Saturn/Opel Astra

[wolfc70]

Sorry that isn't true. The side air bags are designed to work with baby seats, you should not put it in the front seat if there is not a way to turn off the front passenger air bag, which in the Opel Astra there is not. You should always try to use the rear side seats because those seats have the ISOFIX security hooks to secure the baby seat firmly to the car which the middle seat does not.

Not so in the USA. Most child seat manufactures recomend the middle back seat. Here in the USA, we use the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system, and the anchors are provided for all rear seat seating positions starting in the MY 2003.

With a rear facing car seat, do not place the seat near any active airbags, this is per carsafety.org. Once your child is old enough to use a forward facing seat, the added protection of a side airbag will help. With smaller infants, any airbag can pose a health risk.

 

[Stumbles06]

Good choice of car Rob and Keira. I work for Holden (GM), and although I haven't driven that model Astra, (I have the model before), a lot of guys at work lease them, and they all rave about it.. Especially the manual trans (the auto sucks). Good solid car and decent miles/gallon (Km/litre here...lol), plenty of power when you need it.

With the deal you can get, I'd say go for it... But that's just my opinion... I'm no expert.
(I shouldn't really say it seeing as they are GM's opposition, but the Yaris would be a great buy too if you could get a similar deal, can't go wrong with a Toyota.)

Hope you're happy with the new wheels, whatever it is you end up getting.

 

[Capo79]

Didn't know that Astras were sold in the US also! Here's my Astra. It's a 2005 2.0 Turbo (170 bhp), and my only complaint is that the IDS+ suspension has locked it self into sport mode... Other than that, I find the car very good. My previous car was an Audi A3, and I also owned an A4 a few years back. My present car is by far the best.

It has leather interior, sport seats, AFL bi-xenon headlamps, board computer, cruise control, six speed manual gearbox, and a heap of other goodies:thumbup:

 

[LERecords]

sweet ride capo...

 

[reiobard]

very nice ride!

 

[brad81987]

Where's the turbo 6 speed with adjustable suspension for the US? How come it seems we always get screwed out of the fun cars?

 

[Wildcard]

Because that's what America does. It sucks, I know.

 

[brad81987]

Because that's what America does. It sucks, I know.

Yeah, Just like we also get screwed out of all the small diesels.

 

[LERecords]

but who wants a diesel anyways high octane is the way to go

 

[Capo79]

but who wants a diesel anyways high octane is the way to go

I believe the limited engine alternatives are due to the fact that the car is german from the beginning. It was designed in Germany, the engines are designed in germany, and the whole thing is build in germany for the most part. In other words, the car is designed and build for the european market.

The diesel engines are sweet. I've tried the 100 bhp engine, the 120 engine and the 150 engine. I've also test rode the fairly new 180 bhp 1,6 litre turbo engine. This isn't engines that would sell a whole lot in the US, I believe.

Did you guys for instance know that VAG has come up with the 1.4 tfsi (turbo and compressor) which delivers 170 bhp?

By the way: A good diesel engine is actually more fun than a petrol engine. Diesel technology has come a long way in terms of enjoyability the last few years, especially in terms of injection tech. The sound is now much more smoother, and the torque exceeds that of a petrol engine many times over. Take BMW as an example. With the new diesels, you can suffice with roughly 200 bhp diesel in order to match a three year old petrol engine that delivers 450 bhp.

 

[The Toecutter]

Re: Saturn/Opal Astra

Almost the same amount of space, but averages $2k - $4k cheaper, better resale value and much better MPG is the new Toyota Yaris 5-Door...

IMO this is what I consider a good buy.

 

[LERecords]

Re: Saturn/Opal Astra

i have driven a diesel big rig and yes.. it was WAY powefull...

 

[reiobard]

Re: Saturn/Opal Astra

IMO this is what I consider a good buy.

Yeah, i agree that the yaris is a consideration, but it is literally almost the same care give or take a square foot here or there, and we will most likely hit up toyota to see if they can get us 0%, and if not then Saturn here we come!

