Ron,
Can't help ya much on the Ion. I will speak out for the Saturn though. I bought a used one for my daughter's 1st car. It seems to be a purty good piece of work. Lil 4 banger keeps a chuggin away and is pretty peppy. Nice ride for a small car (SC2). Plastic is purfect for the parking school parking lot. (Not 1 dent yet). My only regret is that the hood & the trunk lid aren't plastice too.Even found a couple of parts on it that are interchangable with my 01 vette. (Y'all are gonna hafta think on that 1 huh)! But that's a true statement, I kid you not. My daughter enjoyed that part so now I tell her it's GM's version of a Vette starter Kit... Incidently she thinks her saturn is outta this world!

I can only comment on da arotomatical transmissions...
Saturn transmissions are, for da most part, trouble free. They are actually a Mongoloid version of a Honda/Acura trans. They werk much like a standard trans...the gears are selected with clutches, instead of shift forks. Kewl!
There is one sore spot with them...maybe two. They are electronically controlled, and are capable of "learning" driving styles. The solenoids in them are not the most dependable design out there, and there have been MANY re-designs/upgrades. With each upgrade comes a different 'puter strategy. 9 out of 10 Saturn trans "problems" are actually solenoid failures. Solenoids are not cheap...over $100 EACH, and there are at least 5, depending on year model.
The other problem involves fluid. Saturns take Saturn spec. fluid...period. Any other fluid will create a problem. That's why we in da tranny business LOVE Jiffy Lube places!!!
Cain't say I've EVER werked on a Saturn standard, tho...

Thanks for the input Tux and Joel,she is looking at the standard trans,any body else got any input ?

Come on folks,there must be at least a couple more Saturn lovers out there

Don't mess around with the ION. Get the Sol (or is it called the Sky? Pontiac has the twin.)and maybe she will let you drive it. [IMG]smileys/smiley36.gif" align="middle" /> dwright2006-09-27 18:59:26

Not spectacular, but not bad either.  Relatively dependable.

I had a Saturn station wagon for awhile that I really liked.  One day, some jerk backed into the right rear panel.  I go out and saw a fairly large dent.  I pushed on the dent and it popped right out...no scratch....no mark of any kind.  I think my jaw hit the ground.  I told the guy he was lucky he backed into a Saturn!!!  Mechanically it was good too.  I'd probably still have it if it weren't for my <fill in the blank> ex-husband!  Now my mom-mobile is a Toyota (which is great too but doesn't handle dents like the Saturn.) 

Okay, just so ya know I really like vettes 1st off.

Now, I hate to say this but...I've had several ricers... Honda Accord, Toyota Celica, Toyota 4wd truck, Toyota Camry, Hundai Sonata, Mitubishi Eclipse, and now the Saturn SC2. All of them were okay if I took care of them (which I did).
Like Karen I agree as far as those body panel the thing is GREAT. Milage is good, creature comforts good, It has 104,000 miles on it and uses no oil between changes. I put new brakes on it cost me about $70.00 total. For what it is it is cheap transportation. It isn't made of much for protection. Resale value is pretty much zero as well. But if you want something cheap to keep & drive this may be what the doctor has ordered.
But it ain't no vette...