Newb, saw the link on SaturnFans

[j0n]

What's up ladies and gents, my name is Jon(this much is obvious I hope), and last night I took delivery of my 2008 Astra XR 3-door 5-speed in silver, which came with the Premium Trim and Advanced Audio.

The car will be my daily driver, but like every vehicle I've ever owned, it'll see the dragstrip, and probably get autocrossed as well. The Saturn is my first brand new car, and a huge step up from my previous daily driver(2004 Neon).

I have also owned a 1989 Firebird Formula(totalled being stupid), 1995 Trans Am Convertible(went 12.700 before I sold it), 2004 CBR 1000rr(got waffled by a 17yr old chick in a Hyundai... I got airlifted, it was messy), and currently own a 1999 Corvette Hardtop, which has gone 11s with nothing but bolt-ons.

[Robor007]

Welcome, Jon!   Looks like our cars are very similar.   

[Mr. Clarkson]

are people still having issues with the silver paint? lots of people with the silver colored Astras found the paint to be weak and it was damaged / failed easily.

[Robor007]

are people still having issues with the silver paint? lots of people with the silver colored Astras found the paint to be weak and it was damaged / failed easily.

Yikes.  There's 2 different 'silvers' right?  Silver sand and star silver.  Are both affected?

[j0n]

are people still having issues with the silver paint? lots of people with the silver colored Astras found the paint to be weak and it was damaged / failed easily.

That is not good to know, if I have any problems I wonder if GM will help me out 

Here's a few quick pics from the work parking lot...

[Mr. Clarkson]

I might be stupid, however, as it could be white paint that I'm thinking of, and not silver 

[RjION]

Hello and welcome .......... Lets us know the numbers you post at the strip. We took a 3dr 5 speed to Firebird and it posted a best of 17.6



What the other SATURNS ran the same night
17.0's in a 2005 2.2 ION auto
16.3's in a 2006 2.2L 5 speed.
2006 2.4L ION auto ran 15.9's, and my 2007 2.4L ION auto ran 15.8's.

[j0n]

Hello and welcome .......... Lets us know the numbers you post at the strip. We took a 3dr 5 speed to Firebird and it posted a best of 17.6



What the other SATURNS ran the same night
17.0's in a 2005 2.2 ION auto
16.3's in a 2006 2.2L 5 speed.
2006 2.4L ION auto ran 15.9's, and my 2007 2.4L ION auto ran 15.8's.

Oooofa I really hope to best a 17.6 by a LOT. I drove my previous daily driver, a 2004 Neon, to a 15.6 with just relatively basic bolt-ons.

[Robor007]

Hmmm...  I do not like the front license plate at all.  I'm glad they aren't required in FL.