2004 Saturn ION

Pros: Roomy ,handles well,comfortable front seats,easy-to-read and use controls.
Cons: gas mileage is less than expected,doesn't hold up well in the long run.

The straw that broke the camels back for me was when at 53,000 miles i was told that the oil pan was cracked and had to be replaced. I know that i didn't hit anything,and that the pan should last the life of the car. I contacted Saturn in Tennesee and told them,"I don't care if the warranty expired,this is totally unacceptable." I then told them of all the problems I have had with this car,and said,"If this is any indication of your quality,then I will never buy another Saturn".

They said,"Go back to the dealer. When i protested they said,"We'll stand behind our product".Not only did they reimburse me for the cost of the oil pan,they waived the diagnostic fee,gave me 4 free oil changes and other services,and even said that "We"ll give you an extra $3000 if you want to trade for a new Saturn". That's the customer service that they should have had from the beginning.So we shall see what happens.I found out later that Saturn is now part of General Motors and is no longer a separate entity.Maybe that has something to do with their response.

Pros: Gas Mileage, Cost, Premium Options, Driving experience
Cons: Compartments to store stuff like CDs

I was looking for a small to mid-size car. I narrowed my choices to three models: Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, and Saturn Ion. I didn't like the look or performance of the Corolla. The Civic was just too expensive for the car. Plus, both Toyota and Honda were just too plain for me. I purchased a 2004 Saturn Ion 3--loaded (leather seats, sunroof, etc.) for about $5,000 less than what I could have purchased a base model Civic. It was a Certified Used vehicle. The original owner purchased it new in 2004 from the same dealership and had it serviced at the dealership. My dealership buying experience was everything it claims to be--low pressure, no hassle. I didn't feel like I constantly had to protect myself during the buying process like I've had to do at so many other dealers. No tricks. I've enjoyed driving my Ion from day one. It looks good, has great extras, gets great gas mileage, and drives like a dream. (The driving performance is very similar to my experience with more expensive German made vehicles.) Knowing that I saved $1,000s in the process helps me enjoy my Ion even more.

Pros: Decent gas mileage. Adequate Highway Performance (will cruise at 80mph).
Cons: Handling is mushy and unresponsive.

The Saturn Ion needed a recall a long time ago. Leaving work at 10:00 Pm in the middle of a Michigan winter well below freezing and expect to start my car and guess what? Nothing happens! And I'm 50 miles from home, after working a 10 hour plus day. This is a 2 1/2 year old car and 70 thousand miles. I find out that pass key sensor, the thing that makes the key work, is a very common problem. I know 2 people with the Ion and both had to replace this. You can google this problem in a matter of seconds. This is a bland car; people buy this car for gas mileage and dependability. The handling is pretty un-responsive for example. So the one thing I needed in a relatively new car (I was driving 30,000 miles a year) dependability failed me. Recall anyone?

Pros: Cheaper than other cars, good gas mileage.
Cons: Quickly shows wear/tear, too many problems too soon.

I bought my 2004 Saturn Ion Quad used in 2006. You'd expect that a 2 year old car would still be in very good condition, but I was wrong. My sunroof leaks, which in turn stains my floor and front seats. I just had to have the starter replaced ($222.00), because the car wouldn't start in the mornings and the power steering went out because of that. My lock/unlock button on the driver side no longer works, and my keyless entry buttons don't work. The lever that moves the seat forward and backward came detached, also, so when someone wants to move the seat they have to really force it. My console doesn't hold shut anymore, either. I wouldn't recommend purchasing this car.

Pros: Acceleration, quiet, good front seat and trunk space, good rear seat access
Cons: Storage space in the passenger compartment could be better

Bought a used QC3 a few weeks ago. 26 MPG in not-so-gentle in-town driving (5 speed); haven't been on the highway for enough to know that yet. Planned on getting an aftermarket stereo, but the stock one is actually surprisingly good! Like someone else said, a little more storage space would have been great (although the trunk is enormous!), but it's a spunky little car!