arbnpx

So about two days ago, I parked next to a blue Saturn ION with a sizeable rear spoiler (matched with the car's paint, and didn't look out of place, but it was 1.5 times the estimated height of the tC's pedestal spoiler [I have no spoiler, so I have to guess]). When I stepped out and looked back at my car beside this car, I noticed that they look a bit similar from the rear (the ION definitely had coarser lines than the tC, but it was almost like imitation). From there, though, my opinion of the ION sank. It had standard aspect ratio tires on steelies (4 lugs per wheel), and its suspension stance looked like that of a Jeep Wrangler compared to my tC (and my suspension's stock!). I decided to go to Edmunds and see how different they are: 2.2 engine with no VVT (vs. the 2.4 VVT-i), only the front suspension is independent, standard tires are P195/60 R15 with steel wheels, a lot of optional stuff that the tC has standard. MSRP is about $12,000.

Then you look at the pictures of the interior: http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/satu...chlanding.html

Just look at those pics. For the past 10 years, GM's interior design has made me sick. All these goofy shapes, flimsy plastic that ends up rattling, scratching, or even coming loose. Yuck. I haven't liked a GM interior since about 1992.

Anyway, this was sort of a moment where I was glad to have the tC, and not be stuck with something like the ION. At this rate I don't know if I'll ever buy another American manufactured vehicle. They need to change, even more than they already have in light of their massive financial losses over the past 5 years.

Metro273

Hmmm...since when does GM put the gauges in the center of the dash?...
They must of liked the way they looked on the xB...

kikcaffine

Dude its plastic though! You can drive golf ***** into the side of it and nothing happens

jovan_gonzales

I don't like saturns ... EXCEPT the Sky which is gorgeous!

arbnpx

yeah, but it's an Opel GT offshoot, just like the Pontiac Solstice. It seems like the only fresh-looking GM cars (good or bad) come from other car makers.

Pontiac Vibe: Toyota Matrix
Pontiac GTO: Holden Manero (Australia)
Pontiac Solstice / Saturn Sky: Opel GT

imsonofagun

That won't be true anymore. They're already phasing out the plastic body panels. The Saturn minivan, Sky, and I believe the Aura have metal body panels. They're doing this because plastic expands and contracts a lot more than metal, so the gaps to accomodate the plastic make the fit and finish look like crap. GM also wants Saturn to be more "upscale" than Pontiac. They're getting away from the original intent of what Saturn represented.

And I agree that it would be hard for me to buy another American-brand vehicle, unless it's a classic or muscle car.

imsonofagun

The Ion has always had the gauges in the center, from the very beginning.

imsonofagun

Then there's the Chevy Aveo which came from Daewoo (Korean).

jovan_gonzales

GM mega blows right now, just sayin. And I thought that the Solstice and Sky were ultra similar. Eh, oh well. I like both bc they are hot, and yes they are pretty muchly the only fresh ideas at this point.

jrlin718

Theres just no two ways about it. The interior just looks terrible IMO. It looks unfinished, cheap, and chinsey.

jovan_gonzales

^ x2.

Saken

I dont understand the whole thing with the center gauge clusters... I've been seeing them A LOT lately

Deathwish238

Wow...I knew the Sky and Solstice reminded me of something...no wonder...GM owns Opel and Vauxhall

xnevergiveinx

you can't argue with the redline though, i really enjoyed testdriving that thing

i'd never buy one over my tc though

05-RS1

you might've parked next to a redline..those things are pretty quick

jaggedjeremy

my girl's got an ION. i've driven it a couple of times. it's so weird when the gauge is in the center of the dash. i tripped out the first few times. it bugs to look to the right to see how fast your going. but wow, the car can handle hits. let me tell you. when someone hit it once, the car straight up said, "get off me b*tch!" not a scratch on it.

ZiggyXIV

Their theory (as explained to me by salesmen):
Having the guages in the center is more natural and requires the drivers eyes be off the road for less time in order to check them

My theory:
By placing the guage pod in the center, there are fewer parts that need to be re-tooled when making a right-hand drive version of a car, since more of the dash pieces would fit in both versions. I.E. It's a really lame cost-cutting measure. (Note, it's generally the really cheap cars that do this)

TC06CHICK

I cant believe you even compared an ION to a tC... Thats a shame

jovan_gonzales

I really really don't like center gauge clusters esp. since other people can easily see how fast you're going and when my mom is with me, that would freak her out (good thing the tC handle really well at high speed so you never feel it!).

jaggedjeremy

Actually, even though it is in the center, it is quite angled to the driver's side. So even if it were to be a right-handed drive version, you'd still have to re-position it and everything, but not as severe.