Comments on: New Astra takes home Golden Steering Wheel award

By: Joker

Joker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:48:08 +0000

It would have been Funny is Opel was sold off to China and they started selling Astra’s in Australia again…we’d have a lot of confused people out there
But wait…the Cruze is…but the Astra….errr…my head hurts!!!!

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:04:05 +0000

At least the Holden version of the Cruze’s grill looks semi-decent as apposed to the Yankee Chevrolet grill… not good: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/front_website/gallery.php?id=303746

By: filippo

filippo — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:25:57 +0000

That Astra pictured is a nice looking car. If Renault and Fiat can survive in Australia then I’m sure Opel could also do well under their own badge.

Re the local production of a Cruze hatch, I doubt it will go ahead. Holden only committed to this project when Ford were planning to build the Focus locally. Now that Ford’s plans have changed (or as some would say, never existed!) and the ‘Made in Korea’ stigma isn’t hurting the Cruze sedan’s sales, it would be difficult to justify an expensive local production line.

By: filippo

filippo — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:55:09 +0000

And what does the $US exchange rate have to do with importing a car from Europe?

By: lazybones

lazybones — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:19:29 +0000

Thats right, its cheap and cheerful and nothing to get enthusiastic about

By: JEKYL & HYDE

JEKYL & HYDE — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:12:39 +0000

how did the new golf gti compare to it?zafira won the same award?do i smell some corruption?…

By: Dino

Dino — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:06:55 +0000

I actually think the Cruze looks very good on its own, and considering it shall be built here with a liftback version, I for one is happy to give this Astra a miss.

By: Myke

Myke — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:45:32 +0000

As Raf stated the reason Holden aren’t bring the Astra is because of the exchange rate, they probably realise too that very few people would pay VW Golf money for a Holden badged Astra.
Also considering the Cruze is selling well and with an Aussie built hatch on the way, the Astra is no longer relevant.

By: Philthy

Philthy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:34:52 +0000

That tells me that it’s probably a nicer car than the Cruze, which it should be seeing as it’s more expensive. Doesn’t mean that the Cruze is horrible or the wrong car for the local market though.

By: Brett

Brett — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:17:17 +0000

I think they didn’t bring in the new Astra because it would only reiterate how bad the commodore really is. Cruze is ok but wont detract from commodore buyers.