Saturn Officially Announces Pricing on Astra; Mazda3 in its Sights

  • Thread starter Thread starter YSSMAN
  • 50 comments
  • 2,379 views
YSSMAN

YSSMAN

Super-Cool Since 2013
Premium
Messages
21,286
United States
GR-MI-USA
Messages
YSSMAN
Messages
YSSMAN

013__scaled_600.jpg

002__scaled_600.jpg

018__scaled_600.jpg

005__scaled_600.jpg

saturn.astra.int.500.jpg

​

Edmunds Inside Line
Equipped with a DOHC 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual gearbox, the 2008 Astra 5-Door XE will carry a suggested sticker of $15,995, while the uplevel Astra 5-Door XR will start at $17,545. The sporty Astra 3-Door XR will be priced from $18,495. An optional four-speed automatic transmission will add $1,325 to the bottom line. All prices include shipping.

A Premium Trim package bundles leather upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats with manual lumbar and premium door panels for $795 on the 5-Door XR and $745 on the 3-Door XR.

A Sport Handling package, available only on the 5-Door XR, costs $695 and adds 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, stability control, lowered sport suspension and quick-ratio electrohydraulic power steering.

An Advanced Audio package on both XR models includes a six-disc CD/MP3 player, seven speakers and seven-band equalizer for $595.

Among the free-standing options are a dual-panel sunroof ($1,000), stability control ($495; standard on the 3-Door) and cloth heated front seats ($250).

Eighteen-inch wheels and tires are available only on the 3-Door.

What this means to you: The new Astra is a good-looking car, and priced to compete with the Mazda 3.
Click to expand...

Not bad, not bad at all. Although I would have figured that they would price the 3-door lower than the 5-door, I can't say I'm surprised. I'd be willing to bet the 3-door sells better anyway (it looks nicer, IMO). Factor in the GM discount, and you (well, me) could get a pretty nicely equipped model for less than $18K.

Just like the Rabbit and MINI, I'd happily spend the extra money on the Astra to get a better car than the xD.
 
I think I might wait to drive one before I make a decision on getting a car. This is priced right I must say and the GM discount would work.

I'd have to take those goofy Saturn badges off and replace them with Vauxhall ones or something though.
 
It's only an Astra, get a second hand Lexus or something.
 
Joey D
I'd have to take those goofy Saturn badges off and replace them with Vauxhall ones or something though.
Click to expand...

Christ, you must really hate Saturn :yuck:

Go find some Opel ones.
 
I really love how America gets all excited about an Astra. Then again, our Vectra amazed everyone too. Over here it's just the car you're forced to use as a company car.

It's really not a very exciting car - honest! We were wowed by its looks 3 years ago, but only because it was replacing a horrifically dull car. Now, here in 2007, it's really just a hire car that couldn't blend into the background anymore if they'd built it out of concrete.

I'm surprised how little they've changed it. The only differences I can see are slightly different front bumpers, reflectors in the wings and Saturn badges. Come on GM! It's a 4 year old car! Atleast try to make it look a little different.
 
Agreed. I've driven a standard one. While they are a pretty solid and well built car, they're nothing out of this world, seem a bit cheap for me on the inside and the clutch is way too light with no feel.

Get a Golf.
 
Casio
Agreed. I've driven a standard one. While they are a pretty solid and well built car, they're nothing out of this world, seem a bit cheap for me on the inside and the clutch is way too light with no feel.

Get a Golf.
Click to expand...

Agreed. But if you can get a healthy GM discount and really, really must have a brand new car, by all means get the Astra.

Just don't think you're getting a Saturn/Vauxhall/Opel badged Golf. It's not in the same league.
 
It's better than most other American-market (notice I didn't say American-built...not exclusive..) cars. It seems like most manufacturers send some of their least inspiring models here. Corolla. Cobalt. Focus. (Still Mk1!!!)

I doubt any of the fleet/rental grade models will be coming here. We have Chevrolet for that. As well, I could probably get one reasonably equipped for less money than a reasonably equipped Rabbit (Remember, we have bunnies, not Golfs) or Mazda. Not to mention, have it serviced at any GM dealer, and still have a reasonably nice car.

I mean, did you guys see the Ion or L-series cars? Talk about your rentals...
 
2006_Saturn_IonSedan_ext_1.jpg


Thats what we're replacing with the Astra. Someone from Europe please tell me how this isn't the best decision GM ever made...

Boring or not, its one of GM's better cars that we don't have here, and thusly we here in the United States get a bit excited. Like others have pointed out, we don't have much in the way of good "American" small-cars in the US. The Focus is too old, the Caliber is a joke, and the Cobalt is really only worth it because its so cheap. If this Saturn even holds and candle to the Rabbit, largely considered the best car in its class here, the Saturn should do well.

