Comments on: A short history of Saab – and a short future? http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/05/a-short-history-of-saab-and-a-short-future.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: dino tramontini http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/05/a-short-history-of-saab-and-a-short-future.html#comment-46344 dino tramontini Fri, 30 May 2008 01:31:21 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6596#comment-46344 I hope GM does not sell Saab but they have not been to successful with Saab and perhaps are not the best parent. It's a shame. Because in my opinion Saab could be the right car at the right time. Our 9-5 Arc Wagon is perfect. Comfortable, good looking, great mileage and good power. I was a former owner of 6 BMW's in a row (2002 - to a 6 series). When I decided to switch to Saab I looked at Audi, Volvo and of course BMW but I think Saab offered the best wagon - plus it got way better mpg (which as it turns out was a wise decision) I like Saab and switched to them because not everyone has one and they still have some personality (plus it's a very good car). Saab has the basics to be a great brand if they could be properly nurtured. Not sure GM is the right company to do that but then who is? I hope GM does not sell Saab but they have not been to successful with Saab and perhaps are not the best parent. It’s a shame. Because in my opinion Saab could be the right car at the right time. Our 9-5 Arc Wagon is perfect. Comfortable, good looking, great mileage and good power. I was a former owner of 6 BMW’s in a row (2002 – to a 6 series). When I decided to switch to Saab I looked at Audi, Volvo and of course BMW but I think Saab offered the best wagon – plus it got way better mpg (which as it turns out was a wise decision) I like Saab and switched to them because not everyone has one and they still have some personality (plus it’s a very good car).

Saab has the basics to be a great brand if they could be properly nurtured. Not sure GM is the right company to do that but then who is?

]]> By: Markac http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/05/a-short-history-of-saab-and-a-short-future.html#comment-46286 Markac Thu, 29 May 2008 13:25:52 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6596#comment-46286 Could well be Tata might like another range of cars to slot in below their Jaguar range. I don't think any of the cars would compete with each other. More likely they would complement, but I'm not saying Tata is a probable buyer. Perhaps they have spent enough for the moment? Could well be Tata might like another range of cars to slot in below their Jaguar range. I don’t think any of the cars would compete with each other. More likely they would complement, but I’m not saying Tata is a probable buyer. Perhaps they have spent enough for the moment?

]]> By: arattai http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/05/a-short-history-of-saab-and-a-short-future.html#comment-46285 arattai Thu, 29 May 2008 13:25:21 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6596#comment-46285 I don't think any Indian manufacturer would be interested in Saab. We just don't know about it. Lot of Indian immigrants even here in US know very little about Saab. OTOH, Jaguar is more like RR(well you get the idea) in India. I don’t think any Indian manufacturer would be interested in Saab. We just don’t know about it. Lot of Indian immigrants even here in US know very little about Saab. OTOH, Jaguar is more like RR(well you get the idea) in India.

]]> By: Adam http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/05/a-short-history-of-saab-and-a-short-future.html#comment-46276 Adam Thu, 29 May 2008 12:27:08 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6596#comment-46276 To answer the question directly, no. Saab has never been a big enough plus or minus to GM's bottom line to warrant any kind of real attention. I think sale of Saab is very plausable, but the problem is finding a buyer. I don't see Saab adding any prestige or profits to anyone's bottom line right now. I agree Subaru was always a great fit, but they certainly don't have the strength to absorb a money-losing foreign company. To answer the question directly, no. Saab has never been a big enough plus or minus to GM’s bottom line to warrant any kind of real attention.

I think sale of Saab is very plausable, but the problem is finding a buyer. I don’t see Saab adding any prestige or profits to anyone’s bottom line right now. I agree Subaru was always a great fit, but they certainly don’t have the strength to absorb a money-losing foreign company.

]]> By: mike c http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/05/a-short-history-of-saab-and-a-short-future.html#comment-46242 mike c Thu, 29 May 2008 00:50:35 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6596#comment-46242 I think that Saab stands for being different and being safe. Being efficient and smart. Most people drive Toyota, Nissan, that may be efficient but safe, I'm not so sure. I have driven Saab convertibles for the past 10 years and I feel these cars have a special mystique about them. My Saab convertible is a car that does everything for me, can be used in all types of weather and fits my kids. I take care of it and it takes care of me and KEEPS US ALL SAFE. Volo is also a very good car. My wife has been with them for as long as I with Saab.When it comes to convertibles, Volvo can't touch Saab, retractible hard top or not. We all talk about build quality, as we all know, every manufacturer has its troubles. What matters most is how the brand deals with the customer. As I am not so happy with all of what GM has done with Saab. I am happy with my car and what I thin it stands for. I think that Saab stands for being different and being safe. Being efficient and smart. Most people drive Toyota, Nissan, that may be efficient but safe, I’m not so sure. I have driven Saab convertibles for the past 10 years and I feel these cars have a special mystique about them. My Saab convertible is a car that does everything for me, can be used in all types of weather and fits my kids. I take care of it and it takes care of me and KEEPS US ALL SAFE. Volo is also a very good car. My wife has been with them for as long as I with Saab.When it comes to convertibles, Volvo can’t touch Saab, retractible hard top or not.
We all talk about build quality, as we all know, every manufacturer has its troubles. What matters most is how the brand deals with the customer. As I am not so happy with all of what GM has done with Saab. I am happy with my car and what I thin it stands for.

