Saturn Overhauling The 2009 Ion

[BigBrother]

LOL! We are all bonafide automotive journalists. My list of qualifications is as follows:

"Jamin Loveless is an automotive journalist living in Las Vegas, NV, conveniantly near Shelby Motorcars headquarters at the Las Vegas Motorspeedway, and the Las Vegas Strip (which becomes a rolling car show every Friday and Saturday night of the year). This in addition to having no travel time to attend SEMA every year! Not only is he an accomplished amature drag racer and an avid member of the SCCA competing in Solo 2 events in 3 different regions, but he works at a high end custom shop! As a true auto enthusiast, he loves everything about all the car scenes, but has a special and inexplicable affinity for FWD GM cars, especially those sporting the Quad 4 engine and Saturns."

Yay for me!

I saw several IRL's around the Provo and Salt Lake City areas, but typically the same ones. Down here, though, I see quite a few. Not like their all over the place, but I can count on seeing one pretty much every day (and I'm not counting the ones I see by default working just down the street from Saturn of Henderson, lol).

Interested to see where this whole Evoke thing goes, and where Saturn in general is headed. Though I'm no longer affiliated with the company, I would like to see them become all they should. High hopes.

As fort he IRL holding/gaining value - not bloody likely. Put one on blocks in a garage for 19 years, and yes, you'll have a collectable. There were 204 Oldsmobile 442 W41's built, and they had a true and verifiable racing heritage. There is ONE remaining in collectable condition that anyone knows of, like new with <27k mileson it. It's already winning shows, and hasn't hit the "classic" mark yet (turns 20 in 2011). The other 203, those that have been found, are mostly beat to crap and not worth anything, even restored. The few that could be saved may be worth keeping around, and will likely be worth their original window sticker again someday, though it's unlikely they'll ever be worth more, the one aforementioned vehicle being the lone exception. A low mileage, well kept IRL in 20 years will be a nifty collectable, not worth a lot but something that'll get smiles at shows. Other than that - sorry....

[Sp00ner]

Originally Posted by BigBrother

LOL! We are all bonafide automotive journalists. My list of qualifications is as follows:

"Jamin Loveless is an automotive journalist living in Las Vegas, NV, conveniantly near Shelby Motorcars headquarters at the Las Vegas Motorspeedway, and the Las Vegas Strip (which becomes a rolling car show every Friday and Saturday night of the year). This in addition to having no travel time to attend SEMA every year! Not only is he an accomplished amature drag racer and an avid member of the SCCA competing in Solo 2 events in 3 different regions, but he works at a high end custom shop! As a true auto enthusiast, he loves everything about all the car scenes, but has a special and inexplicable affinity for FWD GM cars, especially those sporting the Quad 4 engine and Saturns."

Yay for me!

I saw several IRL's around the Provo and Salt Lake City areas, but typically the same ones. Down here, though, I see quite a few. Not like their all over the place, but I can count on seeing one pretty much every day (and I'm not counting the ones I see by default working just down the street from Saturn of Henderson, lol).

Interested to see where this whole Evoke thing goes, and where Saturn in general is headed. Though I'm no longer affiliated with the company, I would like to see them become all they should. High hopes.

As fort he IRL holding/gaining value - not bloody likely. Put one on blocks in a garage for 19 years, and yes, you'll have a collectable. There were 204 Oldsmobile 442 W41's built, and they had a true and verifiable racing heritage. There is ONE remaining in collectable condition that anyone knows of, like new with <27k mileson it. It's already winning shows, and hasn't hit the "classic" mark yet (turns 20 in 2011). The other 203, those that have been found, are mostly beat to crap and not worth anything, even restored. The few that could be saved may be worth keeping around, and will likely be worth their original window sticker again someday, though it's unlikely they'll ever be worth more, the one aforementioned vehicle being the lone exception. A low mileage, well kept IRL in 20 years will be a nifty collectable, not worth a lot but something that'll get smiles at shows. Other than that - sorry....

Not to totally change the subject, but my Boss got the very 442 you're speaking of last fall. Great shape. I'm not sure what collectors shape is like, but this thing looks like it's no more than 4-5 years old. I'd have to check on mileage, but it's VERY low. He paid in the 20's for it, I believe, have to ask again.

[matt]

Originally Posted by BigBrother

As fort he IRL holding/gaining value - not bloody likely. Put one on blocks in a garage for 19 years, and yes, you'll have a collectable. There were 204 Oldsmobile 442 W41's built, and they had a true and verifiable racing heritage. There is ONE remaining in collectable condition that anyone knows of, like new with <27k mileson it.

Well there was less than 130 competition package RL's made in 05.

I doubt these cars in pristine condition will be huge hits on the Barrett Jackson auction 40 years from now. You never know though, during the muscle car era people though those cars would not be worth anything either.

[BlueBlastIon19]

Well I think the Saturn will stay intact for a longer period, because the saturn i have has never had any problems since ive i got it (and its 15 years old)... And Chevys who cares about....

[meatygardenhose]

Dude I just got a new 06' RL, and that mother is fast...

[burlesonb]

I live in Hawaii, and I'm on the road all the time. I have only seen two Redlines. I've seen a blue one and another silver one like mine. Other than that, there are two at the dealership...

[9JordonFlex9]

I would say get a RL...going to rare cars in the future I would say...I plan on picking one up OVER the cobalt ss sc...cuz no one really has any IONs around here...and NO RL

[saturnkenwood]

maybe they wouldn't have to redesign it if they would just make more aftermarket parts for the Ion's.You can get more mods from for a rice burner from the dealerships when they come out than I can for my 2003 Ion,and I've had that for three years now!They're trying to pass the Ion like a sport compact without that much aftermarket support what did they think was going to happen!

[yrethguad]

The manufacturer doesn't make the aftermarket. I'm sure they could influence it, but that's it. People gotta make money.

[TheAznSensation]

My uncle worked for GM for a long time and he told me that they don't really want to push the Saturn line because it doesn't do much for them. Now with the Sky out, that might be another story. I'm confused as to why they would bring out the sport-compact IRL, which they want to compete with the other tuners, but not promote it..... If they are mad about the sales then they have no one to blame but themselves for being dumb and not pushing it. I hate how the aftermarket world is crap for the RL's, but oh well maybe someone will get something through those thick stupid heads of GM.... I can only hope....