View Full Version : First Pictures of the Saab 9-7X.
gcbrink
07-04-04, 06:58 PM
Wow, this thing is lame.
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=05433512
gcbrink
07-04-04, 07:03 PM
http://www.autoweek.com/specials/2004_newyork/saab/images/X05SB_N7004.jpg
Vector-SS
07-04-04, 07:04 PM
hmmm....cheap looking in my opinion. But if this is not the top model shown, then i cant judge yet.
sjhudon
07-04-04, 07:08 PM
I don't like it... I don't like SUV's though so my opinion might be scewed.
scrittler
07-04-04, 07:17 PM
if you cover over the front end, ask yourself:
is this a Trailblazer, Envoy, Bravada, or 9-7X?
i bet you could barely tell the difference.
way to go GM, kill a perfectly cool brand by badge engineering. you've made yourselves no better than you were in the 80s.
Viscouse
07-04-04, 07:45 PM
I'm going to move this into the 9-7 Forum.
We can chat more about it there...
-Vis
gixxer600
07-04-04, 07:45 PM
good point scrittler... I agree and dislike it.
CosmicSaab
07-04-04, 08:41 PM
To me the interior quality looks to be on par with that of the current 9-3 and 9-5, which may or may not be a good thing. The exterior is ok. It is not a regrille at least, but the redesign could have been more extensive. The interior design is generally uniques, it shares mostly the switchgear, insturment cluster, and the other stuff that goes in the dash, doors, etc. So that is still better than sharing everything including that dash. And it does have the Saab vents and center ignition. And Saab wil at last offer XM Satellite Radio!!! Too bad it looks like it will have the piece of junk Bose system GM puts in the others.
CosmicSaab
07-04-04, 08:45 PM
if you cover over the front end, ask yourself:
is this a Trailblazer, Envoy, Bravada, or 9-7X?
i bet you could barely tell the difference.
way to go GM, kill a perfectly cool brand by badge engineering. you've made yourselves no better than you were in the 80s.
TBlazer and Envoy have different sheet metal than the Bravada/Rainer/9-7x. And the Bravada was never that popular, so really we are only sharing with the Rainer and it has that horrible looking body cladding on the side which we do not get (and that is only a good thing). Mechanically, the Saab also has its own suspension, steering rack, it also looks like it gets throttle by wire, and at last check none of the other GMT360s have that either. It also has a new version of the Vortec 5300 V8. If we are lucky the retuned the sound that it makes too.
Ugh, that thing is hideous! :nono; :roll:
I was hoping for something sleeker along the lines of an RX330.
Oh well...
ThaBrkrs349
08-04-04, 06:35 AM
Well, tomorrow (Friday) I will see it in person. I'll reserve judgement 'til then.
zingZACH
08-04-04, 07:13 AM
My dad was the first person in the USA to sit in it (other than the people who brought it to NY lol)... he liked it, It is growing on me :oops: ... I would only get the black one if I were ever to purchase one... The silver one looks weird in my opinion.... I dont care for the interior much, but I will have to wait and see/sit in it.....
dave245
08-04-04, 05:11 PM
Here is yesterday's press release info from the New York Auto Show regarding the 9-7X
http://media.saab.com/member.jsp?country=0
Click on the 9-7X icon...
Dave
finwake
09-04-04, 09:13 PM
There goes the brand... :x
I think it's a mistake. Drive an X5, XC90 or Allroad then drive a Trailblazer. Still, I can't wait to see a lowered 9-7x cruising around town on 22" dubs or spinners.
squishmann
11-04-04, 12:03 AM
you cannot compare a trailblazer to any of those vehicles. the 9-7X has a different suspension that the other 360 variants. it is supposed to give you the same feel of an X5 or XC90
we will find out how true this is next year.
i am going to the show tomorrow and will get some "live" interior shots.
finwake
12-04-04, 10:17 PM
I can't decide if I should cheer, jeer, or cry. Guess we have to wait and see... if the ride is truly Saab like and not Trailblazer klunky, and someone like Snoop picks one up and tricks it, then who knows:-??
