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This is a 2004 Saturn Ion Level 2 Quad Coupe finished in Electric Lime (code 68) with the Tan cloth interior. It’s had over $3,400 worth of new or recent parts and service, details of which are further down in the description. Quad Coupe refers to the unique way Saturn designed the utility and practicality of a 4-door sedan into the sporty look and safety of a coupe. It features clam-shell opening doors which provide unobstructed access to the rear seats by the use of rear hinged back doors. And unlike conventional 4-door sedans, the rear doors can’t accidentally be opened while driving by children seated in the back until the front door is open. Also, the biggest distinction Saturn vehicles have over their competitors is it’s composite body panels. The doors, fenders, quarter panels, etc. are made of materials that will never rust and are flexible enough to ward off minor impacts that would result in ugly dents or dings on metal body vehicles. Take a close look at a 20 or 30 year old Saturn and chances are it will still look as clean as a late model car.
| This 2004 Ion has been in indoor storage from 2018 until just a few months ago, so it looks as nice as a newer 2009 model car because it was driven and exposed to the elements for only the first 15 years of it’s 20 year life. |
The Electric Lime color was only available on the 2004 and 2005 models and only a limited number were produced. This is a bold shade of bright green that stands out from the crowd and you are bound to get questions and complements about it from total strangers at the mall or supermarket parking lot. If you don’t want attention or are the least bit shy, don’t buy this car, I warn you. However, if you have preferred the Quad Coupe bodystyle Ion and have been looking for a clean Electric Lime color, this example may just have your name on it
The Saturn Ion is powered by General Motors highly acclaimed 140 horsepower all aluminum 2.2 liter Ecotec engine which has received numerous rave reviews by engineers and the automotive press for it’s high power output, excellent economy and inherent smoothness. Code named L61, it first appeared in U.S. models for 1999 and became GM’s global 4-cylinder powerplant, replacing the corporate 2.2L OHV, 2.3L Quad 4 and 2.4L DOHC four cylinder models that had been used up until then. It is considered to be one of the General’s best small displacement power plants in the same vein as the 350 V8 and the 3800 V6 are in their classes, and has been in production up to 2012 in numerous iterations powering millions of GM cars.
This engine features an aluminum block for light weight and iron cylinder liners for maximum durability, dual balance shafts for smoothness, a chain driven dual overhead cam (DOHC) 16-valve aluminum cylinder head with hydraulic valve adjusters for reduced maintenance, excellent heat dissipation and maximum power output at all engine speeds, sequential multiport fuel injection for excellent gas mileage and distributorless ignition for reliability in all environmental conditions. In addition, the alternator and a/c compressor are rigidly bolted to the block without additional brackets for even less vibration, the oil filter is a cartridge style easily accessed from a housing at the front of the engine, and the engine meets emissions standards without requiring a troublesome EGR valve. Also, this engine still uses a throttle cable instead of an electronic throttle which also reduces the chances of another part going bad. With 140 H.P. on tap, it’s faster and more fun to drive than the other cars of that era including the Ford Focus with 110 H.P., Honda Civic with 115 H.P., Nissan Sentra with 126 H.P., Toyota Corolla with 130 H.P., and the Dodge Neon with 132 H.P. This engine even has a higher torque rating of 145 lb. Ft. than its horsepower figure, so it’s even faster off the line when accelerating from a stop. While those numbers don’t seem like a lot these days, the Ion Quad Coupe weighs just over 2,700 pounds so with the 5-speed transmission, it’s 0 to 60 mph times are in the eights.
The engine is mated to a precise shifting German engineered Getrag 5-speed manual transmission. Code named F23, it has a low first gear that provides brisk acceleration, while the high top gear allows for effortless highway cruising and excellent gas mileage. When driven with restraint, you can get nearly 40 mpg on the highway, and with the large capacity 13.5 gallon fuel tank, you should be able to go over 500 miles between fill-ups. Complementing the Ion’s powertrain is a chassis made to smooth out your daily commute while still having fun on twisting roads. It has a McPherson strut front suspension with front and rear stabilizer bars for excellent handling, electric power rack and pinion steering for precise road feel, and large diameter ventilated front disc brakes for sure stops. This is a car that is quicker, faster and handles better than many other similar vehicles in its class.
