2005 Saturn ION Red Line Reviews, Pricing & Specs
What owners say
"Overall, owners of the 2005 Saturn ION Red Line find it to be a fun and stylish car with strong acceleration and good handling. They appreciate its unique look and comfortable interior but are less fond of its build quality and some design flaws, like the gauge placement. Many drivers emphasize its performance on the road while acknowledging some challenges like torque steer and brake performance."
Performance: Quick acceleration w/ 205hp, handles really well and brakes quite well Build Quality: very minimal chance of rust, its body panels are plastic Appearance: Interior is all Recaro Racing which is quite nice, Exterior is sleek and aero dynamic Cost of Ownership: I fill up on premium fuel (92 octane) and its about 30.00-35.00 for a full tank Fun Factor: words cant describe it, quite fun to speed!
June 30, 2010I love driving this car. Even though the suspension design is archaic at best, i find that the car handles surprisingly well with good feedback through the steering wheel. Acceleration is definitely a strong suit, but torque steer likes to rear it's ugly head (especially with the stock Dunlop Sport SP9000 tires fitted). It's disappointing that a limited slip differential was not offered on the 2005 models, as this is one car that would definitely benefit from LSD. Handling 200 lb-ft of torque is a lot to be asking from the front tires. It's not the fastest car out there, but it doesn't try to be. It is the typical American car, in that it accelerates well, handles ok, and has terrible brakes. They simply aren't up to the task of aggressive driving with fade becoming apparent early. The car's build quality is atrocious, especially evident in the interior's panel fitment. The body emits random squeaks and rattles especially around the missing B pillars. Mechanical problems have been almost non-existent. I think the appearance is definitely a strong suit. From far away, it doesn't attract a lot of attention (especially from the boys in blue) but upon closer inspection, the car reveals an aggressive body kit and cool looking rims. Maintenance costs have been relatively low due to the lack of mechanical failures, but the cost of oil changes is comparatively expensive. The car takes 6 and 3/4 qts of Mobil 1 synthetic per each oil change and access to the oil filter requires near-gymnast flexibility. Gas mileage has proven to be average, but a strong selling point is that the car will run on 87 octane fuel even though it is recommended to run 91. If lower than 91 octane fuel is used, the computer reduces engine power by a couple hp to prevent engine knock. The car makes up for all it's shortcomings by being so much fun to drive. When put into the hands of a capable driver it offers a truly fun "pocket rocket" experience.
February 23, 201014.5 in the 1/4 engine mounts suck great looks 28mpg and reliable absolute blast to drive s/c whine is amazing 4 passenger 4 door coupe handles like its on rails the wing may be by personal preference very rare vehicles, less than 6000 built in 4 years you get to pick on unsuspecting cobalt SS owners at will
November 9, 2009What owners say
Performance: Quick acceleration w/ 205hp, handles really well and brakes quite well Build Quality: very minimal chance of rust, its body panels are plastic Appearance: Interior is all Recaro Racing which is quite nice, Exterior is sleek and aero dynamic Cost of Ownership: I fill up on premium fuel (92 octane) and its about 30.00-35.00 for a full tank Fun Factor: words cant describe it, quite fun to speed!
June 30, 2010I love driving this car. Even though the suspension design is archaic at best, i find that the car handles surprisingly well with good feedback through the steering wheel. Acceleration is definitely a strong suit, but torque steer likes to rear it's ugly head (especially with the stock Dunlop Sport SP9000 tires fitted). It's disappointing that a limited slip differential was not offered on the 2005 models, as this is one car that would definitely benefit from LSD. Handling 200 lb-ft of torque is a lot to be asking from the front tires. It's not the fastest car out there, but it doesn't try to be. It is the typical American car, in that it accelerates well, handles ok, and has terrible brakes. They simply aren't up to the task of aggressive driving with fade becoming apparent early. The car's build quality is atrocious, especially evident in the interior's panel fitment. The body emits random squeaks and rattles especially around the missing B pillars. Mechanical problems have been almost non-existent. I think the appearance is definitely a strong suit. From far away, it doesn't attract a lot of attention (especially from the boys in blue) but upon closer inspection, the car reveals an aggressive body kit and cool looking rims. Maintenance costs have been relatively low due to the lack of mechanical failures, but the cost of oil changes is comparatively expensive. The car takes 6 and 3/4 qts of Mobil 1 synthetic per each oil change and access to the oil filter requires near-gymnast flexibility. Gas mileage has proven to be average, but a strong selling point is that the car will run on 87 octane fuel even though it is recommended to run 91. If lower than 91 octane fuel is used, the computer reduces engine power by a couple hp to prevent engine knock. The car makes up for all it's shortcomings by being so much fun to drive. When put into the hands of a capable driver it offers a truly fun "pocket rocket" experience.
February 23, 201014.5 in the 1/4 engine mounts suck great looks 28mpg and reliable absolute blast to drive s/c whine is amazing 4 passenger 4 door coupe handles like its on rails the wing may be by personal preference very rare vehicles, less than 6000 built in 4 years you get to pick on unsuspecting cobalt SS owners at will
November 9, 2009Not many people own one of these. They look nicer than the colbalt SS and have the same performance figures. They handle like a giant go-kart.
May 21, 2008I bought this car in August 2008. It is a 2005 GM stage 2 with 53,000 miles on it. I actually havent had too many problems with hooking up, these cars are known for wheel hop but i guess its the tires. I am running Pirelli P-Neros. I love the interior, and i had a three-stage shift light that makes it a lot easier. I dont really like that the gauges are all the way over in the middle of the car, instead of in front of the wheel.
August 30, 2008Absolutely a fun car to drive. At least a stage II is a cheap way to add power. Wider tires help with traction issues and Brembo brakes are needed if anything more than daily driving is being done. As far as build quality, its got a lot of plastic... Take it for what its worth Its a great car for everyday driving! It gets you from point "A" to point "B" a little quicker than you might think.
February 10, 2011Pretty stylish,Got some balls,Not a bad price and its good on gas...Ya gotta have it with turbo tho to make it real fast..Battery is in the trunk which I find really strange..The rims are nice and the interior is comfortable..Not a bad factory system either
October 17, 2008
