[megeebee]

I was just looking at the April + 2008 YTD sales figures and was a little shocked at the small numbers being generated by the Astra.

909 in April

2396 since January 1st.

The last data on inventory was dated April 14, 2008. There were about 9000 in stock around the country, making a day's-supply figure of 325! Or, put another way: ONE YEAR'S WORTH.

I would have thought that they'd be flying out of dealers hands. Anyone as perplexed (and a little frightened) as I am?

 

[I-Love-Pontiac]

Maybe GM would have been better off putting their efforts into a new Cobalt and G5.

 

[Ronald McChevy]

I was just looking at the April + 2008 YTD sales figures and was a little shocked at the small numbers being generated by the Astra.

909 in April

2396 since January 1st.

The last data on inventory was dated April 14, 2008. There were about 9000 in stock around the country, making a day's-supply figure of 325! Or, put another way: ONE YEAR'S WORTH.

I would have thought that they'd be flying out of dealers hands. Anyone as perplexed (and a little frightened) as I am?

maybe its because GM hasn't advertised it at all. most people have no idea it exists.

 

[TriShield]

That and it costs substantially more as the car it replaced, the ION.

In fact most of Saturn's new line-up isn't performing well at all saleswise.

 

[FenwickHockey65]

I'm telling you, just advertise the car and people will be interested.
A better engine would be nice as well.

 

[I-Love-Pontiac]

I'm telling you, just advertise the car and people will be interested.
A better engine would be nice as well.

I don't think so. I've asked a lot of random people what they think about it, and no one seems interested. In order to get people to switch over to brand they are not comfortable with, you have to do something really different. There's nothing special about the Astra. It's not good looking, its not efficient, it's not sporty, it's not cheap, it doesn't have a nice interior, and it's expensive.

The Astra is a good car, but it's painfully average. The ION may have sucked, but at least it was unique, which gave people a reason to look at it. The Astra isn't turning any heads.

 

[Koasterking]

Where are the incentives?!?!

 

[TriShield]

There's nothing special about the Astra. It's not good looking, its not efficient, it's not sporty, it's not cheap, it doesn't have a nice interior, and it's expensive.

The Astra is a good car, but it's painfully average. The ION may have sucked, but at least it was unique.

Ha ha, what?

 

[DuSpinnst]

I would have gotten an Astra instead of the Jeep but they has NO leases on them. Other than "standard rates" which are exorbitant.

 

[jcgable]

I would venture to say it is because it is so expensive. It costs almost $18,000 to buy a version with Air Conditioning. As far as I'm concerned, that is the base model. That is an insane price for a compact vehicle. I think GM needs to realize that they aren't selling mini coopers-they are producing very expensively produced Chevy Cobalts.

 

[throwback]

No advertising, no subsidized leases equals low sales. As is typical of GM advertise something heavily (see the Aura) then act like it no longer exists, because there is something new, the Malibu. This is what happens when you have too many brands and not enough money.

 

[Elk]

maybe its because GM hasn't advertised it at all. most people have no idea it exists.

There was an ad for it during the last CSI: Miami. You call that no advertizing?

The Astra’s sales problem is: #1 what little reputation Saturn has is for building cheap cars. People looking for a premiums compacts don’t go to Saturn dealers. #2 the Astra’s fuel economy sucks for such an expensive car with such a weak engine.

 

[1931Chevy]

and people still ask why Ford didnt do like GM and bring the Euro Focus and Mondeo here to the states and here is your answer just ask GM

 

[Elk]

I’m going to add a little bit more. Can anyone here come up with a good argument for buying an Astra over a Focus?

 

[Koasterking]

I think the Astra is better looking inside and out compared to the Focus. Available Pano sunroof, heated seats, leather interior.

Downside. Lack of power, no Aux port, no bluetooth.

 

[t-rex]

I've yet to see any advertising for the Astra. And it's expensive for what you get.

 

[salbracht]

And people are yelling that Pontiac should shut it's doors ...

 

[Elk]

I think the Astra is better looking inside and out compared to the Focus. Available Pano sunroof, heated seats, leather interior.

Downside. Lack of power, no Aux port, no bluetooth.

The Focus has an available sunroof and heated leather seats.

And people are yelling that Pontiac should shut it's doors ...

Yes and that’s because a ton of people on here think the right way judge a brand is by what focus groups think instead of sales numbers and profits.

Who cares about the fact that GM makes money on the G5 and it outsells Astra by 2:1 some Civic owner in a focus group says he doesn’t like Pontiac.

 

[ChevroletRevived]

Count me in the ones that have never seen an ad for the Astra...

 

[Elk]

Count me in the ones that have never seen an ad for the Astra...

How? GM has had ads on TV and on MSN and Yahoo's main page.