Comments on: The All New Saab 9-4 Insignia http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/the-all-new-saab-9-4-insignia.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: francis http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/the-all-new-saab-9-4-insignia.html#comment-51158 francis Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:33:20 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=7267#comment-51158 as Luchey and Ck1x said, Saab needs the following: 9-1 - premium compact 9-2 - sporty, near lux. sedan slightly smaller than current 9-3 9-3 - midsize luxury XWD sport sedan, wagon & hatch - bridge gap between 9-2 & 9-5. 9-5 - full-size luxury XWD sport sedan, wagon & hatch AERO X - Luxury convertible XWD sports car 9-4X - AWD CUV” and : 9-3 convertible like A4 with hardtop 9-1 convertible like A3 am BMW 1 softtop 9-6 sport car like audi tt coupé, convertible, and AWD and the most important is: all these models should come as soon as possible and must have the quality and image of Audi,BMW and Mercedes, otherwise the customers will change to another brand !!! as Luchey and Ck1x said, Saab needs the following:

9-1 – premium compact
9-2 – sporty, near lux. sedan slightly smaller than current 9-3
9-3 – midsize luxury XWD sport sedan, wagon & hatch – bridge gap between 9-2 & 9-5.
9-5 – full-size luxury XWD sport sedan, wagon & hatch
AERO X – Luxury convertible XWD sports car
9-4X – AWD CUV”

and :
9-3 convertible like A4 with hardtop
9-1 convertible like A3 am BMW 1 softtop
9-6 sport car like audi tt coupé, convertible, and AWD

and the most important is: all these models should come as soon as possible and must have the quality and image of Audi,BMW and Mercedes, otherwise the customers will change to another brand !!!

]]> By: eggsngrits http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/the-all-new-saab-9-4-insignia.html#comment-51025 eggsngrits Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:23:44 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=7267#comment-51025 Well, I for one am not a snob about brands. As you've pointed out, Saabs started existence as <i>very</i> basic transportation. If Opel makes a good car, why wouldn't we like it? It doesn't mean that we can't like Saabs, too. It appears to be a well-designed car, one worthy of consideration. In the US, the Chevrolet Malibu and Toyota Avalon are great cars from pedestrian brands, why not Opel? Well, I for one am not a snob about brands. As you’ve pointed out, Saabs started existence as very basic transportation.

If Opel makes a good car, why wouldn’t we like it? It doesn’t mean that we can’t like Saabs, too.

It appears to be a well-designed car, one worthy of consideration. In the US, the Chevrolet Malibu and Toyota Avalon are great cars from pedestrian brands, why not Opel?

]]> By: Kaz http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/the-all-new-saab-9-4-insignia.html#comment-50963 Kaz Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:15:53 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=7267#comment-50963 I'd also like to add that the 9-4X concept was also in London, and that car looks the business!!! It's classy and not brash at all. In the flesh, the 9-4X looks purposeful and the lines of the car do not come out well in pics, but believe me, when it is sitting in front of you, it has presence and poise. I want one!! I’d also like to add that the 9-4X concept was also in London, and that car looks the business!!!

It’s classy and not brash at all. In the flesh, the 9-4X looks purposeful and the lines of the car do not come out well in pics, but believe me, when it is sitting in front of you, it has presence and poise. I want one!!

]]> By: Kaz http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/the-all-new-saab-9-4-insignia.html#comment-50962 Kaz Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:12:39 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=7267#comment-50962 I saw the Insignia in the flesh on Sunday. All I can say is wow! The pictures really do not do the car any justice. The interior is very well put together and the materials feel much more premium than they do in my £39,000 Saab 9-3 'vert! (yes, there are lots of toys on board). The 9-3 will not be able to compete with the Insignia, and it really pains me to say that. A new 9-3 is desperately needed. There is a light at the end of the tunnel mind. If this is the interior quality we can expect of a mainstream GM brand, I have very high hopes for the 9-5. I do worry for Saab though, the 9-3 is their best seller, and it is looking very long in the tooth compared to the likes of the new 3 series, new A4 and my current fave in the class, the new Merc C class. 2012 is surely too long to wait?!? I saw the Insignia in the flesh on Sunday. All I can say is wow! The pictures really do not do the car any justice.

The interior is very well put together and the materials feel much more premium than they do in my £39,000 Saab 9-3 ‘vert! (yes, there are lots of toys on board).

The 9-3 will not be able to compete with the Insignia, and it really pains me to say that. A new 9-3 is desperately needed.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel mind. If this is the interior quality we can expect of a mainstream GM brand, I have very high hopes for the 9-5.

I do worry for Saab though, the 9-3 is their best seller, and it is looking very long in the tooth compared to the likes of the new 3 series, new A4 and my current fave in the class, the new Merc C class. 2012 is surely too long to wait?!?

