The Love Affair

[cyrix]

What is it that got you guys sold on the ION RL?? For me it was the sleek lines that reflected the styling potential of the original Ion coupe. My sister bought one in april of 04' and I loved the look of it. The inside, as most GM cars, left a bit to be desired. Then, I attended the 2004 Dayton Auto Show in late May that same year. I had heard about the upcoming performance version of the Ion, the Ion Redline. I had heard some power figures, yet, I had not seen the car. There was one at the show. Electric Blue and every bit as sexy as the XK8 they parked it next to. With the exception of the wing, it was almost exactly what I'd invisioned my version of the Ion would look like. The seats were a hundred time better that the "chairs" they put in my sister's Ion3. The revised gauges, the steering wheel was buttery soft and just the right diameter, with bolstering at 10' and 2'. My sis said it was too big, right, she had to bitch. The wheels. Probably the best I've seen on a sports compact, and rolling stock at that! As well as the meaty Dunlop Z-rated rubber that wrapped them. But the real item for me was the drivetrain. The fact that GM, with all it's penny-pinching and by-the-book business ethic, put a blown four in a Saturn. The numbers spoke volumes as to where the brand will soon go. That's 205hp with nearly 200lb/ft of torque, under rated and at the wheels mind you. I was beside myself. Do a little research on me and you'll fine that I'm a gearhead from origin. Day one. My earliest recalection was that of the beautiful sound of a small black 327 coming from my father's 1965 Corvette Stingray. She popped my cherry. And it popped again when I sat into the freash Ion Redline at that show. Finally, at 23, a driver's car I could afford! I worked my ass of at my as an EMT, we don't make that much mind you. Worked a private Ambulance service as well as Union FD. On October 27, 2004 I signed my name about a thousand times and drove off in my first new car, with a smile ear to ear! Despite all the "bugs" that those at this forum have addressed, I still have faith. This is a totally new endeavor for GM, god know they don't always get 'em right the first time...then the Chevette came out a second year! When they should have killed it and the designer. My aunt had one...long story. Anywho, I have opened this thread for those of you who want to tell your story of want made you say...,"The Ion's better". Now, don't get me wrong, with a few exceptions, I love ALL CARS! If you've not got a RL, no matter. Just post your love of the car you've got. 'Nuff said, Ya'll...I'm out!

[urbanmonkeygod04]

Well, I have always had a fascination with tuner cars, and having all the go-fast goodies (spoilers, loud exhausts, superchargers, racing seats, big wheels, etc.), but I've never really had enough liquid assets to purchase said things for slow cars. So my dad was telling me about the Saturn that is basically already modded. I never really cared until I saw a blue one on the road in my hometown of Hartland, and it was howling down the road in a big damn hurry.

So I decided, "Hey, what the hell could it hurt to test drive one?" Well, four test drives at 2 dealerships and one intense desire later, I crave one still. I don't know if it was the 1-2 shift that left a black mark on the pavement and rocketed me ahead of every other car on the road. I don't know if it was getting onto the interstate at what I thought was a perfectly reasonable speed and the salesman saying "you're going 110 mph". It COULD have been taking the 15 mph turn in Ann Arbor at 35, with my best friend & aforementioned salesman holding on for dear life, and coming out of it with nothing so much as a single protest from the tires. Not too sure.

Ever since that first test drive 2 1/2 months ago, however, I've been obsessed. The only thing I've ever wanted as bad as I want my Redline was a couple of girls I was in love with from first sight. It's a deep-seated desire, one that itches in the back of my mind and every time I close my eyes I see pavement & other cars flying by as I tally in my mind just how much the impending ticket will cost me. "Okay, $95 . . . $100 . . . $105 . . . $150 . . . $250 . . . I should shut it down . . . fuck it." (shift to next gear, bury throttle.)

It makes me feel like a little boy again. A 16-year old boy who just got his license throwing caution to the wind. It is truly a car of passion, in my opinion. Those who get it, know. Those who don't understand it never will. And that's fine; why should everybody know that feeling?

Now all I have to do is sell that damn Vibe.

I'm going to call the dealer & beg him for pity tomorrow.

Adios.

[violakat03]

I've always been a Saturn fan. My SC2 is my second Saturn, and before that I owned an SL1. I've always loved the look of the ION QCs, and I started thinking I wanted a new car since my SC2 is getting up there in miles and is start to literally fall to pieces. I never saw a Red Line in person before I fell for them - just the stock photos Saturn released. I couldn't believe they finally came to their senses and put an amazing drivetrain into a Saturn. It was everything I could ever want, and every time I'm around one, I'm just reminded of what a great car it is. I've loved the Red Line ION since day one.

