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Sedans BMW 3-Series Saturn Aura vs. BMW 328i
124 messages, Last post on Apr 19, 2009 at 1:07 PM
You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Saturn Aura - A competent family sedan, competitive with the likes of Accord and Altima, and a better drive than Camry. But let's face it... it ain't a BMW. The 328 is a compact sports car with amazing dynamic prowess, and a sense solidity and fluid grace that will blow away the best from America or Japan (and there are three Japanese cars in my driveway, and I just helped my parents buy a new Domestic Full-Size sedan). Will both get you home from work while getting to the dry-cleaners before they close? Sure. But one will make many people feel a lot more special than the other. My grandmother wouldn't notice (and, coincidentally we have the same make/model of car, but from different years). I've had limited experience with BMW and Audi, and each time I get to drive a Bimmer, its never enough. A BMW 3-series is a car that drives like a machine that is greater than the sum of its parts. If you don't get that feeling when you drive it, get the Saturn; a fine choice which nobody has a reason to get defensive about. It's pretty simple, really. |
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Replying to: vanman1 (Apr 02, 2009 5:38 pm) (I'll disregard the condescending remarks towards BMW owners) Ask yourself why. Germany's high-speed routes show off a car with excellent handling and high-speed driving dynamics/capabilities. America's potholed, speed limited interstates make a comfy car an easier sell. Different strokes for different folks.
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Replying to: thegraduate (Apr 07, 2009 7:39 pm) LOL What are you, a BMW salesman? I have driven both and hard, the differences aren't all that big and when you cruse down the highway, the Aura is far superior. |
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Replying to: vanman1 (Apr 08, 2009 7:15 pm)   Getting personal is what gets these forums shut down. |
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Replying to: vanman1 (Apr 08, 2009 7:15 pm) What is your definition of "hard"? the differences aren't all that big What are "the differences"? Transient response? Steady-state cornering? How communicative is the steering in each car? Can you feel the front tires loading up as lateral acceleration increases? How does each car respond to trail braking? Which car is easier to rotate? How about in mid-corner? Does the Aura require a different line than the 328i? If so, in what way? Earlier apex? Later? Does either car exhibit lift-throttle oversteer? If so, to what degree? What about brakes? How easy is it to modulate them? Is either car more prone to fade? and when you cruse[sic] down the highway, the Aura is far superior. Again, in what way? Is cruising down the highway your primary criteria for choosing the Aura over the 328i? One final question; if Saturns are "far superior" to BMWs AND much less expensive, why did BMW outsell Saturn by 61,109 units in 2008(and 53,704 in 2007)?
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Replying to: hpowders (Mar 27, 2009 12:35 pm) the thoughtfully placed external lighting showing you the way before one enters the vehicle, ok I will give you this one the xenon headlights that automatically come on at night so I don't even have to think about it, a lot of cars have this, including the Aura, this is not a luxury at all these days. the world-class steering and brakes, the steering is good, but the brakes are at par with everything else in the class, not really world class the magnificent sport suspension; Agreed the incredible gas mileage given the exhilarating performance of one of the world's greatest engines, this is true of the 335i, not the 328i, the 328i is slower than a Camry V6 for heavens sake. nothing exhilerating about that IMHO. the terrific HD stereo, most are using XM these days, including Aura, few people care about HD radios. the way the mirrors adjust at night to diminish glare; this is standard on a lot of cars now, including Aura Aura per C/D Zero to 60 mph: 6.2 sec/ 6.1 for 328i Zero to 100 mph: 16.6 sec/16.6 for 328i Zero to 110 mph: 21.1 sec/20.4 for 328i Street start, 5-60 mph: 6.3 sec/6.9 for 328i Standing ¼-mile: 14.9 sec  95 mph/14.895mph for 328i Top speed (governor limited): 115 mph Braking, 70-0 mph: 172 ft/160ft for 328i Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.82 g /0.88g for 328i FYI, here are the standard features on an Aura V6, much more than on the 37k 328i (37k is for the base 328i with sport package, BTW, this one has Leatherette) http://www.saturn.com/vehicles/2009/aura/features.do My point is, other than handling, there really isnt much to write home about with the 328i. So if handling is not an issue, the Aura is pretty good bang for the buck. Go Aura 
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Replying to: roadburner (Apr 09, 2009 2:51 pm) One final question; if Saturns are "far superior" to BMWs AND much less expensive, why did BMW outsell Saturn by 61,109 units in 2008(and 53,704 in 2007)? Well Toyota Camry sold more units than the 328i, so did Ford F150. Not sure if there is any information content there.
