Astra Priced Starting $15,995

[PurdueGuy]

The Malibu is eventually getting a 6-speed trans with a 4 cylinder. Why not all the other GM compact cars, this would be a HUGE boost sales wise, mileage wise, and bragging rights wise...so wise up GM!!

They can only make so many, and how much bigger of a fit would you throw if the Astra had a 6 speed auto and the Malibu still had a 4? They'll probably all be 6 speeds someday. In the meantime, take comfort in the fact that probably 95% of drivers couldn't tell the difference between a 4 and 6 speed anyway - they just want a 6 speed due to a general "bigger is better" attitude.

Care about performance? Buy a manual.

[regfootball]

I believe if you will check that the ONLY compact sedan/wagon w/ a 5 speed auto is the Civic. Which means everyone else is using FOUR speed automatics. Which means GM is w/ the game but not ahead of it.

So instead of complaining b/c GM is using its universally praised for smoothness 4 speed auto be thankful they are using it over the 5 speed parallel shift auto it used in the early IONs, which was way ahead of the game.

i thought vw offered 5 or 6 speed autos in their compacts, some with dsg even

[K.C.]

I think VW only offers a 5 speed auto on Rabbit/Jetta and the DSG on the GTI/GLI.

$16K is a good price, but with options I am sure it would be up there with other loaded compacts.

I really like this car.

[91z4me]

i thought vw offered 5 or 6 speed autos in their compacts, some with dsg even

My bad I missed those. But looking at the main stream compacts: Corolla, Civic, Elantra, Focus, Cobalt, Astra... You will see the 4 speed autos are still alive and kicking. Heck wasn't it 2000 when you could still get a 3 speed auto corolla?

[Flybrian]

Heck wasn't it 2000 when you could still get a 3 speed auto corolla?

Don't be ridiculous...it was 2002.

[Satty]

The Neon was available with a 3-speed auto for quite a while. It was supposedly more reliable than the more expensive 4-speed auto.

[ketch]

The price seems mor reasonable than I expected. They should sell out.

I hope to get one eventually, an XR 3dr.

[The O.C.]

I don't dislike Ford; I'm just thoroughly unimpressed with the Focus. Its a European car that's lauded for its 'dynamics,' but a poor American compact. I know three Focus owners ('01, '05, '05) whose cars are just horrible. Granted, one of them drives about 200 miles a day five or six days a week on the interstate, but these cars just don't seem built to last. I would actually trust a J-body more because it may rattle, squeak, and not corner well, but it'll run longer.

I agree the 1.8's horsepower seems on the threshold of being acceptable for the 3-door, especially because its looks belie a bigger engine - my God, how yummy would a 2.0l DI Turbo'd Ecotec be? - but we'll see when the time comes. Astra hatch also has so many more features vis a vis the Focus, plus keep in mind the Focus hatch is DOA, replaced by a sad-looking Escort coupe.

This generation isn't the volume car; its the 'hey-look-at-me-I'm-an-entry-Saturn-worth-giving-a-damn-about' car. It'll sell every unit imported.

I think you are WAY out of touch on this one Fly....

Focus is the best American compact this land has ever seen.....bar none.

In fact, I had an SVT 3-door for a year and it was one of my most favorite cars I've EVER owned.......drove way more like a cut-rate BMW than a "domestic compact." Oh...in that years' time....I had not one single problem, no matter how minor.

I also recommended my friend to get a Focus ZX3 quite a few years' ago. He was cash-strapped....and got a nice-looking black-on-black hatch but with most of the basic stuff in it. He ran it for 200K miles with nary a hiccup. I didn't ask him for a detailed list of what maybe he got repaired in that time.....but he loved it enough that he just bought a new '07 ZX3.....and loves it.

Can't say much more than that.....

[Flybrian]

Gotta base my opinions on my observations of Focuseseses I've been close to. I cannot believe how shoddy they are. Do they divvy up production runs for laughs?

[The O.C.]

Gotta base my opinions on my observations of Focuseseses I've been close to. I cannot believe how shoddy they are. Do they divvy up production runs for laughs?

....but I've LIVED with one.....so that's what I base MY opinions on.

Let's put it to you this way......one year may not be a long time....but in one year and 20,000 miles, I've had more problems with my $41K Cadillac CTS than I did with my $19K Focus......(that was...NO problems with the Ford...no matter how minor.) Not saying I don't still love the Caddy....but it's no reliability king....that's for sure.....whereas at the same age and same mileage, the Focus was FLAWLESS.

Regardless......Astra looks to be a winner. Let's hope so....

Edited August 24, 2007 by The O.C.

[A Horse With No Name]

Yep, the engine tends to be the saving grace of the J-body....

I've noticed a decent number already of early 00s Focus in the 'yard-most with engines toasted.

While it's not a bad car-it won't hold up as well as a Civic or J-body....

Or a Mazda 3 for that matter.

Chris