[nsap]

2009 Astra = 2008 Astra
GM's 2009 Order Guide & Fleet Guide are both showing no changes to ASTRA
www.gminsidenews.com

We at GMI have been searching high and low for any tid-bit of details on the 2009 Saturn Astra. The car launched in the 2008 model-year with very few options and an engine that barely meets segment standards. Although the car has many good qualities, many within the Saturn fanfare were wishing for the addition of some of the buffet of options that are offered on the European-spec Astra. GM has finally put the 2009 Astra up on the Online Order Guide, as well as the 2009 GM Fleet Guide; both showing no changes at all to the 2009 model Astra.


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[PA Dweller]

Wow thats lame.

 

[genjy]

It's time to cue to magic word we know so well:

Stopgap

 

[dindak]

Why is this car not made in Spring Hill? GM must be spending a fortune on shipping and the Euro / dollar exchange must be killing them. GM must be doing all they can to cut costs.

That said, car makers usually don't do much from year 1 to year 2 and this car was late for an 08 anyway. No big deal.

 

[vsd]

It's time to cue to magic word we know so well:

Stopgap

Probably followed by another one we have become well acquainted with:

Incentives

 

[CadiEldo67]

Isn't the Astra due for a redesign around 2010 anyways? What is 2 more years in the automotive world? The Camaro might be out and about by then.

 

[Avalanche13]

Is there a reason Astra doesn't have the superior in every way 2.2L Cobalt XFE drivetrain? 36mpg in a Euro package is bound to sell.

 

[FenwickHockey65]

:brick
:brick
:brick

Why GM?!?!? WHY?!?! Does it take that much effort to just throw in a few option packages?!?

 

[coaster.n3rd]

It's time to cue to magic word we know so well:

Stopgap

Correct. The attitude from the dealer reps has changed over the last two months. At first it was "we will sell about 35,000 this year" to "Its' a stop gap, we will sell about 15,000 and we are not touching it"

Oh well... I'm more than making up for the Ion with 4 cyl Aura's. I'm out of those.

 

[DuSpinnst]

Correct. The attitude from the dealer reps has changed over the last two months. At first it was "we will sell about 35,000 this year" to "Its' a stop gap, we will sell about 15,000 and we are not touching it"

Oh well... I'm more than making up for the Ion with 4 cyl Aura's. I'm out of those.

Dude, that is lame. Good news on the Aura though.

 

[Aprime]

Divert stock to Canada, ffs.

The car would be selling well here if it weren't for the low availability.

3-doors are a rarity and so are manuals, and orders take 3 months to arrive.

Other than that I'm pretty please with the car and I'll be replacing my 07 Wave with an 08 Astra within the end of June.

3-door and it's even possible it will be in a custom color, 4 dealers are fighting for a sale (one's a regular GM dealer that doesn't want to lose me as a customer, so).

 

[vandy0419]

I haven't been so damn disappointed in Saturn as I am now.

 

[goblue]

$4 gas and GM misses the opportunity to improve their best weapon against it. How about a diesel? Instead we can't even get a competitive 4 cylinder - even though GM has what, 5 that would be an improvement?

 

[Ronald McChevy]

ridiculous. i guess i'll be hanging onto my car for a little while longer...

 

[chickenkicker]

$4 gas and GM misses the opportunity to improve their best weapon against it. How about a diesel? Instead we can't even get a competitive 4 cylinder - even though GM has what, 5 that would be an improvement?

I really don't see why they can't throw in a better 4cyl, the only reason I can think of is that it would take so much time to get it certified, etc. that they couldn't get it out in time for the 09my. Tho if that's the case they should have started working on it earlier imo. As for a Diesel, when regular gas here is $3.87 a gallon and Diesel is $5.29 a gallon a diesel car really isn't as appealing to me as it used to be when it costs $1.42 more per gallon to fill it up (and probably more soon the price of diesel has been rising at a much faster rate than gas around here, 6 months ago diesel was only 90cents to a dollar more than regular).

 

[megeebee]

Why is this car not made in Spring Hill? GM must be spending a fortune on shipping and the Euro / dollar exchange must be killing them. GM must be doing all they can to cut costs.

.

1) Spring Hill is being renovated to build the Chevrolet Traverse, going on sale this fall.


2) Astra sales are microscopic, so far anyway. Through the end of April only 2386 had found buyers (since going on sale in January). There were some 8000 in nationwide inventory. At that rate, GM won't have to import any more for quite a while.

 

[Sparta]

Lame, GM deserves to sell as few as possible because of this.

 

[megeebee]

.....and by the way, did anyone seriously expect any changes???

 

[Strapping.Young.Lad]

i still havent seen an Astra at a dealer or on the road.

 

[FenwickHockey65]

i still havent seen an Astra at a dealer or on the road.

I've seen one.
That's it.
*sighh*