Comments on: Saab vs Cadillac – my conclusions http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/01/saab_vs_cadilla.html Saab 9-1, 9-3, 9-4x, 9-5, 9-7x News Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:34:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Riste http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/01/saab_vs_cadilla.html#comment-54197 Riste Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:47:26 +0000 http://s18881.gridserver.com/archives/1762#comment-54197 Nice text Swade. I definitely agree with most of it. Cadillac can't match the image of SAAB in Europe even in a decade from now. Here caddies are perceived as no-brain styled cars for American football players. No sane person around here buys a caddy, no matter what options may it have. On the other hand, SAAB in EU is perceived as uber-cool car from Sweden. I'm afraid that EU and US have different perception about "premium". SAAB is the car of choice for HM The King of Sweden which is the definitive answer to SAABs "premiumness". Over here we do think that SAAB is a premium brand, which we do not take for granted when it comes to Cadillac. Its not a question of how many options do you have on a car. Its the brand itself. Europeans care about brands history and do not give a &*^$ about iPod plugs or BT. The Lexus story would never succeeded in EU, you can't just decide to make premium cars, you must have the premium background. You can even notice the BMW/Audi/Merc arrogance in the US marketing campaigns, where they don't see Lexus, Acura, Infiniti as competition at all. What I'd really like to see is GM managing SAAB as premium EURO brand, we like styling, we like posh grills and badges with royal warrants. Here people would rather drive an used Audi than a new VW, or they'd pick BMW with no options compared to fully loaded VW. In EU SAAB is premium, Cadillac is just another ugly American car. Nice text Swade. I definitely agree with most of it.

Cadillac can’t match the image of SAAB in Europe even in a decade from now. Here caddies are perceived as no-brain styled cars for American football players. No sane person around here buys a caddy, no matter what options may it have.

On the other hand, SAAB in EU is perceived as uber-cool car from Sweden. I’m afraid that EU and US have different perception about “premium”. SAAB is the car of choice for HM The King of Sweden which is the definitive answer to SAABs “premiumness”. Over here we do think that SAAB is a premium brand, which we do not take for granted when it comes to Cadillac. Its not a question of how many options do you have on a car. Its the brand itself. Europeans care about brands history and do not give a &*^$ about iPod plugs or BT. The Lexus story would never succeeded in EU, you can’t just decide to make premium cars, you must have the premium background. You can even notice the BMW/Audi/Merc arrogance in the US marketing campaigns, where they don’t see Lexus, Acura, Infiniti as competition at all.

What I’d really like to see is GM managing SAAB as premium EURO brand, we like styling, we like posh grills and badges with royal warrants. Here people would rather drive an used Audi than a new VW, or they’d pick BMW with no options compared to fully loaded VW.

In EU SAAB is premium, Cadillac is just another ugly American car.

]]> By: Brian Mills http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/01/saab_vs_cadilla.html#comment-8152 Brian Mills Wed, 31 Jan 2007 06:44:05 +0000 http://s18881.gridserver.com/archives/1762#comment-8152 Saab is NOT a premium brand and the fact the GM flounders and mettles in its development (hiding plug in hybrids for there own Detroit revel of the VOLT!) shows that the acqusition is purely technological based and an attempt on positioning with Ford-Volvo-Jaquar-AM-LR etc.. My 2006 Saab has nothing more than what any common car has on the road, ESP, ABS, heated seats etc...still missing bluetooth and phone audio integration in N.A. but at least the Toyota Corolla offers standard in N.A. Saab does not have the multitude of options that the germans offer which positions the brand much lower down the food chain. Saab is just is a safely engineer car (except the lack of bluetooth) that is occupant and globally friendly designed buy a bunch of really smart Swedes that a bunch of Americans want to claim as there own. My dealers although pleasent do not treat me any different than a Saturn customer, no WiFi in the waiting room, loaners are hard to get and they more than often are a Saturn Ion. Imagine if a S class owner took his car in for service and they lent him/her a Smart Car for the day, same difference? Rant done! Saab is NOT a premium brand and the fact the GM flounders and mettles in its development (hiding plug in hybrids for there own Detroit revel of the VOLT!) shows that the acqusition is purely technological based and an attempt on positioning with Ford-Volvo-Jaquar-AM-LR etc..
My 2006 Saab has nothing more than what any common car has on the road, ESP, ABS, heated seats etc…still missing bluetooth and phone audio integration in N.A. but at least the Toyota Corolla offers standard in N.A. Saab does not have the multitude of options that the germans offer which positions the brand much lower down the food chain. Saab is just is a safely engineer car (except the lack of bluetooth) that is occupant and globally friendly designed buy a bunch of really smart Swedes that a bunch of Americans want to claim as there own. My dealers although pleasent do not treat me any different than a Saturn customer, no WiFi in the waiting room, loaners are hard to get and they more than often are a Saturn Ion. Imagine if a S class owner took his car in for service and they lent him/her a Smart Car for the day, same difference? Rant done!

