After the BMW got smashed, I nagged the other driver's insurance to set me up with a decent rental car. They finally took our statements, accepted liability, and authorized me to pick something up at Enterprise.

I could have insisted on a luxury vehicle to more appropriately replace the BMW, but I wanted better fuel economy for the road trip I have coming up this weekend. The Malibu was originally offered but when I called for pickup in the morning it was unavailable, so I was given the choice of an Impala, Mazda 6, and Aura.

I already knew about the Mazda 6 from a previous experience with Hertz, and I -loved- it. However, I wanted to try something new. Everyone knows what the Impala is, and while it would have been a more practical choice for long-distance travel (spacious interior, 30mpg, cushy seats), I was planning on touring some scenic byways and needed some handling ability.

As a German-market Opel with a good reputation for ride and handling, I picked the Aura.

The Enterprise counter was at a Chevy dealer, also owned by Enterprise, where I enjoyed free coffee, doughnuts, and bottled water while I waited for them to change the oil and rotate the tires.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7724-1/SSPX0446.jpg
A Z06 in the showroom teased.

Anyway, I was in a hurry to get to work so there wasn't enough time to wash it and clean the interior. Oh well. I was going to return it covered in bugs and full of trash anyway.

Feature/content list:
Power and heated driver seat
XM and Onstar
6-speed auto, 3.6L 250hp FWD V6
Rear audio controls and headphone jacks
CD changer with aux input
Remote start/keyless entry

Thats about it for features. The rest is pretty basic for a modern car, like cloth seats, cruise, and power windows. No sunroof. The whole package weighs about 3500lbs, which is fine for a modern car but still a bit heavy.

First impression? Laid down the hammer and... WOOSH! The 3.6 VVT is SMOOTH. It doesnt have a growl the way the Nissan VQ does, or the spooky smoothness of BMW's I6.

I let a friend drive and he said the throttle tip-in was a little off, with an extra punch of the pedal required to get it moving, and Edmunds noted the same. I didn't notice this at all, but I tend to be more aggressive with takeoffs.

With just a 225lb driver (seriously, I lost some weight lol) and a 7lb briefcase weighing it down, I was able to get the tires screeching off the line all the way to second gear. Still plenty of wheel spin off the line with two extra passengers, one weighing 350lbs. This behavior reminds me of my FWD Cadillac Seville 4.9 OHV, with an electric-like monster surge of torque at low rpms. GM designed a modern DOHC V6 that, like Nissan’s VQ, behaves like a small American V8.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7694-7/DCP_3025.JPG
It looks pretty sharp, with leaf/teardrop-shaped headlamps and taillights.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7697-2/DCP_3026.JPG
The rear is nice too, straddling the line between an Altima (exciting) and an Impala (dull), while a dome-shaped roof gives it a clean and modern look. Nothing original here, but still pretty nice to look at. MUCH more attractive than the Camry and Accord, and shockingly pretty for a sedan from Saturn. No, the body is not made of plastic.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7700-5/DCP_3027.JPG
The tall rear opening and massive depth (14.9 cu ft) make it easy to store luggage. The cargo nets are too small, however, so the back seat is better for grocery bags and such.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7703-5/DCP_3028.JPG
Back seat space is plentiful. There’s audio controls but no rear arm rest, which seems odd.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7706-2/DCP_3029.JPG
The throttle pedal is too far to the right, and the center console encroaches too much on right leg room. One of these two things needs to be adjusted for better comfort.

Notice the stupid paddle shifters on top of the steering wheel – I despise them. When cruising, I like to place my hands on top of the steering wheel spokes at 9 and 3, and the paddles intrude on space.

Using the manumatic is effective but shifts are jerky. In Drive, the six speed automatic is quick to respond and smooth. It always feels like its in the right gear and kicks down when I ask.
Note to GM: GET RID OF THE STUPID PADDLES.

The steering wheel is huge to me, but apparently I’ve been driving a sporty car for too long – even the Navigator had a small steering wheel. The one in the Aura is no larger than the wheel in any other midsize sedan. The leather feels very nice and is wearing well so far at 18,000 miles.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7709-5/DCP_3030.JPG
This is the biggest weak spot. First of all, when you look at the entire dashboard, the silver plastic trim on the door is a half in lower than the silver plastic trim on the dash. Why doesn’t it match?
Second, some of the plastic pieces don’t fit in perfectly, like the arm rest piece that encapsulates the window controls, and the two pieces that meet in front of the door handle, below the silver trim.
Some of the lower dash plastics have bit of casting flash, which feel cheap. The upper dash is high quality.
Still, I prefer this over the poorly installed ugly teal buttons in the Camry. The Altima and Accord are still nicer inside.
I think GM fixed this on the Malibu, which shares its architecture with the Aura but comes with a much nicer interior.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7712-2/DCP_3031.JPG
Nice gauges! When you insert the key they dim on with an easy, gentle glow, and dim away when the key is removed. GM’s standard info center is located below the speedometer showing gear info, trip, fuel economy, errors, and cruise status.
You can see here, up close, why I despise the flappy paddle shifters.
Volume, seek, mute, and cruise functions are on the steering wheel, and the ignition is up on the dash instead of in the column.