 

[wolfc70]

I believe the limited engine alternatives are due to the fact that the car is german from the beginning. It was designed in Germany, the engines are designed in germany, and the whole thing is build in germany for the most part. In other words, the car is designed and build for the european market.

The diesel engines are sweet. I've tried the 100 bhp engine, the 120 engine and the 150 engine. I've also test rode the fairly new 180 bhp 1,6 litre turbo engine. This isn't engines that would sell a whole lot in the US, I believe.

Did you guys for instance know that VAG has come up with the 1.4 tfsi (turbo and compressor) which delivers 170 bhp?

By the way: A good diesel engine is actually more fun than a petrol engine. Diesel technology has come a long way in terms of enjoyability the last few years, especially in terms of injection tech. The sound is now much more smoother, and the torque exceeds that of a petrol engine many times over. Take BMW as an example. With the new diesels, you can suffice with roughly 200 bhp diesel in order to match a three year old petrol engine that delivers 450 bhp.

The VAG TSFI is a cool motor, I hope they bring it to the USA.:rockon:

The engine in the Astra is part of GM Family 1 line of four cylinders. It has a cast iron block with a DOHC aluminum head. It shares its architecture with the Daewoo/Holden D-TEC and E-TEC II engines, although since 2005 in the Astra, it has had variable valve timing. In the USA, Astra GM uses the ECOTEC name, even though it shares nothing with the 1.8l - 2.4l all aluminum ECOTEC sold in the USA since 1999. (I know GM of Europe has used the ECOTEC name before, but I can not remember which models, since the name use seemed random until a few years ago. Even the X25XE and the X30XE v6's used the ECOTEC name in certain models.) Both engines have excellent world wide reputations.:thumbup::thumbup: So unlike some GM vehicles in the past, I would not worry about the engines.

 

[bluenova]

Lots of people are comparing the Yaris to the Astra in terms of space, but the Yaris is tiny! The Toyota comparision would be the Auris.

 

[wolfc70]

Lots of people are comparing the Yaris to the Astra in terms of space, but the Yaris is tiny! The Toyota comparision would be the Auris.

Well maybe, but here in the good old US of A, we have the Yaris, and the Corolla. The Yaris can be had in the useful hatchback, the Corolla is four door sedan only. And yes the Astra is bigger than a Yaris. I wish we had the Auris (Corolla hatchback) here.

 

[bluenova]

Well maybe, but here in the good old US of A, we have the Yaris, and the Corolla. The Yaris can be had in the useful hatchback, the Corolla is four door sedan only. And yes the Astra is bigger than a Yaris. I wish we had the Auris (Corolla hatchback) here.

You don't have the Auris is the US? What about the Verso? They are the best models!

 

[keira]

You don't have the Auris is the US? What about the Verso? They are the best models!

Pretty much if it is a hatchback, you can almost guarantee we don't have it. The US is very behind in accepting the fact that these vehicles are practical and cost-effective, which is making our finding one we like so difficult (other than the Astra). We don't have a lot of choice unless we're willing to drive tanker trucks that get -4 miles/galllon.

Go America! :spank:

 

[mstewar1]

Well maybe, but here in the good old US of A, we have the Yaris, and the Corolla. The Yaris can be had in the useful hatchback, the Corolla is four door sedan only. And yes the Astra is bigger than a Yaris. I wish we had the Auris (Corolla hatchback) here.

I'm no expert, so I could be way off here, but I thought that the Toyota Matrix is built on the Corolla platform?

 

[Stumbles06]

Pretty much if it is a hatchback, you can almost guarantee we don't have it. The US is very behind in accepting the fact that these vehicles are practical and cost-effective,

Go America! :spank:

Wow, how can they be so blind.

Hatchback's are brilliant. Only 2 days ago, I had to pick up some stuff from the shop, a 7 foot long box and a six seat outdoor setting, and it all fit in that back of this....(well, one like it...lol)



Best cars in the world IMHO.