thoughts on saturn ion 1

What are peoples thoughts on the 2004 Saturn Ion 1? Pros/Cons.

Is it really true that Saturn does not negotiate on price?

Thanks,

Scott

IMHO, being an older SL2 owner my 1st impression was that Saturn does listen
to it's customers. Many of the past issues of SL's were either changed or
fixed for the better. Case in point, more horsepower, better sound proofing
in the cabin and moving the PCM (main computer) from under the dash to under
the hood.

If a base car w/no frills, bells or whistles is your objective, then a level
1 is the car for you. If you need more then just the basics, then better
look at at a level 2. Have you been to a Saturn dealership and had a
knowledgeable salesman explain the 3 different levels of ION to you? Did
they also explain about the optional Travel Package, Safe and Sound Package,
Sport Package and Special Edition Packages?
Actually lots to choose from in a little cheap car.

There are some cons also that I have heard about. The Quad Coupe has more of
a blind spot over the sedan. The sides of the console between the seats can
be sharp on some models, if you get your hand stuck reaching for lost
change, some say. Personally, I notice a distinct road handling difference
between the base level and level 2's, but maybe that's me.

Basically, yes it is true that Saturn is "no hassle no haggle", they dont
play the "hit 'em high" negotiating game like others do. That's not to say
that everything is carved in stone either, within reason though. (sometimes
if you look around, you may find a level 2 or 3 at a sale price for whatever
reason)

Beyond that, it is an inexpensive roomy fun to drive car that is very low
maintenance.
Go find yourself a good dealership with a knowlegable sales consultant who
knows what the L he is doing and ION sure you will see the same point of
VUE. <grin>

(now I do expect mrfact to counter this with something silly so I can only
say this to you in advance: Use your OWN judgement. Go look for yourself,
drive one and see. Check out other sites like SaturnFans.com and SaturnSpot
and you will find many ION owners also, compare then decide if an ION is the
right car for you.)

marx404
www.saturnofstuart.com

please dont post in html here, use text instead. Your ISP can help you if
you dont know how to change it. Thanks.

marx404

"marx404" > wrote in message
...
> IMHO, being an older SL2 owner my 1st impression was that Saturn does
listen
> to it's customers. Many of the past issues of SL's were either changed or
> fixed for the better. Case in point, more horsepower, better sound
proofing
> in the cabin and moving the PCM (main computer) from under the dash to
under
> the hood.
>
> If a base car w/no frills, bells or whistles is your objective, then a
level
> 1 is the car for you. If you need more then just the basics, then better
> look at at a level 2. Have you been to a Saturn dealership and had a
> knowledgeable salesman explain the 3 different levels of ION to you? Did
> they also explain about the optional Travel Package, Safe and Sound
Package,
> Sport Package and Special Edition Packages?
> Actually lots to choose from in a little cheap car.
>
> There are some cons also that I have heard about. The Quad Coupe has more
of
> a blind spot over the sedan.

The blind spots are horrible! I cannot weave in and out of traffic as I
used to. Tinted windows don't help, but they make the car look good. Also,
I cannot tell how close I am to the front bumper when I park or the rear
bumper when I back up because of the after market spoiler.

However, I love my car and would not trade it



>The sides of the console between the seats can
> be sharp on some models, if you get your hand stuck reaching for lost
> change, some say. Personally, I notice a distinct road handling difference
> between the base level and level 2's, but maybe that's me.
>
> Basically, yes it is true that Saturn is "no hassle no haggle", they dont
> play the "hit 'em high" negotiating game like others do. That's not to say
> that everything is carved in stone either, within reason though.
(sometimes
> if you look around, you may find a level 2 or 3 at a sale price for
whatever
> reason)
>
> Beyond that, it is an inexpensive roomy fun to drive car that is very low
> maintenance.
> Go find yourself a good dealership with a knowlegable sales consultant who
> knows what the L he is doing and ION sure you will see the same point of
> VUE. <grin>
>
> (now I do expect mrfact to counter this with something silly so I can only
> say this to you in advance: Use your OWN judgement. Go look for yourself,
> drive one and see. Check out other sites like SaturnFans.com and
SaturnSpot
> and you will find many ION owners also, compare then decide if an ION is
the
> right car for you.)
>
> marx404
> www.saturnofstuart.com
>
>
>

In article >, gecko250@sasktelDOTnet
says...
>
> The blind spots are horrible! I cannot weave in and out of traffic as I
> used to. Tinted windows don't help, but they make the car look good. Also,
> I cannot tell how close I am to the front bumper when I park or the rear
> bumper when I back up because of the after market spoiler.
>
> However, I love my car and would not trade it
>

I never liked the terms weaving in and out of traffic. Makes me think
of the morons I see on the road darting in and out infront of everyone
causing everyone to hit their brakes... Hope you dont do that!