And by the end of this year, I swear, I will own one.

[jmichna]

What sold me on the RL....

First, my SW2 saved my life in a bad accident... last November poor SW2 gave its life so that I might live. RIP, noble SW2. Saturns protect the occupants in a crash.

I researched crash-worthiness of all the smaller, sportier cars in my price range (up to $30K), even the Mercedes SC320, and the Ions were always among the best. The crash tests limited me to about five or six different choices.

Next, going online, and looking at what I could get for the money. I wanted:
- manual transmission, 5 or 6 speed close ratio, short throw and clutch to match
- front AND side impact air bags
- great 0-60 speed
- great 60-0 braking
- great handling
- great sound system
- powered sun/moon roof

I looked both domestic and off-shore... when I priced out the packages I wanted, nothing came close to the RL within 2 or 3 thousand dollars.

Getting a supercharged/intercooled Ecotec 2.0L was a bonus, as were the Recaro buckets front and back, unique back ("suicide") doors, great styling, very nice wheels and -- My God! -- the trunk space for a little car! I was thinking black, possibly red... my eleven year-old daughter said go with the blue... I'm glad she did, that Pacific Blue really stands out!

When I went to test drive the RL (had just finished the Mercedes SC320 earlier that day) I also brought along my golf clubs to make sure they fit okay... that was the last remaining potential deal-breaker.

Clubs fit, I signed the papers, new car came home... all within a week of my total wreck.

[SatredL]

Besides being a previous Saturn owner, what sold me was it's overall look, it did'nt look like the other tuners, and it was affordable. I looked at the WRX,and the Evo, which are damn fine cars but my insurance would have been up my keister(the wife too) so when I saw the RL, and all the salesman said was "Drive it" & I did I was sold. And if they were to come out with that Rally version, I'd be damnned if I did'nt try to get that one too.

[Chazb]

This is the first car since my 72 datsun 240z that I just go stare at it from the window.I have had a ton of cars but this one just gets my juices flowing it is something that is hard to describe......to put it simply I am having a ball driving it.

[IeatRice]

Holy **** that rally version is incredible. I didn't even know there was such a concept. Anyone know anything about it?

[magikal_dragon]

Originally Posted by IeatRice

Holy **** that rally version is incredible. I didn't even know there was such a concept. Anyone know anything about it?

I WANT IT I WANT IT I WANT IT I WANT IT I WANT IT I WANT IT!!!!!!!

[bbrazil]

Oh, let's see, it was the early 90s and I was at the Eastern States Expo selling apple cider under the guise of the Future Farmers of America (we were actually trying to raise money for a biotech project, not JUST scamming people)... In what is now the Better Living Complex (I want to say it was called the "Something of the Future" at the time), an exhibitor was showing off a car he had that had all polymer body panels. Being a nerd, I understood why polymer is a good thing.

Fast forward to the late 90s. I just started my first job out of college and my Toyota Corrola bites it (to its credit, it did have 300,000 miles on it). So I've gotta find a new car. I remember this company I saw at the Big E so many years ago and thought I'd give them a look. I fell in love with the SCs almost instantly and found myself driving away in a '99 SC1...

More years pass and I'm thinking about replacing the SC1 with another saturn, but saturn hasn't come out with anything I'd call sporty. Then my gf's car starts breaking down. Dating a Saturn evangelist, it's only natural that she look at Saturns (in the 6 years I had my SC1, I never had a single real problem with it). While helping her futz with the website, I decide to see how tricked out I can get a quad coupe. Then I find it. A link to something called a Red Line. I may have even clicked it by accident.

And there it was, an electric blue Red Line with the big aero wing. I may have shed a tear, it was so beautiful. Oh, THEN you tell me about the 205hp, 200 ft/lbs, Nurbering-tuned suspension goodness... And I'm hooked.

Fortunately, my SC1 is still running great, so I can take my time replacing her, but I know the way I'm going!

[SatredL]

Originally Posted by IeatRice

Holy **** that rally version is incredible. I didn't even know there was such a concept. Anyone know anything about it?

Check out www.saturnfans.com. Look in the photo gallery under 2003 ION Rally Concept, lots of pics.