[Rex Raider]

Oshawa, Ontario - (Monday, April 5, 2004) -Today Saturn Canada announced pricing for the 2004 Saturn ION Red Line, one of the exciting additions to Saturn's new line of performance-tuned vehicles. Arriving at dealerships this month, the manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) for the ION Red Line is $26,995, excluding applicable taxes and freight.

The ION Red Line, which was developed with the GM Performance Division, includes a standard 2.0-liter supercharged, intercooled, 205 horsepower engine; a racetrack-bred suspension; large four-wheel disc brakes; 17-inch forged alloy wheels; and close-ratio 5-speed manual transmission. The vehicle sports a lowered suspension, high-flow stainless-steel exhaust, leather-accented Recaro performance seats, spoiler, and exterior styling specific to the Red Line model.

Amrit Mehta, Marketing Manager for Saturn, says "We've pulled no punches with the ION Red Line. It's a sporty coupe with spirited performance and power, and heralds a new era for Saturn drivers."

The ION Red Line joins the VUE Red Line in Saturn's bold move to expanding and enhancing the brand's line of vehicles. The VUE Red Line, a sporty version of Saturn's compact SUV, includes a lowered suspension, ground effects and 18-inch wheels, along with a 3.5L, 250 horsepower V-6 engine, and is available in front- and all-wheel drive. MSRP for the VUE Red Line starts at $32,135, excluding applicable taxes and freight.
Saturn's entry into performance vehicles is new and began with the VUE Red Line, which went into production in January. The Red Line series is part of a larger expansion of the Saturn portfolio, a line-up that will double within the next 30 months. Saturn has announced plans to build a small sports car on GM's Kappa architecture, a larger SUV, and an all-new midsize vehicle. This fall, Saturn will begin selling RELAY, a crossover sport van.

These new vehicles are backed by Saturn retailers nationwide and Saturn's comprehensive 5-year/100,000 km powertrain and 3-year/60,000 km total warranty, as well as GM Roadside Assistance and courtesy transportation services.

Headquartered in Oshawa Ontario, General Motors of Canada employs 22,000 people nationwide. GM of Canada manufactures a variety of vehicles, engines, transmissions and other components, and markets the full range of General Motors' vehicles and related services through over 800 dealerships and retailers across Canada. Vehicles sold through this network include Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Hummer, Saturn, Saab and Isuzu.

 

[psychosquirrel]

That's a decent price considering the US price tag, I was worried that it would be hovering closer to, or above, 30,000. Fortunately Saturn has the no-hassle pricing, so this price is exactly what we should see.

I still think I will hold out for a G6 or a Solstice, but the Ion Redline is worthy of a test drive.
I also disagree with the saturn haters who complain about this car's styling, the red-line looks sharp and sporty to me, and the crappy standard ion steering wheel is gone, the interior overall looks much better without the old ion's whacky wheel.

 

[Smilingoat]

they are starting to lean a little on the haggle board. at least thats what ive heard.

a few years ago when my stepdad was getting a new truck he went to a saturn dealer that had a 2 year old silverado on the floor, a '98. oddly even though it wasnt a saturn they still wouldnt haggle, so he went elsewhere, ended up getting a GMC from a ford dealer, got a really good deal on it, too bad he didnt get the 98 though, he was going for the 98 for 16 grand (it was marked at only 17) instead he got the 97 GMC for 13 grand same miles just about, he got a better deal at the ford dealer.

GMC just hit 200k miles, just had the engine replaced at 170k not bad for a carpenters truck in alaska, i also went offroad quite a big, its a huge truck, extended cab long bed, he is having trouble with the engine again though, it was almost new right out of a chevy van, the exaust is on the other side but other than that its the same engine, there is a conversion kit for it, but we took it to a shop to get it done, we picked the wrong shop. he put it in and 2 days later the exaust fell off the engine, then he fixed it, then the rod started knocking a few months later, he put in a bad engine, but before we could get a new one from the guy he went out of business. if you ask me, he deserved it. we werent the only people to get a lousy engine from him.

wow that was off topic, o well.......