_xafk_x Member Posts: 393
    By the way, assuming its comfortable for you, with the 0.0% APR for 60 months I think its easily the best small car out there FOR THE MONEY.
  • afk_xafk_x Member Posts: 393
    All ION models now qualify for 0.0% APR for 60 months, and 1.9% APR for 72 months.

    Also, for credit challenged folks who cannot get the 0% but are approved by Americredit are now eligible for 9.9%.

    This is good since Americredit approves nearly everyone who has a job, and a FICO score above 450...
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    We have an Ecotec powered Alero and it had poor mileage for the first 2-3 months also. It picked up after that and is fine now (we get as advertised mileage). Apparently this is quite common with this engine, it must have a break in period of some kind. Of course if you have a lead foot, expect mileage to drop off for obvious reasons.
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    hope the minor tweaks as x says above would include some styling tweaks inside and out as well.
  • joe3891joe3891 Member Posts: 759
    milage is not good in any vehicle.
  • savannahladysavannahlady Member Posts: 14
    Well, I finally bought my ION 3 on Friday!! I have the bright blue one and I LOVE IT!! I got the 0% financing for 60 months and I have already put 200 miles on it. It is very comfortable to drive, I only wish I had purchased one with leather. The car I traded in had leather seats and I really didn't realize how much easier it is to move around in the leather than the cloth. I did find a flaw in the paint on the passenger side front quarter panel so next weekend I have to take it in and get a loaner vehicle while they send it to the body shop to be re painted "bummer", that is my only complaint thus far :)
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I don't have bad credit, just alot of stuff on there. Also, bought 2 new cars within a year too, so that doesn't help...

    Glad Saturn is being so lienant (sp?) with the credit, but I think pretty much all lenders are at this time, because of interest rates being so low and sales not happening as much either.
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    http://media9.motorcities.com/02K4B411801592A.jpeg

    I wonder if they'd ever do something like this with the sedan.
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    I think that is the version that will come with the high output Saab engine. I do not how GM will price it, but the 200 hp ION Coupe has a chance to be a competitive pocket rocket.
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    Juliea55 - Our Ion is still not getting great mileage, but we were told that both winter driving and the break in would mean we probably won't see things improve until the spring. It's not bad, just not as good as it should be, especially in the city.

    Savannahlady - Congratulations on the new Ion. What color did you get?

    Reg - I like the coupe a lot. It's a bit better than the sedan in terms of looks, but we still like ours fine.

    Vocus - We were not giving our 0% credit easy, they asked a lot of questions and it took 2 days to get an answer on the financing. Oh well, I can understand they want to give people 0% but you have to have good credit.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    http://www.saturnfans.com/Cars/Future/04minivan.shtml

    It makes sense, Saturn really needs to add vehicles if they are going to be a player.
  • savannahladysavannahlady Member Posts: 14
    Vuefor2, I got the Bright Blue one. Also, I have only had the chance to run through one tank of gas but it didn't last long either. I live in Georgia and in the 3 days I have had the car the temps have been in the low 60's so I don't think cold temps had much to do with milage.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Congrats on your purchase! And it's 60 in Georgia?!?! I am jealous of you, it's been in the 40s here in MD and that's about as warm as it's been getting. Better than 0-10 degrees though, any day!

