Maybe Saab should rethink the 9-7

[vector93]

It looks like Saab may have missed the boat...

If the market for SUVs goes south, it could be trouble. I doubt the 9-7 will grab the top of the market.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp..._gasoline_dc_2

[valbowski1980]

That is what happens when you follow trends instead of starting them. Maybe the "me too" sheep approach doesn't work after all. :wink:

[Lodro]

Originally Posted by valbowski1980

That is what happens when you follow trends instead of starting them. Maybe the "me too" sheep approach doesn't work after all. :wink:

The problem is that it does works...at least for the short term...but that's never been what Saab is about. Saab should never follow.

[Nairda]

I don't understand why yanks complain about paying $2.00 for
a gallon of gas, give me a break. You have to be some dirt poor
hick to complain about these cheap fuel prices. Go for a trip
up north and take a look at our fuel prices, we pay around
90 cents a litre for regular gas. That translates to $3.00 U.S
a gallon, so please STFU.

[Vector-SS]

94 octane in Canada hit was at 108.4 Cents !!!

[valbowski1980]

Nairda

I am no hick but I am a college kid on a budget, therefore when the prices go up my already weak bank accout becomes weaker. The fact that my Saab keeps eating money doesn't help either.

My beef with oil is not how much it costs but where it is bought from and by using vegetable oil (at least in commercial vehicles) we can ease OPEC's grip, that and give our farmers a reason to grow crops again.

[squishmann]

nobody really cares about gas prices, people aren't happy unless they have something to complain about.

i'm spending 3 more dollars when i fill up now. boo hoo

as long as the audi a7 is priced higher than the 9-7 then we should be OK.

the purpose of this truck is to keep people ion the brand

[vector93]

I am not complaining about gas prices since I don't like SUVs to begin with. I think they are pointless unless you are towing something or consistently transporting people/cargo. Everytime I see an SUV with one occupant during my morning commmute I think to myself "what a waste". Why do you need an SUV as your daily driver? Women in Ford Excursions are the worst. So it is somewhat satisfying to me that SUV sales are down. I was just pointing out that the 9-7X may be released at a bad time.

[sethsev7n]

Originally Posted by Lodro

The problem is that it does works...at least for the short term...but that's never been what Saab is about. Saab should never follow.

Its not "Saab" anymore. They've lost their identity and status and are now a GM company, ruled by GM standards and GM motives.. it makes me sick.

[squishmann]

u ever think that the woman in the ford excursion is picking up her 7 kids?

people by suvs b/c of the way they ride. nice and comfy. they make potholes dissapear. and they give you a good view of the road.

we cannot confuse mid size with full size suvs.

[fabric]

Originally Posted by squishmann

and they give you a good view of the road.

No they don't. I can't see past them.

[squishmann]

yeah, i know it sucks for those of us driving behind them, that part I hate

[fabric]

Now it's not even just the SUVs. The new Corolla/Matrix/Vibe are these tall boxes that are hard to see past.

Fortunately in the NG900 you sit relatively high. Helps a little.

[Toreador93]

I can understand if you have 7 kids to cart around, or you're always hauling something. But how often I see ONE or TWO people in an Escalade or H2, which will never see off-road or a load behind it. Most of these people live in the city or suburbs, and buy these vehicles as status symbols (though many are probably making payments).

Or how about the people that buy Trailblazers or Yukons and try to 'pimp' them out by lowering them and putting huge rims on them. Soft, comfy ride?? Don't think so. I wait to see it crack a rim (especially with Michigan potholes).

I hope GM learns to keep their grubby hands off Saab before they entirely ruin it.

And I keep saying, there's another Swedish marque owned by a more liberal company.

[CosmicSaab]

Yeah, well that other Swedish marque was already profitable, this one is not, and has not been but 2 times since 1990.

Anyways...

Saab still needs the 9-7x. Their model line up is still small and a little weak, the 9-7x will help it out a lot.

[valbowski1980]

Better hope that the average consumer can see past the blatant re-badging or else the 9-7X is screwed and along with it so are Saab's dreams of a populist market.

[valbowski1980]

Originally Posted by E715

Yeah, well that other Swedish marque was already profitable,

you mean Koenigsegg right?

[vector93]

Originally Posted by squishmann

u ever think that the woman in the ford excursion is picking up her 7 kids?

Well I highly doubt anyone is picking up their kids from anywhere at 7:30 in the morning when I am on my way to work along the PA turnpike.

[Toreador93]

Well then let's take Jaguar. Jaguar was on the verge of extinction, and Ford seems to have done a decent job without rebadging. Granted, some argue the rear of the S-Type looks like the rear of a tarus, and the X-Type is built on the Mondeo PLATFORM.

I don't really have any biases towards any carmaker, but GM seems to make many more misses than hits, in my opinion.

A quick search found this http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosins...a01-112086.htm:

General Motors Corp.’s acquisition of Volvo’s crosstown rival, Saab Automobile AB, has not lived up to its potential. Saab sales are down in Europe and in the United States.

For Volvo’s 28,000 employees, Saab’s troubles serve as a cautionary tale of what can befall even a prestigious brand when it loses its independence.

“We must deliver what we have promised,” says Hans-Olov Olsson, president and CEO of Volvo Car Corp. “If you don’t deliver, all sorts of people will start controlling things they don’t understand, and that would be very dangerous for Volvo.”

"State of Independence" my a**...

[Lodro]

Originally Posted by Toreador93

"State of Independence" my a**...

And on that note, see my new post...:-)