A quick walk around the car reveals how the Saturn Ion Quad Coupe is one of the most unique and stylish vehicles ever created in the compact class of automobiles. Start up front with its clean smooth lines featuring an aerodynamic front bumper capped by free-form clear lens headlights with jewel-effect reflectors. In the center you have a small grille opening between the bumper and hood and a prominent red SATURN emblem in the middle. The bumper itself has a larger lower air intake opening. Going backwards you find the hood has two accent lines formed off the headlights, and along the sides there are large wheel arches on the fenders while the doors incorporate an angled feature line for visual interest. The highlight is the clam-shell doors which give the car a sporty coupe style while offering the practicality of a four-door sedan. Yet this sedan is absent the “B” pillar of all other sedans out there so accessibility to the rear seats is superior to any coupe OR sedan. Note how the clean open design aluminum wheels complement the styling. Moving further back, the trunk is topped with a stylish and aerodynamic spoiler and is surrounded by oversize transparent lens tail lights for maximum visibility, while the center brake light is mounted up high at the top of the rear window also for greater visibility. The rear bumper is slightly curved with a character line along the lower section and has the SATURN logo embossed in it. This Saturn Ion looks handsome from any angle without being flashy. Its unique style is both chic and practical. If you want something more interesting than a typical 4-door sedan, this car is for you.
The exterior is beautiful to look at but the inside is very nice too. Unlock the doors with the convenient keyless entry remote. Now get in and sit down into a bucket seat that adjusts to the perfect driving position with 6-way adjustment, front-back, up-down and seat back recline. Check out how supportive the seat is and how nice the multi-pattern upholstery looks and feels. Then adjust the tilt steering wheel to achieve complete driving control. Notice how the thickly padded rim affords just the right grip and that the cruise control switches are just a fingertip away. Lay your right arm on the center armrest to imagine how comfortable you would be after a long days drive. Next, look to the unique center mounted instrument cluster with the large and comprehensive easy to read analog gauges including a tachometer and how this design gives a light and airy feel with greater visibility when looking straight out at the road. Look right and left at the interior trim on the door panels and dash as well as the carpet and headliner. Press the buttons for the radio, cruise control or windows. Not only is the styling all premium, but all the textures have a rich feel and look and all the switchgear have a precise soft touch action. From the design of the cloth in the seats, the graining pattern on the dash and door panels, or the layout of the knobs and switches on the dash, everything looks and feels like it came from a more expensive car.
Now put the key in the ignition and start the engine. Notice that it starts instantly whether hot or cold and hear how quietly the engine idles. Next, take it for a spin. Grab the stick and feel how precisely the short throw shifter satisfyingly and precisely goes into each gear and how smooth and light the clutch action is. Lightly step on the gas pedal and feel how effortlessly the car gains speed. Drive over some bumps and see how the suspension gives a secure yet comfortable ride. Now accelerate and enjoy the torque as the 145 lb. ft. pins you back in your seat and how smooth the engine revs thanks to the balance shafts.. At the next traffic light, step on the brakes and feel how smoothly they perform with no pedal pulsations or pulling to one side. So whether on congested city streets, open highways, or remote mountain roads, you will be amazed how smooth, quick and comfortable this Saturn Ion is to drive.
This Saturn Ion Quad Coupe is fully equipped with all the desirable safety, comfort and convenience features and equipment including:
- Clam-shell opening doors
- 140 horsepower 2.2 liter Ecotec engine
- 5-speed manual transmission
- Air conditioning with cabin air filter
- Power windows with driver’s express down (Optional equipment, part of Convenience Package)
- Power door locks
- Cruise control with steering wheel mounted switches (Optional equipment, part of Convenience Package)
- Tilt steering wheel
- Remote keyless entry with trunk opening (Optional equipment, part of Convenience Package)
- Front reclining high-back sport bucket seats
- 6-way adjustable drivers seat including front-back, up-down height adjustment and seat back recline
- Front passenger seat-back folds flat with hard writing surface or for laptop use
- Premium cloth interior with multi-pattern fabrics
- Center mounted instrument cluster with tachometer
- Message Center with warnings for Low Fuel, Low Coolant, Change Oil, Trunk Ajar, etc.
