Saturn Aura

readerreader

http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/SaturnAura/Photos.htm

trauppius

This does sound high. I leased an loaded XR back in early November that stickered-out at $27,019. I was going to buy the car but was afraid that the higher Saturn depreciation (at least to date) would leave me with too little equity at trade-in 2-3 years later. So instead I opted for a no down (no cap reduction) 2 year/12k year lease that had suspiciously high residuals (very close to Honda/Toyota) that were being subsidized by GM in order to promote sales. I was eligible for ~$1500 off the sticker due to a GM supplier employee discount and the lease came to $376/month (plus taxes). I have tier 1 credit which allows GMAC to extend this lowest rates without security deposits.

It may be that now that the Aura is successfully launched some of the financial support has lapsed in favor of $500 rebates and "Red Tag" events.

In any event, it is turning out to be a very good car that I can recommend. I suggest that you visit the GMACFS.COM website to see what the best lease or SMARTBUY (balloon payment plan) is offering.

62vetteefp

Interesting data here:
https://www.alg.com/deprratings.aspx

Shows the Camry at 5 star, G6 at 4 star and Aura at 3 star. 3 star may be well below the Camry but there are 7 other Toyotas that share that rating. So I guess the Aura will have average residuals.

What is interesting is that all Saturns except the defunct var are also 3 star.

trauppius

I picked up a bit of info when talking to some GMAC finance folks. Until very recently Saturn owners tend to buy and keep their cars for longer periods than most new car buyers; often until the wheels fall off from extended usage. Combine this with brand loyalty (stubbornness + sense of marching to the beat of a different drummer) and it turns out there is far less turn-over/trade-in history upon which to base fair market trade-in pricing. The low trade-in value also reflects the very poor crash protection rating of the ION and the poor reliability of the GM corporate clone Relay mini-van. Better vehicles like the Aura and Outlook will improve Saturn's standing (and resale value), but it will take quite some time.

Interestingly, lower resale valuations notwithstanding, GMAC is supporting sales through subsidized leasing with lease residuals (0.82/0.83 @ 2 years) that would normally correspond to higher resale value vehicle like Honda or Toyota. That is why it is attractive to lease new generation Saturn's and avoid buying where the buyer must shoulder the burden of low resale value at trade-in time.

cla1

I admit that I have always resisted buying or not buying a car based on resale. Why? I tend to keep cars 5-10 years, but even the last ones I've bought that I have kept 4 years, I don't think it amounts to that much difference. Also, I want to buy a car that I like and that isn't necessarily what the "herd" is buying at the time in part because of resale estimates. But most importantly, I think resale of any vehicle is going to be determined by how good and desirable a vehicle it is. But I don't really care right now if an Accord or Camry will sell for more than my new XR in 4 years, because I will have enjoyed it for 4 years, and I thought it was a good deal now.

1487

I agree 100%. I do not understand basing a car buying decision on what the car may be worth when you get rid of it. If you like and its reliable you may end up keeping it for a long time anyway.

62vetteefp

It's not GMAC that is supporting residuals. It is GM Marketing dollars. Out of the same cash pile as rebates and incentives.

62vetteefp

Only if you keep it for a decent time period should resale not be as important. if you flip cars every two years it will be. I do get a new vehicle every 2 years so I lease.

m1miata

OK, you thought you liked the car, but it ends up being a turkey - what then? You are stuck! Resale of course is only a part of the total equation. If you think you may keep a car a long time, the cost of repairs is also something to consider. And consider how durable the car is -- what it will likely look like years later. The Aura will likely weather well. The resale I doubt would be like the big two competitors, yet should be at the least average. Some people prefer the Saturn dealerships, which may support the resale a bit more than the Malibu by Chevy. I do like the interior photos that were posted on the Malibu. Looks like the cars are pretty close twins. My guess, as good as anyone else, is that the Aura beats the Malibu by a small margin and both lose to Accord and Camry for resale value.
-Loren
P.S. The Aura tail end is a bit better than is the Malibu, which is more like the Verona by Suzuki. That said, they both look good front, side and rear, with Aura just a bit classier tail end view.

user777

vehicles being depreciating assets, personally, i consider resale / depreciation super important.

it's an indication of desireability of the vehicle after few or many years of ownership. should your situation change at anytime (short- or long-term), you can step out of it without loosing as much of your shirt as you otherwise might buying one with poor resale / high rate of depreciation. the best time to consider selling your car, is before you buy it.

