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Been looking for a cheap DD that is good on gas. A guy a few streets down from me is selling a 2003 Saturn Ion Sedan that is in pretty decent shape for its age. Has about 120K miles on it with new tires. Non powered windows or locks. Only issue that he has had was with the a/c. Said sometimes it stops blowing cold air but hasn't happened very often. He's asking $2900 OBO for it, I offered him $1800 due to the a/c problem because eventually it will go completely out & I will have to get it fixed. He said he couldn't go that low. Anyone ever own or worked on a Saturn? Wondering if the A/C issue is a simple fix or expensive one.
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Don't buy a car from a car company that doesn't even exist any more is a good general rule of thumb unless you're looking at a Classic. -
if it is a cvt trans, run away."If I asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses." - Henry FordComment
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Only if it has a manual transmission. Otherwise it'll have a complete turd CVT or a marginally better AF23. Which is probably why it's cheap.Comment
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It has a manual transmission. If it wasn't for the a/c issue I would have already bought it. Runs & drives good. Like that is has manual windows & locks as well. But a working a/c is a big thing for me. Too damn hot here in South Texas.Comment
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It's a Cobalt under the hood. Parts are cheap.Comment
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What would cause the a/c to stop blowing cold air from time to time?Comment
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I have an 07 on my lot right now. The quality is on par with a typical saturn. Fairly simple to work on, the 2.2L ecotec is a great little motor. A/C parts can be expensive, if it's the same compressor as my sisters Saturn Vue, it ran close to $350 for a new compressor and condenser. With intermittent A/C, it's probably something stupid like a loose connection at the low pressure switch, or just low on freon.
Give me $3500 and you can have my 07.Comment
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It's an old car, it may just be low on refrigerant. The compressor clutches also wear out and there have been some PCM updates. Any of the above will cause intermittent a/c operation.Originally posted by Mike69 View PostComment
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He said he won't take less than $2500 for it. KBB private party value is about $1900. So $1800 is the most I'd give for it. If it is still there this weekend I'll show up with cash in hand and try again.Comment
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One car that you might try looking at are the newer Kia Spectra's. My sister has an 07 Spectra5 and I am very impressed with that car. I got it from the original owners that NEVER did maintenance on it and it had 250K on it. The motor had 3 spun rod bearings from a distinct lack of oil changes and I still drove it home. Original timing belt, original spark plugs/wires, original belts, original transmission.Originally posted by Mike69 View Post
I put a $400 motor in it, which was the easiest motor I have ever worked on, and it runs like a champ. Car gets 28-32mpg, the quality is fantastic compared to the Ion, and it's a zippy little bastard for 140hp. The a/c compressor, alternator, cat converter, and power steering are all original and working perfectly.
Here is one on Craigslist that is close to your price range. http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/4622005133.htmlComment
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Could be a sensor in the air box, I replaced one on a frontier with those symptomsOriginally posted by Mike69 View PostComment
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The engine coolant temp sensor can shut off the a/c but I don't think an IAT will on this car. It may also have a temp sensor in the evap housing, which would be shutting it off when freezing and it'd probably be freezing due to a low charge.Originally posted by lowthreeohz View PostComment
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