joemama: Bluetooth is a touchy subject. It’s a political thing I think. As you probably already know it’s not an issue in Europe, but here in the States because GM also owns OnStar, I believe it’s seen as a competitor to some of OnStar’s features and is therefore not available. Nobody’s said so much, but I’m guessing that GM requires SAAB to disable Bluetooth in lieu of OnStar.

For those of you saying that I should work for SAAB USA, I’d love to but I highly doubt I can convince my wife to relocate from Southern California to Michigan even if it were offered!

TimJ: I got a better clarification out of Mr. Shannon tonight you’ll see in an upcoming post I just sent to Swade regarding the ethanol issue.

Psycho Dave: thanks for the update on APC. Mr. Vester told me it was 1984, but I suspected it was before that. I knew it was sometime after ’81 as I used to own a non-APC ’81 900T sedan!

andybarnwell: regarding Fritz Henderson: I concur with Greg Abbott’s assessment. It’s nice that he showed-up, but he was basically preaching to the choir regarding SAAB. He was recounting what SAAB is and what it stands for. I kept thinking to myself (and I hope like heck he’s not reading this…) that I wonder if Bob Lutz or Rick Waggoner were asked first and declined and he was the third choice. I mean, the convention was in GM’s backyard, it’s not like it would have been too far out of the way for Mr. Lutz or Mr. Wagonner if they were in-town…

*cries self to sleep

kudos to Greg Abbott, as well!

To comment on one of those questions/responses on the V6 as a marketing strategy – I love that 2.8L V6 as it just sings all the way to its 6200RPM fuel shutoff. Not sure if I would enjoy a four cylinder as much – but I only spent a short time test driving one when I looked at my car.

At any rate – it was a huge selling point for me to have one available. I like the Ecotec, but…

The fact he was there at all is still an important thing. He did say his wife is now driving her fourth Saab in a row, and she turned him down flat when he suggested she get an Escalade instead (which prompted some slight, but good-natured, booing — which he took in stride, remarking with good humor “I’ve got a bunch of other brands I’m responsible for, too.”).

GM’s big SUV’s came up briefly later, and he defended them, saying they are “great vehicles — but they’re not Saabs.”

He also talked about the “Q” word – “quirky.” Which he noted can be used in one of two ways — annoying or endearing. And that Saab’s uniqueness has been endearing. And that GM is committed to keeping Saab’s uniquely “endearing” qualities intact.

For what it was, it was an OK speech. His mistake was not attempting to engage his audience at their level of sophistication and knowledge about the brand.

Thanks for the amazingly detailed write up! The SAAB community owes you BIG for attending and reporting for all of us who could not go. I read every word TWICE just to make sure that I didn’t miss a detail. Personally, I cannot wait to see the new MY 2008 in person. I envy you.