if you are lucky enough to be able to buy the car without incurring too much in interest paid, well, when you go to sell it, it's a clearer indication of how much your car really cost you (minus maintenance of course). let's say you buy something with good vs. poor resale value and you own it for a long time. when you go to sell it or trade it, it's sort of a reward for making a smart purchasing decision up front which you can apply to your new purchase. most likely, many focus on monthly payments, beyond that, they don't care.

well - that's the problem, they shouldn't be thinking monthly payments in the first place. that's fiscally a poor position to find yourself in, and probably indicates you're buying too much car.

it's also some indication of how reliable it will be.

m1miata

One exception is the VW. It has a high resale value, with questionable reliability according to all the sources which ask the buyer how there car has been. Low scores from JD Power and low from Consumer Reports. Yet the resale remains high - interesting.

Do the Saturns hold value more than other GM products in the same price range? I bet they do. Not the same as buying a Honda or Toyota, but it has to be so much better than buying a Malibu. Will the New Malibu turn things around for Chevy? And what the heck is the " American Revolution " thing all about. Still can not figure it out. Now Toyota has the " Moving Forward " which is spot on! Actually, most all of the mid-sized sedan class are pretty good compared to a couple decades or even one decade looking back. Hyundai, Ford, GM, Subaru...... well let's say all are now pretty good. The Aura, even with the base engine, is decent. It sounds a bit rough though. I did not test drive the 3.6 V6, which is suppose to be the prized one.
-Loren

62vetteefp

Saturn products have average residuals. Many other GM products are higher. many are average and some are below. Interesting that most of GM's under achieving vehicles have been around awhile.

https://www.alg.com/deprratings.aspx

m1miata

Thanks for the link. I thought Saturn was doing better in the GM line. Looks like a G6 is a better resale value. Certainly better than Pontiac Grand Am. I may take a look at the G6 Coupe. Funny how a less than reliable German make did better than many other cars in resale. Also interesting how the older makes, like you said, have sunk in resale value. Guess a used Monte Carlo and many others in the low star ratings are good used car buys. Some of the most reliable have the worse resale values. -Loren

user777

well, like your comment on the VW, i think resale can be influenced by desireability. reliability is just one factor i mentioned in my previous post...

you might turn your question around and ask why would a less than reliable german make be purchased by so many?

certainly one doesn't use information from that table alone to decide on what to purchase.

1487

MB models have high resale value so its obvious that reliability is just one factor involved in residuals.

autoweek as a comparo of the Aura and Camry SE. They preferred the Aura.

m1miata

My next test drives will be the G6 and Honda Coupe. I have driven the Aura base, but not the top line one. In that price range, you are up to the level of a lot of other cars. Should test the Azera against the Aura. I am beginning to think, in the Hyundai line, the Azera, with a higher resale, if bought at a good discount, could end up costing less than the Sonata. As for the Camry, I don't see the interior as being an inferior quality, the exterior in now kinda of stylish, and when coupled with the resale and overall reputation of quality, it is still a good buy to me. The Aura is finally something Saturn has to compete -- at it competes well.
-Loren

cla1

I agree that Saturn finally has something competitive; I suspect part of Saturn's resale position is that they have been rather ho-hum cars that appeal to people who don't really get into cars that much. My feeling was that now that they have an excellent product, I'm not going to avoid buying it because of predicted resale, unless I'm leasing and then it does have a big impact on the lease price. I have a feeling the resale on the Aura is going to be pretty good, but again, 4-5 years from now I don't really care that much I guess.

user777

but you should care. you should care a lot.

and if you HAVE to, or THINK you have to, or are in the practice of regularly leasing vehicles, you should step back and ask: just what is so smart about leasing a vehicle if the lease is being paid by you?

are you a monthly payment shopper? if so, you are at a disadvantage, and maybe considering a vehicle beyond your means.

62vetteefp

beyond your means? Thanks for the advice. I am very happy with my financial situation and my lease.

user777

well, i was referring to another poster. not you - obviously you know what you are doing.

http://biz.yahoo.com/pfg/e16buylease/art011.html

readerreader

Should be buying a USED car--and holding on to it for the long term.

