- sedan 130,363
- Cape Coral, FL
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- autoshopper.com
- sedan 130,363 gasoline gold
2006 saturn ion review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. More power and convenience. introductionsaturn's strength has always been its dealers. It's saturn's car that haven't always measured up, particularly in comfort and refinement. When it appeared in 2003, the ion represented a major improvement over the old saturn s-series. We found the seats uncomfortable and its levels of refinement were average at best. However, saturn has continued to update and refine the ion over the past three model years, and we came away with positive impressions of the current models. Most of the things we complained about have been changed and refinement has been improved overall. the most substantial changes came for 2005: larger and more supportive seats have replaced the barstools used previously, and a larger steering wheel provides a more comfortable grip. Suspension tweaks have resulted in a smoother and quieter car that's more pleasant in everyday use. At the same time, the handling is sharper, making it more fun to drive. And the appearance of the sedan was greatly improved with a new grille. the improvements continued for 2006: saturn has reconfigured the center dash to provide more room for storage and to enhance legroom. Onstar is now standard on all ions. A larger, more powerful engine is available. Saturn has dropped the base-level sedan with its narrow seats, and a new enhanced performance package has been added to bridge the gap between the base-engine/base suspension models and the ion red line sport compact. Prices have been reduced, especially at the lower end of the line, where an 2006 ion 2 sedan lists for $2,455 less than a comparable '05 model. meanwhile, all of the ion's best features remain unchanged. The quad coupe features innovative dual rear-access doors, like those on an extended-cab pickup, that make it easy to load and unload cargo. We found we could stuff large objects into the back seat of a saturn that would not go into a traditional two-door coupe. the red line coupe features a 205-horsepower supercharged engine good for 0-60 mph in about 6. 3 seconds. We found it fun to drive, with strong throttle response and a sporty exhaust note. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and an automatic transmission is optional 900). for 2006, the sedan is offered in two trim levels, called ion 2 and ion 3. Onstar, previously a $695 option, is now standard as well. A preferred package 875) adds cruise control, power windows, mirrors and locks. Aluminum wheels are also available 440). the ion 3 sedan 14,325) and coupe 15,625) add an mp3 player and better speakers, air conditioning, cruise control, programmable power locks with remote keyless entry, power windows and mirrors, and other niceties, plus 205/55 tires on 16-inch aluminum wheels. Leather upholstery 700) is optional. The new enhanced performance package 995) combines the new 2. 4-liter engine with stiffer shocks and anti-roll bars. ion red line quad coupe 19,425) boasts 205 horsepower from a supercharged and intercooled 2. 0-liter engine mated to a heavy-duty getrag five-speed manual gearbox. A competition package 1,375) adds a quaife limited-slip differential, 17-inch forged wheels, a boost gauge and a programmable tachometer. stereo upgrades include a cd changer, cd/mp3 systems, and xm satellite radio 325). A travel package 200) includes a map light, outside temperature gauge, compass, and auto-dimming inside mirror. A power sunroof 725) is available for all models. safety features include dual-stage driver and front-passenger frontal airbags. New for 2006 is a passenger sensing system that switches off the right front airbag if the right front seat is unoccupied, or occupied by a small adult or child who could be injured by the airbag; it's standard in all ions except the red line. (saturn still strongly recommends restraining children in the back seat in appropriate child seats.) optional side-curtain airbags 395) are designed to improve head protection for front- and rear-seat passengers in the event of a side impact or rollover. The ion has received five-star/five-star ratings, the highest attainable, in the federal government's crash tests. We recommend the optional abs and traction control 400) as it can help the driver avoid a crash. The bright metal grille with the saturn logo front-and-center that were added for 2005 give the ion a more conventional look, but it's less polarizing (and better looking) than the previous design with its heavy bright bar over a blacked-out slot just above the bumper. the windshield slopes dramatically, helping the relatively tall ion look sleek. And the ion does stand tall, at 57. 4 inches. The sedan's roof curves heavily down to the high trunk line, almost giving it the appearance of a hatchback rather than a traditional sedan. We found the ion's small, lever-style door handles relatively hard to grasp. the quad coupe breathes through a blacked-out slot above the bumper and a larger rectangular scoop below, but it looks simple, functional, and attractive. Red line models have three big openings below the bumper. the quad coupe gets its name from a pair of mini-doors behind the main portals that open on rear-mounted hinges, in much the same way as the auxiliary doors on an extended-cab pickup. 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. It's an innovative design that enhances the practicality of this sport coupe. The front passenger seat folds flat, improving utility further. 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. 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. 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. Nickel-silver roof rails are available for the coupe and sedan, and charcoal rails are available for the sedan only. We weren't happy with the comfort nor the quality of the ion interior when the model first appeared in 2003, but saturn has made significant changes since then. the biggest of these changes came for 2005, when larger and more substantial seats replaced the original flat and skimpy perches. This represented a vast improvement, though we'd still like more side support. However, they do feature a height adjustment via a mechanical jacking system something like volkswagen's. The red line coupe comes with excellent recaro seats, but they are best suited for drivers with narrow hips. textures and materials were upgraded for 2005 and the overall effect is nice. Chrome rings adorn the instruments and vents. The shifter and cruise controls were improved as well. .
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