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Saturn ION

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Comments

  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    why did they have to repaint your quarter panel?
    ~alpha
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Saw a couple of different ads for the the 04 Maxima tonite. It's amazing how similar the rear roof line and back end look to the Saturn ION.
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    Some is going to jump on you for that comment for sure. But I see it too. Especially the rear quarter.
  • saturnfreak01saturnfreak01 Member Posts: 134
    "It's amazing how similar the rear roof line and back end look to the Saturn ION."

      I agree.
  • ab348ab348 Member Posts: 20,278
    Yep, the new Max and the Ion both have that same unattractive rear roofline. The Max is a big disappointment to me, with the flying buttress C-pillars and the goofy long-and-skinny sunroof. Instead of being "edgy", it went right over the edge and off the cliff.

    Dindak, please don't compare the Malibu and Accord, they aren't even in the same league. How many Accord buyers do you think even considered a Malibu? My guess: 0.

    Saw a (still rare for these parts) Ion in the mall parking lot today, dark red with gray roof rail inserts. Ugh.

    2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6

  • saturnfreak01saturnfreak01 Member Posts: 134
    """Dindak, please don't compare the Malibu and Accord, they aren't even in the same league. How many Accord buyers do you think even considered a Malibu? My guess: 0.""""

    I do not believe dindak was comparing the current Malibu to the new 2003 Accord... As dindaks statement pasted below implies, the all new 2004 Malibu is a more serious competitor for the latest edition of the Accord.. and being that the Malibu will most likely sell for a couple thousand less it may very well make a few converts. Personally, I wouldn't buy any american car besides a Saturn.

    """With the prices of Accord climbing higher each year, don't be surprised to see the 04 Malibu steal some buyers looking for a solid car at a lower price.""" "
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Actually, friends of ours traded in their early 80's Accord for a 02 Malibu last year. It happens more than you think as the Accord is not cheap these days.

    That said, I'm referring mostly to the 04 Malibu, not the current model.
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    well the 2004 accord is in ample supply here with 179 a month leases.......and base price is good. At least as far as the leasing market, chevy can't come close to matching that.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Most people don't lease.
  • mtenamtena Member Posts: 58
    I received the little Quad Coupe "Hot Wheels" car in the mail yesterday from Saturn, along with a brochure. I had asked for information on Saturn's website a month or two ago.

    "Spring 2003" was about as specific as the brochure got in terms of QC availability, though. And there was no indication of how its MSRP will compare to that of the sedan.
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    maybe not, but you can't unilaterally say its cheaper to drive a Chevy if the Honda is 100 bucks a month cheaper on the lease. Or if the Honda resale is much higher.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Not sure what the lease payments are where you live, but a Bu is definitely less up here / mo. The 0.9% lease rate and lower price more than off sets the higher resid on the Accord.

    Back to the ION.....................
  • uga91uga91 Member Posts: 1,065
    My interior is gray.
  • uga91uga91 Member Posts: 1,065
    How do really feel about the Ion 2, I could not tell. I have absolutely no complaints with the seats in my 2. Maybe the peace of mind of knowing I have attractive alloy wheels makes my seats feel better. I'll think about it next time I'm in the car.
  • afk_xafk_x Member Posts: 393
    All I can say about that is...

    The BOLD print giveth and the FINE print taketh away!

    One at this price

    5000 due at signing

    60 months at 12K a year with a 700+ FICO required

    Remember folks if its sounds too good to be true (Say it with me now) it probably is!

    :)
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    It's amazing how many people just look at the monthly payment. It's the most meaningless number in the world as it can be made into anything a car maker wants it to be with a variable down payment.

    I remember trying to buy a car once and the only thing they talked about was the monthly. I walked out after about 5 minutes of that nonsense.
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    The local Mazda dealer did a lot of monthly payment talk also. One of the reasons I like Saturn, they are always fully up front about every charge and the price of everything. It's all in front of you on the computer.

