I didn't have time to stop and look at it but I saw a new Saturn Astra out in front of a Saturn dealership today. It looked pretty sweet, hatch back with the nice wheels..

 

A good looking car, that gets good gas mileage. Exactly what a lot of Americans are going to be looking for. Believe it or not lots of people want economical cars, that don't cost much ,look great, and get good mileage.

Hopefully for the rest of us they release a turbo version. If they do...i'll take one with the big glass moonroof thing.

 

They should put a LS4 in it with a turbo.

 

That seems like overkill.
I like it!

realistically though, it should get the 2.0DI Turbo from the Cobalt/HHR/Solstice/Sky at some point. Thats basically what the VXR is, isn't it?

 

Don't you assume that is what the Redline version will be?

 

Eventually, but likely not until the next generation in a couple of years. The european Astra has a different turbo Ecotec than the one in the Cobalt and HHR that doesn't meet U.S. emissions regulations.

Personally, I'm hoping for one of the turbodiesels as an option on the next gen.

 

I sat in one at NAIAS. Pretty nice little car, everything seemed fairly well put together. I dont know how it'll compare to the Civic and Corolla, but it is styled nicely and is leaps and bounds above the ION.

 

Really good looking car with lots of character, and from what I've read, has kept its Euro handing legacy intact (even if it is slow). Kinda like a Honda Fit for the domestic crowd. I also think the hatchbacks are a great idea in smaller cars. If I was in the market for a DD, this would be high on my list.

 

The one they had on the show floor at the NAIAS (the 5 door) had a HUGE sunroof. I liked the car if I were on the market for something like the Astra it would be on my short list.

In my opinion it looks worlds better than the Cobalt, which could use a refresh right about now to begin with.

 

 

And that's EXACTLY what people want, in many ways. I had a $75 test drive offer from the Boston Auto Show to test drive a Ford product...any Ford. I figured, what the hell, I'd try a Focus out. Cheap car, good on gas, redesigned, so why not?

I was actually, really, really surprised. I liked it. No it isn't fast. No, it isn't an exceptional handler. But, its cheap to buy (the one I drove was a $19,300 SES with Sync, AT, leather wheel with audio and cruise controls, 16" alloys, cruise, side air bags, ABS, etc.) with a $1,500 rebate, has some neat features like Sirius, Sync, etc., gets 35 MPG highway on the EPA revised rating with the M5 (which drops the price to $18,500), and was a decent looking little car IMO, despite being a little long in tooth.

We both agreed, if we'd never had the Comp G, we'd probably buy one. But its hard going from a supercharged, loaded beast to a basic car. But, someday down the road when this one is tired, we're going back to a high MPG small car for a DD. Gas prices are nuts, and if she drove 20k miles a year (I drive 35k on a company car) instead of her 12k in 13 months of ownership of the GTP, we'd trade it now probably.

I'm tired of supporting terrorists and oil companies. For me personally? I'd buy an Astra today...but why no 3 door with a SUNROOF?? Can't get one! I love one despite having not even sat in one yet. She hates hatchbacks, but I love 'em...

 

Same story with me and my wife...she hates hatchbacks..i love them.

I didn't know the sunroof wasn't available ont he 3-door...are you yanking my chain? I don't want a 4-door.

 

My mom is buying a 3-door , just waiting for it to get to the dealer . To bad we couldnt have more variation . The combo's for the Astra are rather extensive . Hopefully they bring in the all the turbo engines , the diesels and the Redline with the next gen . I really like this car and a VXr/OPC/Redline would be a nice replacement for my high mile Cobalt SS .

 

Definitely a cool looking little car. Esp the 3 door. I would buy this over a Cobalt if I were in the market but the Cobalt's design has been around a little while. Glad the Astra finally made it over here.

Gotta say, looking at Saturn's site, it is truly amazing how different they are from even 5 years ago. No goofy looking Ions or boxy Vue's. Saturn's lineup actually looks pretty solid.

 

Agreed. Anyone know what the curb weight is?

Lack of sunroof on the 3-door I think makes this car a no-go for me.