Last I heard, we're only importing 20,000 Astras to the US for 2008. We will only have this body style for a short period of time, as the Delta II cars should be both in Europe and in the US by 2010 (model year), and thereafter the Chevrolet and Saturn versions of the Astra will be built in the United States.
 
Naw, I don't think so.

the Opel's already on an updated chassis, is a much more solid package and value overall than the Cobalt was. Maybe. If the Cobalt were in the same starting price range.
 
Jim Prower
the Opel's already on an updated chassis, is a much more solid package and value overall than the Cobalt was
Click to expand...
No, no and no. The Cobalt sits on a newer version of the chassis than the Opel does. The Cobalt had more development time than the Opel did and is arguably more solid than it because of that. And Value can't be judged before the car comes out, though I doubt it will be terribly high being a Saturn. The Opel has no advantages over the Cobalt other than maybe looking better. And it especially doesn't have any if they are gonna charge 3 grand more a piece for them, which is more than the better-then-the-Cobalt G5. The interior might end up better, but considering how the Aura turned out I doubt it will be $3,000 or $1,000 better than its stablemates (especially considering the none bad at all Cobalt and G5 interiors).
 
TheCracker
Agreed. But if you can get a healthy GM discount and really, really must have a brand new car, by all means get the Astra.

Just don't think you're getting a Saturn/Vauxhall/Opel badged Golf. It's not in the same league.
Click to expand...

Which is why I'll probably end up with one.
 
YSSMAN
2006_Saturn_IonSedan_ext_1.jpg


Thats what we're replacing with the Astra. Someone from Europe please tell me how this isn't the best decision GM ever made...

Boring or not, its one of GM's better cars that we don't have here, and thusly we here in the United States get a bit excited. Like others have pointed out, we don't have much in the way of good "American" small-cars in the US.
Click to expand...
The best decision GM could have made was to built a car that competes with other cars in it's class that are out now and attemt to compete with thoes due out soon, and then sell it everywhere including the US while it's still a new car. The Astral isn't a bad car, but it's not a special car, it's mediocraty sets it apart, and that isn't a good thing. It's just so average in every way. It does nothing better than it's best rivals, I mean it does nothing worse than it's worst rivals either, but your buying into averageness when there's decent cars around that GM just don't seem to be interested in genuinely competing with.

Like I said, GM should have built a car that could compete with the Golf, Leon and Focus for years to come, but they built a car that was little more than average compared to the Golf, Leon and Focus than were nearing replacement time let alone a car that would be good against the new boys. The Astra was really one of the first of the current line up of cars in that class but that's no excuse to not try and be better than the class leaders. At least put some effort in, give the car some soul.

I can appreciate the fact that the US doesn't have the best cars to choose from in this segment and some of the ones you have like the Golf are built to a poorer standard or like the Focus are several years behind our smaller cars. But this is just another US Focus in the making, it's already 4 years old over here, it's already pretty much nothing more than the boring choice over here. It's just another car your getting that we will probably be seeing the back of soon.
 
Joey D
Any idea when this will go on sale?
Click to expand...

Last I had heard, it was supposed to be the end of September or early October. Your Saturn dealer may know more than I do though...

Toronado
Then this Opel will be the exact same, and saying it can compete with the Golf if the Cobalt cannot is a joke.
Click to expand...

The problem with this thinking is that the Cobalt was designed to be an MKIV competitor, which it does quite well. The Astra on the other hand came out about the same time as the MKV, and thusly is much closer in terms of performance.

Either way, and to expand on Dave's comments, we're only supposed to be getting this until the model cycle ends in 2010, as Saturn is now fully-integrated with Opel/Vauxhall.
 
YSSMAN
The problem with this thinking is that the Cobalt was designed to be an MKIV competitor, which it does quite well. The Astra on the other hand came out about the same time as the MKV, and thusly is much closer in terms of performance.
Click to expand...
How is that the case when the Opel came out before the Cobalt did?
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the MKV Golf out before both as well? For some reason they felt that benchmarking the MKIV model in the US was the way to go (we didn't see it until 2005, after the Cobalt as the Jetta). I really can't explain everything that GM did at the time, as I was pretty much unaware of the Astra up until a few years ago when I really began to care about foreign-market "Domestic" vehicles.

