Review of the Saturn Astra

Ttple · 05-17-2008, 08:55 PM

http://info.detnews.com/autosconsume...x.cfm?id=27723

**mgescuro** · 05-17-2008, 09:22 PM

If only the 3 door had a sunroof!!??

Maybe the new Astra due next year will have it in the 3-door model.

kenman923 · 05-17-2008, 09:29 PM

It could use more than one cupholder. Also, I would like to see a nav system. Come to think of it, I want a nav system for the Aura.

MrJamesMc · 05-17-2008, 09:39 PM

This car never wowed me and it doesn't seem to be wowing the reviewers or the general public. I don't think European cars sold as American really work out that well, ie: Eagle Premier.

I am sure someone might want to quote me and say, "But the Astra is a different segment than the Eagle and blah blah blah."

That isn't my point. The Saturn Astra is too European to be "American," and doesn't have what an American consumer is shopping for. Too expensive for that you get and underpowered. It's a flop no matter how you slice it.

logansowner · 05-17-2008, 09:44 PM

Lets just say that they are about as moved by this thing as I was when I saw it. It looks like it's about 5 years old. At least the Honda Fit looked new even if it wasn't. This thing is boring outside and the interior is not bad in a quality sense, but God awful in style.

Steel4ring · 05-17-2008, 09:57 PM

I really like the Astra. Would love to get a 3 door, but lack of sunroof is a real downer.....wished it was about $1500 cheaper and got about 3-4 MPG more.

gmhashope · 05-17-2008, 10:11 PM

The Astra has 3 cupholders by the way.

RedVee8 · 05-17-2008, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmhashope

The Astra has 3 cupholders by the way.

the ones in the doors are close to useless though, ok for bottled water.

megeebee · 05-17-2008, 10:46 PM

If people don't start buying the Astra, this may all be academic. At the end of April only 909 had been sold and some 9000 were inventory around the country.

Aprime · 05-17-2008, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedVee8

the ones in the doors are close to useless though, ok for bottled water.

Ugh, I believe he was referring to the ones slightly under the rear back seats.

In other news, I just saw my first one on Canadian roads. It looked great in red, which is pretty surprising as I don't like many cars in firetruck (well, I admit it's slightly more orangish than firetruck) red.

I have however, seen many more CTSes and Malibus and new Vibes/Matrixes, so... >_>... Not to mention the updated Mazda 5 (I'm in Quebec, and it understandably sells extremely well) and Corolla (I just yell "no taste" everytime I see one, seriously >_>).

YupYupYup · 05-17-2008, 11:47 PM

See both the 5-door and 3-door, as mentioned in other threads. Only the 3-door in red, blue or black looks nice...Maybe the orange too. However the 5-door looks old and bland. I guess they are stop-gaps until the new one arrives semi-soon. They need to get the new one (if it is good) here soon. The current Astra will do nothing to invigorate the Saturn small-car line-up. Sad...

CmicasatheGreat · 05-18-2008, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megeebee

If people don't start buying the Astra, this may all be academic. At the end of April only 909 had been sold and some 9000 were inventory around the country.

Dude where do U get your figures?

In April 909 were sold... for the year since it went on sale in the middle of January it has sold 2,386. Not great but better than the Audi A3 at least... with absolutely no TV Ads to boot. I think if GM advertised the car and didn't hobble it with only one engine choice it would be seriously well thought of... Giving it even the Cobalt's engine choices would be a great thing.

plane · 05-18-2008, 12:09 AM

GM did a great job marketing the Astra in our area.
Saturn was bringing the Astra out for a ride and drive event.
We signed up and were ready to go.
Saturn canceled the event.

Surprisingly, there is no Astra sitting in my driveway.
Still pondering the cause and effect on that one.

dav305z · 05-18-2008, 12:27 AM

I test drove one and it's a fun little car. Unfortunately, Saturn's lack of marketplace presence is going to hurt this just like it's doing to the Aura, Vue and Outlook. Someone at GM better take notice. They need to launch a huge marketing campaign or quickly shift all these cars over to Pontiac.

cbennie2 · 05-18-2008, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steel4ring

I really like the Astra. Would love to get a 3 door, but lack of sunroof is a real downer.....wished it was about $1500 cheaper and got about 3-4 MPG more.

I like how everyone says about the mileage being low. A coworker has a Toyota Camry Hybrid that gets him 36 mpg....on the highway...

