SCOTT REYNOLDS
Staff Writer
The General Motors brand, Saturn, is producing an absolutely stunning roadster for 2007 — the Sky. What was, and in some ways still is, the bargain basement brand for GM is now taking position as top dog in the looks department.
For starters, the Sky, which starts at a “no haggle” price of $23,000, has old fashion metal bodywork. Saturn decided to scrap the dent resistant panels bit to have a material they could sculpt a bit more.
Aesthetically, it allows the Sky to have crisp, sharp lines highlighting the rounded, flowing shape of an elegant roadster. This departure from the slab-sided forms of old has placed the Sky in the valued “halo car” position at Saturn, if not GM as a whole.
The Sky is truly stunning. I think it is easily one of the most attractive cars on the road. It’s fresh. It’s classic. It’s aggressive. It’s approachable. The list goes on, it’s simply amazing to behold.
OK, time for some examples. The first day I had the car out someone approached it and asked, “Now is this a Porsche or what?” I politely responded, “Well, actually, it’s a Saturn.” Recently, while leaving Malibu Yo, a man approached me while I was backing out and asked about the car. He said, “I was talking with my buddy about this car the other day — it looks amazing. Doesn’t it go for 40 something?” I pleasantly replied, “Actually, it’s a relative steal at about 23.” The test car had a few additions, so it was priced at $26,000.
Finally, on my way to church on Sunday, someone stopped, mid-stride in the crosswalk, stared, gave a thumbs up, and very obviously mouthed the words, “nice car.” It’s not just me, everyone thinks it’s a looker.
The interior is as attractive as the exterior. The test car has a black leather interior with red inserts, giving it a sporty feel, and the center console is elegantly painted in gloss black. Another sharp interior feature is the bodywork that seems to cascade down into the cabin from the trunk lid — it really ties the whole car together.
So it looks great, got it, now how does it run? It puts a smile on your face. It is not blindingly quick, not by a long shot, but it still is fun. Its 2.4 liter four cylinder heart pumps out 177 horsepower. If you really prod it, using the standard five-speed manual gearbox, the Sky will scoot around pretty well, but it has been set up for cruising.
The Sky’s tidy, small package is both good and bad. The car is nimble and quick on the road, but it comes at the price of attention to ergonomics and overall space.
The inside is also the first place where I began to notice the size of the car. The Sky is a tiny little runabout thing that is about the same size as a Mazda MX-5 (formerly the Miata). Every time I get in the Sky I have to buckle up before I close the door. The heavily bolstered sporty seats, which are very comfortable, literally touch the door when it’s closed.
This means the seatbelt cannot pass between the two. No big deal right? Well, I guess I’m in the habit of not doing things in that order, which became a bit frustrating. This was also quite amusing to those who were riding with me, especially if they notice before I do.
Another complaint would have to be trunk space. There is none. Even with the top up, it would be difficult to make a trip to Ralph’s. When the top is down you might as well forget it.
For those of you looking for fun in the sun, the Sky isn’t the limit — it’s the new benchmark.
09-14-2006
