I'm also looking at this one at a dealer.. 67k miles, manual trans. It has the 2.2 I4 engine. Does this take an element or an actual spin on filter? What do you guys think about this vehicle for reliability ??? I had a 97 SC2 quite some years ago and loved it.
2006 Saturn Ion 3
- Thread starter MysticGold04
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I was under the impression that by the time 2000 rolled around their reliability was suffering. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
It uses an element filter. Virtually all 2.0, 2.2, 2.4 Ecotec engines use that type of filter. It is the easiest filter to change that was ever invented. Snap off and snap on the cap, screw it down, with minimal torque and you're done. The filter comes out almost completely dry with few drips.
Its an element. Its on top of the engine.
The element filter is a great idea. That engine was quite reliable. 2005+ Ions were decent cars and far better than the SL series IMO as they were built on a more solid platform. They had the bigger steering wheels with recalibrated 'feel' with the electric steering setup. And the Ions got incrementally better MPG than the sister Chevy product as the plastic panels weigh less than the metal panels on the Chevy. Most radios in the 2006+ models had input jacks for MP3 players, a nice touch.
I never bought one as the price point was too high for my budget at that time.
still, a decent daily driver all in all.
I never bought one as the price point was too high for my budget at that time.
still, a decent daily driver all in all.
compared to the Ford Focus I was looking at also, which would you guys recommend and why? they are both about the same price...
Originally Posted By: MysticGold04
compared to the Ford Focus I was looking at also, which would you guys recommend and why? they are both about the same price...
I would definitely go with the Focus..At least twice a week I get behind a smoking Saturn here in Miami that is blowing out blue smoke..I do not recall ever getting behind a smoking Focus.
compared to the Ford Focus I was looking at also, which would you guys recommend and why? they are both about the same price...
I would definitely go with the Focus..At least twice a week I get behind a smoking Saturn here in Miami that is blowing out blue smoke..I do not recall ever getting behind a smoking Focus.
The duratech/manual combo is very durable and troublefree..
the rest of the car...
I had no repairs in nearly 40000 miles on mine
only issue was some sort of strut clunk issue they fixed (in 3 trips)
and the rubber gasket around the hatchback lock fell out (my fault)and was fixed free
That being said did you carfax both?
the rest of the car...
I had no repairs in nearly 40000 miles on mine
only issue was some sort of strut clunk issue they fixed (in 3 trips)
and the rubber gasket around the hatchback lock fell out (my fault)and was fixed free
That being said did you carfax both?
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Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
I would definitely go with the Focus..At least twice a week I get behind a smoking Saturn here in Miami that is blowing out blue smoke..I do not recall ever getting behind a smoking Focus.
I've seen many smoking 1.9 liters, I don't think I've noticed 1 smokey Ecotec.
I would definitely go with the Focus..At least twice a week I get behind a smoking Saturn here in Miami that is blowing out blue smoke..I do not recall ever getting behind a smoking Focus.
I've seen many smoking 1.9 liters, I don't think I've noticed 1 smokey Ecotec.
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Have an 07 Ion 3 sedan, no problems other than noisy HVAC fan as the bearings ar nylon, easy fix, very quiet on the highway, tight turning circle, great daily driver.
Originally Posted By: ryansride2017
Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
I would definitely go with the Focus..At least twice a week I get behind a smoking Saturn here in Miami that is blowing out blue smoke..I do not recall ever getting behind a smoking Focus.
I've seen many smoking 1.9 liters, I don't think I've noticed 1 smokey Ecotec.
Yes, it's a different engine. That'd be like recommending against the Focus because half of the older Crown Vics I see on the road are blowing blue smoke. Different engine, and a moot point.
Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
I would definitely go with the Focus..At least twice a week I get behind a smoking Saturn here in Miami that is blowing out blue smoke..I do not recall ever getting behind a smoking Focus.
I've seen many smoking 1.9 liters, I don't think I've noticed 1 smokey Ecotec.
Yes, it's a different engine. That'd be like recommending against the Focus because half of the older Crown Vics I see on the road are blowing blue smoke. Different engine, and a moot point.
Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
I would definitely go with the Focus..At least twice a week I get behind a smoking Saturn here in Miami that is blowing out blue smoke..I do not recall ever getting behind a smoking Focus.
If you live farther North rust is an issue with the Focus. I see early 2000 Foci with holes in the rocker panels all over the place in Michigan
I would definitely go with the Focus..At least twice a week I get behind a smoking Saturn here in Miami that is blowing out blue smoke..I do not recall ever getting behind a smoking Focus.
If you live farther North rust is an issue with the Focus. I see early 2000 Foci with holes in the rocker panels all over the place in Michigan
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: ryansride2017
Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
I would definitely go with the Focus..At least twice a week I get behind a smoking Saturn here in Miami that is blowing out blue smoke..I do not recall ever getting behind a smoking Focus.
I've seen many smoking 1.9 liters, I don't think I've noticed 1 smokey Ecotec.
Yes, it's a different engine. That'd be like recommending against the Focus because half of the older Crown Vics I see on the road are blowing blue smoke. Different engine, and a moot point.
Jason since you HAD to bring up the Crown Vic I will admit some of the older ones do smoke..That generally happens at 450K miles after police and taxi duty.
What I was trying to say out of all the cars on the road I see more Saturns smoking then any other car..I see now it is probably the older Saturns I see smoking..There are alot of older Saturns down here on the surface streets..I guess the owners get them dirt cheap and since there is no smog checks down here the owners can get away with the smoking until a Leo finally catches up to them.
Originally Posted By: ryansride2017
Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
I would definitely go with the Focus..At least twice a week I get behind a smoking Saturn here in Miami that is blowing out blue smoke..I do not recall ever getting behind a smoking Focus.
I've seen many smoking 1.9 liters, I don't think I've noticed 1 smokey Ecotec.
Yes, it's a different engine. That'd be like recommending against the Focus because half of the older Crown Vics I see on the road are blowing blue smoke. Different engine, and a moot point.
Jason since you HAD to bring up the Crown Vic I will admit some of the older ones do smoke..That generally happens at 450K miles after police and taxi duty.
What I was trying to say out of all the cars on the road I see more Saturns smoking then any other car..I see now it is probably the older Saturns I see smoking..There are alot of older Saturns down here on the surface streets..I guess the owners get them dirt cheap and since there is no smog checks down here the owners can get away with the smoking until a Leo finally catches up to them.
Our '92 'Vic started smoking at about 90k miles. The earlier 4.6s (what, pre-96?) had known valve guide issues. You couldn't drive it through a drive-through...just a minute of idling would load it up and the instant you touched the accelerator pedal, it was mosquito-fogger, baby!
The point was, the Ecotec doesn't suffer the same smoking issues as the Saturn 1.9L engine.
I'll say that the cars I see smoking most often are those with Mitsubishi engines in them. Either Mitsubishis themselves or older Caravans with the 3.0L.
The point was, the Ecotec doesn't suffer the same smoking issues as the Saturn 1.9L engine.
I'll say that the cars I see smoking most often are those with Mitsubishi engines in them. Either Mitsubishis themselves or older Caravans with the 3.0L.
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