Saturn's new Red Line has share of problems, but it'll still be a hit

91 s-10baja · 08-25-2006, 12:13 PM

Sky hits a new high
Saturn's new Red Line has share of problems, but it'll still be a hit
Fri Aug 25 2006
By David Booth

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- There's nothing like 83 more horsepower and almost 100 more pound-feet of torque to make one forget that the transmission sucks.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/aut...-4221951c.html

69Firebird400 · 08-25-2006, 12:18 PM

Nice! That's the first review I have seen of the Sky Redline or even the Solstice GXP. The little Ecotec 2.0 DI Turbo seemed to live up to its end of the bargain.

I'm not very well versed in typical turbo boost numbers, but isn't 20 pounds a lot of boost? Are superchargers typically boosting less? For some reason I was thinking more like 10-12 pounds was more typical, but I could be completely off base on that.

Just because of the Kappa's low-cost nature, I fear that we may be stuck with the existing five speed manual for a while. That seems to be the biggest problem that the reviewer had with the car. Maybe they can do some work on the transmissin's internals to improve its shift action. That still doesn't fix the wide spacing between ratios, though.

willin58 · 08-25-2006, 01:25 PM

Wow, I can't believe an actual publication used the word "sucks", regardless of the context.

61BelAir · 08-25-2006, 01:32 PM

Where does this guy get his "North of $35,000" estimate from? Sounds high to me.

Saturn69 · 08-25-2006, 01:32 PM

..."But who cares when there's no real need to shift all that much"....

Uh, apparently the writer does since he mentions it like, oh, 5 frigging times. We get it, dude.

Saturn69 · 08-25-2006, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 61BelAir

Where does this guy get his "North of $35,000" estimate from? Sounds high to me.

Winnipeg is in Canada.

The Sky RL will probably be about $28K for us.

coaster.n3rd · 08-25-2006, 01:43 PM

Yep, starts at $27,895 to be exact.

killerfire · 08-25-2006, 01:50 PM

Other beef I have with the review...

about the brakes... an hairpin comes out of nowhere !?!?!? look at the panels, they're there for a reason, and as much I you like the increase power, no need to drive like a maniac, safety and judgement still applies.

about the basic engine... he says it's detuned form 2.4 to 2.0L , actually isn't it the 2.2 that was destroke to 2.0L ? I know it's all the same familly of engine but still.
I remember reading that the 2.4 was lethargic. I doubt it, it's still 177hp with VVT do help the torque. this (base model) aint a sport car, it's a sporty, flashy 2 seater convertible.

anyway... I'd buy one if they were a bit more practical for my lifestyle

chevydlrmn · 08-25-2006, 01:52 PM

that was kinda blunt.

toronado10 · 08-25-2006, 02:04 PM

More good news. I don't know if it's already been posted, but the Solstice GXP beat the BMW Z4 3.0i and Nissan 350Z in a comparo this month in Motor Trend. The Sky is also bound to be a hit.

Steel4ring · 08-25-2006, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 61BelAir

Where does this guy get his "North of $35,000" estimate from? Sounds high to me.

I am sure that is Canadian CND, looks like a Winnipeg newspaper.

Sparta · 08-25-2006, 02:14 PM

Pffft.. you can get a GTO with more power, a real trunk and a 6-speed for that price.

Bvonscott · 08-25-2006, 02:15 PM

The 2.0 ecotec is not a smaller displacement version of the 2.2. or 2.4. More like it's a larger displacement version of the 1.8 found in europe, where the 2.0 is produced. The reviewer was wrong about the brakes, they work fine given the low weight. The redline suspension is flawless. And yes they do need a better manual trans but the Auto does a good job.

MBHockey13 · 08-25-2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparta

Pffft.. you can get a GTO with more power, a real trunk and a 6-speed for that price.

Not for $28,000 U.S.

Canuck · 08-25-2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparta

Pffft.. you can get a GTO with more power, a real trunk and a 6-speed for that price.

Not in Canada.

Too bad the GTO was not offered as a convertible.

