2005 Saturn ION Red Line Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Absolutely 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. Feb 10, 2011

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! Jun 30, 2010

I 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.Feb 23, 2010