Hi, I am brand new to the site and had a few questions about the 2009 malibu/aura and was hoping for some help/insight.
For my job I have a company car and it is time to order a new car. 2 of the choices are the 2009 malibu and the 2009 aura. But it seems that neither one of the options available to me have everything I would want, so I need to decide which one is better.
The 2009 Malibu is the LS with the 1FL package will have the 3.5L V6 and the A4 transmission. The company provided equipment is limited to the standard equipment plus license plate braacket, bodyside mouldings, power driver seat 6-way, and carpeted floor mats. The only options I can choose to add at my cost are an engine block heater or extend the OnStar directions and connections package.
The 2009 Aura is the XE and will have the 2.4L and A6 transmission. The company provided equipment is limited to the standard equipment plus license plate bracket and preferred package (bluetooth, floormats, power driver seat 8-way, leather wrapped steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, and leather wrapped shift knob). The only options I can choose to add at my cost are an engine block heater, extend the OnStar package, and a power sunroof.
So here are my problems:
1. Ideally I would like the V6 engine over the 4 cylinder. I went to a local Saturn dealer who had 2008 auras with both the 4cylinder and 3.5L V6 in stock to test drive them. I drove the 3.5L first and it was nice. I drove the 2.4L next and it was nice too, not much difference overall aside from accelerating from a dead stop. The problem is that the 2008 aura 4 cylinder has the A4 and the 2009 will have the A6. From what I hear, the 2.4L engine with the A6 is not the ideal set-up. Unfortunately there are no 2.4L A6 available to drive.
2. I would also like to have steering wheel audio controls and a sunroof. The sunroof is not essential, but it is nice to have. The steering wheel audio controls I have had in all of my cars since 2004 and I really like having them. They are not available in the Mailbu I can order. Neither is the sunroof.
3. Is bluetooth and USB connection for MP3 going to be standard on the 2009 malibu, or optional? Both are included in the 2009 Aura XE.
Basically, I would prefer to order the Malibu because of the V6 and because I like the look of it slightly better than the Aura. I like the Aura a lot as well, but the Malibu is slightly better looking to me. However, the Aura can be had with steering wheel radio controls, sunroof, bluetooth connectivity, and USB connection for the iPod (charges it, plays it, and transmits, song info to radio display). These are all features that work in the aura's favor.
The big detractor for the aura is the 2.4L with the A6 transmission. It has the TAPshift feature, so if I left it in manual and shifted myself would it minimize the constant shifting of the A6 that people complain about when it is paired with the 2.4L?
Can I buy a malibu steering wheel with audio controls and swap it into the Malibu? Is it a plug and play switch?
Will the 2009 Mailbu have the USB connection for MP3 players as standard equipment?
I am sorry for the long post, but look forward to anyone's help!
thanks
p.s. for colors I am thinking red jewel or black granite for the Malibu and red jewel, carbon flash metallic, or silver for the aura!
For my job I have a company car and it is time to order a new car. 2 of the choices are the 2009 malibu and the 2009 aura. But it seems that neither one of the options available to me have everything I would want, so I need to decide which one is better.
The 2009 Malibu is the LS with the 1FL package will have the 3.5L V6 and the A4 transmission. The company provided equipment is limited to the standard equipment plus license plate braacket, bodyside mouldings, power driver seat 6-way, and carpeted floor mats. The only options I can choose to add at my cost are an engine block heater or extend the OnStar directions and connections package.
The 2009 Aura is the XE and will have the 2.4L and A6 transmission. The company provided equipment is limited to the standard equipment plus license plate bracket and preferred package (bluetooth, floormats, power driver seat 8-way, leather wrapped steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, and leather wrapped shift knob). The only options I can choose to add at my cost are an engine block heater, extend the OnStar package, and a power sunroof.
So here are my problems:
1. Ideally I would like the V6 engine over the 4 cylinder. I went to a local Saturn dealer who had 2008 auras with both the 4cylinder and 3.5L V6 in stock to test drive them. I drove the 3.5L first and it was nice. I drove the 2.4L next and it was nice too, not much difference overall aside from accelerating from a dead stop. The problem is that the 2008 aura 4 cylinder has the A4 and the 2009 will have the A6. From what I hear, the 2.4L engine with the A6 is not the ideal set-up. Unfortunately there are no 2.4L A6 available to drive.
2. I would also like to have steering wheel audio controls and a sunroof. The sunroof is not essential, but it is nice to have. The steering wheel audio controls I have had in all of my cars since 2004 and I really like having them. They are not available in the Mailbu I can order. Neither is the sunroof.
3. Is bluetooth and USB connection for MP3 going to be standard on the 2009 malibu, or optional? Both are included in the 2009 Aura XE.
Basically, I would prefer to order the Malibu because of the V6 and because I like the look of it slightly better than the Aura. I like the Aura a lot as well, but the Malibu is slightly better looking to me. However, the Aura can be had with steering wheel radio controls, sunroof, bluetooth connectivity, and USB connection for the iPod (charges it, plays it, and transmits, song info to radio display). These are all features that work in the aura's favor.
The big detractor for the aura is the 2.4L with the A6 transmission. It has the TAPshift feature, so if I left it in manual and shifted myself would it minimize the constant shifting of the A6 that people complain about when it is paired with the 2.4L?
Can I buy a malibu steering wheel with audio controls and swap it into the Malibu? Is it a plug and play switch?
Will the 2009 Mailbu have the USB connection for MP3 players as standard equipment?
I am sorry for the long post, but look forward to anyone's help!
thanks
p.s. for colors I am thinking red jewel or black granite for the Malibu and red jewel, carbon flash metallic, or silver for the aura!