I'd rock one, and I hate the Saturn brand!

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7715-2/DCP_3032.JPG
Standard GM radio with a double-din opening. Mids and highs are there but nothing special. Bass is booming and deep – something I didn’t expect from a cheap factory radio with paper cone speakers. Bass and treble are a pain to adjust, something I do often with certain songs or when switching from AM/FM to XM/iPod/aux or CD. You push the tone button, push the tone you want to change, and turn the knob. It would be better if there was a more direct way to get to bass and treble. Small gripe.
And of course there’s automatic climate controls which work beautifully.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7718-1/DCP_3033.JPG
Nothing special here. The cupholder has a sliding cover and there’s a storage bin in the center.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7721-1/DCP_3034.JPG
Cadillac power in a Saturn. Very nice.


My ratings:
Audio: 3/5 – Works well, but could use more clarity. Nice integration of XM and steering wheel controls.

Steering: 4/5 – Sufficient if not plentiful road surface feel, quick, accurate, and beautifully stitched with high quality leather. Just wish the wheel itself was smaller.

Handling: 4/5 – I soared around ramps this morning at 70mph, and thoroughly enjoyed it. There’s some body roll but nothing unmanageable or uncomfortable, and some of it may be because of the high seating position. The mood of this car is relaxed cruising. The problem is that at 90-100mph it feels and sounds like 70, so I’m inclined to speed.
The transition from understeer to oversteer is a little too sudden, but you get a feel for when its about to happen.

Suspension: 4/5 – Firm, but VERY smooth at high speeds. Some ruts and imperfections are felt, so it’s smooth but avoids being numb and sloppy. The car’s overall intent, it seems, is high speed cruising, but if you feel like carving up a mountain road, it can do so without drama.

Interior: 3/5 – A good start but needs a few details looked at. Also, the thick b-pillar extends into the roof, making it hard for even average-height people to get in and out. The door needs to be taller. Love the seats! Adjustable lumbar for the driver and a commanding position that’s taller than other cars on the road so you can see ahead.
Again, this was all fixed in the Malibu.

Engine: 5/5 – WOOSH! 50hp short of what the CTS offers, due to a lack of direct injection. Its amazingly smooth and refined. GM is boosting production of the 3.6 VVT, a very wise decision as it has the ability to replace some V8s.

Transmission: 4/5 – 6 well-adjusted speeds allow for strong low-end acceleration and respectable mixed fuel economy (24mpg).

Overall: 4/5 – For a family car, it’s only a few minor details short of perfect. Slow sales and big incentives make the Aura a good buy, but the Malibu, Altima, and Accord (if you can stomach the styling) are the ones to have.
The Aura is so quiet and serene that you end up doing illegal speeds without realizing it, so use the cruise.
Around town, cars like the Mazda 6 are more fun because of greater steering feel and less weight.

Equivalents: Opel Vectra, Vauxhall Vectra, Holden Vectra, Chevrolet Vectra

Fun fact: Jeremy Clarkson hates it.
Fact #2: Among 10 best sellers in the UK, #2 selling car.

Saturn is really starting to look better. I had a 2008 Vue loaner once and was pretty impressed with it for being a completely base model.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/IMG_8237w.jpg

Girl I work with has one and they liked it so much her husband bought one too.


I really like the Outlook/Acadia too, much better looking than the Trailblazer IMO.

Acadia's cousin is the big Outlook. Vue is related to the Opel Antara and some Vauxhall.

The wife has been seriously eying up the Aura... more specifically, a red XR with the "Moroccan Brown" leather seats. I thought they were sharp when they first came out and my impression has since yet to change.

I wonder how it stacks up to the big boy feeling of the Enterprise 300 Touring I often get, which also has a 3.5L V6 and zooms along quite nicely. Unfortunately the 300 has a diplorable interior in the base model. I can literally peel off interior panels by hand. It also doesn't have auto climate controls.

They seem to be a nice car. I like the steering wheel which seems to be what all GM cars get now. I heard a radio ad for it, they where talking about the gas mileage and said that the car has "neutral idle" to save even more gas at stop lights and stuff, you put it in neutral... Not sure what it does, maybe lower the rpm?

I believe only the XR has the paddle shifter.

I test drove an Aura XR like you have and I loved how quick it was.

I believe only the XR has the paddle shifter.

