Saturn Astra

Replies to this message:
• creakid1 (Mar 22, 2008 3:28 pm)

Replying to: moparbad (Mar 21, 2008 9:19 am)

GM's Astra a great performer, inside and out
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."

Replying to: creakid1 (Mar 19, 2008 9:43 am)

Replies to this message:
• creakid1 (Mar 26, 2008 4:58 pm)
  • walterquint (Mar 27, 2008 5:18 am)
    • robbieg (Mar 27, 2008 8:55 am)
    • creakid1 (Mar 31, 2008 5:06 pm) and 2 more...

Replying to: donwilson2 (Mar 25, 2008 7:08 pm)

The Astra is not a "no-good piece of junk" American car. There's no point getting excited about being superior to the Ion.

Replies to this message:
• walterquint (Mar 27, 2008 5:18 am)
  • robbieg (Mar 27, 2008 8:55 am)
  • creakid1 (Mar 31, 2008 5:06 pm)
    • moparbad (Mar 31, 2008 8:38 pm) and 1 more...

Replying to: creakid1 (Mar 26, 2008 4:58 pm)

Replies to this message:
• robbieg (Mar 27, 2008 8:55 am)
• creakid1 (Mar 31, 2008 5:06 pm)
  • moparbad (Mar 31, 2008 8:38 pm)
    • creakid1 (Apr 03, 2008 6:04 pm)

Replying to: walterquint (Mar 27, 2008 5:18 am)

Replying to: walterquint (Mar 27, 2008 5:18 am)

Replies to this message:
• moparbad (Mar 31, 2008 8:38 pm)
  • creakid1 (Apr 03, 2008 6:04 pm)

Replying to: creakid1 (Mar 31, 2008 5:06 pm)

Replies to this message:
• creakid1 (Apr 03, 2008 6:04 pm)

Replying to: moparbad (Mar 31, 2008 8:38 pm)

64.8mph
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.