It's Official: 2008 Saturn Astra

[NFS4]

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=118765

 

[Ika]

I don't think I like how it looks, but there's only one pic.

 

[Tylanner]

ions sold like smokin cakes didnt they?

 

[Stumps]

HAHA....the Astra is crap...we've had since the 1980's here in Australia...and they suck big time, they are sold by GMH here.

 

[RaistlinZ]

Well, it's better than the Ion. At least Saturn is starting to produce cards with appealing designs.

 

[imported_bum]

Not bad.

 

[Strk]

The Ion had two major issues: 1) it was pretty unreliable (a lot of electric gremlins) and 2) unbelievably cheap interior materials.

If GM doesn't address those issues with the Astra, I don't see the point. I have hope though. The Aura is a great car, so maybe they've finally wised up?

 

[vi edit]

It's got the chin of a B5 Passat. Very Euro curves (duh!). It's okay. Definitely not as polarizing as the Ion. Looks like a good little brother match to the Aura.

 

[Ktulu]

Bump^

http://www.thecarlounge.com/news/publish/article_678.shtml

I love the new Saturn!

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: RaistlinZ
Well, it's better than the Ion. At least Saturn is starting to produce cards with appealing designs.

you find that appealing? the current ion looks 10x better than that thing

 

[Dr. Detroit]

I really liked the Quad Coupe. Drove a RedLine and it handled very well, had great pick-up, and fantastic seats. I even like the exterior styling of it.

Sure the center mounted gauge cluster sucked ass but I grew accustomed to it after a while.

Astra for Saturn will surely help out in the sales department!

 

[AdamK47]

ATOT car threads consist of two types of posts. Posts about the looks of the vehicle and posts about the quality.

That said, I think it looks like a stack of pancakes with the quality of a hot dog bun.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Well, one reason I've always considered Saturns is their supposed cheap repairs as I like to buy new and keep my cars for a long time. So I'm concerned about just how "European" this thing will be because to me European is a synonym for Over-Priced-Out-Of-Stock-Parts.

 

[B00ne]

here are more pics - the name of the car is Opel Astra GTC

 

[Mermaidman]

It's good to see a hatchback option--too few of those.

Wow, if GM would keep this interior for Saturn . . .

 

[CrackRabbit]

I swore I would never consider another Saturn after the POS the S-series I had turned out to be. But the Astra may make me change my mind. Any European ATers here to comment on their reliability?

 

[B00ne]

Well I dont know, you guys believe those JD Power ratings and according to them all German manufacturers are bad, However our TÜV reports, ADAC reports etc. paint quite a different picture so... Believe what you want.

Anyway Opel had a bad reputation in the 90's which was the result of cutting costs by GM in the wrong areas and other bad management decisions. Opel is still hurt by that bad reputation - however, they are quite good - probably no Toyota though.

 

[freegeeks]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
I swore I would never consider another Saturn after the POS the S-series I had turned out to be. But the Astra may make me change my mind. Any European ATers here to comment on their reliability?

a friend of mine has a diesel Astra and he's happy about it

 

[halik]

They should just disband the saturn name and sell them as opels

 

[DanTMWTMP]

woa, the astra hatch looks pretty nice. I really like Saturn's makeover. Now if they have comparible interiors, then that'd be just awesome. The production Aura was a bit of a disapointment compared to its concept. I really dig Saturn's new direction however.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Originally posted by: halik
They should just disband the saturn name and sell them as opels

as wierd as this sounds, the name Saturn sounds actually cool, and I've always liked their logo. It's just their cars associated w/ it looks crappy lol. In the next couple of years, it can turn into a semi-youth brand. The designs are there, and I hope they keep it up. Finally they have cars to match their name/logo since their inception.

 

[Mermaidman]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP

Originally posted by: halik
They should just disband the saturn name and sell them as opels

as wierd as this sounds, the name Saturn sounds actually cool, and I've always liked their logo. It's just their cars associated w/ it looks crappy lol. In the next couple of years, it can turn into a semi-youth brand. The designs are there, and I hope they keep it up. Finally they have cars to match their name/logo since their inception.

Yah, "Opel" doesn't sound cool. As for Saturn, lets examine other planetary names:

1) Mercury: good, but taken
2) Venus: sounds like a strip joint
3) Earth: good name for a 'green' line
4) Mars: candy
5) Jupiter: Sounds big and bloated; would conjur images of old Buick
7) Uranus . . .
8) Neptune: has potential, but I suspect Apple has secretly trademarked "iNeptune"
9) Pluto: no longer a planet

So in conclusion, I agree that Saturn is a good name.

 

[Linux23]

LOL. What was the name of the car company that Peter Dellaplane owned in Action Jackson?

"HOT, HOTTER, HOTTEST"

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
7) Uranus . . .

?
what?

 

[Squisher]

Ahead of the steering wheel is a rounded cockpit binnacle that houses a large, three-dimensional gauge cluster ? including large speedometer and tachometer dials.

Thank god they didn't put the speedo in the center of the dash again.