Chicago: Astra, Vue RL Debut!

[Black AH CDX]

Originally Posted by escaladelover

This car is an utter rip-off of Dodge Caliber, Look at the same shape.

Either you were terribly drunk or high on a lethal mix of chemicals when you made that comment, or you are legally blind.

[dean_smits]

Originally Posted by Geotpf

Ouch, that's pretty bad then.

Highway EPA numbers for various compact and subcompact cars:

Civic Hybrid: 51
Corolla Manual Trans: 41
Yaris Manual, Mini Cooper Manual, Civic Auto: 40
Yaris Auto: 39
Fit Auto, Corolla Manual, Civic Manual: 38

(etc)

Yeah, I find it odd that its 34 mpg highway. Should be at least 36. The numbers are so close to the Civic, so whats the difference? Gearing? Drag?

[M_RABID]

Originally Posted by Mr. Burns

agreed, saturn can finally rival honda among young people for coolness.

I'm must be lost here.
Which Hondas are cool?

Accord is cool until you see it from more than just the side profile, then it's lame. Element is just plain goofy. Fit is stupid, not to mention a death trap.
Civic? please, god, no.

S2000 is cool... Sky is cooler.

[johnd59]

It's obvious to me that the problem with these small cars geting only 34 MPG is a gearing thing. My 2002 Saturn gets 40 to 41 MPG on the Highways and at 70 mph the engine is turning about 2400 rpms. They must figure they need all this torque at highway speed for some reason??!!! You know it isn't that hard to down shift if you want to pass. These small cars geting only 34 mpg need a final cruising gear for the highway!

[prototype66]

Originally Posted by escaladelover

This car is an utter rip-off of Dodge Caliber, Look at the same shape.

A) Your smokin dope, Caliber is hidious, Astra is sleak and modern.TYhey look nothing alike at all!
B) Astra was out far before the Dodge.

[prototype66]

Originally Posted by johnd59

It's obvious to me that the problem with these small cars geting only 34 MPG is a gearing thing. My 2002 Saturn gets 40 to 41 MPG on the Highways and at 70 mph the engine is turning about 2400 rpms. They must figure they need all this torque at highway speed for some reason??!!! You know it isn't that hard to down shift if you want to pass. These small cars geting only 34 mpg need a final cruising gear for the highway!

You are absolutely right, you have to wonder why the gearing ratio is so out of wack that it gets such mediocre numbers.