]]> By: Adam http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/01/saab_vs_cadilla.html#comment-8151 Adam Tue, 30 Jan 2007 12:17:15 +0000 http://s18881.gridserver.com/archives/1762#comment-8151 I agree with ctm. The Subaru angle makes sense and is really more historically appropriate. Speaking of Subaru, did you see the new Impreza/WRX will be a hatchback turbo? The diesel sounds good too. Subaru is making the cars the 9-1 should be, while Saab seems to be going nowhere with that segment. http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=223987# I agree with ctm. The Subaru angle makes sense and is really more historically appropriate.

Speaking of Subaru, did you see the new Impreza/WRX will be a hatchback turbo? The diesel sounds good too. Subaru is making the cars the 9-1 should be, while Saab seems to be going nowhere with that segment.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=223987#

]]> By: john http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/01/saab_vs_cadilla.html#comment-8150 john Tue, 30 Jan 2007 10:45:59 +0000 http://s18881.gridserver.com/archives/1762#comment-8150 Once again we have a well thought out and eloquent comment piece from Swade. Excellent reading. I do believe that the USA-centric approach to running Saab is detrimental to the marque. Carl-Peter Forster is indicating that exciting things are happening at Saab and to be patient. That's all well and good. Back in 2000 Peter Augustsson said that Saab would be launching five new concepts in the next five years. We had: 2000 Saab 9-X 2001 Saab 9-3X 2002 Michael Mauer quits and leaves for Porsche. Unfortunately I do not see a way out for Saab whilst GM comes to Europe to flog a dead horse called Cadillac. 400 Cadillac sales in UK on 2006. Way to go, GM! Once again we have a well thought out and eloquent comment piece from Swade.

Excellent reading.

I do believe that the USA-centric approach to running Saab is detrimental to the marque.

Carl-Peter Forster is indicating that exciting things are happening at Saab and to be patient. That’s all well and good. Back in 2000 Peter Augustsson said that Saab would be launching five new concepts in the next five years.

We had:
2000 Saab 9-X
2001 Saab 9-3X
2002 Michael Mauer quits and leaves for Porsche.

Unfortunately I do not see a way out for Saab whilst GM comes to Europe to flog a dead horse called Cadillac.

400 Cadillac sales in UK on 2006. Way to go, GM!

]]> By: DMR http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/01/saab_vs_cadilla.html#comment-8149 DMR Tue, 30 Jan 2007 10:40:06 +0000 http://s18881.gridserver.com/archives/1762#comment-8149 Swade, You're right on in the assessment that both Cadillac and Saab have history/potential and not much in terms of immediate competition to the Bavarians and Japanese. You're still dodging the bullet in terms of positioning: Car&Driver has ripped apart the Escalade but is all raves about the CTS. Also, Car has never had a good word to say about Saab (except for the 9-3 convertible). To compare apples and apples, compare the CTS and the 9-3. The Arts and Science theme from the Cadillac Sixteen concept has really rejuvenated the brand in the same way they are attempting to do so with the Aero X and Saab. Nobody in the US considering a G35 or 3 series would have considered a Cadillac in 2003, but they do now. Right now, they do not consider the 9-3 either, but who knows, after the reskin and Epsilon II things could be different??? Swade,

You’re right on in the assessment that both Cadillac and Saab have history/potential and not much in terms of immediate competition to the Bavarians and Japanese.

You’re still dodging the bullet in terms of positioning: Car&Driver has ripped apart the Escalade but is all raves about the CTS. Also, Car has never had a good word to say about Saab (except for the 9-3 convertible). To compare apples and apples, compare the CTS and the 9-3.

The Arts and Science theme from the Cadillac Sixteen concept has really rejuvenated the brand in the same way they are attempting to do so with the Aero X and Saab. Nobody in the US considering a G35 or 3 series would have considered a Cadillac in 2003, but they do now. Right now, they do not consider the 9-3 either, but who knows, after the reskin and Epsilon II things could be different???

]]> By: ctm http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/01/saab_vs_cadilla.html#comment-8148 ctm Tue, 30 Jan 2007 07:52:23 +0000 http://s18881.gridserver.com/archives/1762#comment-8148 Amen to that! I'm thinking more and more that maye Saab shouldn't try to be premium the way it is today. Premium could easily be something old and conservative, and look what's happening in California with all the talk for the envronment. What a market for a BioPower 9-3 Cab! Maybe Saab should just be different with advanced technology and environmentally friendly. I'm thinking more and more of Saab as the Subaru of Europe. Amen to that!

I’m thinking more and more that maye Saab shouldn’t try to be premium the way it is today. Premium could easily be something old and conservative, and look what’s happening in California with all the talk for the envronment. What a market for a BioPower 9-3 Cab!

Maybe Saab should just be different with advanced technology and environmentally friendly. I’m thinking more and more of Saab as the Subaru of Europe.

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