There are so many posts listing the negatives on our long-term Aura. As I waited for the attendant to finish toweling-off the scarlet Saturn at the car wash, I saw a lone water drop mournfully drip from the driver's side headlight. A tear? As I pondered my blog entry, I realized I should probably point out something I like, rather than dig for yet another item of contention.
I thought for a while about something nice to say -- much like I do when a friend shows me pictures of their ugly baby. "My, what a nice, ummmm...errrr...she has your...uuuhhhh...hmmmm."
I somehow got wrangled into helping a friend move into an apartment this weekend (on the third floor, with NO elevator). An SUV would've made more sense for the task, but the only choices presented were the Aura or the Smart -- which, in this case, would've been stupid. On a trip to Ikea to buy furniture named after 80's hair bands (complete with umlauts), I found my silver lining in the form of a truck bedliner.
In order to fit the "bluurg" table, "haaka wocka wocka" lamp and "stiinki buum" hamper into the Aura, I had to make use of the fold-down rear seats. Behold! a bedliner-like backing on the seats!
Hey! That actually makes sense!
Unlike most fold-downs that have carpet backings, long boxes slide easily on this hard plastic surface.The slight backwards slant even keeps items from sliding forward into the driver's seat.
So rejoice, my poor maligned Aura, I appreciate your effort. And by the way, you have a pretty decent sound system as well.
Mark Takahashi, Associate Editor @ 20,592 miles
joefrompa says:
12:46 PM, 09/15/08
Ok, I don't want to be the first commenter with something negative to say....but that's where I am at the moment, apparently. Fate has put this comment into my hands...
I actually don't like the plastic liner on the back of seats.
*phew* I said it.
I prefer carpet. And here's why (this comes from someone who uses fold down rear seats ALOT).
Plastic gets really obvious digs, scrapes, scratches. After 50,000 miles, my carpet looks brand new (albeit needs a vacuuming from all the drywall dust & such).
I tend to carry alot of junk in my trunk. I also tend to corner rather hard. I imagine that said junk would "knock" against the plastic fairly frequently, as opposed to a quieter "thump" against my current carpet. Perhaps not a problem in the more sedated Aura than the hyper-allergenic civic SI.
That's my take. I also dislike the use of this type of plastic liner in the Pontiac Vibe, for the same reasons.
Joe
dougtheeng says:
12:48 PM, 09/15/08
I wish my MINI Cooper has this hard plastic. I put a lot on my seat backs, and I have already noted a number of scuffs and scrapes on the carpet. Its never really noticeable, but still, it irks me.
irfan114 says:
01:00 PM, 09/15/08
"In order to fit the "bluurg" table..."
Please tell me you were thinking of 30 Rock! Best show on television!!
cx7lover says:
01:07 PM, 09/15/08
I hate the plastic in the Vibe too, but the stuff in the Matrix is so thoughtful durable.
brn says:
01:08 PM, 09/15/08
"I waited for the attendant to finish toweling-off the scarlet Saturn"
Not fair. I have to wash my own car. On the occasion someone else does it, it's a machine, not a human. Grr.
"only choices presented were the Aura or the Smart"
Is that because SUV's are in high demand at Edmunds/IL?
sabastian says:
01:18 PM, 09/15/08
I hate to sound like a broken record, but why is this car still around? It's year was up a while ago, and it's also passed the 20,000 mile mark.
billt9 says:
01:57 PM, 09/15/08
joefrompa you ass!
Ahem. My, what beautiful plastic liners you have! You are just precious!
bradyholt says:
02:49 PM, 09/15/08
Plastic lining on the seatbacks of a sedan makes sense, because the only time you see them is when they're being useful. I can understand not liking it in something where they plastic is more visible, like the Matrix/Vibe.
joefrompa says:
02:55 PM, 09/15/08
Bradyholt - Good point, the vibe's plastics would be much more visible much more of the time.
Hey, random thing I just noticed when staring at the picture of the folded down rear seats again....those are some of the thinnest seat backs I've ever seen. Look at how skinny the rear seat backs are!
I like how the wood trim on the doors has a matched arc from front door to rear door and back down. Nice touch.
Joe
joefrompa says:
02:57 PM, 09/15/08
Sabastian - According to the blog entry title, this is a 2009 Saturn Aura. So it can't be over a year old!
Joe
mtakahashi says:
03:19 PM, 09/15/08
I goofed...Corrected the title to 2007. D'oh!
sabastian says:
03:21 PM, 09/15/08
"Sabastian - According to the blog entry title, this is a 2009 Saturn Aura. So it can't be over a year old!"
Haha! Good catch, Joe. I guess IL just loved their 2007 so much that they decided to update and get a new '09!
hondacura4 says:
05:42 PM, 09/15/08
Even though 1487 and Opfreak or Stov(?) pointed out (what I already knew) ....the Aura and Malibu are virtually the same car I still think the Malibu is much better executed and the better car.
mustang5507 says:
08:33 PM, 09/15/08
How about positioning the center seatbelt differently so it's not in the way when the back seat is down =P?
Btw, GM only seems to be getting better with the E chassis. The Aura is much better than the G6, and the Malibu clearly eclipses them both. Hmm...now we can only wait to see what they do with the LaCrosse/Invicta.
1487 says:
06:06 AM, 09/16/08
its obviously become some kind of long running staff joke to take turns coming up with complaints about this car. Who would have ever thought a powerful, good looking midsize American sedan with a 6 speed auto with be seen as a piece of crap. The car's performance and mileage is on par with the class leaders and it's quiet and it's only had one real mechanical issue and yet their summary is that this car has been a total disappointment and pales in comparison to the Accord. Makes perfect sense to me.
1487 says:
06:08 AM, 09/16/08
honda,
Better executed? Aside from the center stack the two cars are the same. The MAlibu has a better dash layout but I dont think that means its the equivalent of a major upgrade over the Aura. They are built together and share most parts.
redwoodaggie says:
07:52 AM, 09/16/08
So basically from the comments, I gather there is no pleasing everybody. Basically, damned if you do, damned if you don't. :)