Comments on: Bring the Saab 9-3x – stat! http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/11/bring-the-saab-9-3x-stat.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: SaabBob http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/11/bring-the-saab-9-3x-stat.html#comment-55820 SaabBob Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:19:57 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=9807#comment-55820 triple: Subaru killed the Legacy wagon in the US but it is still available & thriving here in Canada. In May, my wife replaced her 2001 Outback wagon with a Legacy wagon (4 cyl. w/AWD). By not being fooled (again) into believing that lower body cladding & higher ride height were necessary, even here on the east side of the Rocky Mountains, she saved $3,000. triple: Subaru killed the Legacy wagon in the US but it is still available & thriving here in Canada. In May, my wife replaced her 2001 Outback wagon with a Legacy wagon (4 cyl. w/AWD). By not being fooled (again) into believing that lower body cladding & higher ride height were necessary, even here on the east side of the Rocky Mountains, she saved $3,000.

]]> By: Tompa http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/11/bring-the-saab-9-3x-stat.html#comment-55809 Tompa Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:58:43 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=9807#comment-55809 <strong>Buick:</strong> Enclave LaCrosse Lucerne <strong>Cadillac:</strong> CTS STS DTS XLR SRX Escalade, +EXT +ESV <strong>Chevrolet:</strong> (Not counting Chevy EU) Aveo Aveo SW Corvette HHR Impala Malibu Avalanche Colorado Equinox Suburban Tahoe Trailblaizer Traverse etc etc <strong>Saturn:</strong> Vue Sky (Why at all since Saturn is the "second two car household drive to soccerpractise brand") Aura (Could have waited for the Insignia and saved money) Astra Outlook <strong>Pontiac:</strong> G5 G6 G8 Solstice (This is where the "Sky" do justice) Torrent Vibe <strong>OPEL:</strong> Agila (Why when there are small Euro Chevys?) Corsa Tigra TwinTop convertible (Moneyloss from the start) Combo (Why allways do like the french? Drives like a fishtank) Meriva Astra in Family variants + convertible + Coupé etc Zafira Insignia GT Antara (Same.. Exactly the same.. as the EuroChevy Captiva) Vivaro ETC ETC ETC Saab: 9-3 SS, SC and Convertible 9-5 SS and SC 9-7X in selected markets.. But not Sweden.. Why? Think twice... Is GM a proper owner of Saab? How many models are realy necessary for each brand? How many of them are nescessary at all? How much money could be saved and a fraction of that money be transfered into a new Saab model or some marketing money for said brand? Cheers/Tom Buick:
Enclave
LaCrosse
Lucerne
Cadillac:
CTS
STS
DTS
XLR
SRX
Escalade, +EXT +ESV
Chevrolet: (Not counting Chevy EU)
Aveo
Aveo SW
Corvette
HHR
Impala
Malibu
Avalanche
Colorado
Equinox
Suburban
Tahoe
Trailblaizer
Traverse
etc etc
Saturn:
Vue
Sky (Why at all since Saturn is the “second two car household drive to soccerpractise brand”)
Aura (Could have waited for the Insignia and saved money)
Astra
Outlook
Pontiac:
G5
G6
G8
Solstice (This is where the “Sky” do justice)
Torrent
Vibe
OPEL:
Agila (Why when there are small Euro Chevys?)
Corsa
Tigra TwinTop convertible (Moneyloss from the start)
Combo (Why allways do like the french? Drives like a fishtank)
Meriva
Astra in Family variants + convertible + Coupé etc
Zafira
Insignia
GT
Antara (Same.. Exactly the same.. as the EuroChevy Captiva)
Vivaro
ETC ETC ETC

Saab:
9-3 SS, SC and Convertible
9-5 SS and SC
9-7X in selected markets.. But not Sweden.. Why? Think twice…

Is GM a proper owner of Saab? How many models are realy necessary for each brand? How many of them are nescessary at all? How much money could be saved and a fraction of that money be transfered into a new Saab model or some marketing money for said brand?

