Drove the Astra, Aura, Vue and the competition.

[TriShield]

Not good news for GM I'm afraid. I'll try to keep it brief.

The Astra - I went to the test drive event here in Scottsdale. They had a Rabbit, Civic, and Mazda 3 on hand to drive along with it. The Astra is Saturn's best new car, period. It has a competitive interior, driving dynamics and overall package. The door and hatches thunk with a semblance of quality. Even the welds in the jams are nicely finished, the goodness is in the details. It made the two Japanese cars seem cheap, floppy and flimsy. It did not however, compare as favorably to the Rabbit. It's close, but not as substantial or as sharp to drive as the Rabbit. The Astra's clutch and shifter are among the limpest I've ever felt.

The Aura - Jesus this car is terrible. Probably one of the worst new cars I've driven this year. I drove it after sampling new Jettas and Passats at a nearby VW dealership and there's simply no comparison whatsoever. For a brand that wants to be as good as the Europeans it's products like the Aura fail it miserably, and I understand a little better why market reaction is lukewarm. Every detail on the Aura is obnoxiously cheap inside and out. It is also unrefined to drive. Lifeless steering, squishy suspension, slightly noodly structure, dimwitted transmission programming. The seats were amazingly uncomfortable, did any real humans bother to sit in them for more than 5 minutes? I can't help but think if Saturn imported the real Vectra they would be slightly better off. It is really a 3rd-world quality effort in this segment.

The Vue - A bit better than the Aura, perhaps because of the Opel or Korean finessing of the structure. It feels a bit more solid, but also very heavy. Performance is adequate but feels stunted by the transmission (again). Slow, sloppy shifts in both modes. Like the Aura the doors, controls and o verall feeling of the vehicle falls well short of the substance of the VWs I drove. The doors make a hollow FWAP! when closed instead of a nice, solid thunk like the VWs or my GTO. It is a decent effort in it's class.

If the styling brings the foreign intenders in it will be the overt cheapness that makes them run right back out. Unless of course they'd rather save a few grand.

I approach cars with the belief that they are expensive period and whatever you buy it should always feel like a substantial and high-quality product. The Aura isn't, the Astra is, and the Vue could be.

[rueben44]

Sorry dude but I passed on the Jetta and the Passat because of road noise in the Jetta and the Passat for build quality issues and sloppy rear end handling.
I really wanted to buy the Jetta but it was way over priced and loud on the road. It was the GLi model but still. I have driven the Saturn Aura and it drives very close to a German car and is not trash at all. It seems too simple to me and has no gadgets so I passed on it for that reason. You know no navigation or anything like that. But trash it is not or out classed that greatly by some of its competitors. Plus the Passat while starting cheaper runs way up in the 30's dude.

The new Vue is a great product and is nothing like you stated to me. Sorry I respect your comments but I really don’t agree with them. Now the Aura does have a few cheap bits that wiggle and so forth so yes it does have some refining to do in that respect but not in the driving dynamics.

[CobaltSScrazy]

what are you smoking?

CobaltSScrazy

[BusyBody]

Yeah, the Aura is complete trash..... GMAB.

[coaster.n3rd]

Originally Posted by TriShield

The Aura - Jesus this car is terrible. Probably one of the worst new cars I've driven this year. I drove it after sampling new Jettas and Passats at a nearby VW dealership and there's simply no comparison whatsoever. For a brand that wants to be as good as the Europeans it's products like the Aura fail it miserably, and I understand a little better why market reaction is lukewarm. Every detail on the Aura is obnoxiously cheap inside and out. It is also unrefined to drive. Lifeless steering, squishy suspension, slightly noodly structure, dimwitted transmission programming. The seats were amazingly uncomfortable, did any real humans bother to sit in them for more than 5 minutes? I can't help but think if Saturn imported the real Vectra they would be slightly better off. It is really a 3rd-world quality effort in this segment.

The Vue - A bit better than the Aura, perhaps because of the Opel or Korean finessing of the structure. It feels a bit more solid, but also very heavy. Performance is adequate but feels stunted by the transmission (again). Slow, sloppy shifts in both modes. Like the Aura the doors, controls and o verall feeling of the vehicle falls well short of the substance of the VWs I drove. The doors make a hollow FWAP! when closed instead of a nice, solid thunk like the VWs or my GTO. It is a decent effort in it's class.

You might the first person EVER to complain about the driving dynamics of either the Aura or Vue. Usually the cheap details kill those cars and not the driving dynamics. GM transmissions are some of the best in their class. They also learn so it may seem like they are hunting. Spend some time with one and not just the Ride & Drive 10 minutes.

People trade in V-Dubs all the time for Saturns and I think we are going to see more for the Astra.

[chakis24]

Originally Posted by coaster.n3rd

You might the first person EVER to complain about the driving dynamics of either the Aura or Vue. Usually the cheap details kill those cars and not the driving dynamics. GM transmissions are some of the best in their class. They also learn so it may seem like they are hunting. Spend some time with one and not just the Ride & Drive 10 minutes.

People trade in V-Dubs all the time for Saturns and I think we are going to see more for the Astra.

their good enough for bmw.....

[Bornfromparents]

well gee, I driven them but Astra and don't share your opinion. The Aura has a few nit picks and the Vue is down right the best in class except for fuel econ.
Why did you post this anyway.