Don't get me wrong here, I love the Cobalt. However, it has fallen behind a bit. But, after looking at an LS Coupe on the Berger Chevrolet lot for LESS than $14,000, its one helluva car for one helluva price. But, I'd happily pay the extra money for the Astra. Why? I don't know.... I'd say they look better, probably drive better, wouldn't be surprised if they got better fuel mileage, probably are built better, and is as close as you're going to get to a Rabbit under an American make.

...The Rabbit is still top-dog, but I'm eager to give the Saturn a run to see how she feels. I'd love to be able to buy one, but I have no idea if I'd be able to afford one any time soon...
 
-> Um, no thanks, I'll keep my wagon instead. 👎

-> But I do like to test drive those hatches (esp. the sportiest XR) soon. I hope its not overrated, given to some people I know who says its amazing. :indiff:
 
YSSMAN
Either way, and to expand on Dave's comments, we're only supposed to be getting this until the model cycle ends in 2010, as Saturn is now fully-integrated with Opel/Vauxhall.
Click to expand...
If that's the case then it makes far more sense. But don't expect Vauxhalls to be special just because they're going to be sold in the US, they're average cars for average people, with the exceptions of the Vauxhalls that are not really Vauxhalls, like the Monaro and the VX220.
 
Correct, but like I've said before, the European definition of "regular" is quite different than "regular" here in the US. Your market is much more competitive, and thusly many of the products are fighting to be at the top with some really top-notch stuff. So what may be two or three pegs down from the top in Europe is likely to be at or near the top here in the US without a problem.

As long as they are reliable, built well, and drive with a fair amount of involvement, it will be ahead of the Civic, Corolla, Rio, Elantra, Caliber, Focus (MKI), Lancer, Impreza, Sentra, PT Cruiser, and certainly the Ion that preceded it.
 
I'm not 100% sure that's it's ahead of the new Civic, Corolla or the 2008 Impreza (Discounting the looks). I'd think the Honda and Toyota are built better than the Astra, with the Honda having more sportiness and the Toyota being more economical. That's without mentioning the Mazda 3 as well.

The Astra is actually quite thirsty from what you've (I've) come to expect from modern cars. With the 1.8 Autos averaging about 8L/100km (29mpg) and the 2.2 close to 10L/100km(23).
 
I believe our Civic is different than yours (you get the UK-spec model, right?), and quite honestly I really don't consider it a tour-de-force in the market like it used to be. As far as the Corolla is concerned, we're still on the old model, and I have no idea when we're getting the updated one. With the Impreza though, you may be right. I didn't get an opportunity to drive it, but the interior is definitely a low-point.

...And as far as I'm concerned, I'd call the Mazda3 probably the second-best car in the segment behind the Rabbit (Golf). But thats just me...

The fuel economy you speak of doesn't sound too bad. Most of the cars here will have the 1.8L ECOTEC (the only engine offered) with the slushbox (five-speed manual as an option), and averaging 29 MPG is better than what most Americans expect these days. Assuming that it has a mileage rating of 23-25 MPG in the city and 30-32 MPG on the highway (using 2008 EPA tests), that would be right around the average spot.
 
Our small car market goes as such:


1. VW Rabbit
2. Honda Civic
3. Mazda 3
4. Toyota Corolla
5. Hyundai Elantra
6. Ford Focus
7. Subaru Impreza
8. Nissan Sentra
9. Chevrolet Cobalt
10. Chrysler PT Cruiser
11. Dodge Caliber
12. Kia Spectra
13. Suzuki Forenza



We do have quite a few choices, but the Euro market has so much more.
 
Your list seems to go from decent to mediocre pretty fast. You'll probably find the Astra will slot just above the Corolla. Over here theres a damn sight more that three cars we'd rate above it though. Do cars in that segment not sell very well in the US or something, or is it just a market that for some reason hasn't been pushed.
 
Dave A
Your list seems to go from decent to mediocre pretty fast. You'll probably find the Astra will slot just above the Corolla. Over here theres a damn sight more that three cars we'd rate above it though. Do cars in that segment not sell very well in the US or something, or is it just a market that for some reason hasn't been pushed.
Click to expand...



It does sell well, just not as well as the Mid-size cars do. Also its kind of been dominated by the Corolla and the Civic for so long.....
 
God you guys are realy missing out on the MKII Focus so much, I had one last week while I was in Spain and it was fantastic, even with the crappy bridgestone turanzas it was equiped with it handled the twisty and mountainous roads with little body roll and I was impressed with the dbw response, the steering was a little light but gave me enough feedback and it wasnt too slow even though it was a 1600. I just dont understand why ford isnt pushing to release it against the astra in the us because its by far the better car than the astra and allot more fun to drive than the Golf is.
 

Latest Posts

Back