GM focusing on Saab revival

[timmehhhhhh]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Business/...679501757.html

[sethsev7n]

Saab's "Born from Jets" ad campaign launched several months ago aims to change that, LaNeve said. The ads focus on Saab's heritage as a company founded by 16 aircraft engineers, emphasising the brand's performance.

"People think jets are cool," LaNeve said.


I hope that their strategy is a bit more brilliant than thinking "people think jets are cool" and running with that... what a clown

On a positive note, good article, and I hope all the best for saab

[aeropilot]

Originally Posted by sethsev7n

Saab's "Born from Jets" ad campaign launched several months ago aims to change that, LaNeve said. The ads focus on Saab's heritage as a company founded by 16 aircraft engineers, emphasising the brand's performance.

"People think jets are cool," LaNeve said.

Marketing drivel......

Quote from current UK TV ad....
"Knowing what makes an aircraft stay in the air ensures we can design our cars stay close to the ground" .... or something close to that.
I wonder how many current Saab design engineers HAVE ACTUALLY any aerospace design background...........if it's more than one I'd be surprised.

So, they want to focus on Saab's heritage as a company founded by aircraft engineers, while at he same time wanting to shift current engineering more over to Opel at Russellheim, who of course have an excellent history in the aerospace industry......

GM must think we're all stupid.........

[SMHarman]

Well what does the Saab brand mean to you?

It is a good point he has.

Volvo - Solid reliable load carrying boxes
BMW - Ultimate Driving Machine - driven by *******
Mercedes - E/S class plutocrat machines C Class (E/S class wannabees)
Jag - Large expensive performance saloons (not particularly practical.
Audi - Reliable, firm seats, firm ride, more teutonic than a BM

Saab - to me blends the BMW performance ethos with a good dose of volvo practicality and safety. Also a good level of equipment for your money.

Having driven the C180 for a weekend, and taken the Jag S type, BMW 323 and the 93SS 175hp out back to back on a launch weekend event at my dealers, the BM and Saab handling are comparable, the Jag sucked. Mercedes, nice, but small a squeeze for 3 adults, an 18month old and paraphenalia that acompanied him.

Part of the problem with the brand though is residuals, buying a new Saab is an expensive thing to do due to the depreciation compared to the Audi, BM, Merc equivilants. Residuals sit along side brand desirability, so both will improve hand in hand, but thats a chicken / egg situation.

[AnF_Saab]

I just wish their plans included this:

[BSRme]

Untill GM fixes their customer service, which SUCKS, at least here in the US, I will never buy another GM product. You call BMW, Nissan and those guys work with you. I just send an email inquary to SUBARU about Legacy 2.5GT SPEC B just to see what kind of equipment it has, etc.
The guy was so knowledgible that even answered questions like
-if the car has a mute lead on the radio, who is manufacturer of head unit, nav system, turbo charger, etc. etc. Any technical question I had, he was able to anser, and that is from a cold request over email!!!
You send an email to SAAB and you get some idiot who sends you standard copy/paste bull**** about that they have no plans for this or that or just send you to the dealer.....
.....and dealers are *****ing about the same...I go to the dealer who has been SAAB only joint since 1967.....they say dealer tech support sucks, they used to be able to call SAAB engineerig in Sweeden and get their questions answered, now they get a somebody who starts reading WIS on the phone....it's a shame.

[CleveSaab]

I still say Saabs don't depreciate THAT much faster then Volvo's or Mercedes.
A myth that continues to get perpetrated by us.

[AnF_Saab]

Originally Posted by CleveSaab

I still say Saabs don't depreciate THAT much faster then Volvo's or Mercedes.
A myth that continues to get perpetrated by us.

Here's what edmunds puts them their total depreciation after 5 years
S60: $21,300
C230: $20,617
9-3: $18,634

Think part of that is Saab is the cheapest and they offer the highest rebates so their resale value is slightly lower statistically for that reason. However when you go to trade in your Saab (or sell outright) the demand for them isn't as high as competitor's models, so that'll short change you.

[sethsev7n]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Well what does the Saab brand mean to you?

It is a good point he has.

Volvo - Solid reliable load carrying boxes
BMW - Ultimate Driving Machine - driven by *******
Mercedes - E/S class plutocrat machines C Class (E/S class wannabees)
Jag - Large expensive performance saloons (not particularly practical.
Audi - Reliable, firm seats, firm ride, more teutonic than a BM

Saab - to me blends the BMW performance ethos with a good dose of volvo practicality and safety. Also a good level of equipment for your money.

Having driven the C180 for a weekend, and taken the Jag S type, BMW 323 and the 93SS 175hp out back to back on a launch weekend event at my dealers, the BM and Saab handling are comparable, the Jag sucked. Mercedes, nice, but small a squeeze for 3 adults, an 18month old and paraphenalia that acompanied him.

