Just test drove a Saturn Astra
11/26/08, 08:17 PM
#1
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Just test drove a Saturn Astra
Wow this car was fun to drive. The handling was absolutely amazing. It was so firm and and the steering was extremely tight. Obviously it had no power but I tossed that car around and it responded very well. The salesperson told me to head back to the dealership and I wanted to keep driving. It would be sitting in my driveway right now except for one major issue. Saturn doesn't lease! Leasing works out better for me for certain reasons. I was so upset, what a buzz kill.
11/26/08, 08:34 PM
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If I am not mistake the Astra is made by Opel. That might account for the good handling.
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...tra_auto_shows
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...tra_auto_shows
11/27/08, 06:37 AM
#7
NTTAWWT
from what I hear they are pretty good cars. and as far as the power, Im sure there's a turbo for it somewhere. I actually kinda like the looks of the car. especially these:
11/27/08, 09:30 AM
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But whats the deal with Saturn in general. They dont offer any finance or lease programs. Why would anyone touch a Saturn. They have to cut the $hit.
11/28/08, 09:14 AM
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Hopefully when Ford starts, finally, to bring over its Eurowares, i.e., the Fiesta, Focus, and hopefully others -- undiluted and unmolested to suit "American tastes," and ruined in the process -- Ford lovers, too, will be able to savors the joys of excellent driving dynamics that the Europeans do so well.
As far as the Astra, I can only imagine it would not even take GM too long to realize the plainly obvious expedient of dropping in the torquey little turbo-terror four banger that's doing a fine job of pushing the Solstice, Cobalt SS and stallmate, the Sky. Such a scorcher would bit right in with the MazdaSpeed 3, GTI, Cobalt, and Mini Cooper S as a growing pack of "premium" small performance cars.
I think Detroit has too much looked upon small cars solely as penalty-box econo-boxes, merely to be endured until one has the means to buy a "real," read "big," car. Thus, they've put no real effort into actually making these cars truly enjoyable and desirable in and of themselves but, rather, created them as automotive hairshirts to be endured as some sort of rolling penance.
However, in retort to the cribbed Detroit worldview, this growing swell of premium small cars, with all their actually desirable attributes, is showing that there are many people who look at their cars more qualitatively than quantitatively, that actually, gasp, want a small car, though of high quality in all aspects.
That a Mini Cooper S, GTI or Saturn Astra are joys to sit in, drive and own ought not to be such a mind-blowing revalation but an reasonable expectation. No, they aren't dirt cheap nor are they striving to be and ought not to be judged merely by the slightest of price tags -- such a cribbed cost-per-pound analysis completely misses the whole point. This is especially true in the current economic realities and the fact that the overall energy price trendlines will be ever higher in the future. I only hope that we will soon have similarly compelling small cars showing up in Ford's showrooms in the not to distant future.
As far as the Astra, I can only imagine it would not even take GM too long to realize the plainly obvious expedient of dropping in the torquey little turbo-terror four banger that's doing a fine job of pushing the Solstice, Cobalt SS and stallmate, the Sky. Such a scorcher would bit right in with the MazdaSpeed 3, GTI, Cobalt, and Mini Cooper S as a growing pack of "premium" small performance cars.
I think Detroit has too much looked upon small cars solely as penalty-box econo-boxes, merely to be endured until one has the means to buy a "real," read "big," car. Thus, they've put no real effort into actually making these cars truly enjoyable and desirable in and of themselves but, rather, created them as automotive hairshirts to be endured as some sort of rolling penance.
However, in retort to the cribbed Detroit worldview, this growing swell of premium small cars, with all their actually desirable attributes, is showing that there are many people who look at their cars more qualitatively than quantitatively, that actually, gasp, want a small car, though of high quality in all aspects.
That a Mini Cooper S, GTI or Saturn Astra are joys to sit in, drive and own ought not to be such a mind-blowing revalation but an reasonable expectation. No, they aren't dirt cheap nor are they striving to be and ought not to be judged merely by the slightest of price tags -- such a cribbed cost-per-pound analysis completely misses the whole point. This is especially true in the current economic realities and the fact that the overall energy price trendlines will be ever higher in the future. I only hope that we will soon have similarly compelling small cars showing up in Ford's showrooms in the not to distant future.
Last edited by rhumb; 11/28/08 at 09:17 AM.
11/28/08, 09:46 AM
#11
thanks for compliments on my car! I'd rather have a Mustang anyway. But have a look at the European gas prices (and local taxes that make American cars so expensive) and you will know why I chose Astra 
where did You hear Opel meant good handling??? I hope You aren't one of those naive Americans who think this way 'it's made in Europe, it must be good'
where did You hear Opel meant good handling??? I hope You aren't one of those naive Americans who think this way 'it's made in Europe, it must be good'
Last edited by RalphBullit; 11/28/08 at 10:03 AM.
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