I test drove an Aura XR like you have and I loved how quick it was.

Correct, for this year, with the 3.6L. For 2009 and beyond, with the current 3.5L OHV engine dropped, ALL Aura's XE and XR will have the 6-speed and paddle shifters, either with the 2.4L or the 3.6L.

I've driven them all, the last of which being the 2.4L 6-speed in a new Malibu. And, given what I'm currently shopping, I also had a fun afternoon in a 3.6L/6-speed G6 GXP...and WOOSH is exactly right. Just a screamer and an eerily smooth and creamy one, and the 6-speed does work very well with it in these cars.

The issue is the Aura suffers from an interior that just is not what should have been, and really is cast aside now that the Malibu is out and with a much better one--the version 2 car, in a sense, with the same guts but without having been cheaped. Otherwise, drive, sound, etc. nearly identically.

The Malibu is like a 100% car. The Aura is like an 83% car.

6/26/08

I decided to keep a log about my rental experience, for the handful of people who are bored enough to care, so here goes:

I took a friend of mine for a drive last night. She noted that the car "doesn't seem like you at all. It seems like what an old lady would drive around in." A lot of that was because its white.

Of course, after seeing me in expensive "looking" cars, a fancy Saturn comes across as frugal and dull to her. Its nice to be under the radar for a change instead of exposed and showing off.

I couldn't find a place for my ClipXT portable XM antenna, so I taped it to the dash. It functions.

I visited Saturnfans.com last night. The site was once populated by soulless dullards who were proud of their plastic appliances, and I used to make fun of them for being granola munchers who couldn't afford Volvos. Things change.

The Aura kinda makes me think Aurora... I dunno, Saturn used to be this cheap plastic car company, but I get the feeling GM is making Saturn the Volvo-eating Oldsmobile replacement. I like the Aura, especially with the red leather, but I fell in love with the Outlook. Neither model seems like Saturn... Its like a Cadillac designer went over and helped them out a bit.

It's got the same motor as the CTS. I would drive one let me know what you think of it.

I duuno why everyone hates the first and second generation Saturns.... I like them alot... they were not supposed to be luxury, they were made to battle the Civic/Corolla/Sentra of the 80's and early 90's. I always thought they looked neat, and they had neat features like a spin-on style transmission filter (similar to normal oil filter) so you didn't have to drop the pan to replace it etc.... I dunno why everyone makes fun of the "plastic body" it's just the skin... space frame design... not like it makes the car any more, or less stronger then having metal body panels... but no door dings or dents sure is nice.

I'll agree, seems like GM is moving Saturn to sorta fill in for Olds.... personally I'm very fond of Olds... sad to see them go....

I can see it now the Saturn Cutlass. :)

When I was 20 and my insurance man said a Saturn was about all I could get I had a 1994 SC1 because I didnt like the pop-up headlights on the SC2. I lived in New Orleans at the time and my buddies (broke ass E-3's like me) and I had a blast in that car. It had the coldest AC I have ever owned, VERY important in NOLA. It had enough pep with the 5 speed to at least be fun in town and with the sawtooth rims it didnt look half bad. As far as the plastic body panels I have to say I became a fan the night a doe jumped into the passenger side door and didnt leave a mark.

The dealerships were also the best I have ever dealt with during purchase, delivery and service.

I like the decked out Auras and the Outlook and both will be in the running when I next decide to get a new daily driver.

To me, Saturns, atleast the early ones, seemed like the American car company for customers that didn't know about cars or just didn't care about 'em. Much like Toyota. Now they're getting better, and grabbing the minds and eyes of enthusiasts all around.

[img]Jeremy Clarkson hates it.
.
But he hates 90% of the cars he drives any ways. :rolleyes:

To me, Saturns, atleast the early ones, seemed like the American car company for customers that didn't know about cars or just didn't care about 'em. Much like Toyota. Now they're getting better, and grabbing the minds and eyes of enthusiasts all around.

Yet sales are down 20%. I suppose most of that has to do with offering higher-end cars in a downward market. The ugly Ion increased in sales as gas prices rose.

The Malibu is like a 100% car. The Aura is like an 83% car.

YES...they've made a lot of random rolling changes (you could have different stuff depending on what month it's from) as far as door panels, trunk trimming, wipers, etc., etc. on the Saturn.

The Malibu comes off as "learned from that" and is just like it is, without such complaints. Not perfect, but better in several ways, most notably the interior.

Well, that, and the Aura could actually be doing more well but marketing went to zilch and then when the first news of the Malibu and then the reviews were out, it far overshadowed the Saturn and took off. Yet each was also the North American Car of the Year, back to back, so that shows the similarities. Similarities that only go so far as most who drive the Saturn don't like and/or won't touch the Chevy, and vice verse.

