Comments on: A Saab marketing lesson from the past

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:20:20 +0000

They don’t make them like they used to…just about every car company is like that.
Look how blingy and overly complicated controls in something like a Honda have gotten…a company who used to have simple easy to read and easy to use controls.

By: Beren Erchamion

Beren Erchamion — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 16:40:50 +0000

I’m quite happy with the quality of the interior of the current models. Almost everything seems quite quite solid and built to last. The only thing I’ve noticed is that the sunroof control is a bit flimsy.

By: socal_eric

socal_eric — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 14:38:38 +0000

I always liked watching MotorWeek but someone said something once and it is true. If you watch the show often, when was the last time you saw a bad review of a car? Think really hard… Every car essentially gets the same review. They may gloss over a few weaknesses or strengths and point out some stuff from the spec sheet but otherwise there isn’t really much meat to the “reviews”. Not quite Consumer Reports bad, but at least CR does attempt to give a little objective and subjective reviews. I still like watching the show since there’s much, much worse automotive programming on the air.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 04:47:59 +0000

As noted the 9000 was expensive for its time. I really liked the 9000 back then but I could not afford the steep price tag. (No Sale) If you want something that luxrious then be prepared to pay the price.

Fast forward to year 2007. I purchased a 2006 9-5 that was 1 year old with 10000 mi on the odometer for $4000 USD less than what a new 9000 Turbo retailed for in 1991. Plus it is a CPO with a 100,000 mi warranty.

Obviously, something had to give, so the luxuriousness of the interior was decontented. This is different than lower quality if you really understand quality. Still, if you purchase your 9-5 new this year you can opt for the ventilated seat for $995.00 USD and the premium natural leather for an additional $1500.00 USD. If you purchased you SAAB used, well you do not have a right to complain.

I am very happy with what I got for the amount that I paid. My 2.3T puts out 260hp and 258 ft-lbs of torque. The passing power of this car on a two lane is phenomenal. With gasoline at $4.00 per gallon I do not care that it does not have 300hp. Currently I am averaging 26 miles per US gallon overall.

Everyone needs to quit comparing SAAB with BMW, Mercedes, or Audi. SAAB’s brand positioning is different than these brands.

The Born From Jet ad campaign is getting a little old. The best tag line that SAAB has ever had was “SAAB The most intelligent car built.”

Hundai’s new tag line “Think about it.”

By: cdp88

cdp88 — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:24:07 +0000

I always love to see ads/reviews of the 9000. This was probably the last time that SAAB was really competitive and I tend to think the 9000 Aero, although I don’t own one yet, was perhaps the most successful realisation of the SAAB philosophy in recent times.

Now, SAAB’s interior quality is way behind the competition. The thoughtful features that set apart the 9000 are in some cases missing. The engines are no longer more powerful than the competition nor any more fuel efficient.

SAAB still has the unique design, comfortable seats, excellent ergonomics that we see in this 9000.

Seeing this kind of video makes it very tempting to cheat on my 9-5 and pick up a 9000.

By: Mag-X

Mag-X — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:49:55 +0000

Wow. I hadn’t noticed how freakin’ old John Davis has gotten.
That first gen 9000 looks great in red with aero wheels. I wonder why so many were sold in boring silver.

By: zippy

zippy — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:59:16 +0000

Interior quality…hmmm this is quite possibly Saab’s biggest problem right now. What happened? I think this is where Saab must improve or sales will keep falling off.

By: eggsngrits

eggsngrits — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:19:43 +0000

Ken: I noticed that, too! It gives you a window into why Saab was in some financial trouble then as well. Their cost structure simply didn’t allow them to compete on price.

By: Ken B

Ken B — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:41:43 +0000

Wow, the 9000 was $32,995 in 1991. With inflation, that would be $52,480 in 2008. Alternately, the $42,510 in 2008 dollars needed for a Turbo X would be only $26.727 in 1991 dollars. This is great information because it gives me yet another rationalization for buying the Turbo X!