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Hatchbacks Saturn Astra Saturn Astra
96 messages, Last post on May 30, 2009 at 7:02 PM
You are in the Saturn Astra Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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Saturn's Hip Little Hatchback Saturn Astra almost stellar Cars.com Faceoff: 2008 Mini Cooper S, Saturn Astra, Volvo C30 GM's Astra a great performer, inside and out
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Replying to: moparbad (Mar 21, 2008 10:19 am) http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08073/864709-28.stm I think this one seems to be reviewed by some hick who has been driving only Ion, Pinto & Chevette all his life  Cars.com Faceoff: 2008 Mini Cooper S, Saturn Astra, Volvo C30 http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2008/03/carscom-faceoff.html But Astra's more steering feel than Volvo's numb helm doesn't necessarily meant good enoough. Let's take a look at the high standard in ride & steering feel set by some Europeans, as they found Astra's "steering feels so remote" & the "ride...": http://newsletter.autoexpress.co.uk/c/111PMlVz6J7Krdmq Volvo http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/218688/volvo_c30.html "The spongy brakes don’t add to the driving appeal, and the Volvo is not as sharp as the Vauxhall through corners. There’s ample grip, but body control could be better and it’s the least agile car here. The steering is short on feel, and over broken surfaces there’s excessive kickback. Still, the ride and refinement are good, making the C30 the best choice for motorway miles." Astra http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/218697/vauxhall_astra.html "The surging engine, slick gearbox and tight handling make the Astra great fun on country lanes. Grip levels are good, too, so it’s a pity that the nicely weighted steering feels so remote. Even that doesn’t prevent it from being the most entertaining to drive, though, with sharp turn-in and a well balanced chassis. It’s easily the sportiest and most involving of the three. The trade-off is that the ride is the least forgiving; there’s kickback through the steering over rough surfaces, and neither rival is as tiring on long trips." Kia http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/218694/kia_pro_ceed.html "But this doesn’t detract from the decent handling – the steering is nicely weighted, offers reasonable feedback and turns in precisely, with strong grip. Although the Kia is not quite as sure-footed and confidence-inspiring as the Vauxhall, body control is good. The ride suffers a little, but it’s preferable to the overly firm Astra." (post #1347) creakid1, "Mazdaspeed3 vs. VW V GTI vs. Civic Si" #1347, 9 Mar 2008 5:10 pm Of all cars in this group (including Honda, Nissan, etc.), only the steering feel of the C-1 Euro Focus (even with just the larger engine's electro-hydraulic steering) didn't get bashed, but wasn't really complimented, either. (post #67) creakid1, "Ford Focus 2005 release date" #67, 25 Dec 2004 12:39 pm That's because, compare to the old C-170 Focus, which America also have prior to '08, "the steering (of the C-1 MkII Euro Focus): although this car uses a conventional hydraulic system, it falls short of the previous car's excellent rack"! Even the V8 BMW M3 sedan's steering feel gets bashed:  http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/218721/bmw_m3.html "Purists will moan that its steering should offer more feel, but the result is a fabulously capable grand tourer that can also cover twisty roads at an enormous rate." |
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Replying to: creakid1 (Mar 19, 2008 10:43 am)
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Replying to: donwilson2 (Mar 25, 2008 8:08 pm)
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Replying to: creakid1 (Mar 26, 2008 5:58 pm) And I'd hardly call it an American car. Rather, it's an American-badged car. Everyone compares the Astra to the Focus. Granted, the Astra is superior. However, the Focus far outsells it. (The Focus is the one bright spot at Ford.) You can get a Focus for thousands less than an Astra and it's almost as good. In this economy, 'almost' is good enough. |
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Replying to: walterquint (Mar 27, 2008 6:18 am) |
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Recently there appeared on a Phoenix area dealer's website inventory several Astra XE's..the 5-door model with automatic transmission. These were priced at around 16K. A/C was not listed in the detailed description of the vehicle. Another dealer provided the initial test drive, which I commented on earlier, had a similar model then priced at 19K without A/C. The salesman stated that the cars then in stock, without A/C, would most likely have to go to buyers up in the much cooler areas of Arizona as there was no dealer installed factory A/C available. at that time. Heaven help those during a Phoenix summer, where temperatures can reach 115, who would be so unwise as to buy a vehicle without A/C. Something akin to buying a car in Alaska with no heater. |
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Replying to: walterquint (Mar 27, 2008 6:18 am) & no one should be surprised to see how superior it is compare to the Ion, Caliber, etc. But with only torsion-beam rear suspension, the suspension technology of this (soon to-be outmoded) current Astra is only playing in the field of B-class little cars like the upcoming Euro-designed Ford Verve/Fiesta (as well as the VW Polo & Honda Fit): http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/219219/ford_fiesta.html By the time the next-generation Astra appears, it will really join the Focus/Rabbit/Civic in the C-class w/ the multilink rear suspension. & the dorky American Focus (2008-2010?) will soon switch to the Euro design (Focus III) again!
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Replying to: creakid1 (Mar 31, 2008 6:06 pm) Astra had the best roadholding of eight compact cars it tested in May 2008 issue. Overall the Astra finished in 4th place with VW Rabbit in 1st and Ford Focus in last place.
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Replying to: moparbad (Mar 31, 2008 9:38 pm) Focus had the best lane-change speed of eight compact cars it tested in May 2008 issue (Car & Driver). & this is w/ a "smooth ride" suspension set up. Astra's highest lateral g-force (roadholding) of .84g w/ only 61.8mph lane-change speed to match can make drivers over confident & therefore dangerous to handle in swerving situations. & this is w/ the "crisp-ride" optional sport suspension. Vehicle: roadholding/lane-change speed Focus: .79g/64.8mph Astra: .84g/61.8mph Scion xD: .79g/63.5mph Corolla: .79g/60.5mpg Consumer Guide did test the Astra w/ the base soft suspension in addition to the uncomfortable sport suspension. When both the Focus & Astra are equipped w/ soft suspension, they both got a "6" (Astra sport got a "4") in ride rating, but Focus had a slightly higher handling rating of "6" while Astra only got "5". Anyway, C&D was appalled (& so did I) by the only disgusting (domestic style) interior in this group & therefore just had to give last place to this domestic-design '08 Ford riding on the original Euro-designed Focus platform b/c this is not a real Focus, just like the domestic-design Ion/Cobalt riding on Astra platform are not real Astra's either. As this Focus doesn't even exist around the world. Don't get the name confused over the next couple yrs. Now is the good time for GM to import the Astra to make the "Focus" in America look bad, as it'll be another 2 years before the new real Focus comes back. Per this C&D test, Astra's tinny 1.8 engine still looks bad against the American '08 Focus w/ Mazda-developed engine. Astra accelerates way slower & still consumes a tiny bit more fuel. It was only months ago when I test drove the Rabbit 2.5 (the repeat winner in this C&D small-car comparison test). Guess what? By comparison, I found the '07 Focus 2.3 ST so superior in handling & steering feel w/ only some sacrifice in ride comfort that I just had to get the Focus ST, which has similar suspension set up as the Euro-spec Focus ST170. This time when C&D gave even lower "steering feel" rating than Rabbit's already-mediocre helm to rest of the group -- Astra/Impreza/Lancer/Suzuki SX4/ (& even worse to) Corolla/Scion xD/('08 American imposter)Focus, that means they're all just plain boring to steer. Besides, my (real) Focus' level of steering feedback is only OK -- no match for the old Miata or any of my other cars now: '99 E36 BMW, '90 Protege twin cam, & MkI '84 Jetta w/ manual steering. In other words, only some older cars rule for now. 
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