Saturn Aura reviews roll in.... nothing but positives

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon

Originally posted by: mariok2006
why did they put a saturn badge on it?

what would you prefer?

chevy or something that sells more than saturn

Saturn is GM's only across-the-board success.

Saturn profits.

Saturns, somehow, manage to sell themselves, too. I very, very, VERY nearly bought a brand new Ion, with no prodding from the salesman. Just answered my questions, handed me the keys, and talked about options. Didn't once push anything on me. Apparently, this is NORMAL for Saturn, and most people who wander onto the lots end up buying one eventually (I didn't, because I found a used Focus for less money, and it felt a little more powerful - but a used car vs. new car comparison is unfair. If I'd been comparing vs. a new Focus, I'd be driving an Ion right now).

I see more Saturns on the road than all other GM brands COMBINED (excluding pickup trucks from this comparison) - which is incredibly significant.

In short, I like Saturn. A lot. If *ANY* of GM North America can be saved, it's Saturn - even if Saturn turns into a Vauxhall or Opel rebadge (frankly, I don't see any reason why not - those cars are successful over there, and are very well proven. Load it into the computer, flip the x axis, and sell it in the US).

Our tastes in normal cars are no different than Europe's. That's why we buy so damned many BMWs, Volkswagens, and Mercedes. Sports cars, yes, we're a little different - we tend to favor straight line speed and big, bulky, muscular looking things to svelte, highly nimble cars that corner like nothing else - because we've never been sold anything that doesn't fit the dragster model. But even then, as the Sky (Speedster/VX220) prove and Porsche's increase presence (I see DOZENS of them a week now, as opposed to one or two a month in the past), we like that, too. Just not as much. Give it time, leave those cars on the showroom floors, and in time, the drag strip will fade into a back straightaway.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Sports cars, yes, we're a little different - we tend to favor straight line speed and big, bulky, muscular looking things to svelte, highly nimble cars that corner like nothing else - because we've never been sold anything that doesn't fit the dragster model.

What are you talking about? The Corvette is not a straight line car, it handles extremely well.

And the Supra, 300ZX, RX-7, Miata, NSX, etc, handled well and aren't dragsters, and were available to the public.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060823/AUTO03/608230309/1149

theres a good negative, from an author, who seems very, not with it...

That guy is dense. It doesn't need a rear backup camera because it's not an SUV or minivan - it's rear blind spot is about the size of a grapefruit.

It doesn't need a rear seat entertainment system because it's not an SUV or minivan.
In a sedan, the driver and front seat passenger are still connected to the rear seat passengers. They're still close, and can interact.

The passenger in the middle seat will have to straddle a large hump in the floor, thanks to the location of the exhaust system. There is no headrest for that seat, either, and no rear vents or armrest.

And this is HOW different to any other sedan on the entire planet?

including the lack of dual-zone climate controls for front-seat passengers

You're like, 8 inches apart. What the hell would be the point?

The guy is an SUV/Minivan reviewer, obviously. Because everything he complains about is something that you find exclusively in an SUV or minivan offering.

 

[andylawcc]

i am definitely not feeling the exterior. Nothing really "euro" about it, it's more like, "ugly."

this Opel concept on the other hand...


also, despite the rather nice interior (steering wheel and gauges are gorgeous), that faux wood all around is a huge turn off.


and I think the lack of a 4-cylinder is a mistake.

 

[middlehead]

Put me down in the "DAMN YOU FOR KILLING OLDSMOBILE" list, but I think Aura will be on my list when I start looking for a new vehicle.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

The passenger in the middle seat will have to straddle a large hump in the floor, thanks to the location of the exhaust system. There is no headrest for that seat, either, and no rear vents or armrest.

And this is HOW different to any other sedan on the entire planet?

some cars don't have that any more, i'm almost certain for example the 7th gen civic doesn't.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

The passenger in the middle seat will have to straddle a large hump in the floor, thanks to the location of the exhaust system. There is no headrest for that seat, either, and no rear vents or armrest.

And this is HOW different to any other sedan on the entire planet?

some cars don't have that any more, i'm almost certain for example the 7th gen civic doesn't.

i think camrys don't have those neither...

