Overhaulin' the 2009 Saturn Ion
The Saturn Ion is due for an overhaul. Created as GM's answer to the import compact, its build and quality problems
have plagued it, and its design hasn't delivered the import-lovers. In 2008, scheduled to hit dealerships perhaps in
2009, GM wants to change all of that with the new Ion — or Evoke, as GM says might be the vehicle's new name. GM will
phase the current Ion (pictured) out at the end of 2006, leaving a good chunk of time for the brand to go without a
compact sedan.
Based on the Chevy Cobalt, GM says that its new styling direction will take cues from the Opel Vectra to better
attract the elusive import crowd. Moving the car's production away from Spring Hill means that the vehicle will
probably replace its plastic panels with steel sheetmetal, to boot.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
vlocityboy 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
guess Caddy won't be using the Evoq nameplate.....
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klaatu 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Just bring in the (GM part-owned) Suzuki Aerio as a "badge-engineered" car for Saturn. It's a much better car than Saturn's Ion ever will be or could be.
Or how about the Brazilian built "Chevrolet Vectra" which is a stretched current-generation Opel Astra sedan? That'd work. GM don't mind importing cars badged as their own, they've done it since the "Opel by Isuzu" of 1975 and the "Chevrolet Luv" (Isuzu) pickup of 1971.
This is of course assuming that GM even makes it through the next 3 months. S&P just sent their bond status to the sub-basement of hell, grade "B", and the Delphi strike looms in the new year.
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RedlineForums.Com 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
For more information about the Saturn Ion Redline, check out www.redlineforums.com!
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330R 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Yet another name change, hmm?
GM really needs to find an identity for their mainstream cars.
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Sean Flanagan 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
I really don't understand why they don't just use the Vectra to replace the current Ion. If they're going to use it for "styling cues", they might as well just use the whole damn thing. Methinks a Vectra would fare far better than the current Ion both in appeal and actual sales in comparison to the imports against which Saturn is trying to compete.
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Doogs 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Here's an image of the 2008 Evoke next to the Chevy Cobalt, for comparison:
http://doogs.typepad.com/2008saturn.jpg
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samuel 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Plagued by "build and quality" problems.
That is a very strong statement, and exaggerated to the point of irresponsibility.
Once again Erin, get your facts straight before you post.
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AFC 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
It saddens me to say it, but Saturn doesn't have a reason to exist anymore. The products didn't beat the Japanese, and all of its innovation on the organizational level has since been rejected by GM. Saturn today is just another GM passenger car division - something it hardly needs in the U.S. And sooner or later, someone will realize that GM would reap bigger rewards by improving the customer service at all its brands, rather than to maintain a line of rebadged products under a special 'customer service' brand.
I just feel for all the good people at Spring Hill.
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starlightmica 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
>>Plagued by "build and quality" problems.
>That is a very strong statement, and >exaggerated to the point of irresponsibility.
Hey, samuel, remember the Ion CVT? If you don't, it's because poor quality it got canned a year after launch.
BTW, JD Power rates Ion average to below average, CR ranks its reliability below average.
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2Suave 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Saturn made sense when Chevy had a horrible reputaion for quality problems back in the late 1980s. The Saturn Corp. was structured as a separate company apart from GM with separate, less punishing union contracts. Also, Saturn was supposed to distance itself from GM's bloated bureaucracy.
The original Saturn SL was about the same size and price of a Chevy Cavalier, so was always redundant. But the Saturn was a better car and that's all that mattered. I don't think Saturn ever made a profit during its entire existence of about 15 years now.
With Chevy having regained much of its reputation as a good car, the Saturn brand makes no sense. GM needs FEWER brands, and FEWER cars within each brand so that each car is different enough from the others to matter to customers.
The dent-resistant doors/side panels and no-haggle pricing are good reasons to consider a Saturn. Making an all-steel Saturn will kill most of its appeal.
As for no-haggle pricing, people who use the internet can get pretty good deals while cutting through the car salesman crap anyway.
GM really doesn't need Saturn which has now replaced Oldsmobile as the brand GM doesn't know what to do with.
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Paul 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
#8
you mean that GM has no reason to exist. none of the products beat the japanese or anyone else for that matter. i agree that gm would be better off using daewoe and Opel products rebadged and shutting down all US manufacturing operations.
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voice of reason 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
#8 - you hit the nail on the head.
