Car question, Saturns

[Kristi2k]

Are Saturns any good? I am interested in an Ion.

 

[pontifex]

i've had 2 of them. rarely had problems.
edit: i didn't have the Ion, i had an L200 and currently have an L300.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Cheap in my experience, but Saturn owners seem to like them alright... I rate them a 6-7 on a 10 scale.

 

[xanis]

Saturns share most of the same platforms and engines as other small GM vehicles, and some Saturns are actually kind of nice, I'm thinking of the Sky.

 

[iamwiz82]

Ions are garbage. They are buzzy, loud, have poor ergonomics, a stupid instrument panel, an interior that rattles like maracas, and have quite a few electrical gremlins, judging by co-workers (5 in total own them).

 

[PurdueRy]

They are about as cheap as cars can be made. But for a starting car, they aren't horrid. I would still favor a used vehicle for the same price

 

[fbrdphreak]

I sat in one at the dealer, waiting for my gf's Saturn to be inspected; utterly terrible interior. Poor fitment, cheap plastics, ugh. The Ecotec engine is the bomb, but they fvcked something up after the 01 L200's. My gf has an 01 L200 with the 2.2L Ecotec & 4-speed auto; she drove an '02 L200 and some Ions after that, said none of them were the same as hers in handling or power.

The 01 L200 is a good car, minding its cheap ass interior. Awesome engine, good acceleration, great mileage (she gets 26/32), lots of room, handles really well. I would buy that before a new Ion

 

[MercenaryForHire]

I actually considered an Ion QC. Then I drove one. Shifter felt like stirring molasses, and it rattled like a tin of beans.

Shame, too - it was actually a cute little thing, and the extra 1/2 a door on each side would have been nice to have a couple times.

- M4H

 

[CrackRabbit]

http://www.edmunds.com/used/2003/saturn/ion/index.html

 

[Kristi2k]

I guess I'll stick with my 02 Malibu than. Thanks for the input!

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Kristi2k
I guess I'll stick with my 02 Malibu than. Thanks for the input!

Well you didn't mention that in the first post. An Ion is a big upgrade

I have had a rental redesigned Malibu and I must say I liked it, though.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
I actually considered an Ion QC. Then I drove one. Shifter felt like stirring molasses, and it rattled like a tin of beans.

Shame, too - it was actually a cute little thing, and the extra 1/2 a door on each side would have been nice to have a couple times.

- M4H

Aye, I really hate that. It's a good looking car, but the build quality and the guage placement just ruin it.

 

[SampSon]

My GF owns a first year Ion 2. Overall it sucks but does it's job for the price.

The transmission sucks, it slips badly when going down a steep incline. I personally HATE the center mounted guages and the small steering wheel. I don't like the cruise control system either. The engine is your typical GM 4 banger, lacking any major power like most 4 bangers, but decent enough to get you going when you need it.

She had to have the pads and rotors replaced after like 30K miles, they just wore down to nothing. She also had a problem with the HVAC blower that required 5 visits to the dealership and 4 different replacement parts before they replaced the entire thing. Now it works fine.

Part of the problem is that the Ion was a first run car that year and usually the first run of cars has problems and it takes time to work out the kinks. So I don't know how good they are in current model years, but I do see a lot of them on the road. It's a decent car for the price if you're on a tight budget.

 

[SWScorch]

I have a 2001 SL1, my ex has a 97 SL2 coupe, and my current gf has a 2002 LS-whatever. We all like our cars and have never had any problems with them. Yes, they are cheap, and it is apparent, but for a small, reliable, efficient vehicle, I feel that they can't be beat. There is a reason you see so many high schoolers and college students with Saturns; they're cheap but reliable. I don't know anyone who owns a Saturn who has had major problems with them.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: SampSon
My GF owns a first year Ion 2. Overall it sucks but does it's job for the price.

The transmission sucks, it slips badly when going down a steep incline. I personally HATE the center mounted guages and the small steering wheel. I don't like the cruise control system either. The engine is your typical GM 4 banger, lacking any major power like most 4 bangers, but decent enough to get you going when you need it.

She had to have the pads and rotors replaced after like 30K miles, they just wore down to nothing. She also had a problem with the HVAC blower that required 5 visits to the dealership and 4 different replacement parts before they replaced the entire thing. Now it works fine.

Part of the problem is that the Ion was a first run car that year and usually the first run of cars has problems and it takes time to work out the kinks. So I don't know how good they are in current model years, but I do see a lot of them on the road. It's a decent car for the price if you're on a tight budget.

What year was that?

 

[Abel007]

I've owned 2 Saturns and hope to own a 3rd soon.

