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Best cheap GM: Cavalier, Sunfire, or Ion?

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If I were to own one of those three options ... It would probably be the sunfire ... It is almost the same as the Cavilier ... I just like how it looks a bit better.

If I was short on money, and wanted the best bang for the buck ... that Saturn looks like its like 4K less Retail than the cavilier .... If you can get the same kind of discount on that .... that would be a really hot price ...

I few people have suggested getting an S10 ... I think an S10 would last the longest ... and would be the most durable and low maintenance budget GM vehicle, however something in the bottom end of the price range will have very low HP and torque ... so it would suck for acceleration, and for towing ... but would be a decent commuter, and get decent milage.
 
I don't know about the S10's 4 banger but the one in my dad's Toyota is damned torquey and a lot of fun to drive. If only it had the bucket seats instead of the bench.
 
Honestly, those are some bad choices... but if you're getting a sick discount then . . .

The Ion just finished dead last in Edmunds recent test. 8th place out of 8 cars.

The Chevy is old, and finished in 6th place out of 9 cars a few years ago with the upgraded engine (and the other cars have been updated). I think its gonna be updated for 2004, but Edmunds says this about the current model - "Despite the new look, there's no hiding the fact that this car was engineered more than a decade ago, leaving it hopelessly outclassed by nearly every other car on the market. " and "The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Cavalier a rating of "Poor," its lowest, after conducting its frontal offset crash test. "

The Sunfire? -> "A ghastly-looking attempt at a low-budget sport coupe, the Sunfire is hopelessly outclassed by both its foreign and domestic competition. " and "Ancient design inside and out, cheap interior materials, poor build quality, low resale value, poor side-impact and front-offset crash test results. "

Seriously, don't get any of these cars. Or hope that the 2004 Cav will be better. Or save some cash to get a better car.
 
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
I'd rather push a Honda than drive a GM. 😛

- M4H
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Originally posted by: zod
Honestly, those are some bad choices... but if you're getting a sick discount then . . .

The Ion just finished dead last in Edmunds recent test. 8th place out of 8 cars.

The Chevy is old, and finished in 6th place out of 9 cars a few years ago with the upgraded engine (and the other cars have been updated). I think its gonna be updated for 2004, but Edmunds says this about the current model - "Despite the new look, there's no hiding the fact that this car was engineered more than a decade ago, leaving it hopelessly outclassed by nearly every other car on the market. " and "The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Cavalier a rating of "Poor," its lowest, after conducting its frontal offset crash test. "

The Sunfire? -> "A ghastly-looking attempt at a low-budget sport coupe, the Sunfire is hopelessly outclassed by both its foreign and domestic competition. " and "Ancient design inside and out, cheap interior materials, poor build quality, low resale value, poor side-impact and front-offset crash test results. "

Seriously, don't get any of these cars. Or hope that the 2004 Cav will be better. Or save some cash to get a better car.
Click to expand...

I'd be stupid to not use my "sick discount." I don't remember the details exactly, but I think my sister bought a car using it, and it was something like 30% off. Honestly... would a Honda be a better deal than a Cavalier that's 30% off?

By the way... nobody has any comments on the Sunfire's handling?
 
Originally posted by: kevinthenerd
Well, here goes:

I hear the Sunfire has a better suspension than the Cavalier.

The Ion has a sweet dash.

They all look like crap, but the Cavalier looks the worst.

The Cavalier has the best track record from what I've heard.


Anyone hear anything bad about the ecotec? All I've heard is good stuff about it.
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Where'd you hear that the Sunfire had a better suspension than the Cavalier? GM should still be using the FE2 suspension on both cars considering both are on the J-Body platform which would make no difference. I'm not crazy about the new 03 Cavaliers, but I have seen some nice work done on them over at the J-Body Organization. I have a 2002 Cavalier that I wouldn't trade for the world. Well... maybe for the prototype GM has of the 3rd generation 2nd phase Cavalier with a 2.2L Turbo Ecotec. 😀
 
Originally posted by: prontospyder
Too bad Chevy doesn't have the Prizm anymore.

GM's Astra small car is pretty nice: Pic
Pic2
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The Astra is available not only from Holden but also Vauxhall and Opel, but is there any way of getting one of those into the states on my shoestring budget? I actually thought about this before... it would be very schweet to have a car that few Americans know about.
 
I have a 98 sunfire sedan. It get's awesome gas milage like in the +40 mpg range (imperial gallons of course). The only work we've had to do on it mechanically was the one cv joint some how developed an issue.
 
Of the four you named, I would easily choose the Ion. The Ion is on a new platform, and was given a GM engine that already has a good reputation. The S-10, Cavalier, and Sunfire are just dinosaurs.
 
If I had no other choice than those (and I'm not a big GM fan, anymore) I would go with the ION.

I'd much prefer a Toyota or Honda, but I were in your shoes and getting a 1/3 off a GM car, I'd buy a GM car too.

Good luck!
 
I voted Ion BUT you might be able to get a Sunfire cheaper as they do not have a fixed price. So you will get the 4K + plus family discount off but with a Sunfire you might be able to get any other student/dealer discounts also.

But test drive the Sunfire and Ion, as you will be the one that has to drive it, not me or anybody else here.
 
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Looks like the Ion is teh WinnAr.

Just promise us all you're not going to rice it out.

- M4H
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Why not? What's wrong with an ecotec with a supercharger or a turbocharger? (That's part of the reason why I want to start cheap!) You can do so much with that 2.2 ecotec.

http://www.j-body.org/
http://www.exploitedracing.com/Turbokits.html



No matter what I do, it'll be with taste. I want a sleeper, not a parade float. I don't even like the spoiler on the Sunfire... too showy without substance. I think the only appearance mod I REALLY like is what you can do with the floor...

Diamond plate floor mats:
http://www.ridecustom.com/dpfm.html
 
Ion, but I still wouldn't buy any of their crap (anyone who take an Ion over a Civic is smoking crack) The "I'm to cheap to spend the money that you're paying for the car on a semi-decent interior" vibe is too much of a turn-off. Jesus, the interior looks like it was designed by Hyundai wayyyy back in 1993.
 
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