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Chris @ Apr 8th 2008 12:06PM
not your typical run of the mill econo-box?
DUH, the damn thing is too expensive to be an econo box.
Hell its a small car priced like many competitors MID SIZED cars. In other words, over priced to an extreme.
Saturn, boldly going where Oldsmobile did and failed, hell even their logo was shaped the same; probably because they originally were going to be sold under that nameplate
Dazza @ Apr 8th 2008 12:21PM
Most Saturn Astras are priced between $17.5K and $20.5K - the same as other good modern small offerings such as the Mitsubishi Lancer, VW Golf/Rabbit, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Mazda 3. Given that the Astra also has the hurdle of dealing with a very weak US Dollar against the Euro, I think GM have done a decent job with its pricing.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Apr 8th 2008 12:29PM
This, in my opinion, is why we don't see a lot of European small cars migrate over here.
Many Americans think a more expensive car should always be bigger. It makes it tough for Saturn to bring this car here. It makes it tough for Ford to bring the Euro Focus here. It makes it tough for Honda to bring the top-range Euro Civic Si here.
I'm not putting down people who think this way, but if you do feel that money should always buy size, this car will likely not satisfy you.
I am keenly interested in seeing what happens with this car. The Mazda3 is somewhat pricey and has done well and the Audi A3 is very pricey and has done pretty well. I am interested in seeing if rising gas prices make nicer but more expensive small cars a viable market in the US.
Disgruntled Goat @ Apr 8th 2008 2:15PM
why not the LS2/LS7? You took the words out of my mouth. Bigger = better is why so many SUVs sell in the US yet we get no good small cars. That's also why you can't get a true luxury car with really good gas mileage. This mentality sux.
Owen @ Apr 8th 2008 8:53PM
That's not a fair statement Chris, the 22K that this test vehicle is VERY well equipped, don't forget that on the low end, including AC and delivery, these are 16,955. That includes very impressive list of standard features as well in a car that just does not "feel" like an econobox as it has a premium feel even in base trim levels.
Standard features like;
4-one touch power windows, Heated mirrors, Cruise Control, Trip computer, exterior Temp display, Tilt AND telescoping wheel, 4 wheel disk brakes w/ ABS, variable speed wipers with rain sense, dual illuminating vanity mirrors, front, side and curtain airbags, TPMS, DRL, Engine immobilizer, etc... the list goes on man.
These are standard features that are either not available or are parts of option packages on your typical super econoboxes like the Fit, Civic, Corolla, Etc... This car IS a bargain. It's not a Ford, but "Drive One" and see. I drove it a few weeks ago and my ONLY complaints were the lack of power, which I could live with and the gearing ratios in the Manual transmission which could have been spaced a little better IMHO. But neither will keep me from buying an '09 for my wife next year. Hopefully they will make the switch to the 1.4 liter turbo ecotec.