I had a 92 Saturn SC that was absolutely awesome. 5-speed and bright red 2-door coupe. Wish I would've never gotten rid of it.

Now I drive a 95 Saturn. 112k on odomoter. Only problem I've had out of it is at 110k miles I had to replace the cat converter. Great little car that can haul people semi-comfortable if needed. I love it. Cheap cars, good gas mileage, and cheap to repair if its actually needed.

If you're looking for luxury look elsewhere cuz Saturn's don't have it. Its basically a no-nonsense car that goes from A to B and from B to A many, many times.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: SampSon
My GF owns a first year Ion 2. Overall it sucks but does it's job for the price.

The transmission sucks, it slips badly when going down a steep incline. I personally HATE the center mounted guages and the small steering wheel. I don't like the cruise control system either. The engine is your typical GM 4 banger, lacking any major power like most 4 bangers, but decent enough to get you going when you need it.

She had to have the pads and rotors replaced after like 30K miles, they just wore down to nothing. She also had a problem with the HVAC blower that required 5 visits to the dealership and 4 different replacement parts before they replaced the entire thing. Now it works fine.

Part of the problem is that the Ion was a first run car that year and usually the first run of cars has problems and it takes time to work out the kinks. So I don't know how good they are in current model years, but I do see a lot of them on the road. It's a decent car for the price if you're on a tight budget.

Did she have the recall on the electrical wiring in the brake/signal lights?

 

[iversonyin]

The only Saturn you should get its the Sky

 

[ZetaEpyon]

I currently drive a 1998 Saturn SL that we got new; it's about as bare-bones as it comes, the only power thing on my car is the brakes.

90,000 miles later, it still runs very well, despite having been punished with five winters in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I agree with the comments that the build quality may not be the greatest; road noise on the highway is one of my biggest annoyances with the car -- I think the plastic body panels do little to help this.

I'm planning on getting a new car next summer, but I'll definitely be keeping the ol' SL around for the mileage (which is still good) and for nastier weather.

 

[SampSon]

What year was that?

I think it's a 2003 Saturn Ion 2. So it came out in 2002 I believe. The repairs were all done with in the past 1.5 years. The most troubling one was the replacement of the brakes. Brakes should not burn out that quick on a brand new car. Though Saturn just totally replaced them without asking. The HVAC blower was a bitch that required a lot of time and bitching.
But eventually the saturn service dept. came through for her.

Did she have the recall on the electrical wiring in the brake/signal lights?

Not that I know of, she was never notified by saturn for that recall, and to my knowledge they never had to do the repair whenever the car was brought in for service.
Her car really hasn't had any electrical problems at all. I think that the Ions electrical systems have held up a little better than my Subaru. Though I drive my car about 5x as much as she does. As for the rest of the car it leaves much to be desired, but for the price it's not a bad deal.

 

[Feldenak]

I drive a 99 SL2. It's been a good car for me. I just had my brake pads replaced and front rotors turned for the first time....at ~95k on the odometer. I haven't had any problems with the car.

 

[paulney]

I had a 95 SL2 for 4 years, then sold it at 100k miles. Had a few problems, but nothing major:
- the switch that turns on backup lights was busted.
- it started overheating in traffic at 100k; I believe it was due to blown temperature sensor
- buckling (the biggest issue). A lot of older Saturns suffer from that, and the problem can be anything from spark plug wires to gas throttle.
- rattling. Rattled like hell at higher speeds, because of the plastics used everywhere
- engine gasket leaked, and there was oil in spark plug wells

But it never failed to start or deliver when needed.

 

[Ktulu]

Forget the Ion, look into the Aura's.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: paulney
- buckling (the biggest issue). A lot of older Saturns suffer from that, and the problem can be anything from spark plug wires to gas throttle.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: SampSon

What year was that?

I think it's a 2003 Saturn Ion 2. So it came out in 2002 I believe. The repairs were all done with in the past 1.5 years. The most troubling one was the replacement of the brakes. Brakes should not burn out that quick on a brand new car. Though Saturn just totally replaced them without asking. The HVAC blower was a bitch that required a lot of time and bitching.
But eventually the saturn service dept. came through for her.

Yeah brakes were definitely off. My gf's 01 L200 is still on original rotors/pads at nearly 60K. Reason I ask is your assessment of its engine. I find the 2.2L 145HP I-4 in the 2900lbs L200 to be more peppy than the 2.5L 165HP H-4 in my 3300lbs Subaru, and I would assume the relationship is similar to your Impreza (Although I'd imagine the age of my engine doesn't help). Its not as torquey on the low end, but makes up for it in the mid-range for sure. In a 3300lbs car it might be worse, but not with 400lbs less weight. My $0.02