GM - led by Saturn - runs rings around the rest

[Chicago Skyline]

2007 SATURN SKY. Heavenly roadster serves notice Rip Van Winkle no longer runs General Motors' styling studios. "Aero fairings," or what look like headrests behind the seats, are a special styling touch. Meant for leisurely cruising while Red Line turbo version offers more aggressive jaunts. Sky starts about $23,000, Red Line about $29,000.

Full Article http://www.chicagotribune.com/classi...1742159.column

Bottom line...Aura, Sky and Outlook lead GM back.

[GreenDevil]

Originally Posted by Chicago Skyline

2007 SATURN SKY. Heavenly roadster serves notice Rip Van Winkle no longer runs General Motors' styling studios. "Aero fairings," or what look like headrests behind the seats, are a special styling touch. Meant for leisurely cruising while Red Line turbo version offers more aggressive jaunts. Sky starts about $23,000, Red Line about $29,000.

Full Article http://www.chicagotribune.com/classi...1742159.column

Bottom line...Aura, Sky and Outlook lead GM back.

Yup, the Aura is a beautiful car. I thought about getting one of those, but opted for the Sky.

[kphelgerson]

Yes, the Aura is one pretty car. But this year the Sky, next year or the year after we consider replacing the Buick Regal 2001 with an Aura. Except the Regal is Supercharged, and I fear the Aura will be a lot slower.
Regardless, the Sky, Aura, Outlook, Vue are all very nice cars that look better than the competition.

[xmicro_Redline]

Originally Posted by kphelgerson

Yes, the Aura is one pretty car. But this year the Sky, next year or the year after we consider replacing the Buick Regal 2001 with an Aura. Except the Regal is Supercharged, and I fear the Aura will be a lot slower.
Regardless, the Sky, Aura, Outlook, Vue are all very nice cars that look better than the competition.

I sat in the Outlook and was amazed at the quality of the interior and the feel of everything. It is real nice to see Saturn and GM making such a fast turn around. It feels good to be proud to have a true American built and designed car!

[GreenDevil]

Originally Posted by kphelgerson

Yes, the Aura is one pretty car. But this year the Sky, next year or the year after we consider replacing the Buick Regal 2001 with an Aura. Except the Regal is Supercharged, and I fear the Aura will be a lot slower.
Regardless, the Sky, Aura, Outlook, Vue are all very nice cars that look better than the competition.

You can get an Aura with a 252hp V6. Not a bad engine really.

[marlboromike]

Firstly, the Aura is not an American car as the SKY...Both r European...secondly, for those that have the original flyer by Saturn featuring the AURA, they really killed the AURA (not that much) by not putting on the guads like the Corvette. They went with the dual exhausts on the V6 only. They also could have improved on the rims...aside from that, the interior is great. Love the dash. And both engines do it justice.

[L32togo]

[quote=kphelgerson;212142] Except the Regal is Supercharged,

That 3.8L supercharged pushrod really hauls. No OHC that I have driven gives you the same wallop, including the Sky RL. But it runs out of breath soon, when OHCs become alive.The RL is definitely faster, just has a different feel. The 3.8 is especially fun climbing hills and at high elevations. I am keeping my '04 Grand Prix GTP Comp G because they don't make them anymore.

On the other hand, after driving RL for a month, I think the GP needs new shocks. Or am I just noticing that now?

[ChgoBlues]

Great article, thanks for posting. Nice to see Saturn finally getting some decent press.

[snaponbob]

Originally Posted by marlboromike

Firstly, the Aura is not an American car as the SKY...Both r European...secondly, for those that have the original flyer by Saturn featuring the AURA, they really killed the AURA (not that much) by not putting on the guads like the Corvette. They went with the dual exhausts on the V6 only. They also could have improved on the rims...aside from that, the interior is great. Love the dash. And both engines do it justice.

Ummmmmmm.. all Auras are V6's. The upgrade model gets the quad cam 3.6 and dual exhaust. The 3.5 V6 gets a single outlet exhaust. Both the Sky and Aura had heavy Opel input, as does the new Vue. But Holden has been heavily involved in the Camaro, so is IT not very American? Oh, and it will be produced in Canada. GM is an American company and it is finally taking input from its various subsidiaries, and that is helping a LOT. Just be glad we are getting German in put, and not French designs. I just came back from 10 days in Germany and I can tell you that some stuff coming out of France is shoot-yourself-in-the-face ugly!!!!

[fast86gn]

[quote=L32togo;214567]

Originally Posted by kphelgerson

Except the Regal is Supercharged,

That 3.8L supercharged pushrod really hauls. No OHC that I have driven gives you the same wallop, including the Sky RL. But it runs out of breath soon, when OHCs become alive.The RL is definitely faster, just has a different feel. The 3.8 is especially fun climbing hills and at high elevations. I am keeping my '04 Grand Prix GTP Comp G because they don't make them anymore.

On the other hand, after driving RL for a month, I think the GP needs new shocks. Or am I just noticing that now?

Ditto! the SC 3.8 in the Regal GS and the GTP's are tough to beat! That 3.8 has to be one of the best engines ever built! Of course I am a little byas.
But I like the Redline, it is a neat car and American made!

Formerly owned
1997 Buick Regal GS Supercharged 13.78 @ 98mph 249Whp 301Wtq Only a few mods.
1972 Buick GS 455 all stock 13.98 @ 100mph
1988 Buick Lesabre T-Type 3.8 NA V6 Stock daily driver

[compdoc777]

Yeah the new Saturns are getting better. They should take engineering ideas not only from Europe, but Japan as well. Since we are in a global market now productivity and quality will greatly depend on where the parts are manufactured. I really don't like the idea of Chineese manufacturing, and would rather stick with Japanese. Yet, most companies get almost free labor to make their product in China.

It would be great if China improved is quality.

[TulsaSky]

I like the Aura's look and styling and for the price its a great competitor to any car its size. The one bad really bad draw back is the Air Dam just like our cars, the Sky and even the Corvette. Being the Aura would be most owners daily driver as my friend found out you "DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THROUGH WATER HIGHER/DEEPER THEN 5" EVER!" That neat air dam just pulled the water right into her engine, flooded the car while all the Japanese cars just plowed right through the water. They towed her Aura in and changed the oil dried it out and so far no problems, but this was not covered under warranty so she was lucky the 6-month old car was not totaled but how long till something from all the water taken into the engine shows up? Time will tell!
My daily driver needs to be able to handle that 5" of water puddle because you just never know when it will be raining hard and without actually getting out of you car how deep that water really is. Friend drives her husbands SUV Tahoe when they forecast rain makes him drive the Aura, once was enough for her to be stranded in a intersection with 5" of rain swirling around her feet when she got out of the car.


TulsaSky