08-25-2006, 12:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
69Firebird400 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Philadelphia Area Drives: 08 CTS DI RWD Nav, 08 Sienna Limited AWD Nav Posts: 5,639	Re: Saturn's new Red Line has share of problems, but it'll still be a hit Nice! That's the first review I have seen of the Sky Redline or even the Solstice GXP. The little Ecotec 2.0 DI Turbo seemed to live up to its end of the bargain. I'm not very well versed in typical turbo boost numbers, but isn't 20 pounds a lot of boost? Are superchargers typically boosting less? For some reason I was thinking more like 10-12 pounds was more typical, but I could be completely off base on that. Just because of the Kappa's low-cost nature, I fear that we may be stuck with the existing five speed manual for a while. That seems to be the biggest problem that the reviewer had with the car. Maybe they can do some work on the transmissin's internals to improve its shift action. That still doesn't fix the wide spacing between ratios, though. __________________ Autosavant Cars and Technology

08-25-2006, 01:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
willin58 1.8 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 47	Re: Saturn's new Red Line has share of problems, but it'll still be a hit Wow, I can't believe an actual publication used the word "sucks", regardless of the context.

08-25-2006, 01:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
61BelAir 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Drives: 07 Colorado and 61 BelAir Posts: 1,257	Re: Saturn's new Red Line has share of problems, but it'll still be a hit Where does this guy get his "North of $35,000" estimate from? Sounds high to me.

08-25-2006, 01:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
Saturn69 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Iowa Drives: 2005 Saturn Ion 1995 Saturn SC2 Posts: 3,167	Re: Saturn's new Red Line has share of problems, but it'll still be a hit ..."But who cares when there's no real need to shift all that much".... Uh, apparently the writer does since he mentions it like, oh, 5 frigging times. We get it, dude.

08-25-2006, 01:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
coaster.n3rd 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: 5,059 Miles SE of Dutch Harbor Drives: 2008 Saturn Aura XE 2.4 I-4 Posts: 3,861	Re: Saturn's new Red Line has share of problems, but it'll still be a hit Yep, starts at $27,895 to be exact. __________________ 'I've seen the next Cadillac STS replacement and it looks damn good... like a ****ing Bentley.' - Unclassified GM exec. 'I had no respect for the 55 mph limit and I took great delight in breaking the limit I can assure you.' www.32hours7minutes.com

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08-25-2006, 01:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
killerfire 2.4 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada Drives: 2000 Sunfire GT Posts: 97	Re: Saturn's new Red Line has share of problems, but it'll still be a hit Other beef I have with the review... about the brakes... an hairpin comes out of nowhere !?!?!? look at the panels, they're there for a reason, and as much I you like the increase power, no need to drive like a maniac, safety and judgement still applies. about the basic engine... he says it's detuned form 2.4 to 2.0L , actually isn't it the 2.2 that was destroke to 2.0L ? I know it's all the same familly of engine but still. I remember reading that the 2.4 was lethargic. I doubt it, it's still 177hp with VVT do help the torque. this (base model) aint a sport car, it's a sporty, flashy 2 seater convertible. anyway... I'd buy one if they were a bit more practical for my lifestyle __________________

08-25-2006, 01:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
chevydlrmn 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Minneapolis Drives: 2006 CK15753 LQ9 2007 1WL27 LS4 Posts: 842	Re: Saturn's new Red Line has share of problems, but it'll still be a hit that was kinda blunt.

08-25-2006, 02:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
toronado10 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Columbus, OH Drives: 04 Saab 9-3 Posts: 716	Re: Saturn's new Red Line has share of problems, but it'll still be a hit More good news. I don't know if it's already been posted, but the Solstice GXP beat the BMW Z4 3.0i and Nissan 350Z in a comparo this month in Motor Trend. The Sky is also bound to be a hit.

08-25-2006, 02:14 PM	#12 (permalink)
Sparta 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 867	Re: Saturn's new Red Line has share of problems, but it'll still be a hit Pffft.. you can get a GTO with more power, a real trunk and a 6-speed for that price. __________________

08-25-2006, 02:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
Bvonscott 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: California Posts: 1,757	Re: Saturn's new Red Line has share of problems, but it'll still be a hit The 2.0 ecotec is not a smaller displacement version of the 2.2. or 2.4. More like it's a larger displacement version of the 1.8 found in europe, where the 2.0 is produced. The reviewer was wrong about the brakes, they work fine given the low weight. The redline suspension is flawless. And yes they do need a better manual trans but the Auto does a good job. __________________ Member of the: I Will Never Buy a Japanese Car In My Life Club. www.BADBOYVETTES.com C6 and C6R rule!

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