2008 Saturn Astra

"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo) 01/23/2015 at 17:17 • Filed to: Saturn Astra

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1.8 Ecotec.

Does said engine have hydraulic lifters/valve lash adjusters?

Is it an interference engine?

Wife's car. Been in the shop since Monday for a cold-engine misfire. Once it's warm, runs fine. Dealer is saying that the valves are sticking when cold.

Can't really get more info from my service advisor than that.

(Not my wife's actual car, but her's looks identical to this one.)

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/23/2015 at 17:20

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I always wanted one of the 3 door astras and throw Vauxhall badges on it haha

Hermann > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/23/2015 at 17:26

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Funfact: They're called Vectra in South America. And were sold alongside the previous gen Astra.

Telumektar > Hermann 01/23/2015 at 17:58

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Today I drove for a while behind a burgundy Astra and a blue Vectra (2003 or so and 2010 models respectively). It's just ridiculous how much they improved the design and quality from one generation to the other, you wouldn't even think they come from the same company.

Cé hé sin > Hermann 01/23/2015 at 18:13

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That's odd. We had Vectras (in Europe) and they were one size above the Astra (which we have too).

Hermann > Telumektar 01/23/2015 at 19:13

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Yeah!

I owned two Sedan Astras here in Brazil. One was a 1999 and the other, 2005. They were the same gen, but the latter was facelifted (Same as the picture). It was amazing how similar yet different they were. The new one had prettier materials, but the quality was worse. The whole build quality actually went down.

Then the "Vectra" came along. And it was the same deal.

Funktheduck > Hermann 01/23/2015 at 19:23

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that grille is weirding me out.

Hermann > Cé hé sin 01/23/2015 at 19:24

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We had an actual Vectra, too. But only the 1st and 2nd generation. The 2nd gen was replaced by the 2006 Opel/Vauxhall Astra badged as Vectra.

Funktheduck > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 01/23/2015 at 19:27

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I saw one somewhere in Atlanta that did that. My girlfriend spotted it.

Hermann > Funktheduck 01/23/2015 at 19:28

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That bumper was nicknamed the cowcatcher. So when someone referred to the facelifted Astra they said "Locomotive Astra"

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Funktheduck 01/23/2015 at 19:40

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Lol she's a keeper

pip bip - choose Corrour > Hermann 01/23/2015 at 19:44

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my parents have one as a Holden , same colour.

pip bip - choose Corrour > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/23/2015 at 19:44

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coil pack?

cuts_off_prius > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/23/2015 at 19:45

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Is it easy getting parts for it, despite Saturn being discontinued?

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > cuts_off_prius 01/23/2015 at 23:16

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Engine is the same one they put in everything else and still use, so far it hasn't been an issue.

That and I think they will still make parts for ten years from production, so we have a few more years before it becomes an issue.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 01/23/2015 at 23:23

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Don't. It isn't really very good to drive. You can't get the huge panoramic sunroof in the 2-door hatch, and it's pretty gutless with only a 1.8.

For comparison my DD is a 2002 SVT Focus. That's a damn fine car if there ever was one.

Build quality in the Astra might be better, but my Focus is way, way more fun to drive.

Both of our cars are manual, and the clutch in hers sucks. It's way too light, and the shifter is vague.

I would flat refuse to drive one with an auto. It would have to be an absolute dog.

tyvytrevyre > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/24/2015 at 01:25

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When I lived in Europe, I had one of those (brand was Opel but the car was identical). I had so many weird issue. And it was a brand new car.

It looks good, but it's still GM crap.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/24/2015 at 14:46

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Mine wasn't bad :(

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/24/2015 at 14:48

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I sincerely doubt I would like it.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/24/2015 at 14:59

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You might not, but it wasn't bad overall.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/24/2015 at 15:02

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Slow + Auto = bad.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/24/2015 at 15:04

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It's not a performance car though. It's a well built average economic commuter car; not every car needs to be judged by it's sportiness.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/24/2015 at 15:08

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If I am going to drive it, then yes it is.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/24/2015 at 15:10

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Okay, but that doesn't mean it's "bad", that's all I'm saying. I mean it's not perfect, it isn't great, but it was an alright car.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/24/2015 at 15:15

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Yeah, I know. That's what I have been saying. I think it's a bad car. That doesn't mean it's a bad car altogether.

It goes from A to B. I'd rather have fun from A to B.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/26/2015 at 14:33

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Maybe take a look on some Cruze/Sonic forums. They also come with a 1.8L Ecotec as a base engine, I'm relatively certain it's the same one. I have the 1.4L Turbo which is a different architecture, so I don't know much about the 1.8L and can't help you more than this recommendation. Sorry and good luck.

ranwhenparked > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/26/2015 at 15:04

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For the second question, the Family 1/EcoTec is definitely an interference design.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > ranwhenparked 01/26/2015 at 15:25

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Thank you. You'd think Wikipedia would have that info, but I cannot find it anywhere.

I think it also has hydraulic lifters as well.