First Drive: 2003 Saturn Ion

[NFS4]

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/firstdrive/76657/article.html

 

[Passions]

Looks like it's angry. What's up with the angry's cars these days, including the new Accord.

BTW: That center gauge custer is just BUTT FUGLY!

 

[MajesticMoose]

it looks like a longer(length) and shorter(height) focus. Ugly.

 

[b0mbrman]

Yeah...having those in the center just doesn't make sense...just makes it easier for my girlfriend to whine about me going too fast

 

[vi edit]

FUUUUUGLY

Thing fell off the ugly truck and hit every Aztec on it's way down.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

I like my guages in front of me kthx.

 

[Pepsi90919]

where were the center console haters when the toyota echo came out ?!

 

[RU482]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
where were the center console haters when the toyota echo came out ?!

[sarcasm]duh, GM doesn't make the Echo, why would anyone have anything bad to say about a nonGM design? [/sarcasm]

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
where were the center console haters when the toyota echo came out ?!

The Echo is so ugly, it completely slipped under my radar. I didn't even know it had a center mounted dash.

 

[Shantanu]

The BMW Z8 also has center mounted clusters. Not surprisingly, the Edmunds people couldn't stop raving about how brilliant an idea that was. Of course in a Saturn, the concept dismissed as "gimmicky", and inherently inferior to front mounted guages.

Edmunds has so little credibility. 90% of their editorial staff rides rice mobiles.

 

[erikiksaz]

Originally posted by: BOBBY RIBS
Looks like it's angry. What's up with the angry's cars these days, including the new Accord.

Wait till you've seen the new, convertible, two-door benz. Now THAT is one mean looking car (from behind, that is)

 

[Freejack2]

Hmm, from what I read it looks like Saturn may have a real winner on their hands. The center instrument cluster is a bit strange but I wouldn't be suprised to see this become a more common trend if Toyota and BMW have been doing this too. It would be nice for once to see a domestic car that is made in America from a decent amount of American made parts sell well. As for it's looks I don't think it's ugly but I'm not too thrilled to think little Nissan Altima when I see it.

 

[Shantanu]

You have to keep in mind that this forum is dominated by rice boys. Indeed, this is one of the few places I could post a picture of a fugly lowrider Honda Civic with a coffee can tailpipe, Chinese stickers, bad paint job, and 2 foot rusty metal spoiler and people would say "Whoa, that's a sweet ride, man... *Drool*"

Most Americans don't like the looks of the Toyota Corolla, and the Honda Civic is so bland that most people don't have an opinion of it. I think most Americans would find the exterior styling on the Saturn more palatable. The Saturn also has a more refined powertrain and chassis than everything else in the class and a better interior than all but the Corolla. I don't think GM will have any problem selling the Ion.

 

[Mani]

Not a great looking car but since every saturn that's ever been released prior looks like absolute crap, it's a decent improvement.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: Shantanu
You have to keep in mind that this forum is dominated by rice boys. Indeed, this is one of the few places I could post a picture of a fugly lowrider Honda Civic with a coffee can tailpipe, Chinese stickers, bad paint job, and 2 foot rusty metal spoiler and people would say "Whoa, that's a sweet ride, man... *Drool*"

Most Americans don't like the looks of the Toyota Corolla, and the Honda Civic is so bland that most people don't have an opinion of it. I think most Americans would find the exterior styling on the Saturn more palatable. The Saturn also has a more refined powertrain and chassis than everything else in the class and a better interior than all but the Corolla. I don't think GM will have any problem selling the Ion.

I'm pretty sure that almost everyone here hates rice... but how would you know with all that colon blocking your senses?

 

[Cfour]

In like every GM car post, you people bash a feature that you praise on an import. It seems like its me and Shantanu vs. the world! I say bring it! lol

Tony

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: Cfour
In like every GM car post, you people bash a feature that you praise on an import. It seems like its me and Shantanu vs. the world! I say bring it! lol

Tony

That would be a valid statement if it were true that we bashed features on domestics but not imports. Just because you say "this is so" does not mean that this is so.

 

[bolido2000]

Looks like is going to be a nice car. I personally wouldn't buy one for myself though

 

[KamakaziRcr]

This ION is an improvment to the need to be retired Saturn S, but it still trails the pack by far. The exterior screams out retarded Nissans. You can see strong hints of the older Sentra in front and the Altima in the rear. The interior is still plasticy, but this time color matching. The Toyota Echo inspired center instrument is a cost cutting measurement or a failed attempt of being 'different'. The only big 'improvement' is that the ION is larger. But the suspension layout was downgraded from fully independent struts to rear non-independent beam. The mpg efficiency took a nose dive. There's many V6 mdisize sedans that will get similar gas milage as the ION sedan with automatic. And to add to insult...this ION marks Saturn working even closer to its mothership GM as the 04 Cavalier will be based off the same platform.

 

[Freejack2]

Interior of the Ion looks a hell of a lot better than that crap interior they put in the Honda Civic.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
where were the center console haters when the toyota echo came out ?!

I've always been a center console hater. The gauges in the center of the Echo dash seem like an accident waiting to happen. If you slam into the rear of another car, could you use the defense in court that you were looking at your gauges on your Echo? The design doesn't seem too safe to me.