Comments on: Auto Expression

By: Ryan M

Ryan M — Sat, 22 Oct 2005 02:21:39 +0000

PS — If Europe is now developing Saabs, I think we {The Saab community} are worried that this will make our cars less unique and less desirable, but really I think it’s a great thing!

Saab are not for the average person. They’re great cars, but not everybody can deal with night-panel buttons, side-reversing lights and console-mounted ignitions…

But wouldn’t it be great to be able to recommend another GM car to somebody and find that it included some “Saab ripoffs” like pouches on the front of the seat and anti-whiplash head restraints?

By: Ryan M

Ryan M — Sat, 22 Oct 2005 02:18:32 +0000

First the good news: Add another to the family! My brother-in-law’s father has just purchased a 1997 9000 CSE. Yeah baby!

Anyway, I am far younger than my ornery and skeptical demeanor towards Saab would suggest, but I sure hope the “aggressively styled Malibu” mentioned in the article isn’t a Saab 9-3SS with Chevy badges {grumble grumble}

I hope it’s painfully clear to the GM execs what will fly and what won’t with Saab. 9-2x? Can’t hardly sell them. 9-3 Sport Combi? What did I hear about that model and Euro sales?

By: Swade

Swade — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 20:46:14 +0000

The 9-3 SportCombi is a classic example though, of what Saab can do when left to design something for themselves. If GM continue the badge-engineering road then it’s a guaranteed failure. If they let the Swedes do their thing with proper investment then I think Saab has a better than even chance of profitability within the medium term.

You gotta spend money to make money.

By: 1985 Gripen

1985 Gripen — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 17:15:54 +0000

I have some sympathy for GM/SAAB execs right now. Can you imagine having to go to your boss or whatever committee approves such expenditures and ask for funding for a new car project right now? “Now, I know that we, SAAB, blew a bunch of money on the SportSedan development. And I know that we made the car so that it can only be manufactured in Trollhattan, disregarding GM orders. And I know that Delphi just filed for bankruptcy and that GM took a $3 billion and change loss this last QUARTER, AND I know that our SAAB division hasn’t turned a profit in the 15 or so years GM has had a stake in it, but can I have $XXX million to develop a next-gen SAAB?”

That ought to go over well. I don’t know HOW I would convince GM to give SAAB more money, especially right now with GM’s financial woes. SAAB would have to practically GUARANTEE the vehicle to be a hit and be PROFITABLE for once to get funding, I would think.