Not hardly. I just test drove the Aura XR, the one that costs $4,000
more and has more standard equipment than the base Aura XE, the other
day; I don't think I've ever encountered a $26,000 car that absolutely
screams "CHEAP!" so loudly. I can think of at least two other mid-size
GM cars that are FAR better values (most equipment for lowest price)
than the Aura: the Pontiac G6 and the Chevy Malibu.
Hell, you can get FULL-size GM cars from other divisions for less than
an Aura XR: a Pontiac Grand Prix and a Chevy Impala.
Well, that's too bad. Edmunds had a good review of the car.
Due to its anonymous styling, middle-of-the-road performance and cut-rate
cabin, Saturn's L-Series, the company's previous midsize family car
entry, was never a favorite of ours. (And based on sales figures, nor
would it seem to have been a favorite of the general public.) But
Saturn's fortunes in the midsize sedan market are changing. For the 2007
model year, it's releasing its new Aura, and this one finally looks to be
a car that you'll want to take a look at.
As is the case with most General Motors products, the 2007 Saturn Aura's
mechanical underpinnings are similar to those used in other models. In the
Aura's case, it uses a stretched version of the "Epsilon" platform that's
also employed for the Pontiac G6 and Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The Aura is
front-wheel drive and features a MacPherson strut front suspension and a
four-link independent rear suspension design.
For the outside, Saturn chose to give the Aura a European look. The car's
chiseled physique draws inspiration from some Opel products (a
European-only GM division), while the cabin has an upscale ambiance never
before seen in a Saturn. Further differentiating the Aura from its other
GM relatives will be the availability of a hybrid powertrain later in the
model year. When it debuts, it will be GM's first hybrid passenger car
ever.
--
kai
www.perfectreign.com ||
www.4thedadz.com
remember - a turn signal is a statement, not a request
Thought for the day: There is more money being spent on breast
implants and Viagra today than on Alzheimer's research. This means
that by 2040, there should be a large elderly population with
perky boobs and huge erections and absolutely no recollection
of what to do with them.