]]> By: 1985 Gripen http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/05/a-short-history-of-saab-and-a-short-future.html#comment-46228 1985 Gripen Wed, 28 May 2008 23:48:38 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6596#comment-46228 Sorry on the Redline thing then. I thought I remembered reading (before it was released) that the Solstice GXP was going to be turbo whereas the Sky Redline was to be supercharged. Turbin: Volvo has had losses but it has turned a profit since Ford has owned them, something Saab has been unable to do as of yet. I agree with ck1x (in comment 16). The ball has been dropped, but whether the blame lies with GM or Saab themselves, I don't know. Saab needs an identity check. Exactly what does Saab stand for anymore? Sorry on the Redline thing then. I thought I remembered reading (before it was released) that the Solstice GXP was going to be turbo whereas the Sky Redline was to be supercharged.

Turbin: Volvo has had losses but it has turned a profit since Ford has owned them, something Saab has been unable to do as of yet.

I agree with ck1x (in comment 16). The ball has been dropped, but whether the blame lies with GM or Saab themselves, I don’t know. Saab needs an identity check. Exactly what does Saab stand for anymore?

]]> By: ck1x http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/05/a-short-history-of-saab-and-a-short-future.html#comment-46225 ck1x Wed, 28 May 2008 23:09:42 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6596#comment-46225 1985 Gripen: the 2.0 engine in the Sky Red line is turbo charged. It's just an evolution of the current Ecotec power plant. So Europe has access to it but Europeans aren't as power hungry as us Americans are. After all Opel, Saab and GM Europe engineers are the ones that developed the Ecotec power plant that's so widely used. 1985 Gripen: the 2.0 engine in the Sky Red line is turbo charged. It’s just an evolution of the current Ecotec power plant. So Europe has access to it but Europeans aren’t as power hungry as us Americans are. After all Opel, Saab and GM Europe engineers are the ones that developed the Ecotec power plant that’s so widely used.

]]> By: turbin http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/05/a-short-history-of-saab-and-a-short-future.html#comment-46224 turbin Wed, 28 May 2008 22:59:51 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6596#comment-46224 Volvo has made losses in 2006 and first quarter this year. It is a misperception that Volvo has been a consistent winner and the figures have been complex and buried within Ford and the PAG. Maybe somebody can shed some more light on Volvo's performance in the Ford years Volvo has made losses in 2006 and first quarter this year. It is a misperception that Volvo has been a consistent winner and the figures have been complex and buried within Ford and the PAG. Maybe somebody can shed some more light on Volvo’s performance in the Ford years

]]> By: Charles http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/05/a-short-history-of-saab-and-a-short-future.html#comment-46223 Charles Wed, 28 May 2008 22:57:03 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6596#comment-46223 No, sorry but the Sky RL is turbocharged and direct injected. As is the Cobalt SS and Solstice GXP, all using the same engine. No, sorry but the Sky RL is turbocharged and direct injected. As is the Cobalt SS and Solstice GXP, all using the same engine.

]]> By: ck1x http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/05/a-short-history-of-saab-and-a-short-future.html#comment-46222 ck1x Wed, 28 May 2008 22:55:50 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6596#comment-46222 I don't think that Saab is costing GM anymore money then say some of the larger brands not doing so well, such as Pontiac or Buick. GM actually advertises for those companies and they have more models to sell. So all this has to be factored into play. Saab has not done well for one reason and one reason only. They have lost their identity. The soul reason people bought into the Saab movement in the first place. On top of that what they did do well GM did not capitalize on, till it' was to late. When everyone was heralding V6 and V8 this and that Saab should have been maximized for their turbo charging then to catapult them as a premium performance brand. Saab could have been where Audi is now but GM dropped the ball big time. I don’t think that Saab is costing GM anymore money then say some of the larger brands not doing so well, such as Pontiac or Buick. GM actually advertises for those companies and they have more models to sell. So all this has to be factored into play. Saab has not done well for one reason and one reason only. They have lost their identity. The soul reason people bought into the Saab movement in the first place. On top of that what they did do well GM did not capitalize on, till it’ was to late. When everyone was heralding V6 and V8 this and that Saab should have been maximized for their turbo charging then to catapult them as a premium performance brand. Saab could have been where Audi is now but GM dropped the ball big time.

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