Saturn Aura SLAMMED by our local news!

Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives

Here in Detroit we have this married couple (The Lienarts) who write about cars in the newspaper and today I read about their review of the new Aura. They start by telling us about a couple behind them thinking it looks like a Taurus

, are you freakin' kidding me! Then they went on to talk about the car "leaving them cold"

The subject of price came up and the Aura is more expensive, but what they forget to mention is the fact the Aura comes with a V6 standard and the its extra on the Camry/Accord!!! The gas mileage isn't much different with the V6 Aura compared to the 4 bangers either, nice job jackazz'

Then the clincher, they said the "Morroco" brown leather shouldn't be a $100.00 option and should be standard, what planet are they from, please tell me

I went with my mother in law last week and rode shotgun in the top of the line model, the XR and its got the 3.6L, DOHC VVT engine and 6 speed auto w/ paddle shift, something the writer didn't understand in a "family car", once again American don't get it so blame them for why we don't get the "cool cars" here in the states, UNBELIEVABLE

I'm no journalist and if theres someone here that is or is in school for it, please chime in on how people like this get their jobs because I truely don't get it and when we make something nice, it should be noted, not slammed!!!

BTW, I'M VERY PISSED ABOUT THIS ARTICLE

I've driven this car. Engine is great. Tranny isn't. Leather color is nice for a change of pace, but not that great of a grade. Door panels are hard. Turning circle is huge for this thing. But the ABS/TC/YSC are going to kick butt!

I have not driven one, but the price seems unexceptional. The Hyundai Sonata provides stiff competition in this class for a total family package.

I equipped one out, and with Saturn's non-negotiable pricing, $26,720 ends up being comparable to about $28,000 or more in many competitors. The paddle shifting does nothing for me. It's still no substitute for a manual transmission no matter how you slice it. A comparable Sonata Limited has an MSRP of $25,345 (which is negotiable). The Kia Optima would also be attractive if it offered the 3.3 litre V6.

Roger calm down. It's just a saturn family car. It doesn't really matter. You know most of those article writers don't really know much about cars anyways. They'd probably give a high vote to whichever one has a prettier color and a purse holder (like a contour

The fold out hook is something I miss.

Originally posted by Klasse Act:
Here in Detroit we have this married couple (The Lienarts)

IMO their stuff is pretty much a joke. They try to make observations that everyday people would make about the cars (as opposed to automotive experts), but usually they just come off as sounding like they don't know what they're talking about.

FWIW Paul Lienert is the brother of Automobile's Jean Jennings.

Oh yeah, that brown leather looks sweet. I'd be all over that for $100.

Honestly, I don't give a flying F what Paul and Anita Leinart think. Their "reviews" are horrible and IMO they're an embarassment to the entire automotive journalist community. The only thing Anita ever did in pursuit of a journalism career is marry Paul and his last name.

I have to admit thus far, with out driving the car, the Aura is a great entry into the market. Of course the Koreans are cheaper, but its finally nice a GM brand is bringing something competitive to the table! 26K loaded is not a bad price when you compare it to any Jap/Euro Mid-size sedan! Finally a worth while entry from Saturn into the mid-size sedan segment!

Well, I can't find the article, but I drove an Aura. I must say it's a giant leap forward for GM, but it is still not competitive.

The brown leather is repulsive! It looks like Naugahyde from the 1970's.

Aura fades against rivals

I think there's a major typo in the article. She says the Camry's styling is "arresting." I think she meant the designers should be "arrested."

Overall, though, while we disagree on several particulars, she and I end up with pretty much the same ending point. The dealer could tell I didn't like the car right when I returned it.

All of the other Epsilon cars are crapped on by the press, so this doesn't surprise me either.

I hope they do a Redline version of the car. Also in one of my recent car mags, they said the 3.6L DOHC VVT engine was only .2 seconds faster to 60 than the Fusion w/ the 3.0L V6, is this even possible

THe now "slower" 3.9L engine used in the GTP and SS Malibu is almost 1 second quicker to 60 than the 3.0 Fusion. The 3.6VVT now in the 07 GTP and Aura has almost 20 more hp and a much broader torque curve... those are even faster than my 3.9L... well, in stock form.

The Aura is also very heavy at over 3600 pounds, more than 300 over a Mercury Milan. That does a lot to remove the horsepower advantage.

The handling and the flimsy uncomfortable interior were the car's major shortcomings. Lacking features like all door unlock from the key cylinder, a rear seat armrest, in-trunk one touch folding rear seats (and the shallow useless trunk in general) also place this car as an also-ran in the family car class.

James, which did you drive? I am assuming the XR, correct?

Yes, I drove the XR pretty much loaded except moonroof. It stickered just under $26,000.

On the acceleration difference, I can't find a GTP test with an ATX for an apples-to-apples comparison. I do find the MTX GTP tests are only a couple tenths quicker than a Mazda6s MTX tests however. I would be inclined to believe the ATX comparisons are similar.

Hopefully all of its "shortcommings" are addressed and taken care of

Originally posted by Klasse Act:
Hopefully all of its "shortcommings" are addressed and taken care of

Everything except the trunk could be addressed in a major facelift. The shallow hard-to-use trunk would require a complete redesign.

Originally posted by ZoomZoom Diva:

Originally posted by Klasse Act:
Hopefully all of its "shortcommings" are addressed and taken care of

Everything except the trunk could be addressed in a major facelift. The shallow hard-to-use trunk would require a complete redesign.

I rented a G6 on our trip to DC. We managed to fit two large rolled suitcases and the smaller rolled carry on in the trunk. I thought the trunk was adequate.