Saturn Astra goes away for 2009
If you've been looking to spec a new Astra like Autoblog reader ramirez8167, you may have noticed that you can't build or locate a 2009 model on Saturn's website. That's because there isn't one.
With plenty of dealer stock on-hand for the slow-moving Opel-based hatch, General Motors has simply decided to sell through their existing inventory of 2008s instead of creating a parking lot with additional 2009 model year stock. We spoke with Steve Janisse, group manager for Saturn communications this morning, and he confirmed that while there will be no 2009 model, a 2010 is scheduled and on track for a spring roll-out. Given this unfortunate economic environment and GM's
Until then, Astra prospectives can still kit out a 2008 model of the tidy-handling hatchback on Saturn's website and probably get a solid deal on what they are looking for through dealer transfers.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
stumack 12:32PM (1/28/2009)
????? Dealer here (Oshawa/Whitby, Ontario) has all kinds of '09 Astras on the lot. Easy visual distinction from the '08 is that the namplates on the tailgate have moved up onto the body from the chrome trim piece.
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Shadyman 2:45PM (1/28/2009)
Yep. GM Canada's website has a 2009 Astra configurator.
catgirlshyla 3:44PM (1/28/2009)
Can I get a Panda Car variant like how the UK cops have?
zamafir 12:34PM (1/28/2009)
I'm sure none of us will be caught off guard by this news, though it is a little sad.. not for the car in question, but the spirit of it. Thankfully, the new ford fiesta will validate our beliefs that quality European iterations we'd been excluded from purchasing will sell state side.
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Sea Urchin 2:02PM (1/28/2009)
Zamafir, Ford will fail if it will follow the same formula as astra.
#1 Astra is priced above competition, Corolla,Civic, Sentra, yes it is more equiped, but you can not charge more than cars that DEFINE that segment like Civic. Every car in the segment is measured against Civic, you simply can not charge more.
#2 (my personal Favorite) Saturn wants almost $1,400 for Automatic Tranny....Astra has the priciest Auto Tranny in GM family, not even Caddilac or Corvette charge that much, and it's a 4 speed tranny.
#3 Interior is UGLY and Cheap
If Ford will avoid these mistakes they can succeed.
zamafir 2:05PM (1/28/2009)
I doubt they'll follow GM, Ford is the one American company doing things right, GM and Chrsyler should look to them. It doesn't matter what they price the car so long as it's around the cost of VW's products or a bit less, because it's every bit as good and in many ways better than the GTi or Mini. If every review from every european mag is to be believed.
Sea Urchin 3:57PM (1/28/2009)
See i still think that to compete in the segment Detroit NEEDs to keep price below the competition. At least 2-3K
I hate to say this, but according to GM Cruze will be prices 2K Above other cars in the segment because it will be nicely equipped as they put it. Also Cruze will be bigger (few inches) than Cobalt so that may effect fuel economy.
Tony C 4:37PM (1/28/2009)
@Sea Urchin
I concede your #1 & #2 (which are essentially the same complaint) -- but there's no way for GM to get around this without building them elsewhere. It's an Opel at heart, which means it's made in Europe and the cost of labor, transport and exchange rate is murdering any chance of a competitive MSRP.
As for #3 -- I've seen the interior and while it's rather spartan (though not for a German auto), the only heinous element I can't get past is the information display housed in the dash above the center console. It's ridiculously small, framed in with cheap plastic and it's obvious a large nav LCD display belongs in its place. A ding for choice of material all around is not the best of grades for its class, so I'd like to know if the same is true of its Opel sibling.
Sea Urchin 4:45PM (1/28/2009)
@ Tony C
"It's an Opel at heart, which means it's made in Europe and the cost of labor, transport and exchange rate is murdering any chance of a competitive MSRP."----But i have to ask, as a CEO why would you aprove such a project if there are so many things stacked against you. This car did not sell even before the credit crunch.
Which leads me to make 2 more points
#1 Once again back to tranny, at $1,400 it is in BMW territory. The car is for 20 somethings with first job, who are asked to pay that much.
#2 By far my most important point, GM simply need to change its CEO for someone who can think, reason, function, flip burgers. Wagoner can not do either of those.
Judy Zik 12:30AM (1/29/2009)
Nobody needs to handicap their vehicles by 3k in the small car class. That would be a ridiculous handicap and pretty much ensure they didn't make money. What they need to do is build a better car. The Astra isn't it. That is one ugly car inside.
The Astra is more proof of why they shouldn't listen to fanboys on the net. How many times have we read the crap about putting just putting eurocars on a boat and how they would run out to buy them even at a premium. Now they are dissing the Astra because it isn't $3000 cheaper than a Civic.
I think Ford has it right with the upcoming Fiesta. Take your world car and take some time to adapt it for the market and build it in here to keep the price competitive. In today's economy there is little point to building cars in Europe for sale in North America.
g 12:40PM (1/28/2009)
Maybe it would be selling a little better if they actually did some marketing the Astra?
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Rhawb 12:47PM (1/28/2009)
No kidding. If I didn't keep up with automotive news sites and magazines so well, I doubt I'd even know about it. It's a shame it's being dropped, it was a sharp looking car and I was impressed with the build quality - especially the interior.
Dude 1:00PM (1/28/2009)
If it didn't look like a 5 year old Golf, it wouldn't need advertising.
JF 1:09PM (1/28/2009)
dude,
sure it would still need advertising. Good looking or not, most people still don't know it exists.
Mike 1:14PM (1/28/2009)
I didn't know it existed....
joe23521 1:28PM (1/28/2009)
You mean having one parked in food court at the mall wasn't enough advertisement? I'm sure they had to pay hundreds for that.
joe23521 1:31PM (1/28/2009)
@Dude,
Actually, I think the 2-door is pretty hot looking. The 4-door, not so much.
Dude 1:39PM (1/28/2009)
@joe23521
I'll give you that.
PJ 7:23PM (1/28/2009)
They're good to drive, too. In the class, only Mazda's 3 has such solid steering and handling.
Dazza 12:45PM (1/28/2009)
Interesting that dealer showrooms are adorned with 2009 Astra brochures right now.
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