Part of the problem with the brand though is residuals, buying a new Saab is an expensive thing to do due to the depreciation compared to the Audi, BM, Merc equivilants. Residuals sit along side brand desirability, so both will improve hand in hand, but thats a chicken / egg situation.

Well, when I first heard of Saab, I thought the brand stood for efficiency, and safety. They have some of the highest safety ratings in the industry, right next to volvo, and they keep it covered up.

[Viggensegg]

Originally Posted by AnF_Saab

Here's what edmunds puts them their total depreciation after 5 years
S60: $21,300
C230: $20,617
9-3: $18,634

Think part of that is Saab is the cheapest and they offer the highest rebates so their resale value is slightly lower statistically for that reason. However when you go to trade in your Saab (or sell outright) the demand for them isn't as high as competitor's models, so that'll short change you.

From what I've seen, Saabs also seem to have a larger initial drop (think as soon as it gets driven off the lot) than the others, but from that point doesn't drop as fast as the others from that point forward, at least within that 5 year period.

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by Viggensegg

From what I've seen, Saabs also seem to have a larger initial drop (think as soon as it gets driven off the lot) than the others, but from that point doesn't drop as fast as the others from that point forward, at least within that 5 year period.

The UK what car site has a whizzy tool

http://www.whatcar.com/depreciation-index.aspx

that compares

Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon C180 Kompressor Elegance SE 4dr 22,750 15,008 13,365 11,757 10,230

Saab 9-3 Saloon 2.0t Vector 4dr 22,980 14,017 12,333 10,727 9,231

Volvo S60 Saloon 2.0 T Sport 4dr 21,845 12,016 10,094 8,379 6,774

The Saab thus loses about 1k more than the merc (and the BMW I added after that), and less than the Volvo, so even in the UK the depreciation rate is improving.

[Viggensegg]

Wow! That Volvo really got owned on the depreciation.

[LinearSLT]

Originally Posted by sethsev7n

Well, when I first heard of Saab, I thought the brand stood for efficiency, and safety. They have some of the highest safety ratings in the industry, right next to volvo, and they keep it covered up.

See, even Saab owners don't know how safe Saabs are. While the NG900/9-3 weren't all that great, the 9-3SS is the safest car you can buy. PERIOD.

Yes, I'd say effficiency of engines and safety/practicality. Though of late the engines aren't producing any more hp per gallon than anyone else in non bio-power formats. The SCC and Variable combustion technologies and other concepts really needed to be developed so that Saab could flex their engine muscles again.

[TuuSaR]

"While the NG900/9-3 weren't all that great"

Latest Folksam study says that 9-5 and old generation 9-3 were statistically safest overall in real life. Before that, 9-5 alone was awarded as best but now there was two winners.

[sethsev7n]

Originally Posted by TuuSaR

"While the NG900/9-3 weren't all that great"

Latest Folksam study says that 9-5 and old generation 9-3 were statistically safest overall in real life. Before that, 9-5 alone was awarded as best but now there was two winners.

Agreed, the ng900/9-3 were regarded as very safe cars, at least thats the image I had and I know a lot of other owners had. Especially when my friend in her og9-3 hit a stopped truck at 65mph and only recieved some scratches and a broken ankle, that made her buy a 9-3SS. Unforunately the poor quality in the 2003's is making her leave saab after her lease is up

[dlflyboy]

Originally Posted by CleveSaab

I still say Saabs don't depreciate THAT much faster then Volvo's or Mercedes.
A myth that continues to get perpetrated by us.

Volvos and Saabs are about the same. Mercedes isn't that great either. Out of all the European luxury brands BMW holds it's value the best.

[Swade]

That depn schedule is great. I just used it on the blog. Why Saab don't make more of this (i.e. the S60's crappy depreciation), and Folksam in some targeted ads over Volvo, I'll never know.

[peterchurch]

Originally Posted by Viggensegg

Wow! That Volvo really got owned on the depreciation.

Oh YES Try £40,000 down to £2,500 in less that 5 years for a T5 Saloon
I am sooooo Glad that my company took the hit on the first 30,000 in 3 years !!!!

Man I would never buy another volvo as long as I live !

[93Linear]

Originally Posted by sethsev7n

Agreed, the ng900/9-3 were regarded as very safe cars, at least thats the image I had and I know a lot of other owners had. Especially when my friend in her og9-3 hit a stopped truck at 65mph and only recieved some scratches and a broken ankle, that made her buy a 9-3SS. Unforunately the poor quality in the 2003's is making her leave saab after her lease is up

Has anyone pointed out to her that the first year of any new vehicle is going to have flaws?

[MrRun2Fast]

Originally Posted by 93Linear

Has anyone pointed out to her that the first year of any new vehicle is going to have flaws?

Sorry. Although it may happen... that's no excuse for Saab. She spent $20K-30$K on a car. They blew it and lost a future customer. Just because it may be the norm, doesn't justify it.