Ion Red Line vs. tC

Congratulations, but do keep in mind that you should keep it safe on the streets

Gimme a month or two and I'd be more than happy to run ya, and no I won't have a supercharger. I have yet to race a redline, mainly because no-one in my area has one (that I can tell anyways).

Originally posted by Obike@Oct 5 2005, 10:38 AM
Congratulations, but do keep in mind that you should keep it safe on the streets

Gimme a month or two and I'd be more than happy to run ya, and no I won't have a supercharger. I have yet to race a redline, mainly because no-one in my area has one (that I can tell anyways).

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Oh, I keep it safe. I tend NOT to race on main roads around here...but sometimes I just can't refuse. If it'd been a Civic with a fart can, I'd ignore, unless I heard a BOV. But I knew the tC has 160 at the crank, so couldn't hurt to give in to the kid I betcha a decent amount of money the kid didn't know what a Red Line was, nor that it has around 200-205 whp, 190 wtq. That's the way I like it...makes for some fun races when you keep up w/ a last model year GT Mustang or the like.

As to no one having them, same here. One of my friends from around here does, actually, and I think we're two of like 4 in the Pittsburgh area. I've seen 15+ Cobalt SSs in the last month. Same damn car, but no one wants to be be in a Saturn. I don't mind. So I like to think my sleeper status will remain.

I'm more than proud to continue driving my, this ain't-your-grandma's-Saturn

(btw--best way to tell is listen. If the Red Line's got a CAI [which DOES add around 10 whp since the stock intake is so damn restrictive], the supercharger HOWLS. Can hardly hear anything else.)

Originally posted by Ryan'sTc@Oct 5 2005, 11:20 AM
Last wendsday I ran against a blue red line at Sac Raceway and I knew I wouldn't win. Yet I did get the best launch and we were side by side till the last couple secs when he started to pull on me and he got a 15.021 and I got a 15.49. After that I finally got some respect from the local import people at the track. He was suprized to find out I didn't have a supercharger yet. I admit I loved listing to that supercharger on the red line rev up.

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Congratulations, you've beaten my best time What was your MPH, and any mods? (besides the tires)

Originally posted by Ryan'sTc@Oct 5 2005, 11:20 AM
Last wendsday I ran against a blue red line at Sac Raceway and I knew I wouldn't win. Yet I did get the best launch and we were side by side till the last couple secs when he started to pull on me and he got a 15.021 and I got a 15.49. After that I finally got some respect from the local import people at the track. He was suprized to find out I didn't have a supercharger yet. I admit I loved listing to that supercharger on the red line rev up.

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Good run!

Yeah, it seems high 14s low 15s are what most people in RLs run. I myself have run a 14.6, but that was my most perfect launch yet. I forget the trap speed. I think somewhere around 98mph. The RL can be a handful to launch--a very touchy clutch, and since power comes on low and strong, a goodish amount of wheel hop. I have torque braces installed, and it helps a lot. But I've seen runs as low as 14.2 for the RL. With the CAI, exhaust, and a smaller SC pulley, we're hoping to get into the high 13s, but it'll be a battle, esp. w/o a LSD (unless you get the new Red Line Comp package). On a RL forum I belong to, people have been doing new pulley setups, and with everything combined, getting into the 230-240 whp range. GM is supposedly coming out with a few stage kits, so that'll be cool, too.

And yes, I too still love the supercharger whine. The SRT-4 (which I almost bought) has a nice sound, but that supercharger is just sweet once you hit 3,000 RPM in any gear. I've yet to install the CAI, but I've heard a few that have. Once you actually get a lot of air moving through, damn thing sounds like a jet...or LOUD RC car haha.

--Jon

Would be fun to run against the RL when SC is here and when I hopefully put my 245s on a lighter wheel... I testdrove RL couple of months ago just for fun - it did feel quicker than the tC and I loved the SC whine (miss it so bad ever since I sold the Matrix), but interior was just too GM

Originally posted by zoltiz@Oct 5 2005, 12:52 PM
Would be fun to run against the RL when SC is here and when I hopefully put my 245s on a lighter wheel... I testdrove RL couple of months ago just for fun - it did feel quicker than the tC and I loved the SC whine (miss it so bad ever since I sold the Matrix), but interior was just too GM

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Yeah, we'll be in the same league, just about, w/ the supercharger. Though I'm not sure what the tC weight is. The RL is around 2,900.