The Aura is a good looking car, no doubt. It looks better in black or dark grey with the moracco brown leather interior. However, I see a hint of G6 in that interior. Some of the plastics look very second rate, as they do in the G6. I applaud Chevy and Saturn for using the Cadillac 3.6 V6. Amazing engine with plenty of power for any driver, and is a real delight in DI form.

I haven't seen a Malibu up close, but I everytime I see one the more I love them. The design is such a relief from the Camry and Accord. If I were buying a midsize car today, I'd probably end up with an Accord. Didn't like the interior at first, but I sat in one the other day and quickly warmed up. Malibu would be a close second, Camry third, and maybe a Sonata or something.

Idk though, the new Mazda6 looks enticing... and I adored the '03-'08 version.

The '09 Mazda 6 looks awesome.

http://images.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/images/vehicles/upcoming/mz6/veh_upcoming_MZ6_1.jpg

The '09 Mazda 6 looks awesome.

http://images.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/images/vehicles/upcoming/mz6/veh_upcoming_MZ6_1.jpg

I don't know about awesome but it does look pretty sweet. I would drive one.:stirpot:

After taking detours in California's redwood forest, Pacific Ocean beaches, Portland, and the Utah Bonneville Salt Flats, we finally made it to Spokane. This car is impressive, soaring down the interstate like its hovering and carving around corners like a much smaller car.

Negatives:
Pillars are still too big!
Steering and suspension are making noises, caused by the salt.
Brakes are toast after days of mountain driving, which is understandable.
Paddle shifters are useful in the the mountains for engine braking, but annoying due to layout.
115mph speed limiter.

Praise:
Smooth and solid at 115mph.
24mpg in abusive driving.
Doesn't feel like it was made from a GM parts bin.
The sound system, with CDs and MP3 players, is outstanding. My criticism before had to do with XM.
The back seat is an amazingly comfortable place to sleep, with a reasonably flat seating surface to lay on and a wide enough cabin to doze off in.

Pics and videos from the salt flats coming soon.

Bonneville salt flats....in a Saturn??? :bonkers:

What's the news on the 3 Series replacement situation?

How does it compare to the Mazda6?

I don't think the Aura comes with manual trans :(

Mazda 6 is more fun and sportier in almost every way, except acceleration. The 6 has sharper and more accurate steering, sharper styling, less weight, and more controlled handling, but the Mazda's V6 is less fuel efficient and less powerful. The 6 is also smaller, less comfortable, and much noisier. I guess its a matter of preference between the two.

Mazda 6 is more fun for single guys, Aura is far superior for families.

The 325 is still in the body shop. Repair estimates have now exceeded 10k, and they haven't even put it on the frame rack yet or checked the mechanical condition. Surely the bill will go up, and I am 50% sure that the car will be totaled. The guy with the 1992 Seville is still holding it for me.

Update:

10,000 miles and 10 weeks later, I finally gave back the Aura. The tags expired (I got pulled over) and the rotors were warped after days of climbing and descending mountains.

This very thoroughly driven car has been to:
Utah Bonneville Salt Flats
Redwood National Forest
Portland
Great Salt Lake
Pacific Ocean
Denver
Reno
Idaho, Montana, Wyoming
South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas

The GM factory radio reproduces beautiful sound. The issue before was apparently my XM tuner. With my iRiver and especially with CDs its AMAZING. Highs feel a little forced, but mids are clean, well staged, well separated, and bass is as deep as canyon. I think I blew a couple speakers though. 4/5

Driving this to work was the highlight of my morning. I plugged in my MP3 player, mashed the throttle, and flew. I often found myself arriving early because it was so easy to cruise at 85-90mph.

The shift paddles were quickly forgotten. Without mountains to climb and descend, they're useless. Otherwise, aside from the previously mentioned interior details, I have nothing to complain about, and so much praise.

I honestly miss this car -- feels weird to say that about a Saturn. Its hard to believe that the same General Motors that gave us 25 years of Cavalier can create a mainstream everyday car that drives so nicely.

Mileage when acquired: 18700
Mileage when turned in: 28900

Update:

Mileage when acquired: 18700
Mileage when turned in: 28900

Depreciation: 42%

Neener.

Ah, the Vauxhall Vectra...

Those V6 models really haul arse.

It is a good seller in the UK, but that's to companies for fleet use, to supply as company cars to sales reps.
It's always been the poor cousin to the Ford Mondeo from the drivers point of view.

jesda pic threads ftw

Urbanski's new avatar (stolen from me) FTW.

GIVE ME MY ANNA BACK! :crying: :crying:

I honestly miss this car -- feels weird to say that about a Saturn. Its hard to believe that the same General Motors that gave us 25 years of Cavalier can create a mainstream everyday car that drives so nicely.


Bwahahahaha!