2008 Saturn Astra

[BuddyP]

I can totally dig on the 3-door Astra, but the interior turns me off big time.

My same exact thoughts

[rueben44]

Funny I really like the interior and would not want it if it had a regular NA GM interior.

[bowtie_dude]

Funny I really like the interior and would not want it if it had a regular NA GM interior.

Its not the design so much as the color that bothers me. A sea of grey and silver =/= a fun place to spend your time.

[frogger]

Something about that interior reminds me of a cheap notebook. Probably the silver plastic.

[Cory Wolfe]

I.. Love the interior. I'm glad they didn't Americanize it.

I'll gladly take this:

Over this:

[Drew Dowdell]

yet you accuse the center stack of my car of looking like a PC tower...?

[aaaantoine]

Unofficial images courtesy of AutoBlog.

It looks like those rear seats fold down, but I can't be sure.

If they do, I think I know what car will replace the Cobalt in 2009.

[Cory Wolfe]

yet you accuse the center stack of my car of looking like a PC tower...?

What? The Astra's center stack looks nothing like a PC tower.

[Croc]

What? The Astra's center stack looks nothing like a PC tower.

Yea, it kinda does.

[Croc]

I do have a few questions about this interior though:

What's CDC stand for?

What's BC stand for?

What's TP stand for?

No seek/scan function on the radio?

This might look techier, and cooler simply because it's so different fro the standard American interior, but I think the GMNA interiors are way more ergonomic and functional. Don't believe me? Compare the AURA and the Astra stacks. Do you have ANY questions about what a single button does on the AURA? Any questions in your mind about how to change CD tracks?

I'll def give the Astra a shot when I see it in dealers, but at the same time I'm definitely skeptical about a straight Euro-port. I think switching out the center stack for a GMNA one would have done wonders.

[frogger]

I'd like to see see pics of how the Astra interior lights up.

eh this is the best I found

Edited February 9, 2007 by frogger

[Cory Wolfe]

Yea, it kinda does.

In what way? I don't see it... In the CTS, it's so obvious since there's a PC tower sticking out of the dash. That's the whole idea of "looking like a PC stack." Nothing like that in the Astra. It's essentially a more stylish, edgier, techier Cobalt's interior. I'm not seeing this "PC tower."

[BlkHhr104]

I hate the interior I was hoping they'd change it when they brought it over... mann this sucks outside looks great tho

[ponchoman49]

Nice! Looks so much better than the turd Yaris and the pathetically slow and bland Honda Fit. Now lets get a 4 door model in addition to the hatchbacks and all will be well.

[kmil]

I can totally dig on the 3-door Astra, but the interior turns me off big time.

Does anyone know if the Astra will have a color OTHER than gray for the interior??? Hopefully a shade of BEIGE!

If anyone knows or has an idea if BEIGE might be offered as an INTERIOR choice, please email: [email protected]

Thanks!!!

Edited March 4, 2007 by kmil

[ocnblu]

Very handsome, inside and out. It makes me geek on an entry-level Saturn again, like I did with the ION QC. I can't wait to see these on the lots.

[big blue]

If the alum trim were of a darker shade, I wouldn't be so dissapointed with the interior. It reminds me of the Equinox's trim pre-refresh

Exterior wise, it's pretty sharp.

[Bimmer325]

I.. Love the interior. I'm glad they didn't Americanize it.

I'll gladly take this:

Over this:

Wow. That really puts things into perspective.

The Malibu may be pre-production, but it sure looks shoddy in comparison.

[pow]

Both look cheap, but at least the Astra's is kinda techy and refreshing.

[Flybrian]

Sorry, but I see zero appeal in the Astra's stack. Its completely counterintuitive and the markings make no sense to the non-foreign driver. Center for Disease Control? Before Christ? Toilet Paper? What the hell does all that mean? And you can see the damn mounting screws for Chris'sake...

I'd rather not be operating something that resembles and feels like a piece of Vietnam-era radar tracking equipment while I'm driving.

[Oracle of Delphi]

Sorry, but I see zero appeal in the Astra's stack. Its completely counterintuitive and the markings make no sense to the non-foreign driver. Center for Disease Control? Before Christ? Toilet Paper? What the hell does all that mean? And you can see the damn mounting screws for Chris'sake...

I'd rather not be operating something that resembles and feels like a piece of Vietnam-era radar tracking equipment while I'm driving.

Being that I was born and raised in Germany (No English is not my 1st language), there is something very Teutonic about the stack that only a German could love and understand in it's spartan efficiency!

