2008 Saturn Aura I-4. (now with pictures)

[WishIhadatruck]

Originally Posted by Vette Ninja

What exactly makes it a "system"? Is it more than just a set of hooks?

I believe what makes it a system is the set of hooks in the seat in combination with the buckles and latches on the child car seats that are designed to work together as a "system".

[LeeC]

Are you still happy with the I4 Aura? How is the gas mileage? I am very close to springing for one (coming from an Ion). I think I just need that last little push (LOL)...

-Lee

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by TheGeneral

0-60 in 8.8 seconds in a midsize with a 4 cylinder and automatic is really good.

Funny how times change. My dad had a 1980s Cadillac with a 130 horsepower V8. 0-60 time was closer to 10 seconds, and we were fine with it.

8.8 is disappointing in a sports car, but more than acceptable in a day driver. I had a 2007 Malibu 2.2 as a rental, and the acceleration was perfectly fine.

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

Preset XM59, the only channel you will ever need. All Led Zeppelin, all the time.

The boy has some taste!

[RoGuE]

Originally Posted by Michael_S

Funny how times change. My dad had a 1980s Cadillac with a 130 horsepower V8. 0-60 time was closer to 10 seconds, and we were fine with it.

8.8 is disappointing in a sports car, but more than acceptable in a day driver. I had a 2007 Malibu 2.2 as a rental, and the acceleration was perfectly fine.

Agreed. People nowadays expects car to be like rockets. Although seeing those massive trucks on the highway barreling towards you make you wish you had a Corvette engine sometimes.

But the acceleration is great on my 2.2l ecotec in my Malibu, in fact, better than the 3L V6 in my old Taurus, but that engine had plenty of torque in it for climbing hills from a stop. And it is so smooth and quiet at idle and cruising that you can barely hear or feel it running.

[autofan]

Originally Posted by coaster.n3rd

I thought long and hard about a tan interior, but that meant I would have to wait longer for a car and I would be cleaning it every day. No thanks.

I don't quite get that logic since in my experience, a light grey interior shows dirt far more than any beige interior I've had. Beige is at least in the same color family as dirt. And with the coarse, scratchy garbage fabric GM uses in cars like the Aura, Equinox, Cobalt, etc., it will get dirty quickly no matter what the color is.

Having said that, the exterior color you chose is great and I think even the base Aura looks like an upscale car. I even like the look of the base wheel covers because they do resemble aluminum wheels until you get close enough to see that they are not.

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by RoGuE

Agreed. People nowadays expects car to be like rockets. Although seeing those massive trucks on the highway barreling towards you make you wish you had a Corvette engine sometimes.

But the acceleration is great on my 2.2l ecotec in my Malibu, in fact, better than the 3L V6 in my old Taurus, but that engine had plenty of torque in it for climbing hills from a stop. And it is so smooth and quiet at idle and cruising that you can barely hear or feel it running.

The old Cadillac would get 19 miles per gallon if you babied it, although to be fair we were driving in a fairly hilly section of Pennsylvania. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of fuel economy is your Malibu delivering?

[Buick61]

Originally Posted by coaster.n3rd

You think that will work? I'm gonna pull the covers tomorrow and post pics.

Some of us are still waiting for the promised photographs.

[coaster.n3rd]

Wow... resurected a dead thread and I didn't even see it. I've been busy here at work.

Lets see if I can't answer some questions here.

[coaster.n3rd]

Originally Posted by LeeC

Are you still happy with the I4 Aura? How is the gas mileage? I am very close to springing for one (coming from an Ion). I think I just need that last little push (LOL)...

-Lee

Extremely happy. This car has been a dream, the audio is great, the car is still quiet and its comfortable without being boring. I am apporaching 2300 miles now and while the suspension has started to settle, it still mutes the bumps in the road like the day I bought it.

My gas mileage sucks. I'm averaging 20.1 compared to my old Cobalt at 23.5. Keep in mind my drive every day consists on 1.8 miles stop and go and the same on the way home. So I can't complain to much as this is pretty hard on the car. Other than that, HWY usually hovers around 31-33 at 75-80 mph.

My first long trip will be Friday May 9. I'll have a full report on Sunday may 11. I judge how well a car can do in gas mileage based on my 300 mile round trips to Cedar Point.

Originally Posted by autofan

I don't quite get that logic since in my experience, a light grey interior shows dirt far more than any beige interior I've had. Beige is at least in the same color family as dirt. And with the coarse, scratchy garbage fabric GM uses in cars like the Aura, Equinox, Cobalt, etc., it will get dirty quickly no matter what the color is.

Having said that, the exterior color you chose is great and I think even the base Aura looks like an upscale car. I even like the look of the base wheel covers because they do resemble aluminum wheels until you get close enough to see that they are not.

I had a grey interior in my old Cobalt. My girl has Tan in her Cobalt. After 2.5 years hers looks awful (and I clean it religiously) and mine looked brand new. Thats my experience. On top of that, when I see Tan interiors come in on lease turn ins, they alway look worse than Grey interiors. I would have opted for black if I had the choice. I should have had the choice.

Originally Posted by Buick61

Some of us are still waiting for the promised photographs.

Soon grasshopper.

[mbukukanyau]

I do not know about other GM 4 speeds but our HHR is not clunky either. its smooth... as silk and downshifts quickly.
We have the same powertrain as you (ecotec 2.4). Since our HHR (2006) has a stainless steel exhaust tip, (from factory) there is a certain laid back song you hear humming from back when you are up to about 70 mph... Boy gun it (at that speed) and it down shifts and takes off like a bat.. from a cave near hell.. (coverttes are the bats from hell)... A Scion driver is usually not ammused... when you leave em in the "dust" in a little domestic wagon..

[coaster.n3rd]

[RoGuE]

Originally Posted by Michael_S

The old Cadillac would get 19 miles per gallon if you babied it, although to be fair we were driving in a fairly hilly section of Pennsylvania. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of fuel economy is your Malibu delivering?

25.2 MPG at last fill up. 100% city (suburban) driving 6 mile trips that last 10 minutes long each way.

[member12]

I like the new car!

Originally Posted by Minnesota Nice

You know, this car doesn't get nearly enough respect. The interior is very, very nice. It may not be class leading, but it certainly is nice to look at. The door panels could use a little thought put into them, but that is not nearly the most important design element on the car.

At least the 17" wheels are an option. I think the base wheels, while not awful, are not that good looking on such a sophisticated car.

It's a great car. Compared to a 4 cylinder Accord, the only major drawback that I can find is the lack of a manual transmission option.

The interior is nice, but it could be a little better. I'd like to see 4cyl. manual combos available with all the options and packages.

[IAMCANADIAN]

Congrats on the Aura! I test drove an Aura XE V6 last year and liked it a lot, however I felt that it wasn't for me so I decided not to get it. Anyway, I'm sure you'll enjoy it and it sounds like you got a good deal on it.

[Buick61]

Originally Posted by coaster.n3rd

Nifty. Paint it gloss black, keep the shiny bolts, and you'll have a snazzy looking wheel package.