    Took the Ion to a friends house on the weekend. He had not seen an Ion before so he took it for a spin and liked it a lot. He said he wasn't crazy about the center IP but he could live with that. He liked the ride over all though.
  • dunworthdunworth Member Posts: 338
    Good point about Saturn being up front about all the charges. When I bought both of my Saturns, they had all the price stuff pre-printed. You can not beat the Saturn buying experience.

    Some Toyota and Honda dealers over here are starting to go that route as a starting point for negotiation. It is especially helpful for people like me who always buy a car off the lot.

    My wife and I saw a black Ion the other day around town. My wife loved it except for the charcoal texture roof rails. She did not like it the first time we saw it at the dealer. It must be growing on her too!
  • savannahladysavannahlady Member Posts: 14
    When I bought my Ion, I noticed a spot under the paint on the front passenger side quarter panel. The spot almost looked like a water bubble about the size of a pencil eraser, so they took the whole thing off sanded it and re-painted.

    Uga91-- I wasn't being nasty, I just didn't care for the material in the 2 model, and I too like my alloy wheels. No need for sarcasm.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    FYI .. Toyota just settled out of court for price fixing in Canada because they were setting prices in some places (like Saturn) and not in others.
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    the accord lease was an LX automatic for 179 a month with like 1800 down and it was either 39 or 48 months.

    the civic leases avialable lately are like 1200 down and 139 a month.

    not 5000 down in fine print. get off your horse, it just got shot. Honda can offer deals like that occasionally because the Hondas hold their value.
  • dunworthdunworth Member Posts: 338
    Good point. In Ontario Toyota did not roll out the Access Toyota program fortunately which is why cars were sometimes a couple of thousand cheaper here.

    They tried to combine the Saturn experience with the existing system which did not always work for customers. Transaction prices were generally higher and some dealers allegedly told customers they were not allowed to negotiate.

    Even without this Toyota has been working hard to improve the buying experience overall through nicer show rooms, better training of sales staff etc. We have had Toyota's in our family since the 1980s and I notice the improvement, although its not quite Saturn yet.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    reg : Maybe Honda leases cars for less than Malibus there where you are, but no where else I've seen.

    dunworth : Local Toyota and Chevrolet dealers is not great. Sales guys at both are all the old school types. I bought my Alero 30 kms down the highway in Etobicoke. Saturn dealer here is excellent though.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I hate dealers that do that! When a dealer asks me how much I would like my payment to be, I always tell him, 'as low as possible'. That always throws them. :)
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    Our local Toyota store wasn't too bad but they were still a bit slimey. Lots of added options and fees though they did say they would take them off and the fees could be slightly negotiable.

    How did the car biz ever get to be the way it is I'll never understand. A Saturn really is a pleasure buy in comparison.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I have found that the best way to buy a car is to deal with the internet salesman. Also, be prepared to walk out the door if you don't like the offer they present.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    We bought our Alero via Auto-By-Tel and we got the best price off the mark and it was all very up front. Very nice and clean!
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    for as long as I can remember I have always seen killer lease deals from Toyota. Hardly ever a time where you can't get a Camry for not much more than 200 a month.
  • bigdaddycoatsbigdaddycoats Member Posts: 1,058
    for 2004. Go to media.gm.com and check it out. Also read the Vue Red Line. Both seem sweet if as good as they sound. Is the 3.5 in the VUE from Honda?
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    250 HP VUE. Unreal!

    I wish GM never traded for those engines though. They should put their own 3.6L in the Red Line VUE instead.
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    That Ion redline thing sure can make up for the sins of ugliness. A 200hp compact with 4 wheel discs.

    New fascias, yeah baby. get rid of the frumpy face.

    It will have to duke it out with the Neon SRT.

    Hope they don't overprice it.
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    Plus, I notice the ripped ecotec is the 2.0 european version, not the bigger 2.2. Interesting.
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    Very cool. I agree though, the spoiler should be optional. A lot of people like them though, I see them all the time around here.
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    At 37, though, if I go driving around with a big old winged spoiler, a lot of people are going to be pointing at me and saying 'Mid-life crisis.'

