Demo Astra In Hand, Any ?s

[rwcmick]

GM has graciously dropped off an Astra for a week's stay with me (3 door, five speed). I'll be posting a review after the test, but I wanted to check and see if y'all had any questions or something you'd like me to look into?

Cheers!

rwcmick
All Cars, All the Time

[oOgocyte]

In consideration of the other post regarding the "ASTRA not catching on"--since GM delivered the vehicle to you, the way you say it makes it seem as though you have direct contact with them--I would appreciate it if you asked the General why the ASTRA isn't being marketed well. I see internet ads and...that's about it. Why aren't ALL of their vehicles important enough to be heavily marketed like the VUE and the AURA, or even the MALIBU--"The car you can't ignore" because there were advertisements EVERYWHERE (from the magazine, to the TV, to the side of the bus, to the billboard). How will the ASTRA's low sales effect its future? I don't want to end up with a discontinued vehicle, with parts in Europe and mechanics here that have very little knowledge of the vehicle. If YOU can't ask these questions because they just gave it to you to drive, then I'm sorry for bothering you.

-hector

[Pete93SL1M]

Can I borrow it for a few days?

Did they give it to you loaded with 18" wheels or standard 17s? I find the ride a little harsh with the 18s myself.

[rwcmick]

GM has actually been really good about reaching out to bloggers. I have a car blog called All Cars, All the Time and GM has invited me to several events and provided access to their executives.

I did have a chance to speak with Jill Lajdziak and some members of her staff at the Detroit show this January. At that point the Astra was just arriving at dealerships and Jill was speaking about the first Astra buyer, a male in Los Angeles area.

One of the initiatives we discussed was Saturn's focus on the Los Angeles area. Not so much for the Astra but rather Saturn's hybrids. I had previously blogged about it here:

http://allcarsallthetime.blogspot.co...vue-total.html

So what did I get out of my meeting? Saturn has a limited budget as compared to a large division like Chevrolet, so they've got to pick and choose how to spend their ad dollars based on "bang for the buck." Given the relatively low number of Astra's that Saturn projected to sell, I think they are focusing on online media and some print advertising.

However, given the recent Business Week post about Astras not flying off the lots, I think it's fair to ask the question again. How can Saturn gain better awareness for the Astra without blowing out the bank account? I'll be contacting Saturn PR in the next few days as my drive draws to a close and I'll see what I can find out.

I'm also going to be asking Saturn about the scenario where it gets a car only to have Chevrolet get it's own, heavily marketed version such as Aura vs. Malibu and Outlook vs. Traverse. I'll update y'all when I find out more.

[eRic 02sc2]

Originally Posted by rwcmick

GM has graciously dropped off an Astra for a week's stay with me (3 door, five speed). I'll be posting a review after the test, but I wanted to check and see if y'all had any questions or something you'd like me to look into?

Cheers!

rwcmick
All Cars, All the Time

I'd like to know... 0-60mph acceleration, 60mph-0 braking, 0-400m or 0-1/4mile, cornering g's and top speed. better yet let me have it for one day and I'll sort it out. Thanks.

[BobbyP]

Something doesn't seem quite right about this thread...

[unkle bik]

Originally Posted by eRic 02sc2

better yet let me have it for one day and I'll sort it out. Thanks.

Now, that's an idea worth looking into.

Driving it is great selling factor.
Particularly if you have it overnight to find out those ordinary things that you have become accustomed to in your daily driver.

Things such as:
Seat position.
Rear window view.
Radio placement.
How it corners.
How it brakes.
How it accelerates on a freeway ramp.
Night vision.
Access to HVAC,wipers, lights,etc.

It amazes me how many people in today's day & age will buy a car without actually driving it. Only to rely on car rags and web blogs.

Two weeks later they are bloggin about how they hate the car because of it's cupholder placement....

[metgol]

Cup holders don't exist in Europe. That's why they're in odd spots when imported to America.

[rwcmick]

i thought i'd let y'all know that i have completed the article. you can find it here:

http://allcarsallthetime.blogspot.co...-for-week.html

cheers!