That's all there is to it really.

m1miata

Perhaps for a domestic auto this is true. The Japan cars bought used, with lower mileage on them are far too close to new car prices. I got a grand off on a new Corolla, some years ago, and held it for seven years before selling. It worked out just fine. Now, of course, a Cadillac or even an Buick bought back when new would have been extremely expensive due to resale value. I think Japan makes, like the Honda or Toyota are a different story. Or you could buy a Hyundai and keep it ten years under warranty. As for the Aura, it is a wait and see, but looks like it is somewheres in the middle for resale values. With complex cars, as in too much electronics, perhaps something in-between is the thing to do. Buy a Caddy or an Aura top of the inline as a warranty covered / certified car may provide both a softening of the first year or two blow for depreciation, and provide coverage for all the high tech costly repairs of the modern day car. There is no one size fits all solution any more. Just enjoy the ride -- that's the main thing to remember. - Loren

hatessuvs

Thought I'd weigh in with my opinion on the new Saturn Aura. I've got an XR on a company car lease for 39 months, 54K miles, $460 / month. Picked it up the last week of October and have 4,200 miles on it thus far. First, my points of reference. I've been driving since 1970, and recent rides were (co. cars first): '91 Grand Prix 3.1L, '95 Intrepid ES 3.3L, '98 Intrigue 3.8L, '01 Intrigue 3.5L, and '04 Regal LS 3.8L. Wife's cars: '89 Taurus 3.0L, '95 Cirrus 2.5L, and Accord EX-L 2.4L. All have been automatic transmissions.
I'm limited on the co. cars lately to choosing from GM only (as if you couldn't tell already). Though I wasn't wild about driving a Buick Regal for three years, the subsequent LaCrosse was a huge missed opportunity by Buick / GM - how can they make a car appeal to an even OLDER demographic?! Really bad styling!! The Impala was too big (long) for my tastes, and the Grand Prix has a horrible back seat. The G6 is OK, but Pontiac definitely packed the poor thing with way too much hard plastic - even more than the Aura (more on that later). The Aura looked pretty sharp in the car rags, had some serious mechanicals, so I gave it a look. After I test drove it, I decided it was a better-than-average choice.
POSITIVES: The 3.6L motor is sweet - smooth, quiet, and powerful and pulls like a locomotive from 3,000 RPM's on up. Linked with a seamlessly shifting 6-speed, they work in concert beautifully. The manumatic shifter snaps off shifts pretty quick when you're pushing the redline, but below that makes no real difference. Oops, I take that back. GM has removed all but two forward gear selections from the console and given the driver the choice of D and M (manual) - that's it. The tap shifts are located at 3 and 9 o'clock on the steering wheel spokes and did come in really handy in a nasty snowstorm recently when I was trying to use some engine braking on the expressway. Otherwise, the tranny is always trying to keep you moving along at 1,800 to 2,000 rpms, no doubt to enhance fuel mileage. BTW, I've been averaging 28-29 mpg at 70 mph, and probably 19-20 mpg in true city / suburban traffic.
This car is truly quiet - easily the quietest car I've ever had in my possession. This also makes the audio system sound that much cleaner and pure.
The car handles great; better than any other FWD I've driven. Yeah, front drivers are inherent understeerers, but that usually isn't very noticeable until 8/10'ths and beyond. I live in the burbs of Chicago, and dealing with snow with RWD thankfully is a distant memory. I was surprised how well Saturn tuned the suspension to take bumps so nicely considering the XR has 18" 50-series tires on it. The Aura really is a fun car to drive.
I happen to like most aspects of the styling, including the chrome accented window trim, door handle pulls, and door guard strips along the side. Some might view it to be a bit much, but I'm flat out bored with all the monochrome, blacked out jelly bean shapes we've had to drive the last 15-20 years. The projector headlamps and LED tail lights are sharp, too. One flub on the styling is the XM antenna placed FORWARD on the roof instead of the trailing edge. It looks like a bad wart up front where it is now (thankfully the dark blue paint color I chose hides it a little).
The interior is well laid out, very decipherable at a glance, and is very close to having that no-slack, silky smooth feel of the switches in the dash and steering column stalks that makes Honda Accord exude the feeling of well-engineered quality. Some have disliked the size of the steering wheel - I like it just fine. The audio and cruise switches are annoyingly small, but I've gotten use to them. I deliberately ordered the black leather since it comes with the fake brushed aluminum looking plastic trim, which IMHO is WAY better looking than the fake wood. I don't think I've ever seen fake wood in a car that didn't make me embarrassed for the car manufacturer trying to pull off the fakery. Additionally, in the XR the only other leather choice is the combination dark gray / Moroccan brown brown leather which I didn't care for; couple that with the fake wood (only trim option for the Moroccan), and it wasn't pretty. There are many cheaper pieces in the interior, though. The glove box door has a thin, chintzy feel and slam to it. The door arm rests and the center console elbow rest could be about 15-20 durometer points softer. They're decently comfortable right now in long sleeves, but I've not had to drive the car in the summer months yet when short sleeves are a given - I'll see what the comfort is like then, I suppose. Dash lighting is a pleasant amber color and the lighting behind the front door pulls is classy, also (by the way, will Pontiac ever give up the ooh-I'm-a-fighter-pilot orange??). The seats are totally comfortable and have enough lower cushion length (I'm 6"3" and 190 lbs.), and back seat passengers have said they've been perfectly comfortable. NOTE - the longest trip I've been on, though, is 3 hours. MAJOR annoyance - the footwell area is slightly narrower than previous cars I've had. I drive with my legs slightly splayed, sort of V-shaped. This means my right knee is resting against the center console stack which is made of plastic that's harder than nails. I could never find a comfortable driving spot for my right knee, so I had my wife sew me a little padded flat black 3" x 3" pad that I velcro'd right into that spot. Problem solved! The weird thing is that Saturn used some really nice soft plastics for the TOP of the dash, which almost nobody ever touches anyway. The door panels could be a softer touch, too. They're barely a touch softer than what you'll find in the Pontiac G6. Overall, I'd rate the fit and finish pretty high in the interior, though perhaps not quite to an Accord level in spots.
Value - this car is really well appointed for an MSRP of $26,400. A 200+ watt 6-CD changer, XM radio audio system, auto-dimming mirror, On-Star (great security feeling there), heated outside mirrors, remote start (nice when it's colder than 10 above zero), bun warmer seats, auto climate control (though no 2-control system available for those of you with fussy co-pilots), great drivetrain (which is rated on 87 octane, by the way) and dual exhaust tips, oil life monitoring system, low tire pressure monitoring, ABS, Stabilitrak (a huge selling point for me), all the air bags, sunroof, 18" wheels which are very classy, fog lamps, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, 8-way power seat - and I've probaly forgotten a few other features!
A few minor annoyances - yeah, the trunk lid does not pop up even a 1/2" upon release, so you have to dig your fingertips under its dirty bottom edge to lift the trunk open. The A-pillars are pretty wide, but then they are, too, on my wife's Accord (more stringent rollover standards these days, perhaps?).
Overall, I've really enjoyed the car so far, minor annoyance accou

