Learn me Saturn Ion "3" 2006 Auto Trans: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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March 19, 2011 12:51 p.m. pete240z SuperDork

My college student kid is looking at this car. I hate auto 4-cylinders but he is an appliance car kind of guy. He is not a car guy.

He goes from Chicago to Michigan and driving home most weekends all summer doing research. We would like to see it carry him most of grad school.

4 door, auto, 70,000 miles, one owner, black - whatever Ion 3 means. Reserve was $7,200 which is just a smidge under the KBB value. He did tell us he didn't transport any dead bodies in it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180638498578&...
March 19, 2011 2:38 p.m. Derick Freese Dork

That's about all I'd expect out of my far nicer 2008 Astra. There's no way I'd spend that much money on an Ion.

They are odd little cars. They're a Delta chassis, so they're similar to a Cobalt, HHR, G5, and Astra. They hold slightly more value than a Cobalt because of the badge and quirkiness. Astras hold little value because no one in the States knows about them, and they were a one year deal. Parts can be a pain to obtain if you go to the dealership, but otherwise aren't any worse than a Cobalt. Our Caddy dealership is the service provider for our Astra, and they would rather me in anything that's not a Saturn because parts are a pain for them to obtain.
March 19, 2011 2:51 p.m. pres589 HalfDork

Your kid doesn't like himself, this is proof.
March 19, 2011 3:51 p.m. digdug18 Dork

The saturn SL's auto transmissions were good quality, but like stated above they switched from saturn to a cobalt chassis with the ions. They have all the automatic problems you would expect once you reach 100k or so, but until then with regular maintenance he should be fine. I'd shop around if it were me buying for my son. I'd go out of the way to put in a nice sound system with bluetooth as well.
March 19, 2011 4:19 p.m. White_and_Nerdy Reader

The "3" means it's the top of the line loaded model. Kind of like how an SL2 has more features than an SL1. Unlike the S series I believe all Ion variants have the same Ecotec motor (other than the Red Line), so it's really just a trim level. But that would explain the higher price. I don't know enough about the Ions to tell you exactly what you get in the "3" package.
March 19, 2011 5:40 p.m. pete240z SuperDork

he is buying most of it ----- he also likes the Sentra.

remember he's not a car guy - he wants a high gas mileage car to get around. performance and handling is not him. it's me.