After buying the first SL2 in 1992 then a SW2 in 1993 we ended up owning nine S-Cars last one being a 2001 SL2 in bright red. The ION came out in 2003 and after driving one to Vegas and back I thought I'd never ever buy one. Hard *** seats, sloppy suspension, steering wheel so small it was truely uncomfortable to hold onto. Over assisted power steering, and a transmission that spent more time trying to find the right gear then anything I had ever driven. Well we ended up buying my youngest Daughter a 2007 ION-2 auto with the power pkg, side airbags, factory floor mats. I drove it a few times and thought it could use more power, and thighter suspension. After a short time we found the enhanced performace pkg ION-3 that included a 2.4L VVT engine with 165 ft lbs of torque and a 175hp without a turbo. The pkg included ABS/Traction control and the FE2 suspension. I drove one and liked it alot, I bought it ... a silver 2006. Later we bought a 2007 with the same pkg for my wife in storm gray. My Son would be heading back from IRAQ duty soon so I bought a third. It's a 2007 ION-3 2.4L dressed in white. Tell ya what for the PRICE the car is hard to beat. And I mean hard to beat evan today by any car. That leads me to what we might buy. After searching everything I could find it looks like the new KIA Forte Wagon will be her next car. I wanted to like the Chevy Cruze. I do not want an under powered NA car and I sure as hell don't want an under powered turbo Cruze. I want a small car equal to or better then her ION, and that was the KIA Forte SX. Found out yesterday they will be coming out with a Forte SX wagon around the first of the year. Thats it, thats her new car from everything I have found so far. GM has lost me as a buyer.

 

I'm gonna have to go along with you on the Kia. I would like another Coupe if I replace my current Saturn. I pretty much can afford what I want. I like the new Caddy but, almost 40 k makes it hard to justify.
On the other hand, I have driven a number of coupes in the 25k range, many of them pony car throwbacks but when it come down to it,
the Kia Coupe drives out nice, the pieces fit, it runs good, feels like it has enough power and I can live with it easily because along with everything else it is comfortable.
And it is well under 20K, 16ish comes to mind.
Kinda wierd that a car from Korea and a relative new one on the block can be more appealing than one from an established company that has determined that Badge Engineering is a way to establish a brand which has proved so successfull that 3 reputable and well established brands, have gone down the toilet. It makes you wonder what is next.

 

A loaded Forte tops out at

SX Koupe $21,500

SX Sedan $21,260

Thats adding every option on the top of the line of each

The SX gives you 173hp and 168 ft lbs of torque and no damn turbo to maintain. They weigh in under 2,870 lbs

No wagon prices yet but basic specs are the same.

Now go price out the 138hp over 2,900lb Chevy Cruise.....Forget-a-bout-it GM.

 

The forte does look like the way to go as a SL2/ION replacement

 

2011 Forte SX Wagon

 

Thats a nice wagon. I will look into that for myself.

 

My little '93SW is still running just fine, and still looks good. Reckon I'll stay with it for a while longer ...

 

I want a 99 SW, hard to find a used one were I live though probably next year =P, More Air Space for My Music

 

Evan harder to find a new one.

 

I stopped to look at what I though was an R class Mercedes wagon, turned out to be a a new E-class but!!!!
In the show room was one of these
http://www.maybachusa.com/index.php
This is a deal, just a tad more than $273,000 and complete with factory tinted glass and privacy curtains and
a twin Turbo
V12
It's hard to go too far wrong!