Let me disect...
article said:
Saturn continues to try and compete with other major manufacturers
Is he trying to imply that Saturn is a small manufacturer? Last I looked, it was a division of the largest automobile manufacturer in the world. He is either incredibly biased against GM/Saturn (probably) or not very well informed (also possible).
try and compete with other major manufacturers with a top-end model
When I think of a top end automobile, I think of cars such as the BMW 6 series, Mercedes SL55 AMG, and Cadillac XLR. Apparently, he thinks it is any sporty car that crosses the $20K price point.
falling short last year with the Redline
The biggest problem with the Ion Redline is that it is hard to get consumers to set foot in one because the press ripped apart the 2003 Ion for it's small bumper car steering wheel and center mount guages. The wheel is gone, and the center guages are a plus in Scions and Minis, but I guess it is not acceptable for GM. The Ion Redline paid for it, but it is a rather fun, sporty, and functional vehicle (especially with the rear mount doors).
and possibly repeating the failure with the Saturn Sky
Did he see the car? Does it look like an Ion Redline to him?
a two-door convertible with a similar body style to any Cadillac.
Again, did he see a Sky? I am beginning to wonder. Or maybe he hasn't see a Cadillac. I bet he wouldn't mind if Mazda made a roadster that looked like a little more like a Jaguar (one of Ford's premium brands).
The Sky pales in comparison to all other high-end cars with a 2.4 liter DOHC and a pathetic 170 horsepower
Again, what are high end cars to this guy? Is he comparing it roadsters in it's price range (Solstice, Miata), roadsters costing thousands more (S2000, Boxster)?
which, for the Noobs (if you don’t know what that is, then it’s you), is 27 horsepower less then a Honda Civic SI
Ah, I see. A Honda Civic Si. I should have known when he said "High End" that he meant a hot rod version of Honda's econobox.
If his criteria for a good car is the HP, then someone should point out that the high end Civic Si he loves to compare to a rear drive roadster just happens to be 8 HP shy of the Ion Redline, which is in it's class, and which he just got done calling a bust.
