Comments on: Question of the year: Why are Saabs selling so poorly? http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/question-of-the-year-why-are-saabs-selling-so-poorly.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: yaoo http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/question-of-the-year-why-are-saabs-selling-so-poorly.html#comment-52054 yaoo Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:22:06 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6939#comment-52054 the price is the main reason i think, in china, 93 2.0T are Selling 40000ERO. why the price is so far from the normel price. the price is the main reason i think, in china, 93 2.0T are Selling 40000ERO. why the price is so far from the normel price.

]]> By: riku1100s http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/question-of-the-year-why-are-saabs-selling-so-poorly.html#comment-49434 riku1100s Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:24:40 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6939#comment-49434 There already are soo many reasons/excuses for Saab selling poorly, so <a href="http://blogs.automobilemag.com/6264440/evan-mccausland/how-to-buy-new-toyota-emblems-from-a-gm-dealer/index.html" rel="nofollow">here's something</a> to fix it ?? There already are soo many reasons/excuses for Saab selling poorly, so here’s something to fix it ??

]]> By: Stuart Aitken http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/question-of-the-year-why-are-saabs-selling-so-poorly.html#comment-49381 Stuart Aitken Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:24:34 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6939#comment-49381 Why is such a mystery as to why saab sales are failing.As i said in here before saab quality was poor, dealerships far too expensive and the attitude of saab customer relations simply shocking.Before i go any further let me assure sure you i am not a saab knocker but a long time saab owner.I said in a previous post that things would only get worse for saab and that`s excactly what is happening.Lets take the 9-3, does it really surprise you that 9-3 sales are poor,you say that the latest 9-3ss is a good car,that may be true,but you cannot say that of early 9-3 ss so why would you expect anyone to renew to a new 9-3ss.Quality was shocking for a car in that price bracket,cheap interiors cheap components overpriced servicing costs and customer relations department that had no interest their customers.You can talk about better advertising, branding excerisies etc etc but if your excisting customers are unhappy they will not come back i know a few people who will never buy saab again.Lets just hope the new models are better, along with sensible servicing costs and good customer relations and just maybe saab can start building a loyal customer base again... Why is such a mystery as to why saab sales are failing.As i said in here before saab quality was poor, dealerships far too expensive and the attitude of saab customer relations simply shocking.Before i go any further let me assure sure you i am not a saab knocker but a long time saab owner.I said in a previous post that things would only get worse for saab and that`s excactly what is happening.Lets take the 9-3, does it really surprise you that 9-3 sales are poor,you say that the latest 9-3ss is a good car,that may be true,but you cannot say that of early 9-3 ss so why would you expect anyone to renew to a new 9-3ss.Quality was shocking for a car in that price bracket,cheap interiors cheap components overpriced servicing costs and customer relations department that had no interest their customers.You can talk about better advertising, branding excerisies etc etc but if your excisting customers are unhappy they will not come back i know a few people who will never buy saab again.Lets just hope the new models are better, along with sensible servicing costs and good customer relations and just maybe saab can start building a loyal customer base again…

]]> By: 1985 Gripen http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/question-of-the-year-why-are-saabs-selling-so-poorly.html#comment-49328 1985 Gripen Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:11:33 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6939#comment-49328 ldbandguy: Money. It takes money to buy advertising. GM is not allotting Saab USA enough money to make big media buys. So Saab USA is trying to efficiently spend advertising money through targeted advertising. However, that being said with all the "I haven't seen a Saab ad in forever" comments here I guess they're not doing the best job targeting their demographic. You'd think they'd be advertising in places that Saab buyers frequent. Like... TrollhattanSaab? ;-) ldbandguy: Money. It takes money to buy advertising. GM is not allotting Saab USA enough money to make big media buys. So Saab USA is trying to efficiently spend advertising money through targeted advertising.

