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Saturn gets Opel Astra

154 messages,  Last post on Feb 21, 2008 at 2:23 PM

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What is this discussion about? Saturn Astra, Hatchback


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#131 of 154
Re: Astra availability [guss] by alltorque
Jan 08, 2008 (10:18 am)
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Replying to: guss (Jan 03, 2008 11:15 am)

Think you might like the Astra when it arrives. Gets pretty good reviews over in U.K., (as the Vauxhall Astra, rest of Europe is badged Opel). Having driven one for a couple of weeks I found it to be good in all respects - not brilliant but much better than just O.K. - apart from the driver's seat which gave me real backache; the first car ever to do this. However, others don't seem to have this problem so let's put it down to my anatomy.
 
Doubt if you'll get the VRX Coupe but it's 237bhp 2.0 Turbo make it something of a hooligan. The world needs more hooligans.
#132 of 154
Re: Astra availability [alltorque] by michaell
Jan 08, 2008 (12:44 pm)
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Replying to: alltorque (Jan 08, 2008 10:18 am)

Doubt if you'll get the VRX Coupe but it's 237bhp 2.0 Turbo make it something of a hooligan. The world needs more hooligans.
 
Well, the 2.0L Turbo is already used in the Sky RedLine and will be available in the HHR SS, so it's not too much of a stretch to believe that an Astra RedLine with the same engine may be available in a year or two.
 
Put mine in the 5-door, please!
#133 of 154
Re: Astra availability [michaell] by mr215
Jan 10, 2008 (12:09 pm)
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Replying to: michaell (Jan 08, 2008 12:44 pm)

i dont think you will see new engines until the car is redesigned in 2010 or so. I think the issue may be that the car is made in Europe but the 2L engine is made in the US. The Cobalt, Sky and HHR are made in NA and that probably makes it much easier to get the 2L engine into those vehicles. The 1.8L is the ONLY engine from europe that has a conventional auto and thats why we are stuck with one engine choice. Some of the engines in europe are offered with a manual only and others have some other type of tranny which I assume is a DSG.
#134 of 154
Re: Astra availability [mr215] by michaell
Jan 10, 2008 (12:18 pm)
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Replying to: mr215 (Jan 10, 2008 12:09 pm)

Yeah, that makes sense. I knew the Astra was due for a redesign soon, at which point they will probably start manufacturing them in the US as well. I'm hoping for some more engine choices at that time.
 
Isn't 2010 when we'll also see the new Corsa sold here?
#135 of 154
Just keep screwing up GM by iamz
Jan 11, 2008 (7:14 am)
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How stupid can a car company get. How many people are going to want to spend $20,000 for a 3 door car that gets 25 mpg? Bring us a stripped down 3 door for under $15k with a economical little engine that gets at least 35 mpg highway.
#136 of 154
strippo by stickguy
Jan 11, 2008 (7:27 am)
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sounds like the Aveo. Do they still make that?
 
I thought the Astra got pretty good mileage? They could make a cheaper model but cutting out features (although I doubt they will), but I don't see how they can improve mileage much without cutting performance back to an unacceptable level.
#137 of 154
Performance Tradeoffs by helmutvonkopf
Jan 11, 2008 (7:53 am)
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Replying to: stickguy (Jan 11, 2008 7:27 am)

This discussion highlights why it is just not that easy to bring a car to the US from Europe. Economic performance is achieved in Europe using the turbodiesel and there is a premium for that of about US$3k. I think US emissions laws make it impossible to bring a Euro spec diesel over with the exception of the new "clean" diesels which Mercedes/Audi/VW have.
 
Does anybody know if there is parity for diesels versus hybrids as regards tax breaks. I have never understood why diesels have been ignored here when they have been providing hybrid level economy with performance for at least 20 years.
 
Europeans drive manuals and I would love to see a chart of weight distributions for the average European and American families. I am sure a car in the US is much more likely to be loaded up with a 300lb Pa, 200lb Ma and two 150lb kids than in Europe and so engine performance levels needed to guarantee safe on road behaviour are necessarily higher. Add an auto transmission into the mix and the market segment for the Astra just shrunk to those who are slim, drive stick, have no kids and don't like to put their foot down.
 
Basically, they need to put a turbo in that baby if it is their only engine choice.
#138 of 154
Re: Just keep screwing up GM [iamz] by mr215
Jan 11, 2008 (12:44 pm)
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Replying to: iamz (Jan 11, 2008 7:14 am)

not realistic at all. The engines in Europe that are more efficient than the 1.8L are either too weak to be taken seriously here or diesels. You arent going to find many cars that make 140hp and get 35mpg on the highway beyond the civic. The Astra is a premium compact so its not meant to be stripped down and sold at rock bottom prices like the Ion. People want european cars and in europe compacts are not necessarily "cheap" cars.
#139 of 154
Re: Just keep screwing up GM [mr215] by iamz
Jan 11, 2008 (4:33 pm)
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Replying to: mr215 (Jan 11, 2008 12:44 pm)

My old VW scirocco had 74 hp and was a blast to drive. My VW Corrado had a super-charged 160 hp engine and got 34 mpg hwy. The biggest problem is weight. I think the Scirocco weighed in at less than 1900 lbs. You are right though that the Astra is a "premium" compact. A stupid move on GM's part. Too bad. I come from a family that owned 4 Opel Manta's and I was looking forward to something similar in the Astra but I guess not.
#140 of 154
mpg by stickguy
Jan 11, 2008 (7:21 pm)
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Well, my 5 speed Accord can get 34 on the highway, without even trying to maximize mileage.
 
I bet in the real word a 5 speed Astra can do the same.

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