2007 Saturn Aura Preview @ AutoWeek

[vailr]

Will the Aura have plastic side panels, as have the other Saturn models?

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: vailr
Will the Aura have plastic side panels, as have the other Saturn models?

those went out of Saturn starting last year i believe.

everything is sheetmetal.

they cant get the panel gaps tight enough with plastic b/c of its expansion, so they went to sheetmetal.

 

[MBrown]

It just looks like a rebadged G6.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: MBrown
It just looks like a rebadged G6.

very very very very very different.

rear end is similar, thats about it.

 

[MikeMike]

up

 

[SearchMaster]

I like it (though bland on the exterior), but it seems pricey. Certainly the resale value will be far below the Camry/Accord, so I can't imagine why someone would buy the Aura for roughly the same money. I'm not a GM (or American car) hater, but they have a mountain to climb. When Japanese car manufacturers (Honda, Datsun/Nissan, and Toyota) were trying to build U.S. market share, they sold reasonably solid cars for below market prices. Once the market was built, they were able to raise prices and add features. When Korean car manufacturers (Hyundai and Kia) were trying to build U.S. market share, they sold admittedly questionable cars for below market prices. Now that they've built their market, they've been able to raise prices.

I see U.S. manufacturers in a similar dilemma. Excluding trucks and SUVs, they have no market advantage other than price at the moment. The younger generation sees their quality as substandard and won't consider an American car (other than used, when the resale factor works to their advantage). They need to build market share in the younger demographic...bring this car in at $4-5K below Camry/Accord, and they'll do very well. Otherwise it'll be a nice car that nobody buys.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: SearchMaster
I like it (though bland on the exterior), but it seems pricey. Certainly the resale value will be far below the Camry/Accord, so I can't imagine why someone would buy the Aura for roughly the same money. I'm not a GM (or American car) hater, but they have a mountain to climb. When Japanese car manufacturers (Honda, Datsun/Nissan, and Toyota) were trying to build U.S. market share, they sold reasonably solid cars for below market prices. Once the market was built, they were able to raise prices and add features. When Korean car manufacturers (Hyundai and Kia) were trying to build U.S. market share, they sold admittedly questionable cars for below market prices. Now that they've built their market, they've been able to raise prices.

I see U.S. manufacturers in a similar dilemma. Excluding trucks and SUVs, they have no market advantage other than price at the moment. The younger generation sees their quality as substandard and won't consider an American car (other than used, when the resale factor works to their advantage). They need to build market share in the younger demographic...bring this car in at $4-5K below Camry/Accord, and they'll do very well. Otherwise it'll be a nice car that nobody buys.

it is 4-5k under Accord...

base MSRP is 20k....

 

[iversonyin]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE

Originally posted by: SearchMaster
I like it (though bland on the exterior), but it seems pricey. Certainly the resale value will be far below the Camry/Accord, so I can't imagine why someone would buy the Aura for roughly the same money. I'm not a GM (or American car) hater, but they have a mountain to climb. When Japanese car manufacturers (Honda, Datsun/Nissan, and Toyota) were trying to build U.S. market share, they sold reasonably solid cars for below market prices. Once the market was built, they were able to raise prices and add features. When Korean car manufacturers (Hyundai and Kia) were trying to build U.S. market share, they sold admittedly questionable cars for below market prices. Now that they've built their market, they've been able to raise prices.

I see U.S. manufacturers in a similar dilemma. Excluding trucks and SUVs, they have no market advantage other than price at the moment. The younger generation sees their quality as substandard and won't consider an American car (other than used, when the resale factor works to their advantage). They need to build market share in the younger demographic...bring this car in at $4-5K below Camry/Accord, and they'll do very well. Otherwise it'll be a nice car that nobody buys.

it is 4-5k under Accord...

base MSRP is 20k....

Engine and horsepower wise, yes the Saturn is cheaper compare to a comparable V6 Accord. But the I4 Accord is based $20k also.

We don't know what option the $20k Aura will come with, at this point its hard to judge rather the Saturn is really cheaper.

If you compare by horsepower, almost all American cars have more horsepower for the money. (Mustang to Impala to Corvett)

However, judging from the pics. The interior would be the selling point of this car. Would it take market share from Accord/Camry buyers or would they steal them from Impala and G6 buyers? We don't know...yet

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: iversonyin

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE

Originally posted by: SearchMaster
I like it (though bland on the exterior), but it seems pricey. Certainly the resale value will be far below the Camry/Accord, so I can't imagine why someone would buy the Aura for roughly the same money. I'm not a GM (or American car) hater, but they have a mountain to climb. When Japanese car manufacturers (Honda, Datsun/Nissan, and Toyota) were trying to build U.S. market share, they sold reasonably solid cars for below market prices. Once the market was built, they were able to raise prices and add features. When Korean car manufacturers (Hyundai and Kia) were trying to build U.S. market share, they sold admittedly questionable cars for below market prices. Now that they've built their market, they've been able to raise prices.

I see U.S. manufacturers in a similar dilemma. Excluding trucks and SUVs, they have no market advantage other than price at the moment. The younger generation sees their quality as substandard and won't consider an American car (other than used, when the resale factor works to their advantage). They need to build market share in the younger demographic...bring this car in at $4-5K below Camry/Accord, and they'll do very well. Otherwise it'll be a nice car that nobody buys.

it is 4-5k under Accord...

base MSRP is 20k....

Engine and horsepower wise, yes the Saturn is cheaper compare to a comparable V6 Accord. But the I4 Accord is based $20k also.

We don't know what option the $20k Aura will come with, at this point its hard to judge rather the Saturn is really cheaper.

If you compare by horsepower, almost all American cars have more horsepower for the money. (Mustang to Impala to Corvett)

However, judging from the pics. The interior would be the selling point of this car. Would it take market share from Accord/Camry buyers or would they steal them from Impala and G6 buyers? We don't know...yet

we do to know what it will come with std...

http://eogld.ecomm.gm.com/NASApp/domest...=1&divisionID=10&vehicleID=3358&type=0

have fun

 

[Mermaidman]

I think the grills of the Aura and the new Civic are very similar . . . Too similar

Civic vs Aura

 

[MikeMike]

so, has anyone been bored enough to go sit in one at a local saturn dealer?

i know they are out there.