    Saturn has always been very good with product flexibility. I am sure there will be a delete option.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Do you really care what other people think about you based on what you're driving? Just wondering...
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    I would guess most people on this board car about what they drive. I certainly wouldn't want to be seen driving a supped up pocket rocket with a big spoiler and performance stickers all over my car.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I care about what I drive, but I don't care about what other people think about what I drive. Since they don't make the payments on it, it's none of their damn business.
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    "you are what you drive"
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    For the most part I do not care about what people say about my taste in most any situation.

    But a spoiler on a street car, however well executed and quick the street car may be, is more of a statement maker than a useful accessory.

    I like driving, and I like driving fast within reason. But I am not a race car driver, make a point to follow only the Indy 500 and LeMans auto race, and otherwise do not pay much attention to racing.

    It is really great to see fans of auto racing express themselves with spoilers and the like. But it is not for me.

    So while I may be real interested in a RedLine ION Coupe, I want mine a tad less bold looking.
  • himilerhimiler Member Posts: 1,209
    Sleepers rule.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    I'd prefer to surprise someone at the light rather than to show off my power with tacky spoilers. That's just me, others can put what ever they want on their cars.
  • saturnfreak01saturnfreak01 Member Posts: 134
    "Do you really care what other people think about you based on what you're driving? Just wondering...""

    I think many people make a quick judgment of someone based on what they drive, often with out knowing it.

    It goes with out saying that if you're out on the road and pull up next to a new Lexus LS 400 for example, it says intelligence, successful, powerful, $$$ etc.. For most of those that would be able to afford an LS400 through legal means would possess at least some of these qualities.

    While you can't judge a book by its cover so to speak, it is done all the time.
  • wwhite2wwhite2 Member Posts: 535
    I hope it does come with that SHOPPING CART Spoiler and do you think they will include those great looking alloys from the ION 3 ?? :-) Just kiddding I hope they dont "TOY " it out like that

    SavanhaLady its to bad you needed to have some of your ION painted .Dealer body shops will never , never, never be able to prep and paint like a factory paint process or a shop that really cares :-( Flat rate put an end to quality work
  • bigdaddycoatsbigdaddycoats Member Posts: 1,058
    My guess is that the spoiler shown in the photos is one of the spoiler options. In the press release it stated that there will be a variety of spoilers to choose from. It would seem unlikely that the one shown would be standard - a little over the top.
  • avemanaveman Member Posts: 122
    I should hope a spoiler like that would be optional. The one thing I hate about performance packages,is that often you have to get something you don,t want to get the performance.I can not stand the look of most ground effect packages or spoilers.It is good to see Saturn get into the performance field. I'd like to see makers take a cue from Ferrari when it comes to sporty cars. On one of their sportiest models they have three versions. The only one with the large spoiler is the one that is built to race.It seems to me like a lot of space between the redline and the stock Ion. Maybe they have it right. I guess I would prefer the stock Ion.I am a handling freak, but the roads around me are so bad I wouldn't want anything under 55 series tire. So with limited resources I guess it makes sense to go performance model or standard. I like clean styling. I have seen aporty cars with the side effect panels and chin spoilers falling off. The fewer added bits of trim, the less stuff to fall off the car.
  • vuefor2vuefor2 Member Posts: 490
    I wouldn't be caught dead with a big spoiler like the one shown. Yuk. I don't even like small one on sedans, what the heck do you need one for anyway?

    I wonder if there will be a Red Line Ion sedan also?
  • vcjumpervcjumper Member Posts: 1,110
    A VP where I work drives a 98 Elantra. I don't think he cares what people think. Maybe he'll have the last laugh if he gets mortgage free and retired way earlier than the guy next to him who spends 50% of his annual income on cars every 3 years.
  • bigdaddycoatsbigdaddycoats Member Posts: 1,058
    http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_saturn_darts_red/index.htm

    According to this article the Red Line ION will get a larger steering wheel that will eventually be on all IONs. That is a good thing!
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