Comments on: 9-7x Aero Reactions

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 08:56:49 +0000

I don’t disagree with you, but there are plenty of us here in America that loathe SUV’s just as much as your average stereotypical French guy with a beret and striped shirt. Generally, if we don’t have one, and it isn’t because of money, we don’t like them. Everyone here who wants an SUV has one unless they can’t afford a decent one.

By: Ivan (MuzX)

Ivan (MuzX) — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 08:19:35 +0000

Jeff, sorry, I don’t want to hurt anyone, but the fact is the US is the real market for SUVs…

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:06:28 +0000

Hey, don’t generalize, I’m American and I’d never drive a huge SUV.

MOST Americans can’t live without them :p

By: Ivan (MuzX)

Ivan (MuzX) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 21:13:33 +0000

There is a 9-7x at the neighborhood village. Sometimes I saw it in front of me driving on the road to home, but I can only recognize that it’s a Saab if I get so close that I can read the badges on the rear…
This can never happen with an another Saab…

Ok, I know, americans can’t live without those giant SUVs, and 9-7x is a makeshift for them…

By: Himanshu

Himanshu — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 20:50:55 +0000

Comments by Ivan are on point—Not withstanding the various arguments put forth, the 9-7x STILL LOOKS like a Chevrolet. The rear of the vehicle and especially the tail lights are de-facto Chevy. It appears that no attempt was made (Sorry, but a Saab emblem, placement of ignition, and Saab grille don’t qualify as diligent effort) to distinguish the Saab SUV from the other offerings from GM. Apart from the critique of the exterior design, and as Ivan points out, there is nothing “Saabish” or Swedish about the product, i.e., functionality of design, understated elegance etc. Looking at the other Swede (my apologies in advance, Swade!), Volvo intentionally designed, built and marketed the XC 90 with a “distinct DNA” that unequivocally separates it from the offerings from its parent company—- No one will ever mistake the XC 90 for a Ford. The same cannot be said for the Saab. The sales figures and the healthy profit margins of the XC 90 are a manifestation of this approach. (Take note, Mr. Lutz). Hopefully future attempts at this market segment by GM will produce something marginally better.

By: Ivan (MuzX)

Ivan (MuzX) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:49:14 +0000

Both of 9-7x and 9-2x is a “US only” car…
BMW X5, Mercedes ML, VW Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, Volvo XC90 are also sold well in Europe where they come from… it’s makes a big difference…

By: dan

dan — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:18:45 +0000

SUV driving dynamics will never match car dynamics..it is physics people! Get over it, this Saab makes much more sense than the 9-2x did. Saab already builds great cars, which is why the 9-2x was a slap in the face. Saab knows cars, which is why the 9-1 is needed now, and why it will prevail, if Saab is allowed to properlly engineer it. In the spirit of the 99/900 I pray!
an SUV is an SUV. Saab has no experience in them, just as Volvo, BMW, VW and so many other automobile companies had no experience in them.
The market said SUV, and companies answered. The 9-7X does exactly what it was intended to do. It draws new customers, it keeps ones that would’ve gone somewhere else for their SUV “needs”, and most importantly in the scheme of things, it makes a profit.The 9-2X did not fill any of those objectives. That’s not to say the 9-2x wasn’t a good car, it just wasn’t a good Saab.

By: Ivan (MuzX)

Ivan (MuzX) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 16:41:15 +0000

I have driven one the 9-7x with the 5.3V8.
It was bettern than I expected from such a behemot SUV, but it’s far, far away from what we can call Saab-feeling.
I’m Saab owner 10 years ago and the current Viggen is my 5th Saab and I also have experiences with other Saabs.
From my point of view the 9-7x is just an another heavy, lazy monster, no turbo kick accelaration, no clear, practical and dynamic design, no economics, no character. It have a Saab-like grill and air vent joysticks and ignition in the center console, and that’s all to remind me a Saab…

By: NY3UVL714

NY3UVL714 — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 12:48:24 +0000

“The 9-7X is by far the worst selling GM SUV on the market. It managed to sell just 558 units last month. The more expensive, and more loathed by the public, Hummer H2 sold 825 units”

Yes we all know 9-7x is a lower volume model, directly based on the GMT360 body/platform.

What folks don’t know;

* 9-7x was consistently Saab’s second best selling US model.

*9-7x is a high profit margin vehicle- profit helps SAAB and therefore GM.

* Surprisingly, its also among the highest resale value SUVs in it’s segment, holding value better than comparable Lexus and Land Rover trucks.

* 9-7x has expanded Saab’s demographic, it brings in many first time Saab buyers.
It also has helped keep a few Saab owners from defecting to other SUV brands.

* Automotive magazines often give favorable reviews to this heavy truck based Saab, praising its handling, pricing and interior design.

Despite it’s american heritage and some misconceptions about the decent work Saab did while adapting the GMT360 body/platform, 9-7x does its job well.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 23:40:54 +0000

It’s true, there really is no replacement for dislplacement. There are certainly other means of getting the same power and whatnot in a car, ways that are probably much smarter for a daily driver, but gigantic engines are always fun, if not always practical.