Vauxhall Astra Nurburgring VS. new Ford Focus ST

[SVT666]

Vicki compares the Vauxhall Astra Nurburgring and the new Ford Focus ST

Damn I wish we got the Euro Focus.  I would be interested in seeing what time she would post with my car.

[giant_mtb]

And the entire time I was saying to myself "WTF, that's not the Nurburgring..."...and then realized it's the name of the car.

Oh well.  Go Focus!

[the Teuton]

I have a hard time believing that the Opel is quicker than the Cobalt SS, even though it is a smaller car.  I wonder how the Ford would compare to our American Rentalwunder.

[S204STi]

Vicki compares the Vauxhall Astra Nurburgring and the new Ford Focus ST

Damn I wish we got the Euro Focus.  I would be interested in seeing what time she would post with my car.

Closest thing we have is the MS3, which is still at the top of the budget sports sedans/hatches currently in production.  I imagine the Focus would do quite well here as well.

[SVT666]

Closest thing we have is the MS3, which is still at the top of the budget sports sedans/hatches currently in production.  I imagine the Focus would do quite well here as well.

Yeah, but it looks like ass.

[S204STi]

Both those cars have very nice exhaust notes.  The ST sort of growls quite a bit almost like my boxer 4, and the I4 in the Astra sounds like a rally car.

[S204STi]

Yeah, but it looks like ass.

That's subjective, but if you don't like it I understand.  I tend to think it looks handsome though.

[SVT666]

Both those cars have very nice exhaust notes.  The ST sort of growls quite a bit almost like my boxer 4, and the I4 in the Astra sounds like a rally car.

Everyone who rides in my SVT says the same thing about the engine and exhaust note.

[S204STi]

Everyone who rides in my SVT says the same thing about the engine and exhaust note.

Do you have the stock exhaust still?  Just curious.

[SVT666]

Do you have the stock exhaust still?  Just curious.

Bone stock.  I should do an in car video one day so that you can hear it.  It's quite guttural and highly addicting.

[S204STi]

Bone stock.  I should do an in car video one day so that you can hear it.  It's quite guttural and highly addicting.

Nice. Loud OEM exhausts are the perfect balance for me, I love them.  (Not as loud as a straight pipe but not totally muted either).

[SVT666]

Nice. Loud OEM exhausts are the perfect balance for me, I love them.  (Not as loud as a straight pipe but not totally muted either).

The only reason I don't go aftermarket is that there isn't a single aftermarket exhaust system that has proven to do anything but change the sound of the SVT.  Some of the aftermarket systems actually hurt power levels.  The stock system has a long tube header and the single pipe is 2.5" already.  The only thing I am going to do is go with a high flow cat.

[S204STi]

The only reason I don't go aftermarket is that there isn't a single aftermarket exhaust system that has proven to do anything but change the sound of the SVT.  Some of the aftermarket systems actually hurt power levels.  The stock system has a long tube header and the single pipe is 2.5" already.  The only thing I am going to do is go with a high flow cat.

Very cool.

[r0tor]

ummm i'll take vicki over either car

[MX793]

Closest thing we have is the MS3, which is still at the top of the budget sports sedans/hatches currently in production.  I imagine the Focus would do quite well here as well.

The Volvo C30 is actually closer to the Focus ST than the Mazda from a purely mechanical standpoint.

[Speed_Racer]

The Focus looks really sharp in person. Just before I left Argentina, these new Focuses were hitting the streets, and they definitely caught my eye.

But why won't they bring the ST to our side of the pond?!

[SVT666]

The Focus looks really sharp in person. Just before I left Argentina, these new Focuses were hitting the streets, and they definitely caught my eye.

But why won't they bring the ST to our side of the pond?!

Doesn't Mexico get them?

[S204STi]

The Volvo C30 is actually closer to the Focus ST than the Mazda from a purely mechanical standpoint.

Ah, ok. 

[Raza]

I wish we got the Euro Astra instead of the neutered one they sold here.

And I do mean one.  Rarer than an orange cow they are.

[MX793]

I wish we got the Euro Astra instead of the neutered one they sold here.

