Jealous of all those sexy European cars? Hello Saturn..

Joshua312 · 10-21-07, 10:51

Just seen this today on Saturn's website, have not heard anything about this vehicle before. It will be available in 72 days...I will definitely be going to the dealership to see if this vehicle looks as nice in person. For the price, I believe it is going to give the Mazda 3 a run for it's money. The coupe version of the Astra is really sleek IMO.

2008 Saturn Astra Front Three Quarter View Photo - Motor Trend Magazine

2008 Saturn Astra - 2007 Chicago Auto Show

RedlineIRL · 10-21-07, 11:03

Too bad that there's not going to be a turbo OPC style version brought over soon.

3wide · 10-21-07, 11:11

it's still a saturn, that brand just never took off and i don't see that changing. if you buy a saturn buy it used, they don't hold resale.

RedlineIRL · 10-21-07, 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3wide

it's still a saturn, that brand just never took off and i don't see that changing. if you buy a saturn buy it used, they don't hold resale.

Is that a Chevy Malibu in your avatar? No offence, but it's no better in terms of resale. Same goes for most domestic vehicles.

P1et · 10-21-07, 11:36

The Opel/Vauxhall Astra was Europe's best selling car last year. Hope it will take off under the Saturn brand as well in the US.

PS: how about the VXR version???

RedlineIRL · 10-21-07, 11:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by P1et

The Opel/Vauxhall Astra was Europe's best selling car last year. Hope it will take off under the Saturn brand as well in the US.

PS: how about the VXR version???

They're not bringing a VXR/OPC turbo version over as soon as they are released. Possibly later on.

silverE230w210 · 10-21-07, 11:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by P1et

The Opel/Vauxhall Astra was Europe's best selling car last year. Hope it will take off under the Saturn brand as well in the US.

PS: how about the VXR version???

Apart from the VXR version the AStra is considered a faily mundane small family car
small engines as well!

We over here get jealous of all your V8s !!

SpoiledMan · 10-21-07, 12:01

No *hot* version and only 2 doors will keep sales low IMO. Even Honda went 4 doors with the Si.

WilliamHBonney · 10-21-07, 12:02

Looks nice but unless they have done something to change the interior its still a Saturn. Megan had one and my brother still has one. Its a budget car and it sure feels like a budget car.

Joshua312 · 10-21-07, 12:16

I guess I am easily pleased; but remember this is a "budget" car. You're not going to receive the fancy interior or engine performance of a more expensive vehicle...hence the price. I say give it a year to see how sales go and if favorable Saturn will probably add a Red Line version to set it apart...if they made the Ion a RL I'm sure they will do it with this vehicle.

SpoiledMan · 10-21-07, 12:21

From reading the excerpt from the Chicago Auto Show 2007, it appears that there was a need to "Redline" the Ion as it wasn't too well received.

What's special about it?
The most significant thing about the new Saturn Astra that the warm-and-fuzzy division of General Motors is to unveil at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show is that it is not the Saturn Ion.

We'll be getting to the specific merits of the Astra in a paragraph or two, but we don't want to let pass the opportunity to step on the neck of the Ion, a vehicle so uninspired, so awkward-looking that when a couple years ago GM took the wraps off it, the assembled media fell completely silent — at least until we heard the fat guy seated behind us snicker. The media reaction after driving the thing was less polite.

Aurora40 · 10-21-07, 12:45

I'm glad to see the latest crop of Saturn cars. Since they have started platform sharing, their cars have gotten a lot more interesting. However, I think the Aura is a better looking car than the Astra.

But to your title, are people really jealous of most european cars? Due to artificially high gas prices, taxes on displacement, pedestrian safety regs, etc, euro cars are generally puny, tall, and have sissy motors.