So yes, I agree on the lowered hip-hop-mobile; you know, with those funky wheel/hub caps that spin independently of the wheel like some kind of funked propeller head. Now that's the state of independence. :wink:
Jebross
06-05-04, 06:31 PM
Whether I sit in it or not - I have seen this vehicle and I think it is rather lame. Sure, everybnody has to have an SUV on the market and Saab was late. You would think maybe some innovation or something that actually looked different would have come out of this??? (not just, "jeez we're loosing market share, let's pump something out")
This is just a North American styled piece of crap that eats too much fuel and won't excel on or off the road. I can just see the soccer Mom loading her drooling kids and groceries around in it already. The least they could have done was made something that carried on a tradition of distinction.
sethsev7n
07-05-04, 03:25 AM
Judging by the read on that autoweek site, they dont really like it either. :-?
2004Saab93Linear
13-05-04, 07:47 PM
We were gonna get one of these as our second vehicle/travel car.
Maybe we should get one of those Dodge Magnums instead....
2004Saab93Linear - totally get Dodge Magnum! I've seen it and driven it, and this rig is AMAZING. Interior materials are top-notch, even better than in the 9-3. TONS of space. Handles right on the dime while giving a cushy ride. It's extremely well done. I was very impressed. The only thing is, I love stick shift, and it doesn't come with that.
As to 9-7... IT SUCKS ELEPHANT'S BIG BUTT!! It's a slightly photochopped Envoy/Trailblazer. Shame on Saab and shame on GM!
Why is it a trait lately? Same thing happened with 9-2... Oops, I mean Subaru WRX sportwagon. I mean, I seriously don't see any difference between 9-2 and Subaru WRX wagon... Inside AND out.
Sad. Very sad.
2004Saab93Linear - totally get Dodge Magnum! I've seen it and driven it, and this rig is AMAZING. Interior materials are top-notch, even better than in the 9-3. TONS of space. Handles right on the dime while giving a cushy ride. It's extremely well done. I was very impressed. The only thing is, I love stick shift, and it doesn't come with that.
How is daimlerchrysler doing in the quality/reliability department? That's the biggest thing keeping me away from their products. I was very impressied with the Dodge Intrepid I drove a few years ago, and really liked the Sebring convertible I rented a few months ago.
Intrepid and Sebring/Stratus are way behind on quality/build compared to this Magnum. Magnum is built nice and tight with no cheap plastics in sight. Check it out. It promises to be an awesome car. Mopar parts and engines are generally very good - I'm a happy Dodge performance owner for 10+ years running. Magnum also has a lot of Benz parts in it, such as the suspension, the 5-speed tranny in the RT. I know Benz isn't associated with reliability, but the build quality tremendously improved.
Intrepid and Sebring/Stratus are way behind on quality/build compared to this Magnum. Magnum is built nice and tight with no cheap plastics in sight. Check it out. It promises to be an awesome car. Mopar parts and engines are generally very good - I'm a happy Dodge performance owner for 10+ years running. Magnum also has a lot of Benz parts in it, such as the suspension, the 5-speed tranny in the RT. I know Benz isn't associated with reliability, but the build quality tremendously improved.
I drove a 300C the other day but need a wagon. Are Magnums in dealerships now?
Magnums are slowly getting here. You can find one, but you need to call around. They will be everywhere by the end of May, from what I hear. The factory was a little slow getting those built by the release date. Some dealers in Jersey have them, but not that many yet.
THIS is really the cure for the common wagon :)
2004Saab93Linear
16-05-04, 02:40 AM
I went and saw a magnum the other the day. The story unfolds:
Not a bad looking car. They had exactly one in the showroom and it's (needless tosay) red. However the prudes at the dealership wouldn't let me drive it! "We need it to be here." At 8:30 am on a Thurdsday? Whatever.