- Intermittent wipers
- Center console with dual cup holders, 12 volt power outlet, storage tray and center armrest with storage compartment underneath
- Drivers side instrument panel storage tray and storage bin
- Factory AM/FM CD MP3 stereo (Optional equipment)
- Remote trunk release
- SATURN logo door sill plates
- Front door storage pockets
- Illuminated entry system with theatre dimming
- Dual power outside rear view mirrors (Optional equipment, part of Convenience Package)
- Dual visor vanity mirrors
- Solar-Ray® tinted glass
- Insulated hood liner
- Factory carpeted floor mats
- Aluminum wheels (Optional equipment)
- Daytime running lights
- Clear lens headlights with jewel-effect reflectors
- PassLock® theft deterrent system (Optional equipment, part of Convenience Package)
- Retained accessory power (RAP)
- Battery run-down protection
- Dual stage airbags
- Front seatbelt pretensioners
- Height adjustable shoulder belts
- LATCH® System rear child seat anchors
- 5 mph impact rated front and rear bumpers
- Body color door handles, rocker moldings and bumpers
- Rear spoiler (Optional equipment)
- 60/40 split fold-down rear seat backs
- Rear door storage pockets
- Drivers seat-back storage pocket
- Rear mini center console with dual cup holders and storage trays
- Rear 12 volt power outlet
- Rear dual coat hooks
- Rear window defroster
- Real spare tire
- Trunk mounted battery
- Trunk light
- Trunk interior emergency release handle
- 13.5 gallon fuel tank
- Electric power rack-and-pinion steering (EPS) with variable assist
- Front and rear stabilizer bars
- Stainless steel exhaust
There are over 180 photos ahead and if you don’t have a high speed internet connection and get an “X” where a picture should be you may need to hit the Refresh button a few times. If that still doesn’t work, contact me for a link to see the pictures individually.
ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD:
CLEAR LENS HEADLIGHTS WITH JEWEL EFFECT REFLECTORS:
BODY COLOR DOOR HANDLES:
QUAD COUPE HIDDEN REAR DOORS:
REAR SPOILER:
STAINLESS STEEL MUFFLER:
MATCHING SET OF FOUR PREMIUM GOODYEAR TIRES:
WITH GOOD TREAD:
FRONT DOOR STORAGE POCKETS:
PREMIUM CLOTH INTERIOR WITH MULTI-PATTERN FABRICS:
SATURN LOGO DOOR SILL PLATES:
SEAT HEIGHT AND RECLINE ADJUSTMENT:
STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES:
DRIVERS SIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL STORAGE TRAY:
SIDE WINDOW DEFROSTERS:
REMOTE TRUNK RELEASE AND STORAGE BIN:
TILT STEERING WHEEL:
DUAL FRONT CUP HOLDERS:
CENTER CONSOLE STORAGE TRAY:
CENTER ARMREST WITH STORAGE COMPARMENT:
FLAT FOLDING PASSENGER SEAT-BACK WITH RECESSED HARD WRITING SURFACE:
CLAM-SHELL DOORS:
REAR DOOR STORAGE POCKETS:
EXCELLENT REAR SEAT LEG ROOM:
DRIVERS SEAT-BACK STORAGE POCKET:
LATCH® SYSTEM REAR CHILD SEAT LOWER ANCHORS:
LATCH® SYSTEM UPPER TEATHER ANCHORS:
REAR MINI CENTER CONSOLE WITH DUAL CUP HOLDERS AND STORAGE TRAYS:
REAR 12 VOLT POWER OUTLET:
DUAL SUN VISOR VANITY MIRRORS:
VERY LARGE TRUNK:
EMERGENCY RELEASE HANDLE:
REAR SEAT-BACK RELEASE KNOBS:
60/40 FOLD-DOWN REAR SEAT-BACKS:
REAL SPARE TIRE:
JACK AND TOOLS:
INSULATED HOOD:
UNDERNEITH IS BONE DRY WITH NO LEAKS:
The interior is very nice. It has excellent upholstery, dashboard, door panels and carpet and headliner with no rips or tears or any significant signs of wear or dirt. The car doesn‘t appear to have been smoked in, and in fact, doesn’t even come with an ashtray. The trunk looks like it was hardly ever used and the engine compartment has been fully detailed and is clean enough to eat off of.
Mechanically it runs and drives excellent. The engine starts instantly whether hot or cold and runs strong and feels smooth both at idle, while accelerating and throughout the cruising range. The transmission shifts precisely and the clutch feels smooth and tight. The steering wheel is on dead center going down the road, the brakes are firm with no pedal pulsation or pulling to one side when stopping and the suspension is tight. The underneath of the car is bone dry with no leaks of any kind. This is due in large part to the manual transmission and the absence of an automatic transmission pan and gasket, transmission cooler hoses, lines and fitting, as well as the electric power steering and the absence of a power steering pump, hydraulic P.S. rack, hoses, lines and fitting, all of which are potential leak points on an older car. The A/C blows cold. It has a matching set of four identical Goodyear Assurance All-Season tires all with good tread. These tires combine great looks, exceptional all-season wet/dry traction with a M+S rating, extended comfort, excellent handling and long tread life with a 600 treadwear rating and a 65,000 mile treadwear warranty. They have been balanced with balance weights mounted on the inside of the wheel for a clean look. The car comes with a Firestone real spare tire in an age when many cars just come with a can of inflatable tire sealant in the trunk, and doesn’t look to have ever been used. All the electrical parts I can think of are working. All the power windows go up and down, all the power door locks work, the remote keyless entry works, the cruise control works, the radio works, all the gauges work, all lights inside and out work.
The car has been fully checked out and serviced with over $3,400 worth of new or recent parts, maintenance and repairs with original GM, AC Delco or other name brand parts so that only your enjoyment rather than your immediate attention will be required on delivery. Some of the items checked or serviced include:
- New Mobil 1 synthetic oil change
- New AC Delco oil filter
- New Purolator air filter
- New ATP cabin filter
- New Purolator fuel filter
- New throttle body cleaning
- New AC Delco Iridium spark plugs
- New AC Delco ignition module
- New Spectra Premium coil pack
- New Harfon starter
- 2 ½ year old 690 CCA Walmart battery
- New AC Delco serpentine belt
- Newer Delphi A/C compressor
- New coolant flush with distilled water
- New AC Delco Dexcool coolant change
- New Raybestos Element3 Hybrid Ceramic front brake pads
- New Raybestos Element3 Coated front brake rotors
- New Raybestos rear brake shoes
- New Raybestos rear brake hardware kit
- New Raybestos Coated rear brake drums
- New S.U.R.&R rear brake bleeders
- New parking brake adjustment
- New Valvoline Dot 4 Synthetic brake fluid flush and change
- New Monroe rear shock absorbers
- New GM power steering motor
- New Walker Quiet-Flow stainless steel muffler
- New Walker center pipe and resonator
- New Redline D4 transmission fluid change
- New Facet backup light switch
- New Dorman hood release cable
- New Anco wiper blades
- New shifter boot
- Matching set of four identical Goodyear tires with good tread
Photos of some of the parts replaced, checked or serviced:
Parts replaced:
Oil change:
Oil filter:
Air filter:
cabin air filter:
Fuel filter:
Throttle body cleaning front:
Throttle body cleaning rear:
Spark plugs with the proper amount of anti-seize on the threads:
Ignition module:
Coil pack:
Starter:
Battery:
Serpentine belt:
air conditioning compressor:
Coolant flushed until water is clear from the radiator:
And the engine block drain plug:
Coolant change:
Front brake pads:
Front brake rotors:
Front brakes:
Rear brake shoes:
Rear brake hardware kit:
Rear brake drums:
Rear wheel cylinder bleeders:
Parking brake adjustment:
Brake fluid flush and change:
Fluid so clean you can barely tell the level:
Rear shock absorbers:
Electric power steering motor:
Exhaust system:
Muffler:
Resonator and center pipe:
Transmission fluid change:
Backup light switch:
It goes without saying that Saturns are economical to operate with gas mileage over 30 MPG overall and highway mileage around 40 MPG. The other aspect of economical operation is that this Saturn is a low maintenance vehicle. Unlike many cars with rubber timing belts, the Ion has a steel timing chain that doesn’t need periodic changing, hydraulic valve lifters that never need adjusting, spark plugs, fuel filter and transmission fluid that have 100,000 mile service intervals and coolant that has 150,000 mile service intervals. Other than routine oil changes and air filter changes, with all the above mentioned servicing the car has just received, you are good to go for another 100,000 miles before requiring any major maintenance. If the car does need work, parts are easy to find and rather cheap as this Saturn Ion platform and especially the 2.2L engine is shared with millions of Cavaliers, Cobalts, Malibus as well as neumerous Olds and Pontiacs, of which, there are plenty of wrecked examples in junkyards to get parts from.
And finally, the on-board diagnostics were scanned and show no codes stored, and more important, that all available emissions system readiness monitors have been completed. What that means is the CHECK ENGINE light wasn’t reset in order to turn it off to hide an existing fault. If an emissions component has a fault causing the CHECK ENGINE light to illuminate, the emissions readiness monitors will be incomplete plus the car won’t pass an emissions inspection. Some sellers will reset the CHECK ENGINE light to make it appear like there are no issues at the time of sale, but the light will come back on shortly afterwards. It can take hundreds of miles for the readiness monitors to run to completion, so the fact that the readiness monitors have been completed (scanner shows Monitors Incomplete: 0) indicates the CHECK ENGINE light hasn’t been reset and that at the time the car was scanned, it would pass an emissions inspection. (That isn’t a guaranty that the light won’t come on in the future as a fault can occur at any time without warning.)
I got it in 2018 and had it in storage until just a few months ago, which is why I did all the servicing on it. At the end of the year when it becomes 20 years old, it will be exempt from personal property tax (Virginia), eligible for historic tags (Maryland) and qualifies for classic car insurance that costs under $100 a year.
Overall this is a super sharp small car that looks absolutely fantastic in this Electric Lime color. The cost new of this Saturn Ion was over $16,500 in 2004 CLICK HERE to see the price new, but because it was a hot model, most dealers were adding additional market adjustment markups (read rip off), so with tax, title and tags, the out the door price was over $20K. It also has a clean Maryland title. CLICK HERE to see the title.
The car comes with all the books:
Two factory remotes and keys:
A set of factory carpeted floor mats:
And a front license plate bracket if your state requires one:
If you are serious about buying a low priced small car that stands out from the crowd, this is about as low as they go in this nice condition. Remember, you can get a great deal online with prices sometimes way below retail, but nobody is going to “steal” a vehicle and no seller is going to give one away either. Also when comparing prices, remember the things that you won’t have to spend money on soon after getting it home. With this car you won’t have to spend $1,000 for engine work or a clutch job, you won’t have to spend $500 for a new headliner or upholstery work, you won’t have to spend $500 for a new set of tires, you won’t have to spend $300 on a complete front brake service, you won’t have to spend $300 on a complete rear brake service, you won’t have to spend $300 on a coolant and brake flush, you won’t have to spend $300 on a tune-up and filters service, and you won’t have to spend $300 on any upcoming scheduled maintenance. With many of the other listings on Ebay, Craigslist or on dealers lots, you’re lucky if they even check the oil before delivery. Also, when comparing this car to the others listed, keep in mind that this vehicle runs excellent, is fully serviced, hasn’t been smoked in and is clean inside and out.
If you are looking for a Saturn Ion in nice condition at a good price, then this one is hard to beat. Also remember that I don’t charge dealer processing fees or document fees that many other listings have for $200 or more and bury in their fine print. The car is in the Washington DC area but I can deliver for expenses. For more information email me at atikovi@email.com
