Yeah, I know. But it IS a good looking steering wheel, and it IS an improvement (looks pretty much spot-on in the Vette, imo). Try thinking of it the other way - the Vette guys didn't get the wheel from the cheaper cars; the cheaper cars stepped up and went with a nice looking wheel worthy of a premium sports car! Does that help at all?

 

Heheheh... the old "reverse psycology" thing, eh? Well, I could try to convince myself that, but I know the truth... I also perfer the 4-spoke wheel to the 3-spoke, so I know that's not helping.

I am willing to concede that I was in the minority by being pleased with the original wheel, so I don't have a problem with them making a change, in fact, I applaud Chevy for listening to the majority, even if I was not part of it... but I just drives me nuts the way the "fixed" it. Just design a new wheel... I dunno... it's just driving me bonkers. You wouldn't see a Stratus wheel in a Viper, or a Taurus wheel in a GT.

It just frustrates me, because I consider myself to be in the market for a Z51 or Z06 in the next year or two.

 

That is Hot!!! Saturn is on a roll. Looks like Saturn is taking over the spot of Olds. I see a little Opel in that too.

 

Ya know it kinda looks like a Solara morfing into a Taurus but I like it!! Nice choice of wheels also.

 

ohh and all the seat belt buckles in the old GM cars had the same thing too the silver with blue GM emblems on them...OMG WHAT A DISCRACE back then all the GM cars had the same belt buckels...Even the CADDIES!!! ohh how I hate getting into my Chevette and seeing the same belt as my nice Monte Carlo..
its the new steering wheel design for crash reasons...thats why they are all 3 spoke ...it was mentioned here in the board..

 

People complained about putting the Nova wheel in the 77 Corvette, and it disappeared the next year. There's also a difference between a seat beat buckle that is tucked between the seats, and steering wheel that you look at constantly since it is right in front of you, and is a focal point of the interior.

I don't believe that for a second. If that were the case, they would have used this wheel from the beginning or designed a nifferent 3-spoke instead of designing the 4-spoke in the 05.

Also, the Monte Carlo is going FROM a 3-spoke TO a 4-spoke for 2006.... and I'm sure there are a ton of other cars that have 4-spoke wheels too... including my GTO.

 

First off, that is another beautiful car. Way to go Saturn.

Second: Hey Darth, when was the last time you actually looked at your steering wheel? I don't think I could pick mine out of a line-up. I personally don't think steering wheels are all that important as long as they blend in with the rest of the interior.

 

AGREED!


I actually could pick out every steering wheel I have ever owned from a line up... I can visualize each one right now, actually... and sadly, I think I could pic a good majority of wheels out of a lineup for cars I never even owned... Kind of scary now that I think about it.

 

Wow....

Saturn = T3h C00ln3ss.....

I like the direction they are going, they need to do this in all GM divisions....

 

That's really a cool car--and the interior is stunning. If GM can price it competitively, they have a real winner here.

 

This may be a dumb question, but that's not the production ready model, is it?

 

It's listed as a concept... I read somewhere this morning that it is supposedly about 80% representative of the production model...

 

Chicago Tribune Jim Mateja Column

Chicago Tribune

January 7, 2005

By Jim Mateja

[snipped out the part about the Sky]

"The other vehicle bowing in Detroit is a concept of the Aura sedan that will come out in mid-2006 as a 2007 model and succeed the recently discontinued and woefully bland LS Series.

Lutz confides that the concept is "about 98 percent" true to the final product. Sources said the concept with its 19-inch, speed-rated, radial tires hints at a high-performance version of Aura.

Here's hoping the 2 percent in changes coming include replacing the granite seat with something softer.

Aura shares platforms with the front-wheel-drive Pontiac G6 and Chevy Malibu Maxx sedans.

It's also an attention grabber with its projector beam headlamps, jewel like taillamps, mesh grille, circular fog lamps and deck lid spoiler.

Aura is powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 teamed with a 6-speed automatic with manual mode. It should be premium priced because such features as StabiliTrak stability control system with four-wheel anti-lock brakes and traction control, side air-bag curtains and a four-panel, sliding glass sunroof will be standard."

I would have guessed around 95% or so myself. Basically, it sounds like this will be the car, except the wheels will be toned down (probably 16 - 18 inches, like the G6), and I'm sure the interior colors will be slightly more normal.

What a sweet ride.

 

2% will be those 19" rims, but hopfully not much more. Production should get 17"s with 18" optional.

What wheel base is this car on??? G6 or Malibu?

 

The 19" rim was my question, too. They look great, an 18" should be an option like stated above.