Will the production version be better than the concept?

[squishmann]

[Simon]

The concept picture looks quite nice, but the real think looks a bit bloated. The windows in the real thing look much taller than the concept, which doesn't help it's looks.

[G33RT]

There was no 9-7x concept... the picture is one of a pre-production model and so the actual 9-7x will not be any different. I guess it will be important to see one for real to get an idea of the proportions etc.

On the drawing; I guess the drawing was made after GM had already decided upon the design; it is not an original 'first drawing'... We saw the same thing with the 9-2x; they used such a drawing as a 'teaser' before the actual introduction of the car. Obviously, these sketches tend to look a little better...

[Garuda]

No car ever looks as good as its concept sketches.

[squishmann]

i did see it at the NY Auto Show. i don't like it in person and neither did a lot of people. saab has had months to gather feedback on the car and i think that is more than enough time to make some very important improvements

[SaabKen]

Originally Posted by squishmann

saab has had months to gather feedback on the car and i think that is more than enough time to make some very important improvements

Like, maybe re-badge a Cayenne Turbo ?

[squishmann]

i'd even take the V6 touareg

[Lodro]

Originally Posted by squishmann

i'd even take the V6 touareg

No way. I drove one...slow doesn't even begin to describe its performance.

[squishmann]

04/05 the '05 has a little more pep and is very much an improvement.


back on topic. what would you change about this car?

[boogyman]

I would have to chop the top 2 inches, add a turbo (it is supposed to be a Saab), replace the GM steering wheel with a Momo and make sure the stereo has an aux input. I did notice from some photo's that they moved the key to the right place in the console. Not that that makes it a Saab, but it helps a little.

[Lodro]

Originally Posted by squishmann

what would you change about this car?

1. Fully independent suspension. It appears that they may have actually done this. <long digression>Funny story that I don't think I relayed here yet. I am on the Harris Poll list and I actually got a poll a few months ago on -- of all things -- advertisements for the Saab 9-7x. Bunch of BS market-speak ad copy that they wanted to see would fly or not. I gave it a big thumbs down. I actually like the current copy much more -- all about Sweedish design and (unstated) American power. I think that is a much more honest description. Anyway, I made the same harsh critisms of the 9-7x that we've made here. Number one on my list? Lack of independent suspension! Now, I can't imagine they had very many respondents with that level of knowledge about the platform. All I can say is taht a month or two ago they changed the website to indicate that it was to have a fully indepdent suspension. So I'd like to think I'm at least in a small way responsible. LOL</long digression>

2. Better structure. Unfortuantly, this is the one that they aren't going to be able to do beans about. The platform is body-on-frame and not a very crash-worthy one at that. The old Saab understood that crash safety begins and ends with vehicle strucutre. Everything else -- Air bags, roll-over sensors, whatever, are only supplements to a well-engineered strucuture. The Volvo XC90s for example have boron steel in the roll strucutre. This is a serious problem for a car who's brand virtue is safety.

3. Turbo I-6 / better mpg. This one is much less important. Actually the TB platform is quite compettitve in the segment for mileage. But it sure would be neat to see a HOT application, or at least a displacement on demand system.

But to reeitrate, I think the number one issue -- and unfortunatly its not fixable -- is now the lousy crash performance of the platform. And if Saab thinks that people looking at buying the vehicle are not also the same people who are likely to look at IIHS data on TrailBlazer then they are probably going to be dissapointed.

[valbowski1980]

Originally Posted by squishmann

04/05 the '05 has a little more pep and is very much an improvement.


back on topic. what would you change about this car?

I would give it more gears. Last I read it had a 4-speed auto . More gears should help with fuel economy and make shifting smoother.

[valbowski1980]

Originally Posted by squishmann

i'd even take the V6 touareg

Now there's a company that needs to get it's act together. After all the problems my buddy's GTI is having (2003 with only 10K) I wouldn't buy a VW product. Almost everyone I know who owns one plans to never buy from them again, despite how much they enjoy driving it.

[Lodro]

Originally Posted by valbowski1980

Now there's a company that needs to get it's act together. After all the problems my buddy's GTI is having (2003 with only 10K) I wouldn't buy a VW product. Almost everyone I know who owns one plans to never buy from them again, despite how much they enjoy driving it.

Yea, VW's have never been that great, but wow. Its pretty hard to dig yourself out of those kind of quality issues.

[valbowski1980]

Originally Posted by Lodro

Yea, VW's have never been that great, but wow. Its pretty hard to dig yourself out of those kind of quality issues.

He is quite pissed off at VW at the moment since the GTI is going back to the dealer for the 3rd time now. He likes coupes so he is thinking of selling it off and getting an Acura RSX-S. Actually, I told him to check out a 9-3SS Linear since it is well within his pricerange and he likes Turbos, he isn't to keen on another Euro car at the moment though. Looks like the Japanese gain themselves another customer.

[Lodro]

Originally Posted by valbowski1980

He is quite *** off at VW at the moment since the GTI is going back to the dealer for the 3rd time now. He likes coupes so he is thinking of selling it off and getting an Acura RSX-S.

I like the RSX quite a bit. Especially with the changes this year. Love that high revving VTEC engine -- we had a GS-R sedan that we loved. Though appearance wise its still a bit -- how can I say this politely -- feminine. Nothing wrong with that, mind you.

[ragtopcav]

Going back to the original post and comparing the pre production 9-7 against it's competition it has won styling hands down, I mean look, the new Land rover Discovery


PAG employees are embarrassed about it, really, the fact that it has descent control, independent suspension and a monocoque chassis not withstanding.

[valbowski1980]

Originally Posted by Lodro

-- we had a GS-R sedan that we loved. Though appearance wise its still a bit -- how can I say this politely -- feminine. Nothing wrong with that, mind you.

I really wanted a GR-R before I got my 9000. That was until I saw how much insurance is and the price premiums anyone who sells wants for it . The do look a bit feminine, I think that the styling is very tasteful though.

[valbowski1980]

Originally Posted by ragtopcav

Going back to the original post and comparing the pre production 9-7 against it's competition it has won styling hands down, I mean look, the new Land rover Discovery


PAG employees are embarrassed about it, really, the fact that it has descent control, independent suspension and a monocoque chassis not withstanding.

There there, dry your eyes. They are both ugly.

[Buddhabman]

Subaru made some announcements at SEMA and also at a show in Florida last week. There is a rendering of the new seven seater code named B9X. There is lot's of speculation floating around on NASIOC and on Edmunds. This car shoud be very nice and very safe. If the interior and features are as nice as the current generation Outbacks/Legacies or even a step up then you will have a nice car.

There is speculation about a Hybrid H6, or a turbo H6 making 300HP+. The normal engine will probably e the NA retuned H6 for 250-2755HP.

Again, I know how you purists hate the idea, but Subaru mechanicals/internals with Saab styling is a good match.