The things I've noticed about the Ions (though I dont own one) are the
following-

-Blind spots inside (from rear pillars)
-Small Steering wheel
-Gages oddly located
-Engine noise (problem with all 4 cylinders)
-Hard seats

Some of those like hard seats, steering wheel, and engine noise would
apply to other cars in the same class like honda's and toyota's.
Personally I wouldnt mind owning an Ion. Easy oil changes make up for
most of that.

One tip I have though for any car is on how to adjust your side view
mirrors. To adjust your left, lean your head aganst your left window and
adjust it so just the very rear corner of your car is slightly in view.
Then lean the same amount to the right and repeat for the other mirror.
THAT is how you avoid a lot of blind spots. Most people adjust them
while sitting straight up with half their cars side in view. Big no no.

"Blah blah" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, gecko250@sasktelDOTnet
> says...
> >
> > The blind spots are horrible! I cannot weave in and out of traffic as I
> > used to. Tinted windows don't help, but they make the car look good.
Also,
> > I cannot tell how close I am to the front bumper when I park or the rear
> > bumper when I back up because of the after market spoiler.
> >
> > However, I love my car and would not trade it
> >
>
> I never liked the terms weaving in and out of traffic. Makes me think
> of the morons I see on the road darting in and out infront of everyone
> causing everyone to hit their brakes... Hope you dont do that!


No, I go in and out to avoid the drivers who drive under the speed limit and
are in the
left lane when they should be in the right lane.
>
> The things I've noticed about the Ions (though I dont own one) are the
> following-
>
> -Blind spots inside (from rear pillars)
> -Small Steering wheel
> -Gages oddly located
> -Engine noise (problem with all 4 cylinders)
> -Hard seats
>
> Some of those like hard seats, steering wheel, and engine noise would
> apply to other cars in the same class like honda's and toyota's.
> Personally I wouldnt mind owning an Ion. Easy oil changes make up for
> most of that.

It took me about 5 minutes to get used to the gauges, I don't mind them
there. As for the smaller s
steering wheel, it feels a lot more roomy in the driver seat, you're not so
enclosed in.


>
> One tip I have though for any car is on how to adjust your side view
> mirrors. To adjust your left, lean your head aganst your left window and
> adjust it so just the very rear corner of your car is slightly in view.
> Then lean the same amount to the right and repeat for the other mirror.
> THAT is how you avoid a lot of blind spots. Most people adjust them
> while sitting straight up with half their cars side in view. Big no no.

I should try mirror adjustment. That will let me see wide, but seeing
behind me is still a
pain in the rear with the big ass end on the car and the spoiler.


>

re; the blind spots:
mostly noticeable on the QC, not so much on the sedan. I do hope that they
redesign especially the seatbelt holder in the QC so that it is not in a
shorter person's rear peripheral vision when looking rearwards. Personally I
have experienced no blind spots with the sedan.

and the unique gauges:
well, yea they are definately different and take some getting used to. But
think of this: how many times do you check your right hand mirror when
driving? Notice that the guage cluster is the same alignment as the outside
mirrors. Now if you think that way and use it as such, you will very quickly
get used to the center gauges. Us Americans are quite conditioned to looking
down for our guages, europeans have been doing it for decades. If ya really
think of it, your left eye never really leaves the road. The horn buttons
could be placed a little bit more outwards though, like they were in the SL.

marx404

> and the unique gauges:
> well, yea they are definately different and take some getting used to. But
> think of this: how many times do you check your right hand mirror when
> driving? Notice that the guage cluster is the same alignment as the outside
> mirrors. Now if you think that way and use it as such, you will very quickly
> get used to the center gauges. Us Americans are quite conditioned to looking
> down for our guages, europeans have been doing it for decades. If ya really
> think of it, your left eye never really leaves the road. The horn buttons
> could be placed a little bit more outwards though, like they were in the SL.
>
> marx404

I used to have a HUD and that was by far the best thing to have but
thats out of saturns range. I think the thought in placing it to the
right has to do with wheel blockage since its such a small wheel. But
then again most people dont know what gages are. I've seen a number of
people put toys, photos, stuffed bears, and a number of other bs in
front of their gages... Yeah ok that stuffed bear is more important than
your engine temperature gage and who needs to know their oil pressure
when a photo of Scruffy the family dog is there gaurding it.

{:-|

Blah blah wrote:

> I've seen a number of
> people put toys, photos, stuffed bears, and a number of other bs in
> front of their gages... Yeah ok that stuffed bear is more important than
> your engine temperature gage and who needs to know their oil pressure
> when a photo of Scruffy the family dog is there gaurding it.

No kidding! Years ago, I tried driving my sister's car a few times and
always ended up with a stack of things in the front seat I'd that I'd
taken off the instrument panel (covering everything including most of
the speedometer) and the dashboard. Trying to explain the purpose of
the gauges was an excersize in futility. Odd considering that she's now
married to a military pilot - but there isn't crap on her instrument
panel anymore.