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
i am definitely not feeling the exterior. Nothing really "euro" about it, it's more like, "ugly."

this Opel concept on the other hand...


also, despite the rather nice interior (steering wheel and gauges are gorgeous), that faux wood all around is a huge turn off.

so dont get the faux wood, and get the aluminum trim...

and that reviewer, well, shes an idiot.

the only cars however, that DO have humps, are typically RWD vehicles, because of the drivetrain, most FWD's wont have that hump.

she also compared the base V6 Aura price, to the utmost base, Accord I4 price...

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Sports cars, yes, we're a little different - we tend to favor straight line speed and big, bulky, muscular looking things to svelte, highly nimble cars that corner like nothing else - because we've never been sold anything that doesn't fit the dragster model.

What are you talking about? The Corvette is not a straight line car, it handles extremely well.

And the Supra, 300ZX, RX-7, Miata, NSX, etc, handled well and aren't dragsters, and were available to the public.

The Corvette handles extremely well NOW. It didn't 2 generations ago, at least compared to worldwide offerings.

And yes, all those Japanese designs (except for Ford's Mazda RX-7) handled - but were by no means a huge part of our national culture until Fast and the Furious popularized them.

Just like the Germans always had their performance cars available for purchase here - it doesn't mean they were part of our general taste in cars. It took a movie to make people on the whole see the performance value in the those Japanese cars you mentioned, some time with those to get used to the "omg, I can take that corner at 60mph!" realization to set in, Porsche to see increasing sales, BMW and Mercedes not being able to hold on to M3s and CLKs for a market gap to be created where general purpose european sports cars to slide into.

 

[andylawcc]

what? the RX-7 doesn't handle well?

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

The passenger in the middle seat will have to straddle a large hump in the floor, thanks to the location of the exhaust system. There is no headrest for that seat, either, and no rear vents or armrest.

And this is HOW different to any other sedan on the entire planet?

some cars don't have that any more, i'm almost certain for example the 7th gen civic doesn't.

My '02 Focus doesn't have a hump, per se, but there is indeed a requirement to straddle the center console. That middle seat in the rear is all marketing anyway "zomg 5 seats"- if you have 3 kids, you get an SUV or minivan. If you have to fit 3 adults in the back, you're a college student, and doing so is going to be way uncomfortable anyway (even in a fullsize, it's uncomfortable)

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
what? the RX-7 doesn't handle well?

I was plucking the RX-7 out of the Japan statement, because, in my eyes, there's more Ford in it than Mazda because, IIRC, the Wankel design belonged to Ford pre-Mazda.

 

[halik]

I saw one in real life... not bad at all for GM

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

Originally posted by: andylawcc
what? the RX-7 doesn't handle well?

I was plucking the RX-7 out of the Japan statement, because, in my eyes, there's more Ford in it than Mazda because, IIRC, the Wankel design belonged to Ford pre-Mazda.

No it didn't. Mazda was using Wankels way before Ford bought them.

 

[stuman19]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
Saturn Aura reviews roll in.... nothing but positives

Regardless, it's not half the car that's my Olds AURORA.

Damn you, GM, for killing Olds!

I loved my Olds Aurora....those things were great. Damn drunk kid hitting it going 40 mph...he will burn in H*ll.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

Originally posted by: andylawcc
what? the RX-7 doesn't handle well?

I was plucking the RX-7 out of the Japan statement, because, in my eyes, there's more Ford in it than Mazda because, IIRC, the Wankel design belonged to Ford pre-Mazda.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda

After years of development, Mazda's first Wankel engined car was the 1967 Mazda Cosmo. The company followed with a number of Wankel ("rotary" in the company's terminology) vehicles.

the 1970s also saw Mazda's first financial crisis, which led to Ford taking a 25% stake in the company.

 

[SampSon]

We care about Canadian product why?

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: jlbenedict
aaah.. another 250hp, 18mpg, gas guzzler

I'll pass

actually, it's a 20/29 mpg car.... and that's epa numbers. if you use your cruise control, you'd probably get 3-5 more mpg.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: SampSon
We care about Canadian product why?

because its not? those were just the first reviews..

its already at your saturn dealer, ill be at one tomorrow.

 

[Squisher]

I was looking at a Buick Lucerne, but the wife was taken with the Pontiac G6's gas mileage. Maybe I should check this Saturn out.

