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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: bumpy (May 08, 2006 6:32 am) The report says from '07 through the next gen Saturn/Opel Astra, the car will be made in the Netherlands and imported to the US. If you understand the manufacturing process, you would know drastic changes, such as a new body to accomodate a different wind screen and elaborate changes to the drive train will be more expensive than it is worth. If the Opel can accomodate a Nav system, it could well be offered as an option. Navs are expensive baubles, imo. Would not want to pay for it as a standard feature.
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Replying to: logic1 (May 08, 2006 6:57 am) I'll believe that the day after I see it. The exchange rate between the Euro and the dollar would put a European-built Saturn Astra well in the mid-$20s. VW can get away with those sorts of prices because of their reputation for good interiors and handling. Saturn has neither of those. If you understand the manufacturing process, you would know drastic changes, such as a new body to accomodate a different wind screen and elaborate changes to the drive train will be more expensive than it is worth. One would think so, but then look at the blizzard of stuff GMNA did to the Opel Vectra to make the Saturn Aura. Completely different powertrains and interiors, and they even put a footbrake on the Aura. Vectra Aura |
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Replying to: bumpy (May 08, 2006 7:24 am) Aura is made in a US factory, meaning the factory was tooled for the Aura. The changes between the models were made in the tooling, which GM was going to have to do anyway. On the other hand, the Astra would be built in the same plant in the Netherlands, that already makes the European Astra. Your theory would have GM paying big dollars to re-tool the Netherlands factory. The more sensible option would be to not make the vehicle at all. As for the price, GM will probably have to sell base Astras. Remodelling and retooling would not help. VW does not have all that much of reputation in North America any longer, given its declining sales. |
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Had to take the post with the pics down because soem were too wide and pushed the message area under the right side videos. Just a reminder, check the image size before adding images to your posts. If you have an image that's wider than about 500 pixels that has to be seen full size to be appreciated, just link to the URL where the pic is stored. That way we get to see the image in the new window that it will open in, and we avoid the margin issue as well!
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Replying to: logic1 (May 08, 2006 7:36 am) The panoramic windscreen is an option, not standard. It is a rather expensive option. Unless there is an issue with shipping or meeting demand in Europe, I see no reason that GM would not want to offer the same option here. A number of the engines offerings are diesel. I believe GM fully wants to import diesels to the US. The question at hand is whether the US government will make the refineries convert to low sulfur on schedule. I've not seen anything about the change over recently.
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Replying to: logic1 (May 08, 2006 7:36 am)
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Replying to: pf_flyer (May 08, 2006 7:56 am) http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060508/FREE/60508001/1041/T- OC01ARCHIVE |
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Replying to: bumpy (May 08, 2006 8:00 am) If GM is going to do as reported, it will have to be the latter. There is no way you can 'massively cheapen assembly cost' mid term in a manufacturing run. Presumably the $16k would be a base model. Options, if available, will bring the car into the 20+k area real fast. Not sure why GM would not offer the options. If people want to buy them and the components are available, why not? |
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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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