The saleslady constantly talked down to me and quite frankly, even if I do buy one I am so not buying from her. "We have seven more coming. You can test drive one then". I realize that I must not have "looked serious" since I said I was going to buy in a couple of months. A lot of losers come in and look at $30,000 dollar vehicles with no intent of buying, I suppose.
Did she miss the Saab parked out front or something?
Anyway, it looks promising...
When I showed the pictures to the Mrs, she said that it looked okay but "It's not a Saab". Isn't that beautiful? I think I'm gonna build her a house for that comment.
I responded "That's okay, neither is the 9-7."
Andy
When I showed the pictures to the Mrs, she said that it looked okay but "It's not a Saab". Isn't that beautiful? I think I'm gonna build her a house for that comment.
I responded "That's okay, neither is the 9-7."
Andy
Same experience here. My wife loves our Saab -- at one point we talked about selling it and she would have none of it. Took it out today and waxed it, she was so right.
What I wouldn't give for a really decent fast Saab awd wagon...:-(
Magnums are slowly getting here. You can find one, but you need to call around. They will be everywhere by the end of May, from what I hear. The factory was a little slow getting those built by the release date. Some dealers in Jersey have them, but not that many yet.
THIS is really the cure for the common wagon :)
ya know, i REALLY like the looks of both the Magnum and the 300C. i want to drive both of them.
I've seen a couple 300c's on the road recently. I liked them in the pictures, I don't like them in real life. They actually look sort of pedestrian, they don't really jump out when they are with other cars. The overall shape is very ordinary, the only think that stands out is the narrow greenhouse, and even that just doesn't look as good as it did in the pictures.
squishmann
18-05-04, 03:18 AM
9-5 wagon?
Not AWD.
but CAPABLE of AWD. wait and see...
I don't think the current platform is capable of AWD. An upcoming model may have it, but don't expect it see it fitted on the chassis they have now.
I don't think the current platform is capable of AWD. An upcoming model may have it, but don't expect it see it fitted on the chassis they have now.
Exactly. I'm sure 9-5 won't get awd until new platform version, and 9-3x isn't expected until late 2005 at earliest. And I can't wait ANOTHER year or two to find out.
Plus, consider that Volvo is selling a wagon for essentially the same price as the 9-5 that has AWD and +50hp/torque. Saab's got a tough sell, esp. if all they can offer is a tarted up trailblazer w/ 5000lbs+, body-on-frame, rigid rear-axle, poor quality and mediocere crash scores.
I don't think the current platform is capable of AWD. An upcoming model may have it, but don't expect it see it fitted on the chassis they have now.
sorry, i thought we were talking about the Magnum/300C. that platform is currently AWD capable.
squishmann
20-05-04, 03:25 AM
why do you need AWD?
why do you need AWD?
some people prefer the feel. i personally don't care either way and sometimes feel the constantly changing torque bias of AWD is more hassle than it is worth.
why do you need AWD?
None of your business.:evil:
Lot of mountain dirving, lot of snow.
My Viggen hadnles these condition ok, but sometimes you just need it -- getting through 2-3' of freshly fallen snow. Some canyons actualy require it.
Aren't snow tires more important than AWD? I've actually seen disclaimers for AWD cars (MB comes to mind) that say snow tires required for best traction in the snow.
AWD doesn't do you much good if you don't have traction. I've always thought of AWD as something to optimize bleeding edge performance (the reason Audi was banned from using it in European sports sedan competition), and not something that is especially beneficial for the everyday driver.
It would be nice to see some kind of comparison that could usefully measure the real advantage of AWD. In theory it sounds like a great thing, but I think the practical advantages are perhaps not quite as great as they are advertised.
One thing it probably does do is help correct the ill-affects of a misbalanced car. AWD on a 911 turbo comes to mind. Maybe that's worth it.
I'm pretty happy with snow tires and FWD, but I don't have any mountains to go up or down. :)
CosmicSaab
20-05-04, 10:28 PM
I picked up a brochure on the 9-2x and on the back is a picture of all 6 models od Saab, including the 9-7x. Just thought I would point that out, they are already promoting it, and it won't even be out for another year!