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Replying to: sjaieve (Apr 13, 2009 2:02 pm) So in other words, there is no significant handling difference if vanman1 cannot describe it- or even detect it? If I was vanman1 I wouldn't be pleased with your "no-brainer" comment. Regardless, I'll give up a few 10ths of a second in acceleration all day long in exchange for RWD and a manual transmission(I have owned one FWD car-a Mazdaspeed3-and after that experience I don't ever plan to own another). Well Toyota Camry sold more units than the 328i, so did Ford F150. Not sure if there is any information content there. Is that so? The Camry and the F-150 are the leaders in their respective market segments. Just like BMW. But vanman1's whole tiresome schtick is based on his belief that BMWs are nothing more than glorified European economy cars-"German Honda Accords" to use his terminology-which have succeeded only due to BMW's erudite marketing strategy. If that's the case, I question why the Saturn division is on life support while BMW is still making a small profit. Just as I pointed out earlier, I can fully understand why an enthusiast might prefer a CTS, a G8, a G37, or a Genesis to the 328i(and , FWIW, I'd take any of them over an Aura), but to argue that a tepid GM FWD family sedan is competitive with an E90 is just proof that someone is drinking heavily from the UAW Red, White, and Blue Kool-Aid barrel. You can throw road test numbers around like they are Pokemon cards, but the fact remains that you will find very few-if any-enthusiasts who would prefer to drive an Aura over any E90 permutation. |
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Replying to: sjaieve (Apr 13, 2009 11:53 am) What I have said previous, BMW does an excellent job selling people in North America on the premise that they are "driving machines" and they are very good cars, but they are not significantly better than an Aura XR. On the highway, the Aura feels more composed and has smoother ride. Given the deals you can get on an Aura XR loaded there is no comparison in terms of what I would buy. My boss who drives an Audi sat in my Malibu and was shocked by how nice the interior, build and ride is. I think that said it all to me. Some people need the "German engineering" they have been sold on, I don't and I can enjoy my ride, take the savings and put it into my retirement account. |
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Replying to: vanman1 (Apr 13, 2009 5:18 pm) You forgot to mention that they have also "sold" every major automotive magazine on both sides of the Atlantic. What an ingenious plot! and they are very good cars, but they are not significantly better than an Aura XR. In your professional opinion, of course... On the highway, the Aura feels more composed and has[sic] smoother ride. Again, in your opinion. Given the deals you can get on an Aura XR loaded there is no comparison in terms of what I would buy. I agree, the deals ARE great. Saturn is essentially holding a "Going Out of Business" sale. My boss who drives an Audi sat in my Malibu and was shocked by how nice the interior, build and ride is. I think that said it all to me. Impressing your boss with your Malibu gives you the warm fuzzies. Got it. Some people need the "German engineering" they have been sold on That would be me. I bought my first BMW back in 1983, when most people thought the cars were British. Eight BMWs later I still enjoy driving them- especially at HPDEs. Unfortunately, my wife says I add any more Bavarian iron to the Roadburner fleet until I get rid of the Mazdaspeed 3...  I don't Based on your prior comments, that's a logical choice. I can enjoy my ride, take the savings and put it into my retirement account. I also enjoy my rides, but since I retired last year I usually put a bit of my savings into my cars, my Speed Triple, or my HTS. My wife gets the rest(I never should have told her about Miele appliances...  ) Fortunately, at the ripe old age of 52 I still have quite a few more years of HPDEs left in me... 
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