What is the point of Saturn, now that its cars don't sell, and GM plans to bring autos from other divisions into the brand? Once upon a time, Saturn pledged to build all of its cars at Spring Hill, and to remain dedicated to its employees. Saturn still has great customer service, but that ain't enough . . . you need cars, too.
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Tom 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
All Ions that I have seen were plagued by horrible quality problems. I've seen gaps in interior panels so big I could get my fingers into and I remember the photo in Consumer Reports of a similar problem with a car they tested.
You know things are bad when the brand new Ion was the lowest rated car in its class by Consumer Reports. Usually car companies try to improve cars with the introduction of each new model. GM missed the mark so far with Ion it isn't even funny. And basing the next Ion on the Cobalt isn't going to help because CR rated that just above the Ion.
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Tom 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Repeat after me...GM is the largest car company in the world. They supposedly have access to the best of everything--materials, designers and engineers. How could they even consider releasing a car like the Ion?? I don't get it.
And isn't it a total embarassment to offer a smooth and refined Honda V6 in the VUE??
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the dude 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Blah all you want, but my previous car was a 93 Saturn SL. It had 130k miles on it by the time I gave her up and was STILL running like a champ.
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Glenn 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
In response to post #8:
What an obnoxious post/comment.
Perhaps Erin should just get pregnant, take off her shoes, and hurry back into the kitchen?
Good grief.
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Jaimie B 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
To # 15:
The only obnoxious post/comment on this subject is yours.
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Jason in Boston 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
"Plagued by "build and quality" problems" => have to agree with Samuel on this one. You're off base and out at 2nd. I think a 5-star reliability for 96, 97, 01, 02, 03, 04 are pretty darn good! Hey, that equals the Honda Civic, guys. And the 4 star years, 98, 99, 00 were from one cause, "Occasional engine problems with the 1.9L single OHC head gasket", still not a reason to dismiss an otherwise entirely reliable, strong performing economy vehicle. I know you guys want a reaction out of your japanese-loyal readers, but don't you guys get tired falsely bashing GM? Saturn owners love these cars, it rivals the VW Jetta loyalists and there's got to be a reason. Oh, it's that great handling suspension, clean interior, smart lines, no dent/rust polymer exterior, and simple pricing that makes it a winner with a huge following.
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Jason in Boston 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Sorry, just wanted to say that the reliability ratings I quoted were found on:
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Reliability.aspx?year=1997&make=Saturn&model=SL&trimid=-1&src=VIP&tab=6&sub=-1
and are gathered thusly from AIS:
http://autos.msn.com/advice/articles/aisfaq.aspx?th=1&src=vip
I find CR to have the most unbelievable and biased reliability ratings. They show all red dots (excellent) for Buicks, they rate as average. The same number of red dots for Honda they rate as excellent. Take a close look and explain this?
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Dave M. 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
If I remember correctly (and I don't speak unless I do....), when the Ion was first released 3 years ago it was savaged by all the auto mags/sites that have proven over time to provide the most relistic reviews (Car&Driver, Edmunds, James Healey), not just 'gloss' pieces (Motor Trend, sometimes Automobile). C&D especially rebuked it, brutally.
I almost felt sorry for GM until I remembered all the half-baked crap they've released on the American public over the years, and despite the 25 years they've had to find their game, still crap out cars like the Ion and Cobalt. Sorry, but both cars scream "discount" just during a test drive.
In 1981 I bought my first Japanese car because what the domestics offered at that time at my price point was abysmal. I remember being irritated that I was paying a price premium because of the 'import quotas' being forced on Toyota and Honda (if I'm not mistaken...1.5 million max a year??) because the domestics needed breathing room to catch up. They never have. This is sad, because they have some of the most dedicated employees in the business.
#15 is bragging on his Saturn hitting 130k. You gotta be kidding. I don't even notice until my Japanese brand vehicles hit 200k - and I've had 4 of them, some even made in America (not Canada, not Mexico).
Saturn's reason to live (a different kind of company) has passed them by - and just as they're getting their styling chi together - the Sky and Aura are downright beautiful. Pity.
If they can't kill brands, then GM needs to downsize and combine all of them except Chevy. 2 or 3 models each, keep the same brands/names/ You can either go to Chevy, or your friendly Buick/Caddy/Pontiac/Saturn/GMC dealer.
The only domestic I would consider right now is the Ford Freestyle. Hopefully, in 4 years when I'm ready to retire my Isuzu at 250k I'll feel the same way.
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