Yeah, when I was buying a car, I test drove a 5spd tC before the SRT-4, then the Red Line. Coming off my olddddd Grand Prix, the tC felt downright fast. But then I got into an SRT-4, and the tC felt just...peppy. Quick, I guess. But that SRT-4 would've been hell to drive in every day.

Hence the Ion Red Line. Low 6 sec. 0-60 and mid 14 1/4 is good enough for me, for now.

And yes, the interior. The seats are awesome, as is the shifter out of the Saab 9-3, but I just ignore everything else. The tC has the SRT-4 and RL beat inside, no question.

Ah well...for the price, I like my Saturn sleeper.

I'll be hanging around for a bit keeping an eye out on you tCers when the superchargers start coming out. Will be a good competition.

--Jon

Originally posted by ALaS@Oct 5 2005, 03:08 PM
I have two friends with Ion redlines, they happen to be cousins, black and blue, they are really nice I think..Just the scion had more appeal to me, Looks wise.  Anyway the Ion looks sportier, and now that i have my car I want to go faster so I'm kind of bummed ..but the super charger is always comin out so watch out .  I'm thinkin turbo rather super tho,.. what do you guys think?

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Well, you can do both. Someone on the redlineforums (an aftermarket shop) has released a twin-charge (turbo combined w/ supercharger) for a Mini Cooper S, and is working on one for the Ion Red Line Bye bye warranty.

Haven driven and almost purchased the SRT-4, I really liked the setup. That sudden rush of power was great. But, I, so far, have really dug the way the supercharger just gives me power all over the band. First gear is all but neck snapping--at least with what I've driven--starting at 3000 rpm. Easily spin the wheels into second.

And a 40mph drop in the RL is its sweet spot. Damn thing GOES. I've taken a couple WRXs (not the STis) from a roll, with ease.

Plus, it's easy and cheap to get a nice bit of horsepower out of a supercharged engine. Around $250-$300 for a smaller pulley will get me up around 230 whp, and then another $170 for the K&N intake will add about another ten. That's proven on the dyno.

However, if you want to get into insane psi and hp, turbos are your better route. I'll proally end up getting a smaller pulley and an intake, and being happy with that. If I start craving more speed, I'll look into a WRX STi or EVO.

So, in the end, try both. They have their pros and cons. SC gives ya RIGHT NOW power. There's no lag in my RL. Haven driven a lot of cars, the engine in my RL feels like a large displacement V6 or a small V8. Not an overpowered one, but just how the powerband is. Very useful. And the power never lets up--we're building all the way to the redline (which, at 6,450rpm, is way too low, but GM is taking it easy). Something like the SRT-4 or WRX...you have to deal with the lag, but when the power comes on, it comes on big.

Sound is another cool factor. BOVs sound great, but I've heard an Ion Red line with the CAI. The supercharger is louder than the exhaust, in a good way. It's almost scary. That RC car like rrrrrRRRRREEEEEEEEEEE, only times 100 in volume.

I'd like to AutoX my RL one of these days, see how useful the sc is in an event like that, whenever I need power down low. But, w/o an LSD, I'm gonna be smoking a lot of tire.

Originally posted by bLAziN_ChEnGy@Oct 5 2005, 06:09 PM
Well Ive raced bot RL's and TypeR's from digs...I think the RL picks up pretty fast (faster then typeR teg) but top end the integra type-R pulled faster then the RL...i own a stock 06 tC (manual because automatics arent made for racing around here)...I know tC's get owned by both of them but can you guys plzz tell me which is faster???rsx-S,RL,CobaltSS, or integra type-R???

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Those would all be driver's races.

I've raced an RSX-S. He got the jump, so I stayed at his door, and I only pulled to neck-and-neck when we got into third. If I had gotten the jump and shifted well, I'd keep ahead.

The Cobalt SS is essentianly the same as my RL, just a bit more pricey and with heavier wheels. Again, whoever gets the jump.

My good friend has a Teg type-R. We've messed around a lot. From a dig, I almost always beat him. In 1st, I find power at 2,500 rpm or so, which builds until I hit redline and gotta shift into second. He might gain some as I need to shift sooner, but 2nd gear in the RL/Cobalt SS is quick. But you're right, they, the Teg, pull hard. Just as I'm hitting my redline, he's finding his power. Plus the Teg weighs like 300 pounds less. From a roll, I can pull on him. And, generally, because I get the jump, he can't make up the difference even if his redline's 2000rpm higher.