Edited March 5, 2007 by Pontiac-Custom-S

[Robert Hall]

Sorry, but I see zero appeal in the Astra's stack. Its completely counterintuitive and the markings make no sense to the non-foreign driver. Center for Disease Control? Before Christ? Toilet Paper? What the hell does all that mean? And you can see the damn mounting screws for Chris'sake...

I'm sure the Astra will come with a book called an 'owners manual' that will explain the function of the controls.

I like the design...clean and functional, but I'll admit that I'm partial to German interiors (I love BMW, M-B, and Audi interiors).

[bowtie_dude]

My problem with the interior isn't the design, its the color pallete. Its all a shade a grey. Hopefully a charcoal-beige two-tone and/or an all-charcoal interior will be offered as well.

[bowtie_dude]

Actually the interior doesn't look all that bad in this shot from Saturn.com's Astra preview.

[Z-06]

Yeah one on the website does not look bad.

[Aura XR]

Actually the interior doesn't look all that bad in this shot from Saturn.com's Astra preview.

Odd...this picture clearly shows the 12 buttons on the radio where other pics here showed 9.

Never much on the center stacks on Opels.

[Cory Wolfe]

Look at the center of the steering wheel. It has the Saturn logo, but has indents from the Opel logo. That would probably explain the radio.

[bowtie_dude]

Look at the center of the steering wheel. It has the Saturn logo, but has indents from the Opel logo. That would probably explain the radio.

Ha! Preproduction indeed. Good eye.

[Northstar]

The newest pic looks pretty damn nice for a entry-level vehicle to me. Good materials too, judging from the pictures.

[bowtie_dude]

The newest pic looks pretty damn nice for a entry-level vehicle to me. Good materials too, judging from the pictures.

Agreed. Just give me an optional 180hp engine and I'll buy one.

[regfootball]

i stood about 6 inches from a couple Astras today at the autoshow.

I LOVE THIS CAR. you guys would love the heavily bolstered seats.

It's really a hot looking car. Especially with the big wheels. Looks wayyyyyy cooler than the Rabbit / Golf.

Needs more motor and a 6 speed auto as such but otherwise, it's way cool!

It looks european in the way the first ford focus' did. Did I say I love this car?

Edited March 12, 2007 by regfootball

[regfootball]

auto show part 2. still love the astra after seeing it again today. Hope this car sells big. I think it needs a bigger motor and a better automatic. It is a looker though, in 2 doors and 4. Interior is way cool also.

[pow]

auto show part 2. still love the astra after seeing it again today. Hope this car sells big. I think it needs a bigger motor and a better automatic. It is a looker though, in 2 doors and 4. Interior is way cool also.

Or even better yet, Opel's new 180-hp 1.6 turbo. More power, more torque, more MPG.

[bowtie_dude]

Or even better yet, Opel's new 180-hp 1.6 turbo. More power, more torque, more MPG.

Thats what I'm waiting for. Not sure I'd be interested in a measely 140hp when I can get more in a Cobalt SS or Mazda3 S.

[yankeeguybd]

Thats what I'm waiting for. Not sure I'd be interested in a measely 140hp when I can get more in a Cobalt SS or Mazda3 S.

Anybody know WHERE its going to be manufactured?

It's a hot looking car for sure! I even like the interior, with the exception of the radio. It looks cheap and subpar.

[pow]

Belgium

[Robert Hall]

Interesting..I just noticed the hatch, rear bumper and taillights are different between the 3dr and 5dr (smaller rear window on 3dr, pointed bottom on the 3dr hatch, etc).

[ZL-1]

Interesting..I just noticed the hatch, rear bumper and taillights are different between the 3dr and 5dr (smaller rear window on 3dr, pointed bottom on the 3dr hatch, etc).

The 3dr has a coupe-like look. It's a very nice looking car IMO.

[yankeeguybd]

Belgium

Belgium? Brutal... If it has to be built in Europe, I would've preferred it was built in Great Britain or Italy. At least its not built in France! I sure as hell wouldn't buy anything from the frogs.

[Oracle of Delphi]

Ummm, you might want to read this.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2445952,00.html

Opel CEO Carl-Peter Forster is the man, I would follow him to Hell and back!

Edited April 27, 2007 by Pontiac Custom-S

[ToniCipriani]

Ha! Preproduction indeed. Good eye.

More like Photoshop.

[Cadillacfan]

The interior is fine in my opinion. In fact, I like it a lot. If only my lease ended later in the year. Then, I might've been able to trade the Grand Am in for this baby.

To show those who don't understand why I like the interior. Let me show you what I've had to look at everyday for the past 3 years:

Soooooo beautiful eh? GM's finest.