aamixy

Hello: my first post here...I am in the market for a 18k-25k midsize sedan. After test-driving lots of cars in this
class, I finally need to make a decision between Aura XE and Accord SE V6. Performance-wise, I love Aura more than Accord: the acceleration is very smooth for Aura, while I can still feel the V6 engine soaring in Accord when accelerating. Plus the Aura feels very solid and secure while Accord still feels quite light. In terms of safety (from ratings and saftey equipment only), they look like pretty much the same. Two things I am not quite sure are how much more meaningful a 5 star (Aura) versus a 4 star (Accord) and how useful the stability control is (Accord has it but Aura doesn't). Interior, I feel they are comparable in term of material quality. For Aura, the inner door handle of driver side looks crappy, which really turns me down. For Accord, all the controls look very old style and similar to my 95 Geo/prizm. In terms of price, Accord might be a little higher but Aura is still "no haggling". One thing I like about Accord is it is roomy for me (6'2"). Auru seems a little bit cramp (surprisingly, my little Geo/Prizm feels even roomier than Aura). But I guess I can get used to it. In short, Aura has better mechanical performance than Accord (my own feeling), but it has small problems; Accord seems fairly ok overall but mediocre. Can anyone share some of your thoughts here? Appreciate it!

aamixy

Nice review on the XR. I laughed when I read your wife sew you a pad. I test-drove a passat. Its central console extrudes too much so there is a WALL adjacnet to my right leg and I can't even splay. It is a tough gesture. So I give up immediately. One thing about Lacrosse, do you feel it is less responsive to the gas pedal, i.e., it is hesitant to take off in D or back off in R.

