09-08-2006, 01:54 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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News Contributor
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Kirkland, WA
Drives: 2004 Cadillac CTS
1991 Chevrolet S-10 Baja Editio
Posts: 4,034
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An American-built Opel that looks like a Japanese copy of a German car.
This is a positive yet hilarious review!
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=2191
- the Aura’s Audi-esque flowing C-pillar and side marker lights add a distinctly Teutonic touch; pronouncing the car’s German heritage louder than a computer generated Kraftwerk concert
- A tall posterior rounds out the Aura’s rear, offering an ideal blend of Pontiac understatement and Altezza attitude
- Topping the package are the most elegant logos adorning a modern vehicle
- The Aura's substantial door handles feel even better than they look
- The dash's center stack houses the most artistic frame for GM's corporate stereo to date
- But the positives pale in comparison to the tri-spoke perfection facing the driver: soft leather, intuitive buttonage, entertaining paddle shifters and yet another elegant interpretation of the Saturn logo
- The Aura’s seats make a genuine effort at honest-to-God lateral support. Firm steering rewards in fast sweepers but doesn't punish in parking lots. A solid chassis with Tourismo-grade suspension dampening impresses on winding country roads and high speed cruising. Disc brakes bite hard but go down with smooth, linear travel. Even with 18-inch rims afoot, the Aura XR's ride is smooth and comfortable: there's no thumping or crashing on potholed roads.
- Saturn's multiple downshifts awe like a Vegas magic show, dumping reserves of torque faster than a one-arm bandit unloading a jackpot of quarters.
- Unlike recent GM offerings, the Saturn Aura isn't an improvement over its hapless predecessor; it’s a competitive product
- the Aura's driving dynamics outweigh its **************** list
- Like always? I don’t think so. Like never before? Definitely. Enough to rescue the Saturn brand? Like, maybe.
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