Saturn Astra (truck, buy, selling, engine)

[Steve_TN]

I have yet to see one Saturn Astra on the road. I am in the Nashville area and although we do have Saturn dealers around here who are heavily discounting them, I just don't see any on the roads. I don't see many Auras on the road either, but at least I've seen a handful.

Does anyone out there see them on the road?

[CortlandGirl79]

I live in an area pretty much dominated by GM products and i think i've only seen one Astra, which really surprises me. Oh the other hand, i've seen a good amount of Auras, probably the same as i see new malibus.

I went to my Chevy dealer the other day to get my oil changed and a salesman i know said they've been selling mostly trucks, which also surprised me.

On a side note..........I also recently read an article that said, although car and truck sales are down everywhere else, they are holding steady here in the Youngstown, Ohio area. I think this is because our area has been in an economic downturn for a very long time and we are used to it, the rest of the country isn't. Here it is business as usual.......

[Steve_TN]

Originally Posted by CortlandGirl79

I live in an area pretty much dominated by GM products and i think i've only seen one Astra, which really surprises me. Oh the other hand, i've seen a good amount of Auras, probably the same as i see new malibus.

I went to my Chevy dealer the other day to get my oil changed and a salesman i know said they've been selling mostly trucks, which also surprised me.

On a side note..........I also recently read an article that said, although car and truck sales are down everywhere else, they are holding steady here in the Youngstown, Ohio area. I think this is because our area has been in an economic downturn for a very long time and we are used to it, the rest of the country isn't. Here it is business as usual.......

It's good to hear it's "business as usual" somewhere. I am wondering if the trucks are selling so well because of the enormous rebates on them now?

It looks to me like the Astra may be a sales flop in the U.S. unless people take notice of it and start buying.

[sonarrat]

Seems your anecdotal evidence is spot-on; only 9,164 have sold this year through September. The Opel stigma remains very, very strong.

GM Media Online

[Steve_TN]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

Seems your anecdotal evidence is spot-on; only 9,164 have sold this year through September. The Opel stigma remains very, very strong.

GM Media Online

Thanks for posting that sonarrat!

[sailordave]

Part of the problem with the Astra is the confusing controls and the single engine choice. I test drove the Astra. Thank goodness I'm pretty good with mechanical devices cause that was the only way for me to figure out some of the controls since I didn't have time to read the owner's manual nor learn the symbols' meaning. However, the car rides great and it feels solid as a tank.

[cdelena]

The Astra gets good reviews and is a solid Opel based offering.

[Steve_TN]

Originally Posted by sailordave

Part of the problem with the Astra is the confusing controls and the single engine choice. I test drove the Astra. Thank goodness I'm pretty good with mechanical devices cause that was the only way for me to figure out some of the controls since I didn't have time to read the owner's manual nor learn the symbols' meaning. However, the car rides great and it feels solid as a tank.

I know Consumer Reports major beef with the Astra was it's haphazard control layout and modest power. Still, there are plenty of cars out there that seem much worse than the Astra. I don't see any advertising on television for the Astra. Maybe Saturn is lacking in the advertising and marketing depts.

[sailordave]

I actually liked the Astra. We just can't afford to buy a car right now. If I could get one now I'd get the Astra 5 door.

[Steve_TN]

Originally Posted by cdelena

The Astra gets good reviews and is a solid Opel based offering.

But it isn't selling and I wonder why.