As some of you know, I will be moving to Greece in January and had planned on bringing a Mustang with me. Those plans have now fizzled and I must choose a car once I get there. My original choice was the Ford Focus ST which you can see in the link in my signature.

I would, however, like to get your opinion on this.


It's the Opel GT that's coming out spring next year. I know what some of you are thinking. "It's just a Saturn Sky with an Opel badge!" Well, you're half right. It's actually a Saturn Sky Redline with an Opel badge. That means that this beauty has a turbocharged 2.0 liter Ecotec with 260 HP and 260 lb-ft of torque. It's rear-wheel drive, a five-speed, and can hit 60 in under 6 seconds with a top speed of nearly 145 mph. (I'm sure I can fix that. ) It also costs 29000 Euros, which is only 1500 more than the Focus. Truthfully, I still think I like the Focus better, I was just wanting to see what you guys thought of the new baby Vette.

http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/opel_gt.asp
http://www.saturnfans.com/Cars/Futur...yredline.shtml
http://www.worldcarfans.com/news.cfm...world-premiere


So,


or,


Thoughts?

 

Since Ford is using GT name, is Opel really allowed to also use GT name?

 

I think it's only trademarked in the US and possibly UK. They don't sell Ford GTs in most parts of Europe and as far as I know Opel is called Vauxhall in the UK and it won't have the GT.

Plus, the Opel GT is a classic sports car that's being brought back for this. It's funny because even the original has a bit of a Corvette look to it.

 

Drove a Focus 5-door rental all around Scotland recently, very nice car, wish they'd bring that model here already. Similar mechanicals to a Volvo S40 T5, which is a good thing. Would be a good car, especially if you need some practicality too. I think the ST comes in both 3- and 5-door versions.

The Opal GT is basically a rebadged Saturn Sky/Pontiac Solstice -- very good cars overall and the 260 hp turbo versions ought to be real rockets (same power/weight ratio as a Stang GT). I'd read up on them on the Solstice sites (http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/) for a better idea.

 

I've driven the Solstice standard version, just around a small test track with speed limitations (GM's Drive in Las Vegas), and it felt pretty good. The turbo version would definitely be a kick.

And I don't think Ford has a lock on the designation "GT" for a car's trim level (they might for the model name GT itself though). The Pontiac Grand Am has had a GT level for years.

 

GT is just a generic name for a closed car. Gran Turismo, or Grand Touring. Ferrari used it on their cars way back in the 50's and 60's. The Pontiac GTO stole its name from the Ferrai 250 GTO and sparked a tremendous furor because of that, leading to a comparo by a mag in which the Pontiac got rightly thrashed.

Thus endeth the history lesson.

I have friends in Germany and Italy who have lesser Opels and both really like them.

Maverick128, I don't know why you're moving to Greece or what you're going to do there, but I think it's a cool move. I'm moving to Poland next summer to teach English and I don't think I'm even going to buy a car, though I may change my mind if I want to take some trips to the country. If I do it will be used.

And I don't look forward to paying European prices for gas, even for an economy car.

Go for the Opel! Good luck.

 

Have fun in Europe, both of you guys. I think you're gonna like it, I lived there for 15 years.

 

Are you an open top fan or not? That would aid my decison. I like the Focus ST, but I'm not a drop top fan, though the Opel is a very nice ride!

 

Why don't you try Volkswagen Golf V?

 

I'm not a big VW fan really. If I had to get one it would have to be the GTi anyway.

As far as drop-tops, I've never had one but I loved riding in my cousin's 65 Mustang convertible when he had it. Of course I would be worried about jerks slicing into the top to take whatever it is those hoodlums take these days. I think I'll stick with the ST. I just wanted to get opinions on the GT.

I'm moving to once again be with my family. My parents moved there 4 years ago and I remained here in the US with my aunt. Went to visit them again a few months ago and I loved it. It just seemed more relaxed and layed-back than my life here. People don't seem to worry much about anything. I need a break, I'm young, and I'm not paying for it so I figure, why not? I can always come back if I don't like it. I already speak Greek fluently (My family is Greek) and I have someone wanting to talk to me about jockeying on a local English radio station when I get there. (I've always wanted to be a radio personality.) It's an opportunity I can't pass up.

 

Well, no bad words on Opel, since my daily driver is one...

A 2006 Vectra GTS Sport with TurboDiesel (yes, this is Europe)



But since you're considering the Focus ST, why not consider the Opel Astra OPC with 240 HP Turbo and six speed (click for larger image) :

 

I love rag tops. I have had a 1959 Jaguar XK-150, a 1984 Alfa Romeo Spider, and my 1995 Mustang GT. Nobody ever sliced the tops. In fact, I never locked them because there was nothing of value in them. Radios were simple and I almost never listened to them anyway. The message to the bad guys was: there's nothing worth stealing so don't bother.

I'd go for the vert. If I could drive one for years in Seattle, you should love one in Greece.

 

I really need to stop thinking about this. I've found another choice that has less power but is a pretty cool looking hard-top vert. Also, it's still a Focus. The Focus Coupe-Cabriolet.




This happens every time I'm given time to think about something. I change my mind. A lot. Anyway, I kinda like this now, especially after learning that our home will be more in the city and I probably won't get a chance to try out the 223hp so I figure I may as well go with the vert for cruising in traffic.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/...upe-cabriolet/

Oh, and the Opel? I went and sat in the Sky to see what it was like and I gotta say, It's a little tight. Oh, and low. I think now it's between the Foci. The Astra is nice but it just reminds me way too much of a Malibu in the front.