Drove in the 2008 Saturn Astra XR

Post by **PrecisionBoost** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 4:45 pm

I can't belive Tom hasn't come on here to boast about being the first "non-dealership" person to drive a Saturn Astra here in Canada.

Tom recieved a call to let him know that the one and only demo Saturn Astra was traveling accross Canada from dealership to dealership.

So we drove way accross the city only to find that the car had left for another dealership a couple hours earlier.

So we jumped back into his Lanos and drove to the other dealership where we found the Astra sitting outside ( just before their closing time)

We went in and the salesmanager litterally threw the keys at Tom without even asking who we were or anything (very trusting.... we could have stole it so easily )

So we checked it out..... it's awesome.... basicly the same size as the Optra.... perhaps even just a tiny bit smaller.... but just slightly bigger than the Lanos.

The only difference in the entire car (between Saturn and Opel ) was a different steering wheel.

They are manufactured in Belgium and in person they are one sharp car.... they are going to absolutely kill the sales of the Optra5/Reno/Lacetti (as well as Cobalt)

So we went to go give the keys back after drooling for a good 20 minutes and going over everything and the sales manager says "so did you take it for a spin"

Tom's eyes bulged out and said "I didn't think we could" and he said "sure take it for a rip, just be carefull it has summer tires on it"

Normally the car goes from show room to show room at dealerships (stays a day or two at each dealer)..... it doesn't go out for test drives.

Tom was excited, the steering was very responsive and it felt really good.

I didn't drive it because the last time we did this I bought an Optra5 a day and a half later..... and I have way too many vehicles allready.

I have some pics and Tom has a video.... but I don't have my microSD adapter to upload the pics I took.

Pir0 · Post by **Pir0** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:54 am

That Saturn astra XR is just the canadian version of the Vauxhall Astra VXR/Opel Astra OPC right? does it have the 2.0l Turbo ecotec engine aswell?

I don't like the front grill on the saturn. The Vauxhall/Opel one suits the car so much better.

GsiTurbo · Post by **GsiTurbo** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 4:59 pm

No, regretfully the XR model has nothing to do with the VXR/OPC editions

Motor-wise, its only 1.8 DOHC, 138hp (based on the small GM/Opel block). The 'Redline' model is two follow in about 2 years time, yet it is unknown if it will get the all-mighty LEH motor. The interior trim, however, is that of VXR/OPC trim. Besides that, the Astra is identical to, well, Astra and all the body parts are exchangable. I think the car would look much better with the Irmscher styling package

Factory look

Irmscher look

And then there is the GTC bodykit, inspired by the latest GTC Concept

I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, I will not buy the new Astra, LOL

Pir0 · Post by **Pir0** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:25 pm

This one does it for me;

Maybe without the checkered flag decals. but, yummy. Should hear it aswell, phwoar.

GsiTurbo · Post by **GsiTurbo** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:38 pm

Oh yeah... the Astra OPC “Nurburgring Edition”.. near rear spoiler, unique white paint and the real carbon fibre details and the 2mm wider track.
I DO AGREE with you on that one

I would buy this one LOL

Post by **PrecisionBoost** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:40 pm

I noticed there hasn't been a huge response to this post, I don't know if all you Lanos guys out there realize that the 1.8L is a stroked 1.6L with variable valve timing ( or atleast I'm pretty sure it has variable valve timing)

So anything performance wise for the Saturn Astra will be a bolt on for the Lanos/Aveo

Pir0 · Post by **Pir0** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:55 pm

Are you sure the 1.8 in those astras is small block?

A lot of the 1.8s that come in Vauxhall/opels run the same block as engines such as the c20xe/let etc, just with small bore size/stroke

daewoomofo · Post by **daewoomofo** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:25 pm

when you say "variable valve timing" are you talking about sortof an Ople/Vauxhaull "vtech"? i wonder what having that and the vgis from a lanos on the same engine would be like?

jidasas · Post by **jidasas** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:52 pm

I'm just crossing my fingers that the crank will "drop in" to the lanos 1.6. Don't want to get my hopes up though. Never know how long before one might end up in a scrap yard:)

Jimmy

Post by **Efratech** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 6:29 pm

Pir0 wrote:Are you sure the 1.8 in those astras is small block?

A lot of the 1.8s that come in Vauxhall/opels run the same block as engines such as the c20xe/let etc, just with small bore size/stroke

yeah,

its a small block the engine code is z18 something, dont remember the rest.

older 1.8 are small block

Audacity Racing · Post by **Audacity Racing** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:08 pm

daewoomofo wrote:when you say "variable valve timing" are you talking about sortof an Ople/Vauxhaull "vtech"? i wonder what having that and the vgis from a lanos on the same engine would be like?

www.notgonnahappen.com

The head is a very different casting. The manifolds wouldn't fit.

Another thought is that the buzz at GM is the next generation Astra will have a universal engine... the high feature Ecotec found in the Solstice, Sky, Cobalt, Malibu, etc. It has the potential to be turbo-charged for a big kick in the pants and offers a base 4 cylinder as well. Since we won't get a VXR for this generation, our first VXR will be a class competition for the Malibu SS... both sporting the Ecotec turbo.

It's kind of a bummer for GM to universalize their engines across all markets, but at the same time it makes for a much broader aftermarket.