Saturn Sky Redline $13k 27k miles 5sp

[Ferzerp]

I test drove the Pontiac twin of it back in 07 or 08. I'm a 6' tall, but skinny-ish guy, and I couldn't fit in the driver's seat. The passenger seat had plenty of room, but the driver's seat was so cramped that there was no comfortable position for me to be in.

 

[Knavish]

To contrast this with another two seater convertible:-

1999 Porsche Boxster
77K Miles
5 speed
2.5 6cyl ~ 200hp
Just purchased for $12K

I am really wondering if I had that kind of money to spend on a roadster, would I go for Saturn or Porsche?

How is the owner support group for the Sky?

With a 16 year old boxter, you're just asking for major repair expenses -- it is hard to work on because it is mid-engine. The porche probably has better driving dynamics, but will be substantially slower in acceleration.

 

[Zivic]

I test drove the Pontiac twin of it back in 07 or 08. I'm a 6' tall, but skinny-ish guy, and I couldn't fit in the driver's seat. The passenger seat had plenty of room, but the driver's seat was so cramped that there was no comfortable position for me to be in.

heck, I'm 5'8" and the dash was invasive from the top on my legs, and the console/tunnel cramped the lateral leg space. very uncomfortable to sit in

 

[manimal]

heck, I'm 5'8" and the dash was invasive from the top on my legs, and the console/tunnel cramped the lateral leg space. very uncomfortable to sit in

im 510 and I thought it was cramped.




and dont overblow IMS failure its a small percentage of the base and can be retrofitted when a clutch is done no extra labor usually.

 

[michal1980]

Why spend the money on a 'toy' when you only like half of it (the engine)?

 

[sontakke]

Well, the Porsche is already purchased by the family member. I am asking about the pitfalls of somebody trying to snap this Sky vs a Boxster. This is strictly a theoretical question as I have few more years before I can take the plunge for this type of a toy.

Is the transmission bad? Is the driving dynamics way below Boxster? Roof leaks? Brakes are mediocre? Tell me all the bad points of the Sky. I know it is a GM product and the parent company does not exist and the interior will always remind me of Corsica and Cavaliars etc.

Funny anecdote:- during the hunt for the Boxster, we saw a Crossfire. As soon we sat inside it, it was total turn off :-( Something just rubbed us wrong way. We did not even bother to turn on the engine. Material, finish, texture, shape, color, I mean every single thing was wrong! We do NOT have a single domestic car in our stable but the disappointment with the Crossfire interior was completely unexpected. Are you guys telling me that Sky would give me similar feelings?

What was that photo supposed to tell me? I missed it.

 

[tweakmonkey]

im 510 and I thought it was cramped.



and dont overblow IMS failure its a small percentage of the base and can be retrofitted when a clutch is done no extra labor usually.

Just my opinion but having seen three 996s with ims failures and $10k bills, plus one c2 with intermix which required a full engine rebuild... It's a big deal and shouldn't be ignored. At least everyone should know about it because if you get a 10k bill on a 10k boxster you wouldn't be a happy camper

Beyond a clutch (which labor/parts are still expensive) you have to remove the flywheel, release the chain tensioner. Oil has to be drained.
Camshafts must be locked which means removing anothe cover.
Put to tdc, unscrew and pull bearing with a special puller. Tools and parts are $700 not including the clutch or flywheel.

It's about 2 hours of extra work. Nobody would change it for free on top of a clutch unless they've never done it before or realized how much work it was.

 

[Jimzz]

Well, the Porsche is already purchased by the family member. I am asking about the pitfalls of somebody trying to snap this Sky vs a Boxster. This is strictly a theoretical question as I have few more years before I can take the plunge for this type of a toy.

Is the transmission bad? Is the driving dynamics way below Boxster? Roof leaks? Brakes are mediocre? Tell me all the bad points of the Sky. I know it is a GM product and the parent company does not exist and the interior will always remind me of Corsica and Cavaliars etc.

Funny anecdote:- during the hunt for the Boxster, we saw a Crossfire. As soon we sat inside it, it was total turn off :-( Something just rubbed us wrong way. We did not even bother to turn on the engine. Material, finish, texture, shape, color, I mean every single thing was wrong! We do NOT have a single domestic car in our stable but the disappointment with the Crossfire interior was completely unexpected. Are you guys telling me that Sky would give me similar feelings?

What was that photo supposed to tell me? I missed it.

The crossfire was not a "domestic" car. It was a Mercedes with a Chrysler badge, SLK320. So if you thought it was cheap then stay away from European cars, or at least German ones.

"Developed during the union of Daimler and Chrysler, the two-seater is based on the R170 platform and shares 80% of its components with Mercedes-Benz SLK320. The dashboard layout, control and instruments are also similar to those on the Mercedes-Benz SLK320."

 

[manimal]

Just my opinion but having seen three 996s with ims failures and $10k bills, plus one c2 with intermix which required a full engine rebuild... It's a big deal and shouldn't be ignored. At least everyone should know about it because if you get a 10k bill on a 10k boxster you wouldn't be a happy camper

Beyond a clutch (which labor/parts are still expensive) you have to remove the flywheel, release the chain tensioner. Oil has to be drained.
Camshafts must be locked which means removing anothe cover.
Put to tdc, unscrew and pull bearing with a special puller. Tools and parts are $700 not including the clutch or flywheel.

It's about 2 hours of extra work. Nobody would change it for free on top of a clutch unless they've never done it before or realized how much work it was.

If anyone has 996 or a boxer with low miles and they are worried about IMS failure then should do the retrofit. Most IMS failures happen on low mileage cars though some have happened on higher mileage cars. This isnt a IMS discussion which is a tired discussion at best. All I am saying is if you worry about it you fix it or pay the piper.

 

[manimal]

The dashboard layout, control and instruments are also similar to those on the Mercedes-Benz SLK320."

and that car sucked too. Not all german cars are great and not all MB are The S class.

 

[sontakke]

All the Mercedes that I have sat in had nothing in common with the inside of that Crossfire. That was in completely different class!

Anyway, getting back to the original topic, tell me the reasons why somebody should avoid Sky and get a Boxster instead.