BTW-this Saturn has a metal exterior skin, so much better fit and finnish.

 

[imported_Shivetya]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
(Cross posting)

I think the Civic and the Aura share the same grill
Civic vs Aura Grill

Except that the Civic which costs less will be worth more in 3 to 5 years.

 

[imported_Shivetya]

FWIW.

Saturn is being slotted where Oldsmobile used to be. That is why the level of their cars is being raised. The pecking order is Cadillac, Buick, Saturn, Pontiac, and then Chevy.

Originally Saturns were to be small cars marketed under the Oldsmobile name, hence the same logo shape and original look which was a scaled down Oldsmobile name. Apparently it wasn't felt that Oldsmobile could sell small cars and still maintain brand identify.

I will give Saturn kudos for the look of the Sky. However both of those convertibles (Pontiac/Saturn) are useless cars and destined for redesigns simply because they emphasized form over any function. You cannot travel even weekends with another person because there is no storage. You have to get out of the car to raise or lower the top. The Toyota MR2 died because of its storage issues and its top could be raised or lowered while inside the car. We have one of the Pontiacs at work and the guy is already looking to get a Miata because the Pontiac is only useful as a solo car, he uses it to commute. Overnight trips with the wife are nearly impossible unless one only wants to bring one change of clothes at most or just do the trip with the top up.

As for the Aura. Whatever, looks like a Malibu to me. Will have to wait and see what its 2 to 3 year reliability is. Being easy to fix is the last thing I want a car I buy to be known for. I don't want to have to fix it.

 

[WolverineGator]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060823/AUTO03/608230309/1149

theres a good negative, from an author, who seems very, not with it...

The guy makes a good point, but not just for Aura--for all midsize cars. People love their SUVs for the backup cameras, the DVD player, and built in screens in the headrests. Where are the midsize sedans with these features?

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: Shivetya
FWIW.

Saturn is being slotted where Oldsmobile used to be. That is why the level of their cars is being raised. The pecking order is Cadillac, Buick, Saturn, Pontiac, and then Chevy.

Originally Saturns were to be small cars marketed under the Oldsmobile name, hence the same logo shape and original look which was a scaled down Oldsmobile name. Apparently it wasn't felt that Oldsmobile could sell small cars and still maintain brand identify.

I will give Saturn kudos for the look of the Sky. However both of those convertibles (Pontiac/Saturn) are useless cars and destined for redesigns simply because they emphasized form over any function. You cannot travel even weekends with another person because there is no storage. You have to get out of the car to raise or lower the top. The Toyota MR2 died because of its storage issues and its top could be raised or lowered while inside the car. We have one of the Pontiacs at work and the guy is already looking to get a Miata because the Pontiac is only useful as a solo car, he uses it to commute. Overnight trips with the wife are nearly impossible unless one only wants to bring one change of clothes at most or just do the trip with the top up.

As for the Aura. Whatever, looks like a Malibu to me. Will have to wait and see what its 2 to 3 year reliability is. Being easy to fix is the last thing I want a car I buy to be known for. I don't want to have to fix it.

sorry to say, but your co-worker is a moron, i have seen 3 golf bags stuffed in the trunk before, and just pack properly and you can fit anything.

also, the Aura is o so much more than a Malibu, sure, its the same platform, and the base model has the same engine tranny.... but nothing else is similar.


Squisher: supposedly a LOT of ppl are buying the Aura over the G6 because it rides better, better looks, and better interior.

 

[MikeMike]

sat in one today, didnt drive it...

really nice interior the dash is a true soft-touch, VW esque, push on it, and it will mold around your fingers like.

i sat in 2 XR's, one with the Morrocan brown, and the other with the aluminum trim. The moroccon brown looked nice, the searts were comfy, and the leather was fantastic. the wood trim, wasnt quite my taste.

the aluminum trim, again was great, great seats, great leather, and i loved the trim on it, and the radio in this one actually fit quite well interms of the coloring.

there is a LOT of headroom, being 6'4, sunroofs typically kill me. but not on this car, and the wind buffeter on the sunroof is interesting, its a piece of cloth, instead of just plastic, not sure what all it does.

the quick fiddling around, i didnt find that much to bitch about, other than the one storage door on the center console, can feel cheap if you push the wrong side.

thats my quick dash stroker review