You should include the WRX in that list, too. I've raced three or four. From a dig, no chance. Their AWD really makes em take off. But they trap at like 92, 93 in the 1/4. The AWD system really saps power. So, from a roll, I have no issues. 5-6 mph might not seem like a lot, but from a 40mph drop, the RL/SS can keep pulling.

You might even include a last gen Mustang GT, without any insane mods (intake and exhaust wouldn't count). Again, from a dig, the RL/SS can hang right in there. From a roll, same thing. The new Mustangs, no way....but the older ones, sure. Again, they have RWD, which sucks a lot of power. The RL/SS consistently put down 200+ hp and 190+ tq to the wheels. I forget a GTs stock hp/torque, but I think the RWD system saps something like 20% of the power listed.

(But the stangs sure sound cooler getting up to speed, no doubt about that. My supercharger might sound cool, but my exhaust is akin to an angry wasp, the stang's, I dunno, a boar or something)

But, for all those you listed, whoever gets a good launch from a dig. The WRX is probably the easiest to launch, and they have no wheel spin. The RL/SS are almost all spin in 1st if you go WOT, and find traction and go hard in second.

Originally posted by bLAziN_ChEnGy+Oct 5 2005, 07:15 PM-->QUOTE (bLAziN_ChEnGy @ Oct 5 2005, 07:15 PM)

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@Oct 5 2005, 06:36 PM
But, for all those you listed, whoever gets a good launch from a dig. The WRX is probably the easiest to launch, and they have no wheel spin. The RL/SS are almost all spin in 1st if you go WOT, and find traction and go hard in second.

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Well Ive raced a WRX also and even on the highway it pulls like crazy...I dont think you guys stand a chance against a WreX stock vs stock even from a roll...Also Wrx's arent as easy to launch as you think, theyre like one of the hardest AWD's to launch because one little mistake and the turbo BOGGS like crazy out of the hole...I think I should know because I drive my friends all the time...but I think it'll be a good race for an RL to race a WRX...and also you said you can beat integra type-R's...lol im gonna go make fun of my cousin now with his type-R because he thinks the RL and Cobalt SS are a joke...I love all cars xept slow civics with fart cans and I think u guys needa post a vid of rsx-s and type-R vs cobalt ss and RL.... [/b]

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I'm working on getting a vid of my RL vs. the Teg Type-R for the redlineforums. When I get it up, I'll post here, too.

Tell your cousin to race an SS or RL. We get a lot of that--"your cars are crap!" Then we race, and . Not always, but it's part of being a sleeper (not so much w/ the SS).

As to the WRX, I can understand your point of view. From a dig, it's not much of a contest...but I'm not bull shitting about a rolling race. No need to. If it's stock v. stock, the RL/SS has a clear advantage. The WRX is rated at 220 hp, and that's crank. At the wheels, ALL the wheels, they're below 200. That hurts them from a rolling race.

I'm not saying we blow their doors off, but if I downshift right, or if they want to go from 40, we can (and do) win. Not always, but, again, the RL/SS still hasn't gained a lot of street cred. The WRX is fast, stock, but so are we.

Now an STi? That's a different story. I'd be seeing tail lights.

Originally posted by bLAziN_ChEnGy@Oct 5 2005, 10:22 PM
well I still think a WRX beats u guys from a roll because my cousins type-R cant touch a WRX on the highway...Also theres a clip posted on streetfire.net somewhere, where the stock 05 WRX (not STi) beats an rsx-S...RSX-S has i/e and stripped rear....Id love to see you post a vid of u and a wrx also...thats just my POV...and oh yeah i love RL's and Co-SS's...theyre no joke and Ive known that since theyve came out

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I'll try to get a post up of the Teg-R vs. my RL. That'd be easiest to do, as my friend has his bumble-bee yellow one

Also, racing him in the past, I noted the Teg-R CAN be quick, but there's little room for shifting error, as the power comes on so high. In my RL, I have a little more room for error, because of the wider power band. Also, not sure as the mechanics of it, but he puts up a better fight when we go from a dig. Probably because of his weight advantage. But from a roll, that's not AS important as having NOW power to go.

As to a vid of a WRX v. me, dunno when that can happen. Don't know of anyone personally that owns one. Not sure if there are any floating around, but I'll look gladly. The last thing I want to do is magazine race--afterall, vids and street races are where it happens.

BTW, don't go telling your cousin an RL/SS would blow his doors off...like walk away from him. From experience, that doesn't happen. But we do pull in most situations