2008 Saturn Astra XR
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A friend of mine has a 5 door, and he loves it. It's very unique and very euro. A lot of cool features like rain sensing wipers, and the gas door locks with the power door locks. It is very solid, the doors sounds like a vault when they close.
The Astras have the 1.8L from the Cruze, and it sure isn't fast. The other complaint is no aux-in, GM used that port for OnStar when they brought it to the US.
The Astras have the 1.8L from the Cruze, and it sure isn't fast. The other complaint is no aux-in, GM used that port for OnStar when they brought it to the US.
The car sold very poorly in the US, primarily because it was cramped, not quick as competition and has poor ergonomics in some areas such as the radio. It was such a flop, GM didn't even bother to bring it in for a second model year. Resale will likely suffer, some parts will be hard to get. It should be priced much less than popular competitors but it should feel like a German car and as a result be safer in a crash.
I remember reading a review that generally praised the dynamics of the car but panned the ergonomics and the interior. I remember someone saying that it had a "dot matrix" display at the top of the dash that would have looked dated in a Buick Reatta.
Edit: yes, here's that small dot matrix display.
Me, personally...I'd be looking at these if I were in the market for a car in this segment. As long as the prices were in line with other choices.
Edit: yes, here's that small dot matrix display.
Me, personally...I'd be looking at these if I were in the market for a car in this segment. As long as the prices were in line with other choices.
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Originally Posted By: dishdude
Actually the main reason it flopped was timing. The Astra was introduced just as the market crashed and the economy collapsed, plus it was assembled in Belgium - due to the weak dollar it was priced higher than rivals.
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Actually the main reason it flopped was timing. The Astra was introduced just as the market crashed and the economy collapsed, plus it was assembled in Belgium - due to the weak dollar it was priced higher than rivals.
This
My friend has an 08 3 door RED one bought new and really likes it after 43k miles. Likes it much better than his previous car. A loaded Accord coupe v6 that had a 28k sticker. That car was a rattle trap and after 3 days with it he wanted to return it.
There is one for sale locally at a dealer for 12k with 40k miles. Identical to my friends. Its at a dodge dealer zip code 44070 OH if you want to search for it.
There is one for sale locally at a dealer for 12k with 40k miles. Identical to my friends. Its at a dodge dealer zip code 44070 OH if you want to search for it.
I had a manual trans 3 Door XR with leather, and the optional 18" wheels. I loved everything about the car, except for the power, or should I say the lack of power. The ergos were a little weird, but you get used to it. I thought the interior was really nice quality. If the car would have had the 2.4L engine it would have been perfect and I would likely still have it. Car handled very well, just didn't have the power to match the handling and the looks. Euro Astras were available with the 2.0L turbo engine and several diesel engines. GM chose to import and certify only one engine. Towards the end of my ownership I had noted some cam drive issues on the Astra forums, and extremely long waits for parts. Between the economy dump, GM only certifying one engine, and the death of Saturn overall, it was doomed.
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I wonder what car company holds the record in the last 20 years for most models or lines discontinued?
Originally Posted By: JetStar
I had a manual trans 3 Door XR with leather, and the optional 18" wheels. I loved everything about the car, except for the power, or should I say the lack of power. The ergos were a little weird, but you get used to it. I thought the interior was really nice quality. If the car would have had the 2.4L engine it would have been perfect and I would likely still have it. Car handled very well, just didn't have the power to match the handling and the looks. Euro Astras were available with the 2.0L turbo engine and several diesel engines. GM chose to import and certify only one engine. Towards the end of my ownership I had noted some cam drive issues on the Astra forums, and extremely long waits for parts. Between the economy dump, GM only certifying one engine, and the death of Saturn overall, it was doomed.
That is one NICE looking 2 door hatch, especially in that color, with those wheels!!
Just think of how wicked it would have been with a 2.0 turbo EcoTec, and a great, lightweight AWD system/6 speed manual!
I had a manual trans 3 Door XR with leather, and the optional 18" wheels. I loved everything about the car, except for the power, or should I say the lack of power. The ergos were a little weird, but you get used to it. I thought the interior was really nice quality. If the car would have had the 2.4L engine it would have been perfect and I would likely still have it. Car handled very well, just didn't have the power to match the handling and the looks. Euro Astras were available with the 2.0L turbo engine and several diesel engines. GM chose to import and certify only one engine. Towards the end of my ownership I had noted some cam drive issues on the Astra forums, and extremely long waits for parts. Between the economy dump, GM only certifying one engine, and the death of Saturn overall, it was doomed.
That is one NICE looking 2 door hatch, especially in that color, with those wheels!!
Just think of how wicked it would have been with a 2.0 turbo EcoTec, and a great, lightweight AWD system/6 speed manual!
This does look like an interesting car.
I cold live with the lack of power in an attractive package with nice road manners.