]]> By: ThEoWl http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/the-all-new-saab-9-4-insignia.html#comment-50876 ThEoWl Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:09:49 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=7267#comment-50876 The new Insignia looks pretty damn good. In fact, Saab could sell it today in the US just by swapping out badges and probably sell more than it is selling now. I'm not hoping for that, but still it would bring a new Saab to market in North America. Saab's biggest problem is not having fresh new products. I really think if you build the right car, people will buy it. Just look at the Prius. <em>Markac</em> - You will not be the only one yawning when you see the new 9-4x SUV! I think it will sell about as well as the 9-7x SUV. Yes, it is a great leap forward, but not even us Americans want a SUV these days! The new Insignia looks pretty damn good. In fact, Saab could sell it today in the US just by swapping out badges and probably sell more than it is selling now. I’m not hoping for that, but still it would bring a new Saab to market in North America. Saab’s biggest problem is not having fresh new products. I really think if you build the right car, people will buy it. Just look at the Prius.

Markac – You will not be the only one yawning when you see the new 9-4x SUV! I think it will sell about as well as the 9-7x SUV. Yes, it is a great leap forward, but not even us Americans want a SUV these days!

]]> By: ck1x http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/the-all-new-saab-9-4-insignia.html#comment-50815 ck1x Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:42:07 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=7267#comment-50815 Luchey said: "This way SAAB will have a full vehicle line up to compete for market share. The way the line up would look like is… 9-1 - premium compact 9-2 - sporty, near lux. sedan slightly smaller than current 9-3 9-3 - midsize luxury XWD sport sedan, wagon & hatch - bridge gap between 9-2 & 9-5. 9-5 - full-size luxury XWD sport sedan, wagon & hatch AERO X - Luxury convertible XWD sports car 9-4X - AWD CUV" I personnally like the line-up but think that if Saab does make another 9-2 it should be a Sports Coupe of some sort. Kinda like the Audi TT in size would do really nice for Saab's image. Luchey said:

“This way SAAB will have a full vehicle line up to compete for market share. The way the line up would look like is…

9-1 – premium compact
9-2 – sporty, near lux. sedan slightly smaller than current 9-3
9-3 – midsize luxury XWD sport sedan, wagon & hatch – bridge gap between 9-2 & 9-5.
9-5 – full-size luxury XWD sport sedan, wagon & hatch
AERO X – Luxury convertible XWD sports car
9-4X – AWD CUV”

I personnally like the line-up but think that if Saab does make another 9-2 it should be a Sports Coupe of some sort. Kinda like the Audi TT in size would do really nice for Saab’s image.

]]> By: Teddy http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/the-all-new-saab-9-4-insignia.html#comment-50792 Teddy Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:50:35 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=7267#comment-50792 This is from the actual event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrP398j70eE&feature=related Swade, sorry for the OT. This is from the actual event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrP398j70eE&feature=related

Swade, sorry for the OT.

]]> By: Teddy http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/the-all-new-saab-9-4-insignia.html#comment-50791 Teddy Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:26:31 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=7267#comment-50791 @Richo Yes Richo, you're wrong. They are playing the instruments for real. This is an all girl band called BOND. Just because the girls are attractive doesn't mean that they can't do anything else besides looking pretty. Here: http://www.dvdtown.com/news/bond---classical-with-a-pop-twist/1124 @Richo

Yes Richo, you’re wrong. They are playing the instruments for real. This is an all girl band called BOND. Just because the girls are attractive doesn’t mean that they can’t do anything else besides looking pretty.

Here:
http://www.dvdtown.com/news/bond—classical-with-a-pop-twist/1124

]]> By: The Fop http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/the-all-new-saab-9-4-insignia.html#comment-50784 The Fop Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:59:20 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=7267#comment-50784 Great article - except for one comment, i.e. "what sacrilege to ever directly combine a Saab with such a mediocre brand as Vauxhall". Suggest you take a look at sales figures over last couple of years - that mediocre brand seems on a relentless growth curve that may soon overtake Ford for #1 position in UK for first time in a VERY long time. Even the Top Gear guys (never slow to criticise VX) said the other week that Vauxhall is the only brand to have no ugly cars anymore. If a future 9-1 would drive anything like a Corsa VXR I for one would be very happy (and very ready to drive one...). We should be so lucky... Great article – except for one comment, i.e. “what sacrilege to ever directly combine a Saab with such a mediocre brand as Vauxhall”.
Suggest you take a look at sales figures over last couple of years – that mediocre brand seems on a relentless growth curve that may soon overtake Ford for #1 position in UK for first time in a VERY long time. Even the Top Gear guys (never slow to criticise VX) said the other week that Vauxhall is the only brand to have no ugly cars anymore. If a future 9-1 would drive anything like a Corsa VXR I for one would be very happy (and very ready to drive one…). We should be so lucky…

]]> By: turbin http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/07/the-all-new-saab-9-4-insignia.html#comment-50757 turbin Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:28:14 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=7267#comment-50757 Interesting point Woodz. That's the double edged sword, isn't it? I've spoken to a Russelheim based Saab employee who assured me that the new 9-5 will have more bespoke technology and that Saab will from now on always outpower the equivalent sized Opel. Problem is they will remain ( or become more ) expensive. At least I hope that the expense is both warranted, and perceived as such by the market and media alike. Interesting point Woodz. That’s the double edged sword, isn’t it?

I’ve spoken to a Russelheim based Saab employee who assured me that the new 9-5 will have more bespoke technology and that Saab will from now on always outpower the equivalent sized Opel.

Problem is they will remain ( or become more ) expensive. At least I hope that the expense is both warranted, and perceived as such by the market and media alike.

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