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2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Many smaller cars in the 1960s and before had centre gauges, especially British and French ones. Those interiors were generally quite nice looking for the time.
I don't love centre IPs but could live with them in a high quality interior like the Mini or the even the Echo. The Ion's interior is just a little busy for my taste and the quality of some of the plastics is not as good as the old S series.
In the short term though I can not see GM doing anything major to the inside or the outside of the car to make a major difference. Many just the softening of some lines. Whether that is enough to goose sales volumes is anyone's guess.
If Saturn has done their job right, in 05 there should be people saying "I prefer the Saturn to the cobalt because of the Center IP, daring styling, polymer panels etc.."
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
translation-"different just for the sake of being different", or merely outright freaking wierd appears to be REDUCING sales.
The Ion was not meant to be a niche car, but a volume seller. Its freakazoid design features is turning away mainstream customers the cars needs to meet volume sales goals. Even if the car chassis is all new and much improved.
"They key is to be different in a way that appeals to a good size niche of people."
Well, they seem to actually be driving customers away the Aztekway. Maybe this is how Saturn ought to try to be different
-better looking cars (not freaky looking)
-better interior plastics, design, assembly, fabrics
-comfortable seats
-fluid and quality feeling human interfaces
-better handling
-better MSRP
-technology
-top notch mechanicals
instead of
-freak style
-cheap plastics
-bad seats
-incentives just to push the car
-mid to low pack mechanicals
The CTS can afford to have niche looks, its not a volume seller. The ion is supposed to be. It has to please more people.
Ya, that wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that every other car has big incentives also would it?
It's funny how one day you are thinking about getting an ION and the next you lambaste it.
~alpha
i.e. they should have done a better job of replacing a ten year old car.
its not like the car is a POS but they just screwed up so much that the sales are going down instead of up, for a NEW model. That's just odd.
The old S series was universally panned by critics but still managed to sell 300 K units in its best years. The Cavalier/Sunfire routinely sold over 400K.
While Honda and Toyota have been selling industry-leading, top quality stuff for twenty years (earlier stuff were not as good) neither is selling as many vehicles as Chrysler let alone Ford or GM. However up here in Canada both of those Japanese makers outsell Ford and Chrysler on the car side because we buy fewer trucks than our US neighbours.
The point is, the ION could sell tons more vehicles with some subtle exterior tweaks and a new interior (the Vue has a nice looking interior - just scale it down). Can GM pull it off - I doubt it. They are not all about quick changes and I think the ION launch was botched as badly as the L series.
Does anyone remember the S series launch - now that is how it should have been done.
I completely agree with this statement, you said it well, but I think you may have somewhat missed regfootball's/vocus point:
You yourself say "The point is, the ION could sell tons more vehicles with some subtle exterior tweaks and a new interior (the Vue has a nice looking interior - just scale it down). "
GM SHOULD HAVE AIMED to design an excellent vehicle from THE START, then they wouldnt even NEED to consider a "quick change" with respect to quality, design, etc. Doesnt GM realize that with a well designed vehicle, they will be able to sell more?
There are parts of the ION that show what GM can do if it wants to- the solid chassis, the strong-ish engine, and a first in class 5 speed automatic. But the execution of the rest of the car leaves alot to be desired. Overall, it seems like a half-assed effort. Like Car and Driver said, I feel Saturn's loyal customer base and dealership network deserve more. Done right, I feel this could be an amazing division for GM, a real reservoir of import competition. But in 12/13 years, that hasnt happened.
~alpha
There is no excuse in the car business not to come out with your best shot the first time around. A quick look at the execution of the current Elantra should be a rude shock to anyone making compact cars. Excellent fit and finish, nice ride and driving dynamics, pleasant interior (proper rear head rests!) - not class leading but nice. Pretty well all the Japanese stuff is even better.
No one is more disappointed with the ION than I am, as a loyal GM customer for 20 years. I no longer have one of their cars in my garage or have access to one through my job. Worse yet, after driving my current vehicles, I doubt I can go back to their stuff again. I like the way GM cars drive, ION included, but lack of attention to details and waiting for fixes years down the road is no way to sell cars in 2003.
I haver not heard of any major issues with the ION?
The change to body colour cladding on the Aztec and Avalanche have made those controversial designs far better looking. Ditto for the Echo facelift.
I have not heard of actual problems with the functional aspects of the ION. I would not expect any major problems since the S series was pretty good overall from its inception.
Do you do a lot of highway driving? That's where the car really excels in my opinion. There is not a better small car for the job. Hey, there are better cars in the world but for the money and 0% financing it's hard to argue with Ion value.
Like vuefor2 said don't get bugged by some of the critisms being laid on this car. For the money it really is hard to beat.
So what colour/trim level did you get?
I read up on all of the expert and consumer reviews (sometimes hard to draw the line between the two), and they all clashed with my own experiences test driving the ION. I drove 3 different models and really dug each one of them.
I've done a little highway driving and found myself going 75mph in a 55 on accident...the ride is just that smooth. I'll be taking it from Illinois to Dallas, Texas shortly and I'm looking forward to the long drive.