GM has never seemed very savvy in its use of its deep bench of European cars as US imports nor in its use of its vast Euro parts bin.
GM limited itself to half-hearted efforts like this "Saturn" or the "Cadillac" Catera.
Maybe GM could have brought the Opel brand back to America as a medium priced offering, with toys, interiors and engines to match?
This might have enabled GM to capture some buyers who find other GM offerings either too prosaic or too plebeian.
I cold live with the lack of power in an attractive package with nice road manners.
GM has never seemed very savvy in its use of its deep bench of European cars as US imports nor in its use of its vast Euro parts bin.
GM limited itself to half-hearted efforts like this "Saturn" or the "Cadillac" Catera.
Maybe GM could have brought the Opel brand back to America as a medium priced offering, with toys, interiors and engines to match?
This might have enabled GM to capture some buyers who find other GM offerings either too prosaic or too plebeian.
I strongly considered the Astra. Mechanically, it's pretty good. It doesn't accelerate very well (compared to the 3.5 V6 competition neither does my 3.0 Mazda so that doesn't really bother me) but it cruises very well at freeway speed and it handles corners pretty well.
If you drive it back to back with a Cobalt, you'll pick the Astra in spite of the torque deficit.
It does have a timing belt
and some early problems with the VVT.
Then, there's the interior:
At first quick glance, it looks like the center stack from a Volvo C30, but then it all goes bad. There's a miniature monochrome monitor from your 1982 Radio Shack TRS-80 top center. Also a phone key pad from your 1987 Motorola brick phone below that. And then there's the pictographs. I make fun of European cars for their hieroglyphic control symbols, but this one is pretty bad. Maybe it's a Belgian thing.
If you drive it back to back with a Cobalt, you'll pick the Astra in spite of the torque deficit.
It does have a timing belt
Then, there's the interior:
At first quick glance, it looks like the center stack from a Volvo C30, but then it all goes bad. There's a miniature monochrome monitor from your 1982 Radio Shack TRS-80 top center. Also a phone key pad from your 1987 Motorola brick phone below that. And then there's the pictographs. I make fun of European cars for their hieroglyphic control symbols, but this one is pretty bad. Maybe it's a Belgian thing.
Orphan cars like Saturn, Saab and Suzuki, might be more valuable in the future. For now, they should be bargains.
Audi Junkie had an Astra; I seem to recall he rebadged it back to an Opel.
I also recall he had a higher regard for the performance of the car than most would.
I also recall he had a higher regard for the performance of the car than most would.
I wonder how hard it would be to swap the 1.4T from a Cruise/Sonic into an Astra.
Originally Posted By: MinamiKotaro
I wonder how hard it would be to swap the 1.4T from a Cruise/Sonic into an Astra.
I have a 1.4T in my 2011 Cruze and a 2.2 Ecotec in my 2005 Ion and they are very similar mpg wise. I would have stuck a 2.2 Ecotec (with a timing CHAIN) in that Astra and called it good.
While the 1.4T seems to be very economical in the Eco w/ MT it isn't anything special in the regular Cruze (6 speed A/T). I just returned from an 800 mile trip and averaged about 31 or 32 MPG....my Ion does the same (and my 08' Corolla does better). The quality of materials used in the Cruze are far superior to the Ion though....
I wonder how hard it would be to swap the 1.4T from a Cruise/Sonic into an Astra.
I have a 1.4T in my 2011 Cruze and a 2.2 Ecotec in my 2005 Ion and they are very similar mpg wise. I would have stuck a 2.2 Ecotec (with a timing CHAIN) in that Astra and called it good.
While the 1.4T seems to be very economical in the Eco w/ MT it isn't anything special in the regular Cruze (6 speed A/T). I just returned from an 800 mile trip and averaged about 31 or 32 MPG....my Ion does the same (and my 08' Corolla does better). The quality of materials used in the Cruze are far superior to the Ion though....
Originally Posted By: pbm
I would have stuck a 2.2 Ecotec (with a timing CHAIN) in that Astra and called it good.
The 1.4T has a timing chain.
I would have stuck a 2.2 Ecotec (with a timing CHAIN) in that Astra and called it good.
The 1.4T has a timing chain.
Originally Posted By: MinamiKotaro
Originally Posted By: pbm
I would have stuck a 2.2 Ecotec (with a timing CHAIN) in that Astra and called it good.
The 1.4T has a timing chain.
yes...but the 1.8 (in the Astra) has a belt.
My point was that the 2.2 Ecotec is just as economical and powerful as the 1.4T (in my application at least) so what's the point (of the 1.4T).
Originally Posted By: pbm
I would have stuck a 2.2 Ecotec (with a timing CHAIN) in that Astra and called it good.
The 1.4T has a timing chain.
yes...but the 1.8 (in the Astra) has a belt.
My point was that the 2.2 Ecotec is just as economical and powerful as the 1.4T (in my application at least) so what's the point (of the 1.4T).
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