1487

The Accord is going to be redesigned this year so I wouldnt want to buy a model that is going to be phased out in a few months. The Aura is only 5 months old and is in the beginning of its lifecycle. Stability can save a life in a narrow set of circumstances but like many safety features there is a very small chance you will ever need it. Personally, I thought only the Accord EX had stability control. I was unaware that it was standard on the lower models.

1487

If you like the Aura you arent going to like the latest CR comparison test. The results arent surprising if you know CR's track record. At least it beat the G6 and Sebring but that isnt saying much after reading CR's comments about those cars.

ttb

I do not have an Aura, so I can't comment on it.

But all 4 windows and the center radio and A/C control panel of my 2004 Accord started rattling since it was only 6 months old. They rattle most of the time. Very very annoying and frustrating, especailly the rattles from the windows, cause it's right beside your ears. Dealer said too bad, it's "normal", no fix. If you go to the 2003-2006 Accord Maintenance and Repair Forum, you'll see zillion of these complaints.

And I think 2007 is the last model year of the current generation Accord. Personally, I do not prefer buying a car which in less than one year will become an old model.

I'm seriously considering dumping my Accord for an Aura XE.

Hope these help.

m1miata

I was wondering about the four star rating on an Accord. I see it is the side impact rating. Looks like Aura does best the Accord in that respect. Are you sure you test drove the XE and not the XR? You liked the 3.5 V6 in the Aura more than the Accord v6? I hope to test the Accord tomorrow.
Also may test a four cylinder Accord.

I did test the XE and thought the acceleration was fairly good, not particularly fast. The engine in my car had sort of strange rhythm to it while at idle. I prefer the interior on the Accord. Like the exterior, it is all a matter of preference. Like them both IMHO. If you like the feel of the Aura, you may have to let your heart take you there. I saw a Dodge Stealth in the showroom back in 1990 and just had to take it home. Expect the Aura to have a bit of a lower resale value, and possibly some new car glitches they may need to work out. Like the Stealth I had, the car is fresh, so you will be noticed. Be sure to memorize all the data on the car, those walking on over to see the car, will want to know. Stability control is not a bad feature to have. It is usually an option, except on the Sonata by Hyundai. Honda now has it on their v6 models, I take it. This is a good thing. I would take another test drive over a different road this time, just to be sure you got the right impression on the two cars. If you get the Aura don't let them add-on stuff like pin stripes to the bill. As for Accord, it is the last year for the current sedan style, so they may be will to take 10% off or more. Dang, they are tougher than Toyota, in my area, to deal with for price. But I hear now they are backing off retails more and more. If you have a trade-in, maybe they will offer a bit of a better deal on your car at Saturn, if you decide that both cars look good to ya. They have this fixed price thing, but I dealt with them before, and they called back a few days later with a better trade-in price. So they have some room to bargain. Also consider the dealership -- like the Saturn people and service center more than Honda?

Add it all up on a list, the good and the bad, but be sure to always figure in the fun and love it factor. All the data,opinions of pros, my opinions, or friends and family suggestions are meaningless if you get a car which is just not you.

Enjoy the ride! - Loren

1487

i wouldnt count on the Aura having a lot of first year problems since its the same mechanically as the G6 and Malibu. Essentially the Aura has been in production for years and its assembled at the same plant as the Malibu.

kurtamaxxxguy

There's quite a few differences between the Aura and current Malibu/G6.

The track record for the '04 Malibu had it going through quite a few changes(changes to door structure, transmission, BCM, etc.).
I'd expect to see a similar, if somewhat better, record for the Aura. It might be advisable to wait until spring '07 for Fairfax, KS and Saturn to work the few early kinks out.

One weak spot in the Malibu/G6 is the front suspension which has been clunky and rattly. I do not know if there have been changes made for the Aura. If not, expect to start seeing posts in a year or so.

vanman1

Aura power plants and base transmission are all well proven. The 6-speed is new but GM makes good transmissions, better than Honda for sure.

Not much to worry about, GM's new vehicle launches have gone pretty well as of late. I wouldn't hesitate to buy.

imidazol97

Nice review. Very well-written and neutral on the points.

Do you miss having a transmission shift with say a d4 or d5 setting?