However, that being said with all the “I haven’t seen a Saab ad in forever” comments here I guess they’re not doing the best job targeting their demographic. You’d think they’d be advertising in places that Saab buyers frequent. Like… TrollhattanSaab? ;-)

]]> By: Idbandguy http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/question-of-the-year-why-are-saabs-selling-so-poorly.html#comment-49326 Idbandguy Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:04:03 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6939#comment-49326 Opinion: In the US, folks have lost contact with the brand. Next to no advertising has left saab in the - at best - "after thought" pile. We see other GM brands with high profile ads... GM needs to commit to saab or spin it off. Seems like they are are fitting a round peg into a square hole with cadillac in europe. Why not sell saabs there? As for the US, I go back to lack of advertising push. In sight. In mind. Out of sight. Well, we all know the rest. I receive an e-newsletter from McCann Cady/Saab/Hummer in Fife, WA. They only show photos of and have articles about Cadillac. This dealer doesn't even seem to be pushing saab. My take? Saab USA needs to make the brand visible. Opinion: In the US, folks have lost contact with the brand. Next to no advertising has left saab in the – at best – “after thought” pile.

We see other GM brands with high profile ads…

GM needs to commit to saab or spin it off.

Seems like they are are fitting a round peg into a square hole with cadillac in europe. Why not sell saabs there?

As for the US, I go back to lack of advertising push. In sight. In mind.

Out of sight. Well, we all know the rest.

I receive an e-newsletter from McCann Cady/Saab/Hummer in Fife, WA. They only show photos of and have articles about Cadillac. This dealer doesn’t even seem to be pushing saab.

My take? Saab USA needs to make the brand visible.

]]> By: unclefester http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/question-of-the-year-why-are-saabs-selling-so-poorly.html#comment-49325 unclefester Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:55:06 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6939#comment-49325 Does anyone have an idea of what GM's profit margin is on Saabs? Let's take the 9-3 as an example - a loaded 2009 9-3 Aero XWD will probably top out in the low-mid $40s before any sort of incentives. In this price range, these cars butt-up against the German and Japanese competition and in some cases cost more than that. This will dissuade most 'rational' customers from buying a 9-3. At this point in time, GM/Saab needs to realize that the base of loyal Saab buyers is shrinking and that they need to compete much more on a value/feature basis than an emotional one. To do this, especially in this economy, Saab needs to significantly reduce the price of their cars to lure additional prospective buyers. I would propose that they reduce the price of their cars by 15%-20% and stop relying on crazy incentives to move cars are various points of the year. This 'everyday lower pricing' could not only pull in additional, value-minded customers in this segment, but it could also serve to stabilize the future resale values of the cars (which is another thing that plagues our Saabs). A 2008 loaded Turbo X costs ~$44000 USD. Just imagine if these cars were priced 15% lower at $37500 - I suspect that these cars would have been sold out a long time ago. The purchase by GM should have served to significantly improve Saab's internal cost structure to enable these price reductions. I wholeheartedly agree with previous posters about the Acura TSX (I purchased one the week they were launched in the US in 2003) - great car that delivers awesome value. The redesigned 2009 TSX will come in at just under $33k loaded. The 2.0Ts need to be at that price level to be competitive in that market - a comparably-equipped 2008 2.0T costs ~$37,500. That is a significant price difference to overcome. The 9-3 cars are good cars for the money. They would be great cars at a lower price. Does anyone have an idea of what GM’s profit margin is on Saabs? Let’s take the 9-3 as an example – a loaded 2009 9-3 Aero XWD will probably top out in the low-mid $40s before any sort of incentives. In this price range, these cars butt-up against the German and Japanese competition and in some cases cost more than that. This will dissuade most ‘rational’ customers from buying a 9-3.

At this point in time, GM/Saab needs to realize that the base of loyal Saab buyers is shrinking and that they need to compete much more on a value/feature basis than an emotional one. To do this, especially in this economy, Saab needs to significantly reduce the price of their cars to lure additional prospective buyers.

I would propose that they reduce the price of their cars by 15%-20% and stop relying on crazy incentives to move cars are various points of the year.

This ‘everyday lower pricing’ could not only pull in additional, value-minded customers in this segment, but it could also serve to stabilize the future resale values of the cars (which is another thing that plagues our Saabs).

A 2008 loaded Turbo X costs ~$44000 USD. Just imagine if these cars were priced 15% lower at $37500 – I suspect that these cars would have been sold out a long time ago. The purchase by GM should have served to significantly improve Saab’s internal cost structure to enable these price reductions.

