- coupe 97,676
- 3,499 high price
- Virginia Beach, VA
-
- autoshopper.com
- coupe 97,676 gasoline black manual
2004 saturn ion review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Minor revisions add to its appeal. introductionsaturn ion is an inexpensive compact that emphasizes style and innovation as well as value. Ion was all-new in 2003, and significantly larger than the saturn s-series model it replaced. the 2004 saturn ion features some significant updates, including higher-grade interior fabrics and richer-looking interior trim in more harmonious colors. Additional sound-deadening material brings a quieter cabin. The stereo systems have been improved and is available with an mp3 player, xm satellite radio, and a six-cd changer. ion's steering has been re-calibrated for improved road feel at speed. Both of the available automatic transmissions have been refined as well. And saturn has injected some real excitement into the ion for 2004, with the uniquely trimmed special edition sedan, and the supercharged red line coupe. dent-deflecting and rust-resistant plastic body panels add to the ion's appeal. Acceleration is good for its price class, ride and handling about average. In interior comfort and refinement, saturn still has a way to go. But experience has shown that people choose saturns as much for the hassle-free buying experience as the for car's actual character and performance. In fact, saturn ranks at or near the top in j. Saturn calls the coupe a quad coupe. Picture the door arrangement on an extended-cab pickup, but with a lot more style. the sedan is offered in three trim levels. The coupe is available in the upper two levels. A five-speed manual transmission is standard. Automatic transmissions are available 900-$980), but saturn installs different units in the sedan and the coupe. Sedans use a five-speed automatic, which is unusual in this price range. The windows wind and the mirrors adjust manually. Air conditioning costs extra 960). ion 2 sedan 13,735) and coupe 14,285) add air conditioning, a cd player, a more deluxe interior with a driver's seat that adjusts for height, and 195/60 tires on 15-inch aluminum wheels. ion 3 sedan 15,260) and coupe 15,785) add an mp3 player and better speakers, cruise control, power programmable door locks with remote keyless entry, power windows and mirrors, and other niceties, plus 205/55 tires on 16-inch aluminum wheels. two additional variations debut for 2004. The special edition sedan comes only in black, with machined 16-inch alloy wheels and a chrome exhaust tip. Inside, the special edition is trimmed in perforated neutral leather with ebony accents. Additional standard equipment includes an automatic-dimming mirror, compass, outside temperature gauge, map lights, and unique floor-mat embroidery. the red line coupe, available late in the model year, boasts 200 horsepower from a supercharged and intercooled 2. 0-liter engine. Head curtain air bags 395) that protect both front and rear-seat passengers in a side impact are an unusual option in this price class, and we recommend them as well. cd and cd/mp3 systems are available on ion 1 and ion 2. Xm satellite radio and onstar are offered at levels 2 and 3. A convenience package 825) adds cruise control plus power locks, mirrors, and windows to ion 2. A power sunroof 725) is offered on all models except the ion 1 sedan. Leather upholstery 700) is available on ion 3. walkaroundstylish yet recognizable, the saturn ion sedan drew favorable comments on the street. From the front, the ion retains the saturn family look with slim horizontal headlamps and the saturn name embossed in the bumpers. The windshield slopes far forward, which helps the relatively tall ion look sleek. ion does, in fact, stand tall. The ion sedan's roof curves heavily down to the high trunk line almost giving it the appearance of a hatchback rather than a traditional sedan. The look is contemporary and not that dissimilar from the nissan altima and volkswagen passat, both lauded for their design. ion maintains the saturn tradition of attaching composite polymer body panels to a substantial steel space-frame. The polymer panels can't rust and, because they are slightly resilient, they resist the minor impacts that leave small dents and dings in sheet metal. The down side is that the saturn's panels look thicker than steel sheet and gaps between body parts have to be greater to allow for expansion in hot weather. Another benefit of the composite panels is that they are relatively easy to replace. Saturn has exploited this advantage on the ion by offering alternatively colored roof rails that owners can easily install to customize their car's appearance. All 2004 ions come with body-color roof rails, but nickel-silver rails are available for the coupe and the sedan, and charcoal rails are available for the sedan. one complaint: we find the ion's small, lever-style door handles relatively hard to grasp. Also, the front air dam adds to the sedan's sporty appearance, but scrapes like a corvette on steep driveway and side-street transitions. the ion quad coupe derives its name from a pair of unusual rear-access doors that open on rear-mounted hinges, in much the same way as the auxiliary rear doors on an extended-cab pickup truck. The rear doors have no exterior handles to compromise the coupe's sporty styling; and when they are open, there's no b-pillar in the opening, which makes access to the rear seat very easy for such a small car. The rear access doors are an innovative design that enhances the practicality of this sport coupe. A front passenger seat that folds flat further improves the utility of the coupe. Saturn likes to demonstrate that it's possible to stuff a nine-foot kayak into the coupe through its doors, a feat that would be plenty tough for many suvs, let alone other compact coupes. Ion's interior design themes consist largely of interlocking half circles with different textures. These textures and other interior materials have been upgraded for 2004. New grains on the dash, soft-touch paint, and improved gloss levels of other plastics give the 2004 ion a more upscale appearance than the 2003 model. For those who want to customize the interior, the trim bezels can be swapped out. the open dash design gives the ion an airy feel. Immediately noticeable is the center-mounted instrument cluster, a feature popularized by the mini cooper and toyota echo. The advantage of this, says saturn, is that the instruments can be set at the same level as the outside mirrors, so there's no need to look down, only across. This arrangement also allows for a smaller steering wheel with more range of adjustment, as there is no need to look through the steering wheel to see the gauges. Tall drivers find it convenient, but short drivers who sit nearer to the steering wheel have to swivel their heads farther to look across at the speedometer. Some people like the small steering wheel, but others do not love the ion's small, two-spoke wheel. we do not like the front seats. They are on small, narrow and short, and lack side support in the seat bottom and seat back. Arm rests have been added to ion 2 and ion 3 trim levels for 2004, which may be helpful. forward visibility is inhibited by thick a-pillars in front, while the view over the right shoulder is hindered by wide c-pillars. We found the electric window switches hard to locate in the dark, as they are not illuminated and are located rearward of where we expected them. Rear passengers benefit from slightly elevated (theater) seating, as the rear seats are mounted two inches higher than the front seats, offering an improved view. Rear-seat legroom is adequate, and the front seats have longer-than-normal adjustment rails, so short front-seat passengers can slide them well forward. This also means a taller person can enjoy even greater leg room in front as long as there are no passengers in the rear. the coupe and the sedan feature a big trunk. The sedan's trunk is little larger.
3,499 Virginia Beach, VAVirginia Beach, VA at autoshopper.com