Sounds like a great car. I'm going to get in and see if they let me take a test drive.

hatessuvs

I really don't miss having the gear selections on the console shift based on the fact that the tap shift levers are right there on the steering wheel spokes. The way it works is as follows: at any time you can drop the console shifter from "D" to "M" (which can be done at any speed), the driver info. readout housed within the speedometer (has stuff like trip odometer, oil life %, mileage until empty, outside temperature, etc.) changes to show you what gear you're in based on previously being in the "D" / fully automatic mode. At that point, it is up to you to begin up-shifting (if you choose) as your speed increases, or likewise downshifting if that's what you choose. While in "M", the transmission automatically donshifts to 1st when you come to a complete stop. I believe it will also downshift if your speed drops low (say 10 mph) so the drivetrain doesn't "lug" trying to produce power in an inappropriate higher gear. Like I stated in my first post, I haven't used it much thus far. Hope that answers your question!

aamixy

Yeah I am pretty sure what I tested was XE, twice. Accord I4 drives a little rough, but V6 is a little better. You said your idle is not steady. Is it an XR? I've read couple of same complaints from another forum. It seems the dealer can't fix it either.

m1miata

No it was the XE. One test run is not like owning the car, so it could have been a fluke. If I go to test the XR some day, I will also have them run the XE on the lot - or may drive it again. I hope to be trying out some more cars tomorrow. If I go to the city which sells Saturn, I will take another look. I did look at Honda and Hyundai today. Honda Accord, in my city, is ridiculously priced. I will test drive elsewhere. Price wise the Accord four cylinder is closer to the base XE, though the XR is close enough to the Accord V6 to be a good one to one comparison. Have to decide if $21k car or a $25K car is the price limit, or just blow more money a go for something else. Most people seem to be going XE in the Saturn line. The match to a four banger Accord seems fair in price and speed, as the XE while it being a six is but 4/10 second faster -thus in that respect equal. Now in smoothness a six should be better. I will drive or at least listen again.
They claim a 60* V6 should be pretty smooth. I'll give it another run.

I looked over the Accord interior, and while I still like the looks compared to most all other cars on the road, a closer look reveals a more cheaper plastic than I recalled seeing in the past. More parts which look like in time could rattle, and I did not like the material on the arm rest which in time would wear and discolor. So I am backing off on previous statements of Accord being one of my favorite. Let's call is good for now. As for the Aura, I would say good as well, with some things to like, such as gauges, and some that just ain't my preference like emergency foot brake. Plastics = some good and some so-so. In sum, the between the two, I would say good interior.
They always give good reviews on VW interiors, but reliability issues have me, as well as, many others scared to death to venture into even considering the car -- which is sad. I keep looking to CR and JD Power to see if things have changed with the VW line. For GM it looks like around 2002 things started to look much better for reliability in the CR book. I have driven the CTS (used one) and I did like it. Test drove the Aura and liked it, but would need to do another drive to know if I like enough to buy a brand new shinny one :shades:
I've got plenty of time.
-Loren

1487

The Aura isnt selling well at all. I suspect incentives will be forthcoming in the next few months. They only sold 4100 units in January. GM usually doesn't reveal projected sales for new models but I am sure this car isnt meeting their goals in spite of the good reviews. I think the ads are part of the problem since they dont tell you anything about the car.

m1miata

Didn't GM hire a new firm for advertising recently? I liked the kids driving the Corvette ad, though it was quickly taken off the air due to protests from a couple groups which thought it to be promoting underage driving. Silly, all so silly.

So you think there could be something like a grand off special, or zero financing deals coming?

I am still thinking that they could have gone with the 3.6 engine, and 6sp. tranny as a single model for all the cars, and split the difference on the pricing. The stability control could be an option. That is my opinion, and not bashing GM. They want a good knock-out punch during a rather nasty fight they have on their hands, they need some overwhelming ammunition. Soon, they will have the New Malibu out. They don't want Saturn to be lost in space.

The Mitsubishi Galant got excellent reviews when introduced. Actually sold pretty good for a short while before dropping off the map. The car market is brutal. The best of cars don't always sell as much as the mediocre. Maybe they do need more advertising for the Saturn product. There was this long stretch when they had few cars to choose from. There was the Ion and a Vue, and little more. It would have helped to have the Astra hatch on sale right now. Ad in the Aura and the Sky and people have more reason to look. Gotta get'em to look at the dealership.

Aura is in such a crowded market slot. The Camry is selling - no doubt. The Accords are likely being discounted before the new models arrive. Just tough times for other makes. Hyundai is in a slide too.
-Loren

62vetteefp

I am still thinking that they could have gone with the 3.6 engine, and 6sp. tranny as a single model for all the cars, and split the difference on the pricing.