[Buick61]

Originally Posted by coaster.n3rd

Spend some time with one and not just the Ride & Drive 10 minutes.

Do most people drive a car more than 10 minutes before buying? I'd say, no. You'd probably know better, but from all of my new car purchases, 10 minutes is about all it takes to make a decision.

Though, I did test drive an Aura XR and it seemed nice enough. It was like the G6 GTP I used to own, but with a little more engineering time and effort invested into it.

[TriShield]

Originally Posted by Buick61

Do most people drive a car more than 10 minutes before buying? I'd say, no. You'd probably know better, but from all of my new car purchases, 10 minutes is about all it takes to make a decision.

Though, I did test drive an Aura XR and it seemed nice enough. It was like the G6 GTP I used to own, but with a little more engineering time and effort invested into it.

I got 20 minutes with each car, and numerous drives in the Astra. More than enough to form an impression.

Pretty much everything I didn't like about the G6 is still in the Aura, sans the completely grey interior.

The car is typical American GM in that it really lacks the substance makes cars like the Accord and the Germans so desirable. Anyone that thinks the Aura even compares in that regard is kidding themselves. Even the Mercury Milan manages to look richer on the outside (detailed rear lights, projector lenses) and I can't say the Aura beats it inside either. The Chinese and Koreans can make a car that has low road noise, that's not rocket science nor is it something to brag about. But apparently, at least for GM, getting steering feel, door heft, suspension damping, picking out leather that doesn't feel like a banana peel, properly shaping seats, and tactile control feel is.

There's a reason much of GM's new stuff typically comes in middle to last in every comparo from C&D to Consumer Reports and is a laughing stock overseas. The devil is in the details, and they are certainly lacking in the Aura. There's been threads here with people wondering why it isn't lighting the automotive world on fire.

Well, if you bother to drive it back to back with the competition you'll know why.

[Bvonscott]

Wow way off. You remember the Aura got North American Car of the Year right? They give that away to half ass cars. Nope.

Astra is best in class, Vue is best in class, Aura is almost best in class, the next one WILL BE.

GM transmissions are geared for fuel economy, the 4 speeds shift different now than how they did 10 years ago. A programmer would help make them shift quicker and harder. The 6speeds however are perfect.

[TriShield]

Originally Posted by Bvonscott

Wow way off. You remember the Aura got North American Car of the Year right? They give that away to half ass cars. Nope.

Means exactly squat and apparently they do give it to half-ass cars, or whomever pays them enough. Maybe they should drive the car in the real world next time instead of voting for it at an autoshow.

For being the car of the year it certainly isn't setting the industry on it's ear, nor is it selling like hotcakes.

[zete]

Having driven one inlaw's new Aura and the other inlaw's new Camry I can state the Aura drives nicer. In fact, the Aura reminds me a lot of my friend's Accord in terms of driving dynamics. I really liked it. As to the Jetta and Passat, I dislike both, though more due to crappy quality. I have one, lone VW diehard friend left. The rest have all bailed on VW and moved onto a domestic or Japanese brand. That said, the driving dynamics between a Jetta and an Aura aren't that different with the Aura being quieter and more pliant which is a blessing considering road maintenance of late.

But everyone's mileage varies.

[BusyBody]

Originally Posted by TriShield

The car is typical American GM in that it really lacks the substance makes cars like the Accord and the Germans so desirable. like a banana peel, properly shaping seats, and tactile control feel is.

I think statement alone nullifies your opinions with regard to automobiles.

[FoMoCo Fan]

I'm driving an Aura XE with the 3500 as a rental right now since my Mustang was in an accident. I'm impressed with the Aura. Sure some of the interior parts are sub-par (door panels, console, etc). But the fit and finish is excellent, the handling is very good, I'm even pleasntly surprised with the 3500. I'm really looking forward to checking out the new Malibu now.

[CobaltSScrazy]

idk why he hates on american cars soooo much, its almost like genjy complimenting an import vehicle as plane pointed out last night LMAO! You can guarantee it just as much as the sun goes up!

maybe his GTO laid an egg on him or something. Aura is right there with camry, accord, altima as well as fusion sonata and sebring. There are no apologies for buying it, there are many details it has (led taillamps, morrrocan leather option, HFV6, 6speed auto (only a 5speed in accord unless someone selectively forgot ) and some it doesn't (rear armrest/cupholders/navi). AURA is a great vehicle as is VUE and ASTRA...if anything I would like some better mpg in the first two, and more european options in the last one.

btw- GM MAKES MONEY ON (almost if not) EVERY AUTOMOBILE SOLD IN EVERY MARKET OUTSIDE OF N.A. I KNOW FOR A FACT THEY MAKE MONEY IN EVERY MARKET SANS N.A. CONSISTANTLY TOO. so go shove that up your tailpipe and when you get your head out of tokoyo's collective arse, come up with some objective thoughts comments and opinions, and stop wasting my time. Funny how you left SKY/SKY RL out of the discussion too

GM isn't perfect and neither is saturn, they have things to work on. So does Toyoduh, so does Honduh, and so does BMW and Mercedes Benz. build a bridge and get over it...

CObaltSScrazy