Test Drive: Saturn Astra

[the Teuton]

My Imp gets 9.9 L/100 KM.  There's a little bit of a decrease in progress.

[2o6]

If I can drive my huge Volvo with only 114 HP on the highway with no complaints, an Astra should be fine. 

Make it even better:



Id say with age, and drivetrain loss, you'd be making................85HP, 90HP at the wheels?

[Madman]

Come on, you know that speed levels in the US and Europe are different.  What's acceptable there may not be acceptable here. 

So yes, in a world where the most common car sold hits sixty in about 6 seconds, 11 is too slow for a modern car.  And when all of a car's competitors are quicker, then yes, it is too slow. 

It's insane and idiotic to say that the Astra is quick because there are slower cars sold in another part of the world. 

Different speed levels?  I did a lot of Motorway driving in that Astra.  The UK motorway speed limit is 70 MPH, which is identical to most US states.  Driving conditions really aren't that different at all.  And what about German Autobahns where the average speed is much faster?  They don't seem to have a problem with the Astra's performance, either.

I also agree with my fellow Volvo driver here.  My big ol' tank of a Volvo 240 with 114 horsepower has no problem getting up to speed on the highway, even with an automatic.  This same car has also seen triple-digit speeds on many occasions.

I think it's time people have a more realistic idea of what they really need.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[ifcar]

The question is why they should settle. If you're buying a $20,000 economy car that gets mediocre gas mileage, why should you settle for relatively low power? If you're buying a 20-year-old Volvo, you have a reason to.

[280Z Turbo]

Different speed levels?  I did a lot of Motorway driving in that Astra.  The UK motorway speed limit is 70 MPH, which is identical to most US states.  Driving conditions really aren't that different at all.  And what about German Autobahns where the average speed is much faster?  They don't seem to have a problem with the Astra's performance, either.

I also agree with my fellow Volvo driver here.  My big ol' tank of a Volvo 240 with 114 horsepower has no problem getting up to speed on the highway, even with an automatic.  This same car has also seen triple-digit speeds on many occasions.

I think it's time people have a more realistic idea of what they really need.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

Why compromise when you don't have to?

[the Teuton]

How hard would it be to swap in a bigger Ecotec or a turbocharger into the engine bay once the warranty expires.  It can't be that difficult.

[280Z Turbo]

How hard would it be to swap in a bigger Ecotec or a turbocharger into the engine bay once the warranty expires.  It can't be that difficult.

Oh yes it can!

[the Teuton]

Oh yes it can!

Relatively speaking. 

I mean it isn't going to be an EJ swap where all of the bolt holes line up exactly.  Almost no one does that.  But it can't be that hard.

[280Z Turbo]

Relatively speaking. 

I mean it isn't going to be an EJ swap where all of the bolt holes line up exactly.  Almost no one does that.  But it can't be that hard.

OBDII electronics would probably make it difficult.

[the Teuton]

OBDII electronics would probably make it difficult.

You might have a point there. 

Stupid computers.

[Shift507]

The question is why they should settle. If you're buying a $20,000 economy car that gets mediocre gas mileage, why should you settle for relatively low power? If you're buying a 20-year-old Volvo, you have a reason to.

That sounds like an oxymoron.

[2o6]

How hard would it be to swap in a bigger Ecotec or a turbocharger into the engine bay once the warranty expires.  It can't be that difficult.

2.0T in the Vauxhall Astra VXR, is the same one in the HHR SS, and the Sky Redline, and the Cobalt SS Turbo. (I think.....)

[Eye of the Tiger]

Can the Astra plz have the 2.8L Turbo V6 from the VVVVauxhall VVVVectra VVVVVXR? Forgive me if I don't know if the platforms are similar or not.

[2o6]

Can the Astra plz have the 2.8L Turbo V6 from the VVVVauxhall VVVVectra VVVVVXR? Forgive me if I don't know if the platforms are similar or not.

Vectra is on the Epsilon Platform (Malibu, BLS) but It may be a tight shoehorn.....the 2.8L would be probably be too big, and the Vectra struggles with torquesteer. (full lock and full throttle, it goes in a straight line) The 2.0L already has a torquesteer issue in the Astra VXR, and Delta I (Cobalt, Astra) can't handle AWD, so the 2.8L would just end up spinning it's wheels all day.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Vectra is on the Epsilon Platform (Malibu, BLS) but It may be a tight shoehorn.....the 2.8L would be probably be too big, and the Vectra struggles with torquesteer. (full lock and full throttle, it goes in a straight line) The 2.0L already has a torquesteer issue in the Astra VXR, and Delta I (Cobalt, Astra) can't handle AWD, so the 2.8L would just end up spinning it's wheels all day.

STOP TALKING before your HEAD EXPLODES

[2o6]

STOP TALKING before your HEAD EXPLODES

You'd discenigrate the tires, and AWD would help put the power down, but Delta I does not support AWD.

[Eye of the Tiger]

You'd discenigrate the tires, and AWD would help put the power down, but Delta I does not support AWD.

Next time I build a race car, I'm hiring you as my lead technical consultant.

[2o6]

Wow....I really cannot spell.

[Raza]

Raz, I drive a car that has been clocked at around 12 seconds getting to 60 mph, and 90% of the time, it works in traffic without me panicking.  Nine seconds isn't that bad.

