Car buyers here in the States are clamoring for fuel competent transportation, but so far the Saturn Astra hasn't been on the top of buyers lists. The Astra is a smash hit in Europe and we liked it during its sharply visit in the Autoblog Garage, but it may just be too exclusive compared to the competition with an early rate of $16,495. General Motors charge the estimate high to make a profit on the small tome import, each.
GM vice chair and passage master Bob Lutz told Automotive News that the Belgian-made Astra isn't profitable in the U.S. at all anymore due to the weak meaning of the Dollar vs. the Euro. The Astra has consumed up in assess by $500 since its introduction to ruminate the broadening gap between the two currencies, and the assess built only to minimize the hit from the currency switch. The Astra is not just a fiscal burden for the General – it isn't precisely the sales star, whichever. GM has sold only 7,914 so far this year, which is far below the projected lick of 25,000 yearly units. Part of the dilemma is that few people actually know the Astra exists, and those who do may not want to pay the relatively high price of ingress. If you've motivated or own an Astra, let us know what you think of it in the notes.