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Automotive News & Views Saturn gets Opel Astra
154 messages, Last post on Feb 21, 2008 at 2:23 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: logic1 (May 08, 2006 8:00 am) |
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I would imagine like mentioned by some that we will get a basic model with no panorama roof , projection headlamps, head lamp washers,Navigation system, ect... even as options. Giving that those sort of options would push the car from the base price of $16.000 to over $20.000 pretty fast. I would guess a higher model designation would get those. I do think that the people that pay $34.000 for a loaded Jetta GLI would pay for those options. I also bet GM US will put some cheap solid red tail lights on it to same some extra pennies. I hope I'm wrong because I have not been excited about GM products in the USA for a long time. Having driven Opel products in Europe I have always asked myself why we did not have them in the USA just as they were in the rest of the world. When we did get them they were changed to the point that they drove or looked nothing like the German cars.
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Replying to: chrisducati (May 08, 2006 8:28 am) But I do not understand why you think GM would not offer options the car is already designed to accomodate and which are available in the factory that will make the car. If people want to pay 28k for a loaded Astra, why not sell it to them? In the past, GM took an Opel design to the United States. It had to re-tool the US factory and buy parts from its North American suppliers. It would be difficult under that scenario to have the exact product, unless it was planned in the process from the start. In this case, you have the Astra factory making Astras for sale to the US. It would actually be harder and less cost effective to make significant changes in the process.
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Replying to: logic1 (May 08, 2006 8:35 am)
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and saturn looks at it like it's second coming at the end of 2007. It's kind of like honda telling us: hey, we haven't send you folks a five door civic hatch for a looooong time, so here's a prev gen 5 door civic. Since all the R&D, tools and stamps are already paid for and kinda obsolete, we'll price it at $11k! At least you can still do engine swaps 
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Replying to: nwng (May 08, 2006 10:33 am) |
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Replying to: nwng (May 08, 2006 10:33 am) The Astra will not be replaced until 2009. At which time, a model designed from the ground up for Europe and North America will take place of both the Saturn and the Opel offerings. The car will be as up to date as any of its European competitors. Saturn is not saying anything about this being a second coming. (Indeed, Saturn is not saying anything at all. The reports are all from 3rd Party Sources. Probably European parts mfgs.) The timing is due to the fact Spring Hill will stop building then to allow for re-tooling as an Opel building facility.
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Replying to: logic1 (May 08, 2006 10:44 am)
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Replying to: chrisducati (May 08, 2006 10:13 am) But the reason GM has done that is to be able to sell cars at a profit in the United States. As you point out, US buyers traditionally balk at paying prices Europeans will pay for compact cars. This translates into GM making the compact less sophisticated, but usually keeping a lot of superficial add ons, such as sun roofs, stereo and leather, that customers will pay for. This worked somewhat, as GM made the cars in the US. Essentially, all Opel gave was the design. GM North American engineers and suppliers then dialed down the car to make it cheaper. In this case, the car will be made in Europe. I believe it would be more expensive to redesign new components and retool than to simply use what is there already. Add to that GM has laid off many engineers, planning on using the Opel Engineers to make Saturns. I am not even sure you have the someone's in place any longer. Unless you think GM is having people from Chevrolet or GMDAT making instructions for GM Opel employees. |
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Replying to: chrisducati (May 08, 2006 10:51 am) I believe after the initial re-org pieces saying that Spring Hill was closing, GM later said it will be re-assigned. It is a very new factory, although it turned out to be fairly expensive getting parts to what is a somewhat remote location. So Saturn will be with out a C segment car for a year if that reads right. Ion production will end in December of this year and there will not be a replacement until the following autumn? Most likely, GM will make some extra IONS to cover some of the demand. It appears there will be a period where the compact pickings at Saturn are very slim. Saturn usually starts getting the next year's cars around August. I do not know how that synchs with Opel production. The article says insiders in GM and Opel confirmed the story. Right you are. I missed that. |
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