    The engine has to break in within the first 1000-2000 miles, so fuel economy might be very low. If you get up around 2-3000 miles and it's still the same thing, that might signify a problem with the car.
  • saturnfreak01saturnfreak01 Member Posts: 134
    Beginning soon, all ION's will get body colored roof rails as a "no cost" option. This decision was a result of retailer/ and customer feedback that expressed a negative view on the original two tone color scheme.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Colored roof panels? Well that sucks, I think personally. It's a part of the car that differentiates it from everything else out there. I guess next will be a restyle, because of how many publications didn't like its styling...
  • ionpeonionpeon Member Posts: 1
    Personally I was upset with the two tone roof rail approach. It wasn't made clear to me that the same color wasn't standard. The first I heard of that was when I was seeing my car for the first time. It think it looked even worse because I bought a black ION with tan interior. The gray roof rail looks even worse when looking into the car and seeing tan interior.
    As far as poor gas mileage...I think that will work itself out in time. I haven't paid much attention to mine but I sometimes think you can get caught up overthinking things. I would focus your energy elsewhere.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Most of the reviews seem to like the exterior, but most question the interior dash design. I just read a review today in a Canadian car mag and that was their main critisizm. I have sat in an ION three times and I still don't think it's a big deal, but I am generally very open minded to new ways of doing things.
  • cdavidhesscdavidhess Member Posts: 26
    I just made a deal with Saturn of Rochester, NY today to trade in my 2000 LS1 5 speed for an silver Ion 2 5 speed. I am picking up the new car on Thursday. After I've driven the Ion for awhile I will post a comparison of the two cars.
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    that will be an interesting report.
  • afk_xafk_x Member Posts: 393
    Turns out the bulliten we recieved was incorrect.

    There is 1.9% financing for 72 months ONLY for the ION 1.

    On ION 2 and ION 3 there is no factory supported rates beyond 60 months.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Not a lot of difference in the interior space and lots of difference in price. I would usually imagine the L would be a slightly more refined ride, but given the new platform the ION rides on, that may not be true.

    I was reading in the Globe yesterday that the Cavalier (based on the ION platform) will go up scale as new Chevy badged Daewoo cars will be hitting us this fall. 2-3 new models will be rushed to the Toronto Auto Show for world debuts later in the month. GM definitely wants to go head on with the Korean cars with Korean made cars. Interesting times for car biz.
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    Savanalady - Love the blue, nice color. Wasn't available when we bought so we got the silver blue.

    Cdavidhess - Congratulations on the new Ion. Its nice to finally have some other owners on this board now!
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Did you get the new car because of the clutch problem you had with the L? Just wondering.
  • debdoozydebdoozy Member Posts: 21
    I just bought my new ION3 on Saturday and love it! I've previously had 2 other Saturns, new SC in 1991 and a used 1998 SL1, and was not really happy with either of them. I guess 3rd time really is a charm! I bought the cranberry color with the gray interior and it really looks classy. I love the way it handles much better than my previous Saturns and it seems to be much better quality as well. I traded in the SL1 because it had some really strange brake light problems with it. After 3 hours of sitting in the waiting room and they still couldn't find the problem, I test drove the ION3, fell in love with it and walked out with a new car. It's also nice to be driving an automatic again in this Atlanta traffic. I know standard saves on gas, but it's awful on your left leg.
  • cdavidhesscdavidhess Member Posts: 26
    I don't ever really need too much of a reason to trade cars, but the clutch problem on the L did give me a good reason (excuse). I was concerned about the long term reliability of the L after such an expensive repair at a relatively low mileage. That being said, I really enjoyed my three year ownership of the L, but it will be nice driving a car with a warranty again. I like the exterior styling of the Ion and 0% financing is hard to resist. My dealership also matched a $750 downpayment (they called it a visibility promotion).
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    If you haven't liked your previous Saturn's, why do you keep buying them? Just curious, I like the ION and I don't like the S.
  • debdoozydebdoozy Member Posts: 21
    The first last Saturn that I had (98SL1) was something to basically get me by after an accident I had and my other car was totaled. I didn't really have much of a choice at the time and it didn't cost me that much, so I got it. I don't really know what it was that sold me on the ION, but I just really liked it. I had been looking for something different for a while and you just can't beat the way these things are made. I feel 10 times saffer in my ION than I ever did in the SL1. Besides, it's a really neat looking car and I've heard many good things about them compared to the S series cars.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I know the L Series doesn't seem to have a good history of reliability or resale value. Care to share what you ended up getting for the L upon trading?
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Yes, I agree, the ION is a very good car. It has a proven motor and drive train so it isn't likely to have many problems. Saturn is good at taking care of any it might have anyway.

    Congrats on the purchase!
  • asdxereasdxere Member Posts: 29
    I don't see many major problems listed on the ION board.
    I know they haven't been out long, but all I've seen are a few
    complaints about low gas mileage and a minor paint problem.
    Is everyone that happy with their ION ?
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