A Couple of Saturn Astra reviews

BerettaZ · 03-13-2008, 11:56 PM

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...rn-astra-5.htm

...somewhat critical throughout, but at the end they call it a "must see"

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...7753/1532/FREE

...this one, on the XE 5 door, is very positive.

silentgarth · 03-14-2008, 09:14 AM

Maybe the should have put the 2.4L ecotec in it. Then I'm sure it would be getting rave reviews all around.

spencerb · 03-14-2008, 09:48 AM

I'm averaging 34mpg in my Astra. I'll gladly take the 1.8 over the 2.4.

Bggriffi · 03-14-2008, 10:46 AM

Did anyone check out the reader comments below the 5-door XE article? GM haters are everywhere.

spencerb... is that mpg figure all highway?

91 s-10baja · 03-14-2008, 11:04 AM

re: autoweek
Is it possible to be excessively positive.........nah!

igotzzoom · 03-14-2008, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spencerb

I'm averaging 34mpg in my Astra. I'll gladly take the 1.8 over the 2.4.

Didn't I read/hear somewhere that the new 2.2L Ecotec gets 35 mpg on the highway? I rented a Cobalt, and the 2.2 seemed to have plenty of pep. The Astra needs at least one upgrade engine.

steinravnik · 03-14-2008, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igotzzoom

Didn't I read/hear somewhere that the new 2.2L Ecotec gets 35 mpg on the highway? I rented a Cobalt, and the 2.2 seemed to have plenty of pep. The Astra needs at least one upgrade engine.

I've rented several Cobalts and have gotten around 29 on the highway.

spencerb · 03-14-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bggriffi

spencerb... is that mpg figure all highway?

It's almost all highway (85%), about 60mph. I've been very easy on the gas to see what mpg I can get out of it. It's a 3-door manual, BTW.

I noticed that driving on flat roads even at low speeds you can get exceptional mpg as long as you are in the right gear. I can get in the upper 30s at 30mph in 4th gear. What really kills the mpg is acceleration and hills. I also immediately drop it into neutral and coast if I see a red light ahead.

megeebee · 03-14-2008, 01:40 PM

Sales of the Astra were about 750 last month. When did it officially go on sale?

member12 · 03-14-2008, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steinravnik

I've rented several Cobalts and have gotten around 29 on the highway.

Is that the same engine in the previous generation Malibu? I've rented one of those and gotten mid thirties on the highway.

Thrifty little engine.

spencerb · 03-14-2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megeebee

Sales of the Astra were about 750 last month. When did it officially go on sale?

January, although my retailer didn't get any until mid-February.

PA Dweller · 03-14-2008, 02:15 PM

What do you Astra owners think of the powertrain? Is it sluggish?

**Ghrankenstein** · 03-14-2008, 07:48 PM

I finally got to sit in one (an XR 2 dr with the awesome seats), and while I'm still going to give it a good test drive, but my spirits just completely sunk. The driver's seat, like other cars in this class, needs about 3 inches more travel to be comfortable for my long legs.

Ghrank

SirRaven · 03-14-2008, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spencerb

It's almost all highway (85%), about 60mph. I've been very easy on the gas to see what mpg I can get out of it. It's a 3-door manual, BTW.

I noticed that driving on flat roads even at low speeds you can get exceptional mpg as long as you are in the right gear. I can get in the upper 30s at 30mph in 4th gear. What really kills the mpg is acceleration and hills. I also immediately drop it into neutral and coast if I see a red light ahead.

I can completely agree with this statement. From what I have seen in my Astra it gets similar results as this. But going 75-80 on the highway can kill the mileage though, I am closer to more 30 or so when I am going that fast, but if I am closer to 65, 32 mpg or more would be easy to obtain.

red_rider · 03-14-2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steinravnik

I've rented several Cobalts and have gotten around 29 on the highway.

auto or manual? how fast were you going?

03-13-2008, 11:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
BerettaZ 2.0 Liter Supercharged ECOTEC Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 159	A Couple of Saturn Astra reviews http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...rn-astra-5.htm ...somewhat critical throughout, but at the end they call it a "must see" http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...7753/1532/FREE ...this one, on the XE 5 door, is very positive. __________________ 2005 GMC Sierra SLT Z-71 - SOLD 2002 Olds Intrigue GLS 1996 Chevy Beretta Z26 2007 Honda Odyssey EX-L...no more GM minivans lead me here

03-14-2008, 09:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
silentgarth 2.2 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 65	Re: A Couple of Saturn Astra reviews Maybe the should have put the 2.4L ecotec in it. Then I'm sure it would be getting rave reviews all around.

03-14-2008, 09:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
spencerb 1.8 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 57	Re: A Couple of Saturn Astra reviews I'm averaging 34mpg in my Astra. I'll gladly take the 1.8 over the 2.4.

03-14-2008, 10:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
Bggriffi 3.5 Liter V6 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Jackson, MS Drives: 2004 Acura TSX Posts: 233	Re: A Couple of Saturn Astra reviews Did anyone check out the reader comments below the 5-door XE article? GM haters are everywhere. spencerb... is that mpg figure all highway?

03-14-2008, 01:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
megeebee 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: Feb 2005 Drives: 2005 CTS 3.6 Posts: 3,334	Re: A Couple of Saturn Astra reviews Sales of the Astra were about 750 last month. When did it officially go on sale? __________________ "And that's why the Chevy Volt has been on the cover of every publication in the country for the last 18 months. This is not about cars. It's about America, dammit. Times are tough, and we're all tired of people in other countries laughing at us." -Gary Witzenburg

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03-14-2008, 02:15 PM	#12 (permalink)
PA Dweller 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lords Valley, PA Posts: 3,142	Re: A Couple of Saturn Astra reviews What do you Astra owners think of the powertrain? Is it sluggish? __________________ *Optional: Possible but not necessary; left to personal choice.* MEANING YOU DON'T PAY FOR IT IF YOU DON'T WANT IT. SO GET OVER YOURSELF. Learn the definition.

03-14-2008, 07:48 PM	#13 (permalink)
Ghrankenstein GMI Staff Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Springfield, MO Drives: 2004 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport 5-speed. Posts: 3,115	Re: A Couple of Saturn Astra reviews I finally got to sit in one (an XR 2 dr with the awesome seats), and while I'm still going to give it a good test drive, but my spirits just completely sunk. The driver's seat, like other cars in this class, needs about 3 inches more travel to be comfortable for my long legs. Ghrank __________________ NEW RIDE: 2008 Carp Poseidon (for fish-head delivery)

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