Blah, blah, blah.

And CR got 11 seconds.  So much for progress.

[Raza]

Different speed levels?  I did a lot of Motorway driving in that Astra.  The UK motorway speed limit is 70 MPH, which is identical to most US states.  Driving conditions really aren't that different at all.  And what about German Autobahns where the average speed is much faster?  They don't seem to have a problem with the Astra's performance, either.

I also agree with my fellow Volvo driver here.  My big ol' tank of a Volvo 240 with 114 horsepower has no problem getting up to speed on the highway, even with an automatic.  This same car has also seen triple-digit speeds on many occasions.

I think it's time people have a more realistic idea of what they really need.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

Please, this shit is getting fucking annoying.

"This fucking slow car from thirty fucking years ago does fine, so this car from now that isn't any faster is just fine." 

It's irrelevant.  What is relevant is the competition.  Why would you bother with a car that does nothing better than its competition and costs as much or more?  So you can be happy with getting just enough to fulfill your newly realistic expectations?

That's one of the biggest loads of shit I've heard.  Why fuck even bother with progress if shit was fine five hundred years ago, why bother with trying to make things better?  If we don't need things to get better, why don't you unplug the computer, throw out the clothes, and go live in a cave? 

I mean, for fuck's sake, I never said the car was undriveable, I'm saying that it doesn't have what it takes to compete.  If you think the public needs to reevaluate its expectations, I suggest you petition the rest of the car companies to stop giving us so much.  Because spending top dollar on shit is fucking stupid, unless shit is all that's available.

[nickdrinkwater]

My car takes about 14 seconds to get to 62, and I don't have any problems   Also, why are people using times from standstill, shouldn't we be looking at 30-70 times?

[Vinsanity]

Please, this shit is getting fucking annoying.

"This fucking slow car from thirty fucking years ago does fine, so this car from now that isn't any faster is just fine." 

It's irrelevant.  What is relevant is the competition.  Why would you bother with a car that does nothing better than its competition and costs as much or more?  So you can be happy with getting just enough to fulfill your newly realistic expectations?

That's one of the biggest loads of shit I've heard.  Why fuck even bother with progress if shit was fine five hundred years ago, why bother with trying to make things better?  If we don't need things to get better, why don't you unplug the computer, throw out the clothes, and go live in a cave? 

I mean, for fuck's sake, I never said the car was undriveable, I'm saying that it doesn't have what it takes to compete.  If you think the public needs to reevaluate its expectations, I suggest you petition the rest of the car companies to stop giving us so much.  Because spending top dollar on shit is fucking stupid, unless shit is all that's available.

that was my favorite Raza post yet

[280Z Turbo]

Please, this shit is getting fucking annoying.

"This fucking slow car from thirty fucking years ago does fine, so this car from now that isn't any faster is just fine." 

It's irrelevant.  What is relevant is the competition.  Why would you bother with a car that does nothing better than its competition and costs as much or more?  So you can be happy with getting just enough to fulfill your newly realistic expectations?

That's one of the biggest loads of shit I've heard.  Why fuck even bother with progress if shit was fine five hundred years ago, why bother with trying to make things better?  If we don't need things to get better, why don't you unplug the computer, throw out the clothes, and go live in a cave? 

I mean, for fuck's sake, I never said the car was undriveable, I'm saying that it doesn't have what it takes to compete.  If you think the public needs to reevaluate its expectations, I suggest you petition the rest of the car companies to stop giving us so much.  Because spending top dollar on shit is fucking stupid, unless shit is all that's available.

+A zillion

[280Z Turbo]

My car takes about 14 seconds to get to 62, and I don't have any problems   Also, why are people using times from standstill, shouldn't we be looking at 30-70 times?

In the US, 0-60 is important on the backroads and highways.

[Raza]

Who would have thought a weary late night (well, not that late), profanity-laced rant would be so well received?  Good for me.

EDIT:  And good for the rest of you too.

[Tave]

If you think the public needs to reevaluate its expectations, I suggest you petition the rest of the car companies to stop giving us so much.

Since when is a token amount of power you won't even notice without a stopwatch "so much" more?

[CJ]

I went to my Saturn dealer today and examined the Astra pretty well.  I think the interior and and exterior would be enough to sell me on the car.  The doors shut with a nice thunk and the materials seems quite good.  I like the red 3-door.  :)

[93JC]

If you think it's solid in the showroom just wait 'til you're in one on the road. Corollas and Civics (at least, the previous gen ones) are jouncy penalty boxes by comparison.

[hotrodalex]

I'm sold on the Astra if they put the 2.0T engine in it. Seems like a great car, just lacking on power. If I wasn't such a power-junkie it might be fine, but alas...

[SVT666]

You guys are right: Cars in Europe are slower. But you are wrong if you think people drove like that too. After driving about 3000 miles in the USA I can assure you that this is WAY slower than in germany. And even here you don't have to panic in a 55hp car!
What are you afraid of anyways? That there's a 600hp Hummer behind you who drives over your car after accelerating from a traffic light? 

If you really think you needed more than 140hp in a COMPACT to feel safe in a car, you must be pretty damn chickenhearted! 

I would like to stick a turbo on my 170hp SVT Focus.