I wholeheartedly agree with previous posters about the Acura TSX (I purchased one the week they were launched in the US in 2003) – great car that delivers awesome value. The redesigned 2009 TSX will come in at just under $33k loaded. The 2.0Ts need to be at that price level to be competitive in that market – a comparably-equipped 2008 2.0T costs ~$37,500. That is a significant price difference to overcome.

The 9-3 cars are good cars for the money. They would be great cars at a lower price.

]]> By: RAY http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/question-of-the-year-why-are-saabs-selling-so-poorly.html#comment-49324 RAY Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:25:26 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6939#comment-49324 I love the Saab legacy, but cannot stand the contemporary. Hate to say it, but Toyota Corrollas and Camrys have better styling than the 9-3 sedans. I have cash in hand, but what am I holding out for ? 3 Dr Coupe, 3 Dr Coupe, 3 Dr Couple. Why do I have to buy a convertible to have a Saab Coupe ? Convertibles are not always practical. Please bring back the lines of the 900S Coupe design. That will interest the Saab fans of old and will win a new generation of Saab buyers. Cheers ! I love the Saab legacy, but cannot stand the contemporary. Hate to say it, but Toyota Corrollas and Camrys have better styling than the 9-3 sedans.

I have cash in hand, but what am I holding out for ?

3 Dr Coupe, 3 Dr Coupe, 3 Dr Couple.

Why do I have to buy a convertible to have a Saab Coupe ? Convertibles are not always practical.

Please bring back the lines of the 900S Coupe design. That will interest the Saab fans of old and will win a new generation of Saab buyers.

Cheers !

]]> By: gunner712004 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/question-of-the-year-why-are-saabs-selling-so-poorly.html#comment-49322 gunner712004 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:30:20 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6939#comment-49322 from a uk perspective.. the figures you are counting are from registrations not sales. loads of cars are registered sitting on dealer forecourts. this year dealers have said enough and are not pre-reging cars. in fact the UK is about to lose many dealers because of this. sales to the customer are about the same registrations are well down from a uk perspective..
the figures you are counting are from registrations not sales. loads of cars are registered sitting on dealer forecourts. this year dealers have said enough and are not pre-reging cars. in fact the UK is about to lose many dealers because of this.
sales to the customer are about the same
registrations are well down

]]> By: TuuSaR http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/question-of-the-year-why-are-saabs-selling-so-poorly.html#comment-49293 TuuSaR Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:03:06 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6939#comment-49293 Different reasons for different markets. Dollar is so weak that I dont get how Saab can even sell 9-5 and 9-3 in the USA? In Europe Saab needs 1.4 and 1.6 liter engines and plug-in hybrid. Fuel economy is THE trend now, not sport, not safety. Different reasons for different markets. Dollar is so weak that I dont get how Saab can even sell 9-5 and 9-3 in the USA?

In Europe Saab needs 1.4 and 1.6 liter engines and plug-in hybrid. Fuel economy is THE trend now, not sport, not safety.

]]> By: WC http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/question-of-the-year-why-are-saabs-selling-so-poorly.html#comment-49249 WC Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:47:32 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=6939#comment-49249 My wife and I recently purchased the 9-3 convertible using GMs 0% financing. It was expensive, but it offered more room than the BMW 1 series convertible. It was also more fun to drive than all the others we test drove. The Toyota Solara had bluetooth and was less expensive, but it drove sort of pedestrian. After the lemon VW I had previously owned, Audi was not a consideration. The Saab also had good crash test ratings. I like driving the car so far. For what you get in convertibles, the price is higher than the BMW 1 series and lower than the 3 series. With the incentives and financing offer, the price was comparable to the 1 series. My wife and I recently purchased the 9-3 convertible using GMs 0% financing. It was expensive, but it offered more room than the BMW 1 series convertible. It was also more fun to drive than all the others we test drove. The Toyota Solara had bluetooth and was less expensive, but it drove sort of pedestrian. After the lemon VW I had previously owned, Audi was not a consideration. The Saab also had good crash test ratings. I like driving the car so far.

For what you get in convertibles, the price is higher than the BMW 1 series and lower than the 3 series. With the incentives and financing offer, the price was comparable to the 1 series.

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