Although I agree it is not class leading FE, it isn't the worse option available on the road.

05-17-2008, 08:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ttple 3.6 Liter V6 Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,235	Review of the Saturn Astra http://info.detnews.com/autosconsume...x.cfm?id=27723

05-17-2008, 09:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
mgescuro GMI Staff Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 23,182	Re: Review of the Saturn Astra If only the 3 door had a sunroof!!?? Maybe the new Astra due next year will have it in the 3-door model. __________________ 2000 Saab 9-5 Aero 1995 Mercedes C280 1994 Jaguar XJ6 ...when all hope is gone, you know sad songs say so much... My Vision of Cadillac My Vision of Cadillac (REDUX)

05-17-2008, 09:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
kenman923 4.4 Liter Supercharged Northstar Join Date: Feb 2005 Drives: 2001 Saturn L300 Posts: 2,475	Re: Review of the Saturn Astra It could use more than one cupholder. Also, I would like to see a nav system. Come to think of it, I want a nav system for the Aura. __________________ Current: 2001 Saturn L300 Gone but not forgotten: 1993 Saturn SL2 1986 Nissan Sentra

05-17-2008, 09:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
MrJamesMc 3.8 Liter V6 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Fort Worth Drives: 1999 2-Door Chevrolet Tahoe Posts: 416	Re: Review of the Saturn Astra This car never wowed me and it doesn't seem to be wowing the reviewers or the general public. I don't think European cars sold as American really work out that well, ie: Eagle Premier. I am sure someone might want to quote me and say, "But the Astra is a different segment than the Eagle and blah blah blah." That isn't my point. The Saturn Astra is too European to be "American," and doesn't have what an American consumer is shopping for. Too expensive for that you get and underpowered. It's a flop no matter how you slice it. __________________ Flickr

05-17-2008, 09:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
logansowner 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Between the puck and the mesh Posts: 1,697	Re: Review of the Saturn Astra Lets just say that they are about as moved by this thing as I was when I saw it. It looks like it's about 5 years old. At least the Honda Fit looked new even if it wasn't. This thing is boring outside and the interior is not bad in a quality sense, but God awful in style.

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05-17-2008, 09:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
Steel4ring 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Virginia Drives: 2008 GMC Acadia 2006 Chevy Colorado Posts: 508	Re: Review of the Saturn Astra I really like the Astra. Would love to get a 3 door, but lack of sunroof is a real downer.....wished it was about $1500 cheaper and got about 3-4 MPG more.

05-17-2008, 10:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
gmhashope 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 3,954	Re: Review of the Saturn Astra The Astra has 3 cupholders by the way. __________________

05-17-2008, 10:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
megeebee 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: Feb 2005 Drives: 2005 CTS 3.6 Posts: 3,337	Re: Review of the Saturn Astra If people don't start buying the Astra, this may all be academic. At the end of April only 909 had been sold and some 9000 were inventory around the country. __________________ "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 Last edited by megeebee : 05-17-2008 at 10:52 PM.

05-17-2008, 11:47 PM	#11 (permalink)
YupYupYup 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 630	Re: Review of the Saturn Astra See both the 5-door and 3-door, as mentioned in other threads. Only the 3-door in red, blue or black looks nice...Maybe the orange too. However the 5-door looks old and bland. I guess they are stop-gaps until the new one arrives semi-soon. They need to get the new one (if it is good) here soon. The current Astra will do nothing to invigorate the Saturn small-car line-up. Sad... __________________ Fight Corruption in America Unbelieveable

05-18-2008, 12:09 AM	#13 (permalink)
plane 6.0 Liter LS2 V8 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Just right here Drives: 2005 Chevy Colorado Posts: 4,834	Re: Review of the Saturn Astra GM did a great job marketing the Astra in our area. Saturn was bringing the Astra out for a ride and drive event. We signed up and were ready to go. Saturn canceled the event. Surprisingly, there is no Astra sitting in my driveway. Still pondering the cause and effect on that one. __________________ Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character. Henry Clay

05-18-2008, 12:27 AM	#14 (permalink)
dav305z 6.2 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,512	Re: Review of the Saturn Astra I test drove one and it's a fun little car. Unfortunately, Saturn's lack of marketplace presence is going to hurt this just like it's doing to the Aura, Vue and Outlook. Someone at GM better take notice. They need to launch a huge marketing campaign or quickly shift all these cars over to Pontiac. __________________ "The movement you need is on your shoulders" - Paul McCartney

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