I'm pretty happy with snow tires and FWD, but I don't have any mountains to go up or down. :)
Yea, its funny but I guess relativly few people have expeperienced real winter driving on a daily basis; if they had they probably wouldn't have to ask. :-) Yes, you can (and I do) get around in a fwd car w/ snow tires (don't even think of not having dedicated snows!) but the question is, do you want to?
You want snow tires and awd. There are plenty of people who think they need awd but don't -- hell, there are plenty of people that think they need 5,500 lbs SUVs that don't. In the DC area, I swear to god there were more f'in Sububurbans and X5s and what have you then there are around here. And it snows there like twice a year. By far the most common car here is a Subaru Outback. The most important thing awd gives you, beyond just plain unstuckedness, is stability under acceleration.
For a great write-up on the tradeoffs, see Automobile May 2004 "Slip or Grip". As just an example, it took a fwd and rwd version of the same car (G35 and A4) more space than avialble (300+ft) to accelerate to [edit] 30mph. whereas the awd versions did it in about 160'. They were also significantly quicker in lane change and slalom -- if all whells are driven you get much better dynamic stability.
hth.
Looks too similar to my 98 Mountaineer...
:nono;
For a great write-up on the tradeoffs, see Automobile May 2004 "Slip or Grip". As just an example, it took a fwd and rwd version of the same car (G35 and A4) more space than avialble (300+ft) to accelerate to [edit] 30mph. whereas the awd versions did it in about 160'. They were also significantly quicker in lane change and slalom -- if all whells are driven you get much better dynamic stability.
hth.
This supports my position. AWD is for ultimate performance. Dynamic stability is great, but does it actually help increase *safety* in inclement weather. Well, unless you're hauling ***, probably not. If you are understeering your way straight off the highway, AWD isn't going to bail you out. You get that rear end coming around on you, you're still going to end up *** end in the ditch unless you know that a little gas will get the front wheels to hook up and perhaps keep you out of trouble. But in this case the average driver takes his foot off that gas anyway and exarcebates the problem.
Being able to go faster in bad weather is not a safety feature. I'm not convinced of the added safety above FWD, traction control, appropriate tires, and ABS.
So saying that, somebody should be able to disabuse me of this notion. In the real world, when AWD is added to the above, what are the gains? Will it really help keep you on the road? Is it truly money well spend to get AWD, considering that it's around a $1500 premium plus a slight decrease in fuel economy (not concerned about the extra complexity, as I don't think they are less reliable). I won't drive a car without ABS, but AWD hasn't done the same level of convincing.
This supports my position.
No it doesn't. :cheesy:
Dynamic stability is great, but does it actually help increase *safety* in inclement weather....So saying that, somebody should be able to disabuse me of this notion. In the real world, when AWD is added to the above, what are the gains? Will it really help keep you on the road?
In a word, yes. Think of it this way:
You've conceeded that awd is better dynamically. Now, I think you'd agree that safety and faster driving are a tradeoff, that is -- all other things being equal -- the more quickly you drive the less room for error when something goes wrong. However, this is orthogonal to the increased dynamic control AWD gives you. AWD _also_ gives you more control at any given speed. Note that safety decreases monotonically with speed -- you can greatly increase your safety by going 5mph everywhere (assuming no other traffic). Safety is not an absolute; it is a choice that you make balanced with your desire to get somewhere in a reaonable time. AWD simply lowers the curve -- with the extra margin, you can buy yourself more safety or more grins.
BTW, just let me add that bad weather is actually a great way to really enjoy yourself, _and_ learn to drive your car more safely in good conditions. On a snow covered road you can safely expereince car dynamics that it would be suicidal to try in the dry -- four-wheel drifts, snap-oversteer, and so on. You are going much slower than in the dry and you are much more likely to hit a snow bank than a solid object - not at all likely isf you chose a nice deserted parking lot to experiment in.