Comments on: My 0.02c on the V8 question http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.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: MJL http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30260 MJL Mon, 19 Nov 2007 00:51:27 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30260 @ eggsngrits: It's true, the Porsche purists make us look like Buddhist monks on the tolerance scale. The 911 is going to have water cooling, let's throw a hissy fit. The Boxster is going to be midengined, throw rocks at the dealerships. At least we're not that bad! (Are we?) @ eggsngrits: It’s true, the Porsche purists make us look like Buddhist monks on the tolerance scale. The 911 is going to have water cooling, let’s throw a hissy fit. The Boxster is going to be midengined, throw rocks at the dealerships. At least we’re not that bad! (Are we?)

]]> By: jc7222 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30252 jc7222 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 21:24:25 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30252 Jon, It changes perception and it is a gr8 advertisement in the U.S. We generally take cars with 8 or more cylinders as REALLY serious cars... Is it true? No of course! But, perception is reality and can lead to increased sales. Saab had better do it right though cause now they will be continually thrown into competition articles against BMW/Audi/MB. Jon,

It changes perception and it is a gr8 advertisement in the U.S. We generally take cars with 8 or more cylinders as REALLY serious cars… Is it true? No of course! But, perception is reality and can lead to increased sales.
Saab had better do it right though cause now they will be continually thrown into competition articles against BMW/Audi/MB.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30196 Jeff Sun, 18 Nov 2007 10:07:28 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30196 Porsche doesn't own VW, they have a 30.9% stake. They, by a weird German law, had to offer to buy the company a few months ago, but they didn't want to so they offered the lowest legal amount, and VW declined, obviously. I wouldn't say it's vital for the company's survival, but I would say that it would put the 9-5 on par with its competitors and help Saab's image with non-Saab enthusiasts. Just the fact that they offer one will draw people to the car who would never have looked at it before. As for hard numbers, I'll say it again: Saab (and GM) would not do it unless they had hard evidence that offering a V8 would increase sales and profits. Rest assured that if they offer it, they've looked at the numbers long and hard. If they don't offer it, well, there you go. Porsche doesn’t own VW, they have a 30.9% stake. They, by a weird German law, had to offer to buy the company a few months ago, but they didn’t want to so they offered the lowest legal amount, and VW declined, obviously.

I wouldn’t say it’s vital for the company’s survival, but I would say that it would put the 9-5 on par with its competitors and help Saab’s image with non-Saab enthusiasts. Just the fact that they offer one will draw people to the car who would never have looked at it before.

As for hard numbers, I’ll say it again: Saab (and GM) would not do it unless they had hard evidence that offering a V8 would increase sales and profits. Rest assured that if they offer it, they’ve looked at the numbers long and hard. If they don’t offer it, well, there you go.

]]> By: Jon http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30189 Jon Sun, 18 Nov 2007 08:37:32 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30189 Ok. Porsche owns VW nad has done for a while. And folks, while we like V8s in Europe the main market is the US (CoTY does not mean a car is popular or will sell). My point is that Porsche started to base its selling strategy around satisfying customers who were not diehard fans. When the currency changed those customers went elsewhere. The difference with the Cayenne is that it is not vital for the survival of the company. They got the basics right and can pull the plug on the Cayenne anytime the market downturns. I have asked several times but no one seems to tell me what the increased sales would be. I say again I am not opposed to a V8 (I even supported the 9-4x) but I would like some one to tell me why it is vital for the survival of the company. Beyond everyone else has one. Ok. Porsche owns VW nad has done for a while. And folks, while we like V8s in Europe the main market is the US (CoTY does not mean a car is popular or will sell). My point is that Porsche started to base its selling strategy around satisfying customers who were not diehard fans. When the currency changed those customers went elsewhere. The difference with the Cayenne is that it is not vital for the survival of the company. They got the basics right and can pull the plug on the Cayenne anytime the market downturns.

I have asked several times but no one seems to tell me what the increased sales would be. I say again I am not opposed to a V8 (I even supported the 9-4x) but I would like some one to tell me why it is vital for the survival of the company. Beyond everyone else has one.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30185 Jeff Sun, 18 Nov 2007 07:22:27 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30185 Gripen - See, that's what I've been saying the whole time, and there's a real world example (it probably won't be as extreme, though), straight from Porsche, which is very relevant to Saab :p Also, the sedan is the Panamera, and that's what the rumored new 928 is supposedly going to be based off of. Gripen – See, that’s what I’ve been saying the whole time, and there’s a real world example (it probably won’t be as extreme, though), straight from Porsche, which is very relevant to Saab :p

Also, the sedan is the Panamera, and that’s what the rumored new 928 is supposedly going to be based off of.

]]> By: 1985 Gripen http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30178 1985 Gripen Sun, 18 Nov 2007 06:34:25 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30178 Since the comments went off-topic with the Porsche thing, who am I to steer things back on-course? ;-) I was speaking with the head of Communications for Saab USA, Jan-Willem Vester. He was telling me that before Porsche finally decided to go against all the protests from the hardcore Porsche enthusiasts and introduced the Cayenne SUV it looked as if Porsche would be bought by VW. Then the Cayenne was a huge success and bankrolled development of the Cayman and the sedan they're to come out with soon (forgot the name) and suddenly it looks like Porsche is going to buy VW! So basically, though the enthusiasts might think that Saab "sold out" by producing an SUV or the prospect of putting a V8 into the 9⁵ it may enable Saab to have the money to develop the cars (like the 9¹) the hardcore fans get excited about. Since the comments went off-topic with the Porsche thing, who am I to steer things back on-course? ;-)

I was speaking with the head of Communications for Saab USA, Jan-Willem Vester. He was telling me that before Porsche finally decided to go against all the protests from the hardcore Porsche enthusiasts and introduced the Cayenne SUV it looked as if Porsche would be bought by VW. Then the Cayenne was a huge success and bankrolled development of the Cayman and the sedan they’re to come out with soon (forgot the name) and suddenly it looks like Porsche is going to buy VW!

So basically, though the enthusiasts might think that Saab “sold out” by producing an SUV or the prospect of putting a V8 into the 9⁵ it may enable Saab to have the money to develop the cars (like the 9¹) the hardcore fans get excited about.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30163 Jeff Sun, 18 Nov 2007 03:26:54 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30163 WTF, I know I typed that right. Let's try again: Interesting side note: I was looking up information on current GM engines, and I found <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_GM_engines" rel="nofollow">this</a>: “Although over one million were sold between 1978 and 1985, the failure rate of GM’s [diesel] engines ruined the reputation of Diesel engines not just built by GM, but overall in the United States market.” Partly explains why GM is so reluctant to bring diesels to America. WTF, I know I typed that right. Let’s try again:

Interesting side note:

I was looking up information on current GM engines, and I found this:

“Although over one million were sold between 1978 and 1985, the failure rate of GM’s [diesel] engines ruined the reputation of Diesel engines not just built by GM, but overall in the United States market.”

Partly explains why GM is so reluctant to bring diesels to America.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30161 Jeff Sun, 18 Nov 2007 03:24:56 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30161 Interesting side note: I was looking up information on current GM engines, and I found <a>: "Although over one million were sold between 1978 and 1985, the failure rate of GM's [diesel] engines ruined the reputation of Diesel engines not just built by GM, but overall in the United States market." Partly explains why GM is so reluctant to bring diesels to America. Interesting side note:

I was looking up information on current GM engines, and I found :

“Although over one million were sold between 1978 and 1985, the failure rate of GM’s [diesel] engines ruined the reputation of Diesel engines not just built by GM, but overall in the United States market.”

Partly explains why GM is so reluctant to bring diesels to America.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30159 Jeff Sun, 18 Nov 2007 03:13:19 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30159 Maybe Saab should bring back the Straight 8 :p People seem to have been a lot more open to the idea of a Saab V8 in that TS article jc7222 linked to...I remember reading that article when I skimmed the archives when I found this site. I wonder why no one cried foul then... Maybe Saab should bring back the Straight 8 :p

People seem to have been a lot more open to the idea of a Saab V8 in that TS article jc7222 linked to…I remember reading that article when I skimmed the archives when I found this site. I wonder why no one cried foul then…

]]> By: Talonderiel http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30157 Talonderiel Sun, 18 Nov 2007 02:43:42 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/11/my-002c-on-the-v8-question.html#comment-30157 Thanks, saabologist.... I didn't think GM had inline-anythings other then a couple 4's... Thanks, saabologist…. I didn’t think GM had inline-anythings other then a couple 4′s…

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