Production Aura pic

[Raza]

Ah, well...that's a different system altogether.  Beats the other one I was talking about, but it seems that it won't be easy to upshift while turning.

[93JC]

Well, sharp turns, yes. But you wouldn't (rather, shouldn't) want to upshift in a sharp turn anyway.

[BMWDave]

Well, sharp turns, yes. But you wouldn't (rather, shouldn't) want to upshift in a sharp turn anyway.

Bingo.  But still, I've played around with SMG in a Z4, (although not while driving), and it definitely would be a slightly awkward motion to have to push out every time to downshift.  

The gearchangers in a Ferrari or BMW M5 for that matter are much more suited to this, and would be a lot easier to use.  

Pushing in with your thumbs, or out with your fingers, will get very bothersome and tiring after a while, I imagine.

[Raza]

Well, sharp turns, yes. But you wouldn't (rather, shouldn't) want to upshift in a sharp turn anyway.

Well, in slight bends during normal driving--most people don't drive at 10 and 2 when puttering home from work.

[93JC]

I'm an 8 and 5 man, myself, and I don't see the problem with having to have one of my thumbs ready at 9 or 3 to upshift in a slight bend.

Crikey, regular stick you've got to reach all the way over to a big lever and move it to upshift.

[BMWDave]

I'm an 8 and 5 man, myself, and I don't see the problem with having to have one of my thumbs ready at 9 or 3 to upshift in a slight bend.

Crikey, regular stick you've got to reach all the way over to a big lever and move it to upshift.

Think of it this way...pulling back on a paddle is easy--moving a gearlever is easy.  Try pushing outward with your fingernails continuously.  I know i would get tired real quickly.   B)  

[93JC]

... okay, I'm confused...

Are we even talking about the Aura anymore?

[BMWDave]

... okay, I'm confused...

Are we even talking about the Aura anymore?

Well, we're talking about the Aura's paddle shifters  

[93JC]

So what do fingernails have to do with it?!

[Raza]

I'm an 8 and 5 man, myself, and I don't see the problem with having to have one of my thumbs ready at 9 or 3 to upshift in a slight bend.

Crikey, regular stick you've got to reach all the way over to a big lever and move it to upshift.

My car too, but for something that's supposed to be more convenient, it really isn't.

[BMWDave]

So what do fingernails have to do with it?!

When you push outward to upshift (with your upper fingers and nails)...I was saying that would get tiring pretty quickly.  

[93JC]

???? You push on the buttons at the front with your thumbs to upshift, you pull  on the back with your fingers to downshift. Thar be no fingernails involved, scallywag!

[Raza]

???? You push on the buttons at the front with your thumbs to upshift, you pull  on the back with your fingers to downshift. Thar be no fingernails involved, scallywag!

We're talking about a different type of system.

[BMWDave]

Here it is guys...the Saturn Aura's interior...I took this picture at the auto show.  Look at the mismatched panels! :o

[JYODER240]

It looks like a 3rd grader put it together  

[BMWDave]

I also took a video of the paddle shifters :D

[mazda6er]

Nice fingers Dave. *orgasm*

[BMWDave]

Nice fingers Dave. *orgasm*

   

[Catman]

I wouldn't worry about the misaligned panels much it's definitely a preproduction car.  GM seems to have a handle on quality lately so I'm sure it'll be fine.