- #2004 SATURN NEON DRIVE SHAFT DRIVERS#
- #2004 SATURN NEON DRIVE SHAFT DRIVER#
- #2004 SATURN NEON DRIVE SHAFT MANUAL#
An in-house performance division, like Ford's SVT or BMW's M, Red Line started with the Vue sport-ute and now is trying its hand with the Ion.
The new Red Line high-performance Saturns seemingly spell the end of the line for the Reds who were running down Saturn. The new Red Line high-performance Saturns seemingly spell the end of the line for the Reds who were running down Saturn.But there is hope. The makeover so completely changes the Ion's character that you'll say " do svidan'ya" to its proletarian ways and hello to a car you'll actually want to drive.Īs you would expect, transforming an Ion into a performance car takes extensive modifications, a task akin to changing the People's housing into somewhere you'd want to live. Starting with the engine, the all-aluminum Ecotec four-cylinder is reduced in displacement from 2.2 liters to 2.0 liters, and a Roots-type supercharger that forces 12.0 psi of boost into the engine is bolted on. Horsepower increases from 140 to 205, and torque jumps from 145 pound-feet to 200. The engine pulls hard at all rpm, dispatching the 0-to-60 run in 6.1 seconds, 2.3 seconds quicker than a regular Ion.
The supercharged mill isn't your typical peaky tuner engine. It makes its power in a laid-back manner as evidenced by our rolling 5-to-60-mph test, which only adds 0.3 second to the all-out 0-to-60 run. Those numbers are slower than the Dodge SRT-4's, but this engine doesn't suffer from the on-and-off turbocharged nature of the Dodge. Despite tweaks to improve engine NVH, the supercharged Ecotec is still plagued with four-cylinder thrash, although it's fair to say the racket is distant and unobtrusive.
#2004 SATURN NEON DRIVE SHAFT MANUAL#
Putting the power to the front wheels is a mandatory five-speed manual transmission. Shifts are direct and require a light touch, and if that shift knob looks familiar, it's the same as the one in the Saab 9-3.
#2004 SATURN NEON DRIVE SHAFT DRIVER#
Unfortunately, that knob is just about the nicest piece the driver will see. Despite slight alterations for 2004, the interior is shiny and flimsy and not a place that will engender envy in the eyes of passersby. A new larger and thicker steering wheel improves the mood somewhat, but the Red Line crew kept the gauge cluster over there in the center of the dash, where it challenges vision like an eye chart. It is, though, the first Ion that begs to be driven quickly. Throw it into your favorite corner, and you'll find improved steering with more weight and feel than is present in the base car. It doesn't have the tactile feedback that's present in Ford's Focus, but the improvement is a step in the right direction. Chassis alterations that stiffen the strut-front and torsion-beam-rear suspensions keep the increased horsepower in check without sacrificing ride quality. The Red Line soaks up potholes and expansion joints with gusto, yet the setup isn't too soft for a few laps on a racetrack. On GM's new test track in Milford, Michigan, the Red Line Ion showed its serious side. The handling is safe and predictable, with understeer holding your hand if things get scary.
That understeer is difficult to defeat lift abruptly in midcorner, and the car will tighten its line slightly, but the rear wheels never really get into the act.
#2004 SATURN NEON DRIVE SHAFT DRIVERS#
2004 saturn neon drive shaft drivers#Īs a result, the Red Line chassis is easy to drive fast, but more experienced drivers will want more involvement. On the skidpad, the aggressive 215/45R-17 Dunlop SP Sport 9000 tires (on forged wheels) grip to the tune of 0.85 g. That's quite sticky, besting the standard quad coupe's 0.80 and equaling the celebrated Audi S4.