Astra New Opel Astra

coolraoul · May 19, 2009

martinbo said:
I'll have a Golf Mk 6 over this any day of the week. Rain or Shine.

VW doesn't need the Golf to be anything other than what it is - a Golf. It is as enduring and recognisable as any iconic product is - automotive or other - and therein lies the appeal of the Golf. It's timeless and classless. It is the quintessential car for anyone and everyone and its success is entrenched in incremental evolution of its visual identity.

In stark contrast, the Opel Kadett/Astra has always been a model whose generations have seen dramatic stylistic depatures from previous ones - a consistent "out with the old, in with the new" approach. I stopped buying Opels but still own a Polo after a decade of buying VW products.

I've driven the new Golf 6 1.4 TSI and, as an all-round product, it stands head and shoulders above anything else I've driven in that class. And, thankfully, it still looks like a Golf (which is a great thing) and not some anonymous, MPV-like monobox.

I feel the Golf VI is still a bit boring. Keeping the Golf spirit does not necessarily mean not pushing the design bit further at every generation.
I agree with the family-spirit, but I'd made the VI bit more daring.

Well, at least it's much better than the ugly Golf V.

BTW, does it drive better than the V?

Because the V was a plain disaster imo. Looks ugly, averagely finished, no particular "premium-feeling" in the way it drove, very noisy, not particularly comfortable.

It was definitely a huge improvement over the IV in terms of drivetrains (not floating any more), was roomier, but that's about all. Oh, was more reliable too.

The Golf IV felt much more premium, even while driving, the finish was in another world, and the design way more attractive...

From what I saéw, the finish of the VI is excellent. It also seems to be way more silent. Does it drive "premium" too?

martinbo · May 19, 2009

coolraoul... I'll answer your questions in a Golf 6 review thread.

The issue at hand in this thread is Opel's continued pursuit of a disconnected design language policy for each new generation of the Astra. I can't say whether it's right or wrong but it does contrast starkly with VW's incremental approach for the Golf.

And another thing - any word on the rear suspension? Still Torsion beam?

coolraoul · May 19, 2009

AFAIK it still has the Torsion Beam, but modified (wow!).

I agree with you, the name Astra doesn't evoke any particular car as they all are totally different. It's just the hatch from Opel...
It's not a good thing imo.

However, it's also Opel as a whole which is, since under GM's "protective" arm, is desperately seeking an identity.

Whereas VW, also looking for a new identity, didn't alter the Golf, which makes it recognizable by everybody regardless of its generation.

ABCD · May 19, 2009

m-power · Jun 13, 2009

Astra vs Golf

Astra vs Golf

Kowalski · Jun 13, 2009

OK. I'm convinced... it does look good. Can't wait to see the three door and OPC/VXR versions.

Leech · Jun 13, 2009

jap it does look good but what about quality of the materials, comfort ...

I drove last generation astra and it's really UNCOFORTABLE car with not really god driving characteristics...

I take golf between this two ..

VroomVroom · Jun 13, 2009

Leech said:
jap it does look good but what about quality of the materials, comfort ...

I drove last generation astra and it's really UNCOFORTABLE car with not really god driving characteristics...

I take golf between this two ..

Which model did you drive?

I know the Sri has a terrible ride.. :eusa_doh: