15 responses so far ↓

• 1 Ronald // Feb 19, 2008 at 6:10 am

  Can someone explain to me why the turbo X is so DANG expensive?
  I mean, we are talking about a $5k USD difference here for just a $2k XWD option, $1k for eLSD, and lets round to another $1k for the other interior/exterior el cheapo bits and pieces.
  thats ridiculous. so where does that extra 1k that you spend on this THING get you? (probably those alloy wheels). there you have it, the Turbo X.

  i dont mean to rain on anyones parade or get people down, because this car is meant to be a seller, and i dont wanna make people rethink their , but come on, reality MUST set in sometime.

  when people bought viggens this was never a problem, because it had so many exclusive options (many STILL exclusive to this day), that the regular 9-3s didnt have.

  Its funny because edmunds.com doesnt even know what vehicles this car is supposed to be competing with. and neither do I. They priced it smack dab in the middle of two spectrums. one for performance (S4’s class), and one for regular sport sedans (aero’s class). The 2 questions for outside buyers looking in at Saab for the first time is:
  -What would justify the extra 5k jump? instead of me simply buying a 3 series/A4/or 9-3 Aero?
  -Why should I step down in class and buy a car that doesnt even offer 1hp more than the cheaper Aero? but if i walk across the street to Audi, I can get a firebreathing 350+ hp engine with the best AWD money can buy for a little more $$$.

  If a few styling cues are all you need to get an “exclusive vehicle” then by-golly-may Saab has fulfilled their destiny with this vehicle then havent they? When will they realize you cant just offer an appearance package and expect to make it rain money.

  The day the world starts buying 5K appearance packages, will be a sad sad day.

  I know XWD/eLSD is great and all, but COME ON, XWD will be in the 09 Aero anyway, and there are companys out there that manufacture eLSD for a living. they have them available for the 9-5 as I type this sentence!

  hopefully it sells though, because the demand steaming from the Jaguar XF is causing Jaguar to post a 3000+ improvement on last months ~600 sales. Thats right, causing Saab to be in last place in the ENTIRE NA MARKET!!!!

• 2 Ubermich // Feb 19, 2008 at 8:02 am

  Ronald, I’d like to introduce you to another well-known brand around here — Hummer. Most people here don’t “get” Hummer. The idea of a giant, underpowered, gas-guzzling, brick on wheels just doesn’t appeal to many Saab enthusiasts. Yet GM still manages to sell them — and well. Not only do Hummer customers drop $50k plus on their rolling brick, they will turn around and drop ANOTHER $20k on accessories! I’m not talking about 2-foot lift kits and supper-aggressive tires, either. I’m talking about chrome, and lots of it! Chrome door handles, chrome mirrors, chrome bumpers, chrome tow hooks! These people will spend $70k+ for what? Appearance. It’s always in the top 5 reasons a consumer will buy product A over product B.

  Now let’s look at the Turbo X.
  The things you are paying extra for over a (theoretical) ‘09 Aero with XWD and eLSD:
  Bumper kits
  Exhaust
  Wheels
  Interior Trim
  Badges
  Lower suspension

  So, who here has paid over $2,000 on wheels, exhaust, and suspension? Let’s not even mention that the 18″ tires are far more costly than the 17″ alternative.
  The way I see it, that $2000 difference between the Turbo-X is for the wheels, lower suspension, and rear bumper kit. The interior trim (which looks much better IMHO), front bumper, and exclusivity are free.

• 3 Joe Lobo // Feb 19, 2008 at 8:54 am

  Ronald, the Turbo X is a limited edition vehicle which will ultimately retain its uniqueness. As for the Viggen exclusivity, the only part that remains totally exclusive is the engine as most of the rest of its unique features progressed in to the Aero in particular the last lot produced in 02. If you are prepared to wait up to 2 years plus by all means wait and you are probably going to have a Turbo X like that will not be the original one.

• 4 PT // Feb 19, 2008 at 8:55 am

  While I appreciate that you’re making a point from within your market Ronald, can I just say that if it was ONLY a $5k jump here in Australia we would be over the moon. The prices you guys – ( I’m working on the assumption that you are in the US) pay make the rest of us weep. I know that means very little to you guys but trust me, in the scheme of things, you are getting great deals all round.

  And good though Audi are ( love them myself), if I believe what I read, I’m confident that the XWD system might give Quattro a reasonable contest. Not that Saab is in any position to take on Audi or even Subaru for the AWD market but, the TurboX might just be one of those special cars that somehow is greater than the sum of its parts. If pure output was all we needed, we’d all be driving Mustangs with 500hp supercharged V8s.

  I hope this doesn’t read poorly as I can tell you really want SAAB to be a contender ( don’t we all) and that your comments are well-intentioned. Perhaps look at it the way Ubermich has – its looks a pretty good deal to me.

• 5 swade // Feb 19, 2008 at 8:57 am

  And you’ll also get the lifting of torque limitation in first and second gear. Unsure as to whether the 09 model will have that in place or not.

  A Saab enthusiast will go for the Turbo X becuase if its significance. A practical person and driving enthusiast will wait for the 09. Neither is right or wrong, but that’s how I think it’ll go down.

• 6 Beren // Feb 19, 2008 at 9:22 am

  Its a 5K no brainer…given the advanced technology in the XWD system compared to BMW, Audi, et al. there is no way this car isn’t a deal. Keep in mind there is more than just the XWD in the Turbo-X. I plunked my money down on the 1st day they went on sale in the US.

  beren

• 7 Richo // Feb 19, 2008 at 9:24 am

  How do you order something without knowing the price??

• 8 Ronald // Feb 19, 2008 at 10:25 am

  Yea your right PT, in Aussie the Turbo X would be mighty nice of a deal in comparison to the Aero. But in America, we are not only headed to recession, (oh i can tell, my parents are holding on to their cash like i’ve never seen before), the housing market is flat, and every automaker is posting losses the size of Asia. Now all this has nothing to do with Saab particularly, it shows that the market is changing, and it is getting harder to catch the consumers attention and pull their money in. Now by no means is Audi doing this any better than Saab [actually...they are but lets play along shall we], but if you look at Audi’s portfolio of cars vs Saab’s. no contest. and i dont think the general EXPECTS a contest, which is fine by Saab standards, but with the absence of XWD until MY08, THEN not even having it in the dealership until halfway through the entire MY? are you serious? I mean, we are talking about the “mostly” 2nd most important purchase [luxury purchase that is] in peoples lives.

  I mean, can we PLEASE get at least 1 vehicle that is class leading, or raises heads and praised? the 9-5 completely KILLED the e-class in 1999 when it stepped on the scene. and gave the 5 series/a6 a run for its money until their redesigns. I truly think the 9-5 in 1999- ~ 2002 was the last time that saab truly put forth their BEST effort to smack the germans around and go S80 hunting. I mean, now as i research a little, i see that we still do have one of the [if not the best] wagon on the market: the 9-3SC.

  Point is, im not sure if the general is just not caring what saab does as long as they dont march back into the office and ask for more $$$ , or if its just Saab creating a bunch of short stops until some real cars start churning out. I love the 9-3 series but the problems that are there ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED!!! look at the interior of that thing. do you really think the interior of the 9-3 is worth 27K base price? all that wood of unknown origin that shines like plastic in the light. it is obvious they just tacked it on there with some super glue and called it a day. The leather (which they finally addressed at the consumer’s $1500 expense!) was worse than a 21K Camry. And dont even get me started on those plastics that cover the cabin in every angle. Overall the interior is subpar, and the Turbo X gives no further “promise” for good things to come. I mean, if a sub 18k car, like the mazda3 can give me a WAY better interior than the 9-3 can, then we have got an even bigger problem on our hands. I have never in my life seen a dash that doesnt even have wood on it, or some sort of metallic face. The 9-3 just throws the plastic all over the place.

  ok ok, my rant is off :] it just gets so frustrating to me to think: well why can cadillac do it better? I mean, have you seen the interior of the CTS???? lord knows i wish i was an adult and i could afford one of those!

  Overall what im getting at is not only is the TurboX overpriced, and is an appearance + Mechanical package [as i like to call it], but it just wouldnt give anyone reason to jump ship from a Aero or another car from another make that can do it better at a lower price. What would happen if you park next to your coworkers BMW, and you guys go for a ride in your car for lunch? he will right off the back acknowledge the lack of wood, hard @$$ seats, and the Sea of plastics on the dash. this car screams NOT PREMIUM!

  Oh and the Turbo X just gets black spray painted wood instead of the metallic, or regular wood. I am willing to bet that all they did was get some wood trim out of a 2.0T, and went to a Swedish Home Depot store and got some black spray paint and started spray painting like their is no tomorrow. just to make the cabin black. First person to get the Turbo X, I am begging them to scratch that Black trim on the door, and prove me wrong. I bet you will see wood poking out from under it . All kidding aside, they probably just hooked up the XWD/eLSD, got a lot full of 5000 rims off ebay and badged them “Saab”, and some new TurboX and XWD badges.
  There. You. Have. It. Turbo X

  And like I said, i really am a tough critic, this i know, but it is better that someone in the Saab community say it instead of a place like Autoblog, where they rag on Saab all year around and call it a festival. Just go on there and even MENTION the 9-5, and all you here is “Yea my grandma had one of those, she died in 1945″.

  I think that the TurboX IS special but EVERYONE MUST agree that a subtle hp increase would have worked wonders for this car. and some carbin fiber and a leather dash would have made this car very very competitive. To me, the Turbo X should have been the Aero instead. Period. All of those things on the Turbo X are a given in todays world, and are already on competitors vehicles.

  Saab is always scared to take the jump. Passed a church the other day on my way home from school, and the message was “always go the extra mile, its never crowded”. Saab, are you listening?!? You have to spend money to make money in this world, just ask Donald Trump.

  Morale of this very painfully long post? come out with stuff that will make those heads turn, and please advertise for once! i never see one anymore, probably since the 2006 model year. lol. It all starts with the 9-4x and 9-1, then the 9-5. but as of today, i should see more, if any, 9-3 advertisements on TV. not Infiniti/Lexus/Lincoln, etc.

• 9 Charles // Feb 19, 2008 at 1:05 pm

  Ok, I think we can all agree with what you are saying Ronald. You are wanting hope for Saab, as we all are and a true reason to buy Saab over others instead of just brand loyalty.

  If you want hope, then I suggest you look at the Generals latest offerings. They are all class leading and top notch. The new Malibu, running on an older platform, is now placing 1st going up against an all new Accord and basically all new Camry.

  New CTS, has become the industry’s love once again and is winning awards left and right. This vehicle is stunning in the flesh.

  The Lambda Crossovers, have people actually considering BUICK!? Sure they have a larger network. Everyone is putting these crossovers in the top three for the segment.

  The new full size SUVs continue to be the kings of the SUV wars.

  The entirely new revamped Commodore offerings down in AU. Top notch.

  The general is done messing around. Sure there are some inconsistencies (everyone freak out in 5,4,3,2,1 about Bluetooth), but its basically confirmed Bluetooth will be offered on all models come MY2009. Integrated switchgear, no more “Insert radio here” squares, etc.

  All of the latest products give me hope for Saab.

• 10 Mike C // Feb 19, 2008 at 1:13 pm

  Ronald: For what it’s worth, you do have some valid points. That being said, as lance will tell you, when you are involved in that accident that you thought would never happen to you, you will be thanking your God that all that SAFETY TECHNOLOGY you paid for saved your life. All the wood in the world won’t help you and your kid’s when they need it most. Audi, BMW, MB safe, yes, as safe as a Saab or a Volvo,NO. Just some food for thought.

• 11 zippy // Feb 19, 2008 at 2:56 pm

  A Turbo X isn’t in the same class as a 335i yet it costs more? I am confused!

• 12 Danni // Feb 19, 2008 at 6:13 pm

  Ronald – most of your points are valid, but the proof is in the pudding. I have a 9-5 Aero MY01 now for 7 years and would not swap it for Audi, BMW or Mercedes. Not a dime in this world – and the reason is simple – I have lived with it and can write a book about it. The majority of your Autoblog pals do not have the balls to own a Saab and to frankly hang onto the thing before passing parlance judgment in terms of what the competition has done. All said and done, Saab is distinctive in addressing a specific market segment and consumer type. Was never a mainstream volume automaker nor do I thing should it appeal to all and sundry (but for economies of scale and the bottom line, yes). Funny, in Southern Africa, if you have made it in life, you are expected to drive the Audi/BMW/Mercedes brigade, but if you are educated (meaning you finished high school, got some college education and perhaps managed to finish that B-degree), people expect you to drive the unconventional, which reads Volvo, Saab and perhaps if you head is still screwed on your shoulders, Alfa Romeo, Peugot, Renault and Honda. This is not stereotyping, but what the demographics and market segments are saying.

• 13 PT // Feb 19, 2008 at 7:46 pm

  Just a footnote –

  thats a helluva post Ronald. Take a deep breath man. Good points though.

  Here in Australia, a fully loaded Viggen was pretty much $100k on the road. A 335 coupe now is around $135K on road. An our dollar is not that far off parity with the US$.

• 14 Joe Lobo // Feb 19, 2008 at 9:56 pm

  Guys once again, list prices are meaningless when you have the cash in your pockets ready to buy. I recall my local dealer tossing the very last Viggens prior to making room to the 01 Aeros with nearly the same body shape. I got offered the dealer’s shop floor Vigg for literally the same price of the Aero, at that time A$64K ready to go. I still got scared and did not buy it as I should have. There are some very good deals to be had !!!

• 15 NJ_Nick // Feb 20, 2008 at 2:07 am

  Yes, list prices can be quite meaningsless. You also have to take into consideration that some features that are optional in the makes mentioned come standard with the SAABs. The fact that you get handling and performance that are in the same ballpark as the S4 with “only” 280 hp says something about the car as well, I think. Hmm, now where did I put my BSR PPC tuning kit……..

  Though, I do agree (except for the awesome seats that IMO are second to none) that the interior (i.e the dash in particular) could be better in the 9-3/Turbo X.