Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
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Facts show that those buying the Prius are very will off ($100K household income average/very educated) and are the "hippies" of today. They want to feel like they are making a difference and want everyone else to know it.
There is also the hybridized version of this powertrain that I believe you're referencing.
Please respond to jfallon@edmunds.com before 4pm Eastern on Friday, August 3 with your daytime contact information and a few words about your experience.
I have just clocked 12000 miles on my XR and the gas mileage is starting to look good. I got over 29.5 MPG on a 350 leg of a 2300 mile trip a few weeks ago, so don't be to disappointed when the mileage you get at first isn't what you have read, it get's better after break in.
Enjoy :shades:
I was expecting something like the Civic, it's really quite ugly. Saturn Aura is so slick by comparison.
I looked at the order guides for both the new 2008 Malibu and 2007 Aura and not much differnce. The 'Bu LTZ has leather and a couple more bells and whistles that I didn't feel I needed (and will probably be priced like an Aura XR loaded at about $27 to 28K). The 'Bu 2LT didn't have 18" rims and some other extras that the Aura XR has so I'm diving in. This will be my first GM car (always been a Toyota, Honda, Mazda family) so I hope it goes well.
Accord V6 only has 5 speed automatic.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I totally agree on the Accord. Unless you want the four cylinder model there is no need to wait because you will be paying $30k with no incentives to get a comparable car. $5k is a lot of money and can buy a lot of gas.
On a side note, does anyone have the rubberized center armrest for the XR? It shows scuff marks very easily. Dealer said they'd replace it but I think I'm going to have to get it replaced over and over again. The car has less than 150 miles on it but lots of scuffs on the center armrest. Thanks for all the comments guys. They really pushed me to this car, even though I was holding out for the Malibu (just announced pricing of $26,995 on the LTZ which is in line for a top of the line XR at $27,319).
I mainly got it over Malibu due to it being more uncommon. The Malibu is likely to be a huge seller but I like it nearly as much, if not slightly more than Aura.
Boy, we sound like the same person. I couldn't agree more. I too like the Malibu look slightly more than the Aura but I don't think they'll deal on the Malibu initially, especially not giving a $2,500 incentive right off the bat. Maybe a year from now but I wanted a new car now, not next year. :shades:
As for your other comments. I never really used the map pockets in my other car so it doesn't bother me too much. Trunk opening doesn't bother me either. Ride is the best and the kids love the back seat radio controls and headsets.
arm rest does scuff easily....try putting some
armour all interior low shime on it OR pledge ..might
help....
Whats the problem people are having with the Trunk Opening???? I have not had any problem so far !! Just wondering ???
also..........car needs rear AC Vents BAD when Hot
also could use nicer interior door panels , other than that i love the car and highway drives like a charm
so far GREAT car !!!
gas mileage around town NOT too good, highway GREAT
The trunk opening size isnt the issue, its the fact that it opens about 1" when you hit the button. C&D noted this in their comparison test and GM shuld have fixed it. My parents car has gas struts and it still opens at least 3" or so when you pop open the trunk.
I think its a good thing that GM has more than one nice sedan out, its nice to know people actually have trouble deciding which one to get. I suspect Malibu LTZ will be rare but most people will think all Malibus are the same and thus you will have a fairly common car.
I'm going in with an open mind after being a long time Toyota and Honda lover myself, unlike Edmunds. I think the Aura went into this with 2 strikes against it already. 1 for being a GM car and the other for being a Saturn.
very true. Its good to note that people who have been driving imports are buying this car. I dont know how rare it is where you live but I typically see 3-4 Auras a week although most are XE models.
What color do you have?
What color do you have?
I'm in NJ and there are quite a few Saturn dealers around but suprisingly I only see about 1 or 2 per day (unlike Camry, Accord and Altima which is probably 20 to 25 of each just on a 10 minute drive to work in the morning). Probably split 60/40 between XE and XR here.
I have a berry red Aura. Sweet car and sweet color, in my opinion. I wrestled with berry red (closer to a maroon color I think) and midnight blue. How about you?
BTW, I plugged in my NAV (Garmin) and noticed it does not power off when the car goes off. Why is there constant power to the outlet? Is there anyway to change that?
I have techno gray even though I really wanted ocean mist. The XR model I test drove was Berry Red.
Be glad it opens 1". GM put out a bunch of vehicles with the gas struts (this is comes when you get the 4 bar hinges which are better than the big tube hinges that take up the trunk space) with very little pop up and you could not get your fingers in to open. What is wrong with 1" vs. 3"?
For the Camry SE, I liked the exterior (except the huge Toyota badge junking up the front grille). I also liked the interior, especially the center console. What kept me from buying the Camry in large part was the transmission--reported troubles of shift "flare" in Edmunds (I experienced this personally in my own Highlander). Also, I wanted an SE without the roof, but with at least a few other options. This is next to impossible to find.
Now to the Aura. I love the exterior design, and the interior as well. The car is VERY solid, and it handles and brakes well. The few passengers I've taken in it are all surprised that it is an American car. I would make the Aura's windows maybe an inch taller for better vision (although all cars seem to be getting less glass area). I also would add a rear armrest and grab handles over the doors. The Aura is my first American vehicle in 20 years, so I am hopeful that my experience with it over the long haul is good. If not, I will again buy Japanese the next time around. My final thought is that the Aura is light-years ahead of most of the General's previous mid-size sedan efforts. The fact that I, a confirmed import buyer, looked at it in the first place says a lot about the car itself.
No navigation because it is so expensive and they doubt many will buy. Go check out a Toyota store and see how many Camrys have the dash system. Two years ago you never saw them. A dealer said they do not stock because no one wanted it because of the price. Now that may have changed but from what I see the price has not come down much and few want to spend $1500 for nav on a $25k car. I will say though that we have an Acadia and the Nav is wonderful. Of course $1500 on a $45k vehicle is a bit different than on a $25k vehicle. I would bet though that nav will show up on the Eps II vehicles.
The newer Impala does have power recline. The issue is that it is very expensive to tool up new features in a vehicle that is carryover. You basically have to reengineer/retool parts for a short period of time (~ 2years) In other words GM would rather spend money on the all new vehicle than to reengineer/tool systems in carryover. They have to balance the cost / investment. I would rather have them spend the money on the new vehicle than go back and try and update all the areas that are now out of date on a vehicle that will be replaced in 2 years.
I'm glad you have it a try and hopefully you will have a positive experience. Believe it or not the Aura is hardly the first on only solid midsize american car. In spite of the fact that it didnt get stellar reviews (mostly due to electric steering) the G6 is just as solid in terms of handling as the Aura. Even the current Malibu was a solid car that was hampered by boxy styling and a reputation as a rental. The Aura is actually more of a mild evolution of the Malibu and G6 with more European themed styling. The hardware underneath and the solidity of the platform is largely the same.
On my vehicle I received the GM family discount and the rebates, which is why it was such a sweet deal. Also, remember that Saturn does not negotiate off of MSRP but there is always room to negotiate. See if they'll throw in other things you might want, see if they'll give you more for your trade, etc. It is crazy to pay MSRP for a car, which is probably why that extra $1,000 is out there as the "conquest" rebate. That $1K brings the price of the car closer to invoice price and the $1.5K brings it below invoice.
Hope that helps. I'm sure there are others who could probably add if I've left anything out.
My 2nd keyfob doesnt work- apparently its not programmed. Pretty annoying.