And I do mean one.  Rarer than an orange cow they are.

They didn't neuter it.  The Astras we got came right off the same assembly line as the one's Europe gets.  The only difference was the badge.

[Raza]

They didn't neuter it.  The Astras we got came right off the same assembly line as the one's Europe gets.  The only difference was the badge.

Hmm, maybe I wasn't specific enough. 

Our model line was neutered.  A 140 horse engine in an overpriced hatch in sedan country?  A VXR version would have been great.  But for Saturn to sell an Astra against the Rabbit without any advantages was ridiculously optimistic of them, wasn't it?  A year after it was introduced, the Rabbit was packing 170bhp--thirty more instead of just ten as it was at introduction.

You can't bring a knife to a gunfight, as they say.  GM brought a lemon zester. 

[MX793]

Hmm, maybe I wasn't specific enough. 

Our model line was neutered.  A 140 horse engine in an overpriced hatch in sedan country?  A VXR version would have been great.  But for Saturn to sell an Astra against the Rabbit without any advantages was ridiculously optimistic of them, wasn't it?  A year after it was introduced, the Rabbit was packing 170bhp--thirty more instead of just ten as it was at introduction.

You can't bring a knife to a gunfight, as they say.  GM brought a lemon zester. 

The 140hp 1.8 was the biggest engine offered in a non-special edition Astra in the European market, and we got a Euro market car.  If GM really intended to Americanize it, they likely would have used the similarly powerful 2.2 Ecotec that's standard in the Cobalt instead of the Euro market 1.8.  But that would have meant retooling the Astra plant since they weren't set up to install that engine, and they didn't have the money or the time for that.

Also, in the market for which the Astra we got is built to compete (Europe), the Golf doesn't offer the 170 hp I5 as the standard motor (or at all, for that matter).  Unlike the Astra, our version of the Golf has been Americanized.  In fact, the most potent gasoline engine offered in a European Golf is the 160 hp 1.4 TSI found only in the top of the line GT.  The next most powerful gas engine is a 120 hp version of the 1.4 offered in the lower and middle trims.  Against that competition, the 140 hp 1.8 really isn't too far out of its league.

They also were looking for a car that could appeal to the broadest possible audience (the Civic and Corolla crowd as much as the Rabbit crowd), something the rambunctious VXR definately would not do.

So really where GM failed with the Astra was by not Americanizing it.

[Catman]

I would take any one of the three in that video.   

[Raza]

The 140hp 1.8 was the biggest engine offered in a non-special edition Astra in the European market, and we got a Euro market car.  If GM really intended to Americanize it, they likely would have used the similarly powerful 2.2 Ecotec that's standard in the Cobalt instead of the Euro market 1.8.  But that would have meant retooling the Astra plant since they weren't set up to install that engine, and they didn't have the money or the time for that.

Also, in the market for which the Astra we got is built to compete (Europe), the Golf doesn't offer the 170 hp I5 as the standard motor (or at all, for that matter).  Unlike the Astra, our version of the Golf has been Americanized.  In fact, the most potent gasoline engine offered in a European Golf is the 160 hp 1.4 TSI found only in the top of the line GT.  The next most powerful gas engine is a 120 hp version of the 1.4 offered in the lower and middle trims.  Against that competition, the 140 hp 1.8 really isn't too far out of its league.

They also were looking for a car that could appeal to the broadest possible audience (the Civic and Corolla crowd as much as the Rabbit crowd), something the rambunctious VXR definately would not do.

So really where GM failed with the Astra was by not Americanizing it.

Don't they offer some sort of 180 horse engine in the Astra?

[MX793]

Don't they offer some sort of 180 horse engine in the Astra?

They do offer a 1.6 Turbo with 180 hp, but I'm not sure which trims (I'm pretty sure it's not offered on the 5-door).  It also wouldn't be the best motor for this market segment in North America.  Like I said, GM was looking for something with the broadest possible appeal.  Generally speaking, Americans haven't traditionally been fond of turbocharged engines in mainstream models.  That motor also requires premium fuel, a turn off for many economy car buyers.  I also strongly suspect it's a more expensive motor than the 1.8.