Learn me Saturn Astra

So I got a text last night, my buddy, whose a bit of a Saturn junkie, had bought an Astra. He takes delivery this weekend.

What I know: 2008, 195k miles, 1.8 ecotec(?) 5 speed. Needs exhaust work.

According to him, the 1.8 is shared with the Malibu, to which I replied "there are 4 cylinder Malibu?"

What parts bin suspension/motor/body stuff works with it? Common problems?

Until about a month ago when he decided he wanted one, I didn't think the Astra was available in the states. Then I heard mention here from a few people, for the first time in my 4 years on the forum, so I guess there are a few. 

He's not concerned with racing or crossing, just a decent mpg appliance for delivering food.

As far as I know they are pretty decent cars, but there is virtually no parts bin swapping owing to the car's European origins.

IIRC the Ecotec variant they use was not shared with any other US-spec vehicle, so some mechanical parts are $$$ and have long lead times. Also as you'd probably expect for a vehicle that was only sold here two years before the brand went under, trim-type stuff doesn't grow on trees.

No, the 1.8L was not used in the Malibu. The Malibu used the EcoTec 2.4L, the Astra uses a Family 1 Opel-designed engine. No interchange. We call them Pain In The Astras here at work for a reason. Everything on them is... different. They require a completely different scan tool configuration from any other North American GM product. You have to take a Tech II, remove the regular logic cards and install a special Astra-only one just to talk to them. And a bunch of weird E36 M3 is considered a "module", so when you replace it, it has to be programmed using that special scan tool. Put an airbag in one for a recall and the clock spring weirdly just died. Well, that comes with the multifunction switch as a "steering column module" or some nonsense and you have to hook up the scan tool and input all these codes that a dealer has to request from GM just to get the thing to work. It was a nightmare. Parts availability is spotty on some stuff, because they were completely unique and not sold in the US. I'd pass, they're just a hassle to deal with.

My ex had one and I really liked the car.  It was quite nimble (based on the GM Delta chassis) and was fun to autocross in H-Street (before the ST dominance).  You defintiely want the manual version, as the auto gearing is TERRIBLE.

However, as NickD pointed out, it is really a bastard child of Euro GM that was imported.  It was at the shop for the better part of a month after a broken windshield as they couldn't get the automatic windshield wipers programmed to work with the new windshield/module.

GM fitted an absurdly large AC compressor to this engine (bigger than the one on my Silverado) and the AC clutch doesn't disengage at full throttle.  We'd honestly turn the AC off to merge onto the interstate or pass on a two lane as it ate an insane amount of horsepower.

It's just a saturn badged vauxhall astra, is it not?  

Patrick (Forum Supporter) said:

It's just a saturn badged vauxhall astra, is it not?  

yes

wasn't there one at the most recent challenge? 

Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:

wasn't there one at the most recent challenge? 

I believe maschinenbau has one as a daily driver.

Despite what people will tell you, it's a Cobalt hatch and the 1.8 was also used in the Sonic.

There was a 2.0T (Cobalt SS) version available in Europe.

I did a lot of research on them because I seriously considered buying one. Could be a fun project, as there are a lot of really nice examples around here, and there's a ton of potential and potential weirdness. But I just don't have the energy for a real project anymore, and I didn't really want to get into the orphan thing again

Peabody said:

it's a Cobalt hatch and the 1.8 was also used in the Sonic.

 

Huh? They are both ultimately Delta derivatives but there are a LOT of different parts.

Also, the LWE aka P18XER in the Sonic is not the same as the U18XER in the Astra. Some internal parts are shared but the ancillaries and engine management are very different.

Lots of frustrated discussion on this Saturn board about how infuriatingly different Astra parts are from other US models: http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162221&page=3

The external stuff was updated for the Sonic. It's otherwise the same motor.

There are obviously differences due to the body and trims, but it's basically a Cobalt and you could very easily build a Astra SS with all Cobalt SS parts bolting on.

I think I read that thread when I was looking into them. I remember the coil packs being a regular problem

Oh, pick me! I have one as my DD! I've owned this 5-speed XE for 10 years now and 120k miles.

Correct it is literally just a rebadged Vauxhall/Opel Astra. They changed as little as possible to bring it stateside. SaturnFans is the best forum for them. Very helpful, including sourcing parts. 

Pros:

• Firm, tight "german" feeling suspension, nice steering
• Unknown and therefore very cheap
• Surprisingly high quality interior plastics
• Parts are not hard to find. 2nd best-selling car in europe at the time, so new stuff is still available. They're in junkyards now too. I just bought new Bilsteins all around for $250 shipped from Germany.
• Odd selection of "nice" features, including all 4 auto-down windows, auto-down windows on the key fob, automatic wipers and lights.
• Quirky as hell styling (pro for me)
• Top-mount cartidge style oil filter
• Shares wheel lug pattern with Saabs. I scored some Borbet's off a 9-3 from craigslist.
• Good but not amazing MPG. I average between 27 and 32.

Cons:

• 1 cupholder up front and it's behind your elbow
• No aux jack or bluetooth, and also no cassette. Awkward in-between era where CD-only was the standard. I use a bluetooth-over-radio and it's fine.
• A/C compressor too big (NOTICEABLY robs power and MPG)
• Not very powerful in the first place. You will not win H-Street.

Reliability:

• A/C clutch may wear out prematurely. Seems to be common problem. I replaced the whole compressor for $250 new at 50k miles and it hasn't been a problem since. 
• Coilpacks seem to die before 100k miles, but mine is going strong. Longevity seems to be correlated to following the ridiculous 25k mile plug change interval (which I do). Plugs are just too easy on this car, so why not.
• Automatics seem to have some problems with the shifter linkage, not the actual trans. 
• Interference engine, but I've never read an instance of a timing belt failure. Timing belt took me less than 4 hours.
• Camshaft phaser filter thingies can get clogged, and the solution is just take them apart and remove the filter. Causes an engine code and lower HP. But I follow a strict 5k mile full synth oil interval and haven't had this issue either.
• EGR buildup on the throttle body will also cause a code every 50k or so, but doesn't run different. Just wipe the backside of the TB clean when doing the air filter.
• The harness to the rear doors is known to wear out from flexing and cause the windows/locks on rear doors not to work. I haven't had this problem either.