CD Article: 2008 Saturn Astra XR four-door

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:


The Astra hatchback's European design is a refreshing change from "the melted cheese-look of some of the Japanese competition", says reviewer Norm Mort.  High points include good fuel economy, a roomy cargo area, and excellent winter driving performance.

 More:
Read the article | View the photos | All The Test Drives

[Mitlov]

A very compelling option if you're not into straight-line speed.  I like the Astra a lot.  At least for the American market, though, they should also offer the sedan version:

[stodge]

Nice car, decent spec. Finally someone at GM has some sense!

[carcrazy]

"Still, for coffee addicts there are two cup holders."

As far as I know, there is only one cup holder for the front seats (impossible to use by the driver IMO) and two for the rear passengers.

The good news is that there is an aftermarket armrest available which looks pretty nice. It also has a usable (so it appears) retractable cup holder for the front passangers, but is disables the existing one.

Link here: http://www.astraarmrest.com/

[tortoise]

This is the first Saturn that I would seriously consider buying, in the history of the company.  It looks great, it's packaged well and should be a hit in the Canadian Market. 

[tpl]

"Still, for coffee addicts there are two cup holders."

As far as I know, there is only one cup holder for the front seats (impossible to use by the driver IMO) and two for the rear passengers.

The good news is that there is an aftermarket armrest available which looks pretty nice. It also has a usable (so it appears) retractable cup holder for the front passangers, but is disables the existing one.

Link here: http://www.astraarmrest.com/

As someone who doesn't really get going until after two large cups of coffee.....   I'd be happy to see all of the following banned while driving. ( in no particular order)

Drinking coffee or anything else for that matter
Eating Big Macs ( 'cos of the special sauce dripping on ones shirt)
using a handheld cell phone  including texting on a Blackberry
reading, including maps
lighting a pipe
rolling a cigarette or joint
picking ones nose or extracting ear wax
applying makeup including nail polish
changing clothes
shaving regardless of the type of razor.
cleaning ones spectacles.


I hope the Astra is a success in NA  especially the 5 dr as it might lead to more hatches becoming available.

[carcrazy]

"Still, for coffee addicts there are two cup holders."

As far as I know, there is only one cup holder for the front seats (impossible to use by the driver IMO) and two for the rear passengers.

The good news is that there is an aftermarket armrest available which looks pretty nice. It also has a usable (so it appears) retractable cup holder for the front passangers, but is disables the existing one.

Link here: http://www.astraarmrest.com/

As someone who doesn't really get going until after two large cups of coffee.....   I'd be happy to see all of the following banned while driving. ( in no particular order)

Drinking coffee or anything else for that matter
Eating Big Macs ( 'cos of the special sauce dripping on ones shirt)
using a handheld cell phone  including texting on a Blackberry
reading, including maps
lighting a pipe
rolling a cigarette or joint
picking ones nose or extracting ear wax
applying makeup including nail polish
changing clothes
shaving regardless of the type of razor.
cleaning ones spectacles.


I hope the Astra is a success in NA  especially the 5 dr as it might lead to more hatches becoming available.

 

However, it would be more dangerous to have people driving while holding the coffee cup in their hand all the time.

For the illustration purposes only, if I buy my coffee at the last Timmy drive-thru, before entering the park for example, I would like to have a place to put it down while driving instead of holding it in my hand (dangerous).
More so, I could safely have a sip while stopped at a traffic light.

Like with many other things, it all comes down to each individual’s responsibility to safely operate a vehicle.

[wing]

There is a second cupholder on the passenger side someplace near the glove box or something.  I'll check tonight, I have one of these right now for test.  It certainly is dropped right here from euro-land, otherwise certainly they would have added 15 cupholders.

[carcrazy]

There is a second cupholder on the passenger side someplace near the glove box or something.  I'll check tonight, I have one of these right now for test.  It certainly is dropped right here from euro-land, otherwise certainly they would have added 15 cupholders.

I had a feeling that you'll get this car for evaluation...

I sat in the Astra and I looked at this in particular. There is only one cup holder on the center console, far back, which makes it very uncomfortable for the driver to use.
There are too more for the rear seat passengers.
The Euro models don't have any for the front passengers at least. The place where the cup holder is in the NA version it's just a little cubby on the Euro models (from the pictures I saw).

Two front cup holders and two rear it would be just fine. Bottle holders in the doors are handy too.

I don't drink coffee in my way to work, but occasionally, on longer trips I might. It's nice to have the option, but obviously not having it, it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me at least.

I'm looking forward to reading your report. If I'd be in the market, I would really consider the Astra.
Are you getting the manual or auto?

[airbalancer]

"Still, for coffee addicts there are two cup holders."

As far as I know, there is only one cup holder for the front seats (impossible to use by the driver IMO) and two for the rear passengers.

The good news is that there is an aftermarket armrest available which looks pretty nice. It also has a usable (so it appears) retractable cup holder for the front passangers, but is disables the existing one.

Link here: http://www.astraarmrest.com/

As someone who doesn't really get going until after two large cups of coffee.....   I'd be happy to see all of the following banned while driving. ( in no particular order)

Drinking coffee or anything else for that matter
Eating Big Macs ( 'cos of the special sauce dripping on ones shirt)
using a handheld cell phone  including texting on a Blackberry
reading, including maps
lighting a pipe
rolling a cigarette or joint
picking ones nose or extracting ear wax
applying makeup including nail polish
changing clothes
shaving regardless of the type of razor.
cleaning ones spectacles.


I hope the Astra is a success in NA  especially the 5 dr as it might lead to more hatches becoming available.

Is this what happens when you retired, you want to take all the adventure out of life.
Next thing is we will all have twin beds 

[Spheric]

In the 12 years that I drove in England, I do not recall a single occasion when I drank coffee or any other beverage in the car. Manual stick transmissions, lack of drive thrus, roundabouts - all mitigate against a one handed driving culture so prevalent here.

However, based on my last trip in October the UK is unfortunately slowly turning into the 51st State.

[carcrazy]

In the 12 years that I drove in England, I do not recall a single occasion when I drank coffee or any other beverage in the car. Manual stick transmissions, lack of drive thrus, roundabouts - all mitigate against a one handed driving culture so prevalent here.

However, based on my last trip in October the UK is unfortunately slowly turning into the 51st State.

If you drive for few hours and few hundred kilometers on 401/400 out of GTA you may come to appreciate the convenience of having a place to put a cup of coffee and rest your right arm, especially on those long straight stretches where you see a handful of cars and trucks for kilometers.

When I used to live in Europe, the cars I was driving were stick with no cup holders, no armrests and no center floor console. Needless to say the traffic was messy as well. When MacDonald’s and their drive-thrus came around, I found myself on occasions driving around with the pop between my legs, the BigMac on one hand and the fries on the other hand. I know it sounds stupid, but this was a different time and place….

[marineboy]

Ha, you could drive around England for 12 years and not find a good cup of coffee...

The factors that bother me about this Astra are that it is approaching a re-design soon as it is has been on the European market for years already. Also concerned about the price of parts over here. Why is there no aux input for the stereo? Needs a more powerful "redline" version in the line up. Lastly the pricing isn't exactly a bargain. Especially in these times of vanishing liquidity and foreclosures.

On the plus side this is a very great handling car with a solid chassis and good styling. A very positive move for Saturn and GM and will begin to repair their image. Will they build the next gen Astra in the US for the North American market?

[PJungnitsch]

Why is there no aux input for the stereo?

There is in Europe but here GM chose to replace it with OnStar. Not a real smart move IMO. I know all my CD's have been in storage for years.

I was interested in the Astra until I sat in one yesterday at the Auto Show. It's very plain inside, felt a bit old-style Hyundai. I couldn't help feeling the Mazda 3 was way better done for about the same price. Wasn't impressed either with the steel anchors standing up right in the middle of the folded down seatbacks, ready to snag whatever is hauled.

Plus the Mazda has more dealers, proven resale and reliability, and that handy Aux jack. The only advantage the Astra has that I can see is ESP, and our dealer at least doesn't seem to be bringing cars in with it.

As a used buy in a couple years though, when the new 2010 model comes out...