I definitely cannot argue with the value...I'm fresh out of college (only 2 months now) and have low monthly payments, 0% financing for 60 months, low insurance, and a brand new car! Definitely worth it, and I'm a happy Saturn owner.
what a telling statement right there. Another apology for GM mediocrity. An absolution, actually.
I think that era of Detroit getting by with half assed efforts because they are 'American' is rapidly coming to a close. People won't tolerate less than good with superior products from so many other makers so readily available.
The 'exception' people have been making because a product is a 'domestic' make has virtually become irrelevant, and quite honestly should be.
If Detroit and GM doesn't eliminate that attitude fairly quickly, its over. The others will eat their lunch in 10 years or less. If they assume they can get by with product that's 'good enough' then let's just shut their whole operation down now. We don't need their crap clogging up the market.
Meanwhile, companies like VW are readying their better than good enough future products. The 2005 Passat which I saw a picture of in a Euro mag looks to be even more captivating and desirable than the current one. People will be gushing over that car. Who will even care about the next Lseries or Regal, etc.
~alpha
It states that there are some interior changes and newly calibrated steering and auto transmissions as well as other enhancements. Go to media.gm.com and click on the 2004 product information.
2nd ION 3 has a bad transmission and steering which glitches coming out of turns. 4 times with warranty service and it hasn't been fixed.
June 23, 2003 GM recalled all L Saturns with 2.2 engines from 2003-2000 because of engine problems and some engine fires. My sales person made a point of telling me the ION engine is the same as the L Saturn engine.
'gloss levels' LOL
DID THEY CHANGE THE STEERING WHEEL? probably not yet. Oh well.
Uga91 is correct that so far no other Ecotec powered car has been affected by the L series recall.
As I thought, the changes being made to the ION are subtle. Those that currently like it, such as the owners on this board, will like it even more. Meanwhile those who have been critical of it will probably not change their mind based on these small changes. I look forward to seeing the changes up close.
Reg: It is in deed sad that the Big 3 continue to aim so low on a number of their key products. They can do so because of their excellent distribution/strong dealer body. Big 3 management have known since the 1920s, that no matter what they build, they will be able to sell at least some. People would not (and have not) put up with these similar deficiencies in import brand products. Look at the comparatively paltry volumes sold by Suzuki,Subaru, Mazda, Mitsubishi and until recently Nissan. IMHO these car makers produce better cars than the Big 3, and each produces a better small car than the ION, but that has not translated into sales.
I seem to recall that this was a much-ballyhooed feature of the Ion upon its introduction. Yet another GM marketing concept that blew up in everyone's faces.
All that Saturn needs to show their first(!) dollar of profit is to build a couple of cars that people actually want to drive. To that end, eliminating the the optional roof rails and focusing on the ride and controls is a good sign, but it just might be too late.
However I find some of GM's choice of upgrades odd for the ION. Changes to steering, tranny are always welcome, but IMHO the car actually drives really well already. Most my real beefs with the car are visual, material quality and the seat comfort.
Despite the centre IP, the instrumentation is pretty good, as it has been for all Saturns. I don't care for the centre IP but can live with it. Give me an interior as nicely executed as the cheaper Echo and seats that are well made like any of the import competition, rework some of the exterior character lines and Saturn will have its volume leader back.
As many recent owners have pointed out, the car is something of a bargain in lower trim levels so any tweaks should help. I believe my shopping list of improvements would make this even more of a competitor. Maybe for 2005.....
After all, one of the supposed benefits of plastic panels is quick and easy reskin operation.
Speaking of Mazda 6 it had a very good month last month in sales, maybe the word is getting out. The new Mazda 3 is in production now and looks like an even better car. That car could be the one....that or the 6 wagon. If I have no money than its either fix the SLO or buy an Ion and drive the heck out of it.
Heck the new 2004 Prius has my eye now that they announced the price....19,995.....holy buckets......
IMHO, I think the 6 is one of the best looking midsize cars on the market. By comparison, both the current Camry and Accord miss the mark in terms of perfect proportions and balanced appearance. I like the exterior of the Galant and the Saturn L Series as well.
I would think that if money is the deciding factor the choice would be between the Mazda3 and Mazda6 since those two have more in common with each other, than the ION. The current Protege is arguably one of the best small cars on the road and should be available at some serious deals which could rival the two lower trim levels of the ION. That said, while the Pro is more refined and better built, it is smaller and less powerful than the ION.
Ofcourse the dealer experience is another story and Mazda seems to have fewer good ones than some other makes. Locally, I have not been impressed with Mazda (any experience Dindak?) while Saturn has been pretty well as good as it gets regardless of price.
Protege has 0% for 48 months with no payments for 90 days right now in Canada.
Click on the 2004 product info guide.
Under media releases, it showed Saturn ION sales really took off in June - 12,372 units plus a few hundred S series. On a year to date basis it sold just over 56K units for the six month period versus over 70K for the old S series in the same period last year. Mind you last year's number would have included coupe and wagon variants as well.
The Vue continues to do well as it should (IMHO its one of the best looking cute-utes on the market). The redesigned L series is in the dumper, down 55%. Say Doh Homer! DOH!