Huhh? split the difference? The difference between what? The 3.6 costs xxx and you need to charge YYY to get a profit. Dropping the base engine does not save you money. Just the opposite. The loss in base vehicle sales will lower volume and boy does that kill the finance sheet.

m1miata

No, just the opposite, is what I was thinking. More sales of the new base priced car, which could be pretty darn close to current one, if you use stability control as an option - larger wheels as option and such. Especially those which finance won't see a grand to a grand and a half asking too much to get the added performance. If the car is not selling well, it is not going to get the Saturn name out on the road. Currently they do not appear to have any volume. If cost is a big consideration, and they want to go low end, there is the Ecotec Four. I thought the idea of the Aura vs. Malibu is that it was to be the more sports sedan/Euro/higher line than the Chevy .
If Hyundai builds a 235HP DOHC V6 in the USA and sells the Sonata for little money, why then can't GM?
-Loren

62vetteefp

More sales of a more expensive car? Not gonna happen.

Stability control is no longer an option. By 2009 every vehicle will have it standard.

Hyundai Kia do not have the $2000 of extra cost that GM has much less the low cost engineers and money and every thing else. I think every one in this country needs to worry about the Koreans and someday the Chinese. Even Toyota.

savetheland

Chevy will sell more than Saturn. Probably Saturn is low volume brand. Actually there are two problems with Aura - some cheap bits in interior in most visible places, no arm rest in back seat - it makes car perceived cheaper than it really is. Another one is – it is narrower than other cars in this segment (many complain there is not enough leg space for driver). Or may be people do not like pushrod V6 (heavier and also perceived as low tech).

But another reason may be that people do not consider American cars anymore or expect them to be sold at same price as Korean cars.

m1miata

Well then it is all over - game over. I test drove an Accord SE V6 and the engine and drive train are excellent. We are talking $24K before any negotiations on price. May drive the 3.6 V6 Aura, but I am sure they are $25K on up. Aura selling only 4,100 units in January doesn't sound too promising. BRING ON THE REBATES
-Loren

62vetteefp

Somehow Loren, I just knew what decision you would make in the end way before you started sounding like you were realy comparing vehicles.

m1miata

Hold on, still comparing, not over on test drives. Best car wins. The sky is not the limit on price though. So best car around the sub $25K is most likely what I can afford. Don't give up on selling your car line.
-Loren

aamixy

I guess I will settle with an Accord SE V6 too. Too bad I feel I have to leave the Aura.

I have been a fun of GM cars since I arrived in the States, but Impala and Lacrosse made me a little disappointed. Those are just not the types of cars I want. Malibu is very close but the electric-assisted driving wheels screws thing up. Anyway, good luck GM and Saturn. I'll see what's coming up in the next five years...

m1miata

Did you try the Aura XR,? It may be a closer match to the Honda engine. XR adds the stability control like on the Honda. It appears to be the better match up to V6 SE Accords. You may have to compare that model instead.

As for Impala and LaCrosse, they are what they are, freeway and town cars. They were not designed with curvy back road driving in mind as much as the Aura would be. Aura is tuned a little bit more towards a bit more sporty a ride. The LaCrosse top of the line has a bit more firmer ride to it. If you are thinking fresh looks - Aura is new, compared to the other two more familiar GM car. That said, just on looks, that LaCrosse looked fine to me. I think it looked traditional Buick with some style hints the press said looked Taurus like. I didn't think so, but it got panned a lot by the reports. I like simple flowing lines. Between the three you mentioned , I am only testing out Aura ( XR left to test ).
-Loren

62vetteefp

This is the first time you have posted here. Why do you feel you have to leave Aura?

aamixy

XR's idle issue from other reviewers scared me away, plus its price is beyond my budget.

Yeah, I just learned Lacrosse' CXS is more performance-oriented. I agreed: the look of Lacrosse is very atractive compared to previous models.

How's your test of XR? Are you going to test drive the Altima 3.5SE (attractive engine to me too)?

aamixy

I have posted couple of times here but on another topic. The reasons to leave Aura: less roomy interior, I feel the the driver's space is less than my little geo/prizm (hard to believe, right?); interior, especially the inner door handle at the driver side shows poor crafsmanship; potential reliability.

Like I said in another post, if the Olds Intrigue was still alive, I would just take it without any doubt...