[rpvitiello]

ok my thoughts on this....

This looks ALLOT like a chop i did of the origonal saturn ion to make it look better. If i dig it out of my HDD i will post it up. it is scarry how much the front looks like my chop!

The rest of the exterior i think looks better than the current 05 refresh. The design flows better.

The interior is MUCH better than the current 05 design. the parts actually fit!

now some of the tech in the car is cool, and it looks like they tried to start adding in all the options that some E spec cars had or have.
Side bags standard are a nice thing.

I am disappointed that it does not have stability control with rear disc brakes, i though ford wanted to make the standard on all models!

Also i though the C1 platform was basically a stiffened up version of the C170 platform. Ford bragging about modifying the car to stiffen it up? how was it cheaper to reengineer a chasses when they allready did that?

It seams like this is definetally an improvement over what they have now, and they need it, but i think it is not 100% of what it needs to be to. If this car is only going to be around for 2 years before the C2 focus comes out this is a VERY good step to regain market shares in the meantime without rebates like they are hitting with the current 05 redesign. even if this design does not make them any money, it is better to improve the car, than to dump money on a bad car in rebates to move it. Since ford was losing $5,000 a focus in rebates, even if this design costs them a $5,000 loss per car, but gets them away from rebates it will at least improve there image as a car company and help them out when/if C2 comes out.

no i understand it was not cost effective to redo the waggon, 3 door hatch, AND 5 door hatch, but imo they should have at least kept the 5 door hatch. allot of people that previously bought the 3 door hatch woudld get the coupe as the sporty model. and the 5 door would get everyone that bought a 3 door, 5 door, or waggon for storage or functionality.

I know for myself this alone is a deal breaker. I have only owned sedans and i have vowed "never again" I NEED something i can go to the store and actually fit stuff in the back. With all the SUV drivers downscailing there is going to be demand for cars with cargo. the CURRENT car customers may prefer sedans and coupes, but i think the current SUV drivers buying smaller cars will want a hatch.

Again if this is only for 2 years than it may be fine for the current market, but in 2 years they WILL need the hatch/waggon again!