Cheers/Tom

]]> By: Tompa http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/11/bring-the-saab-9-3x-stat.html#comment-55799 Tompa Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:31:51 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=9807#comment-55799 I don´t think that Saab is "missing the ball" once more.. It´s GM´s fault. They want Caddy to sell well as a premium car abroad and they can´t have Saab stealing the show from them and Opel.. So they rob Saab from marketing money, technology, grease the German Auto union etc and then see to that Saab stay afloat but not successful. Yeah, I know It´s all in my head but sometimes it seems like it´s true. The thing is.. If Saab in Trollhattan were to get the chance to deside themselves when to launch the 9-3X and the NG9-5.. They would have had the 9-3X out on the roads over a year ago and the NG9-5 right about now. Saab deserve a better owner. Somebody that gives a damn. I don´t think that Saab is “missing the ball” once more.. It´s GM´s fault. They want Caddy to sell well as a premium car abroad and they can´t have Saab stealing the show from them and Opel.. So they rob Saab from marketing money, technology, grease the German Auto union etc and then see to that Saab stay afloat but not successful. Yeah, I know It´s all in my head but sometimes it seems like it´s true.

The thing is.. If Saab in Trollhattan were to get the chance to deside themselves when to launch the 9-3X and the NG9-5.. They would have had the 9-3X out on the roads over a year ago and the NG9-5 right about now.
Saab deserve a better owner. Somebody that gives a damn.

]]> By: Turbo Sensonic http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/11/bring-the-saab-9-3x-stat.html#comment-55795 Turbo Sensonic Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:22:06 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=9807#comment-55795 MarkoA wrote: "For Europe: 1.8t engine available with xwd and also Linear line with xwd. eLSD option to every xwd model. Unless they don´t want to be competitive. Which really seems to be the case now…" I totally agree with you. I got my YM2009 Linear Sport Combi 1.8t about a month ago and if XWD would've been an option with the decent price, I might have chosen it. In my opinion it wouldn't take too much money & too long to build 9-3x. Volvo has already done it to its XC70 (or was it V70 Cross Country?). Still the "normal" V70 is offered also with XWD option. Easiest way to offer a cross country model without spending a huge amount of money to develop and build car brand's own SUV. MarkoA wrote:

“For Europe: 1.8t engine available with xwd and also Linear line with xwd. eLSD option to every xwd model. Unless they don´t want to be competitive. Which really seems to be the case now…”

I totally agree with you.

I got my YM2009 Linear Sport Combi 1.8t about a month ago and if XWD would’ve been an option with the decent price, I might have chosen it.

In my opinion it wouldn’t take too much money & too long to build 9-3x. Volvo has already done it to its XC70 (or was it V70 Cross Country?). Still the “normal” V70 is offered also with XWD option. Easiest way to offer a cross country model without spending a huge amount of money to develop and build car brand’s own SUV.

]]> By: SaabKen http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/11/bring-the-saab-9-3x-stat.html#comment-55793 SaabKen Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:57:47 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=9807#comment-55793 Kraig, The Moraine, Ohio plant that produces the 9-7X and its GMT360 platform siblings is slated for closure in about 6 weeks' time, on Dec. 23. http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f83/workers-gm-moraine-plant-close-dec-23-gmt-360-a-69872/ Kraig,

The Moraine, Ohio plant that produces the 9-7X and its GMT360 platform siblings is slated for closure in about 6 weeks’ time, on Dec. 23.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f83/workers-gm-moraine-plant-close-dec-23-gmt-360-a-69872/

]]> By: Kraig http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/11/bring-the-saab-9-3x-stat.html#comment-55791 Kraig Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:07:53 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=9807#comment-55791 Do we know for sure that because of the economic slowdown and the delay of the replacement model that the 9-7x/Trailblazer plant won't continue to crank out vehicles for one more model year? Do we know for sure that because of the economic slowdown and the delay of the replacement model that the 9-7x/Trailblazer plant won’t continue to crank out vehicles for one more model year?

]]> By: MarkoA http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/11/bring-the-saab-9-3x-stat.html#comment-55786 MarkoA Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:42:15 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=9807#comment-55786 <em>This car would also offer all the luxury features that come on the Aeros, sort of being what the old SE trim level was for Saab in the 90’s.</em> But what if one needs to have rugged 4wd combi, but doesn´t like to pay premium and doesn´t want/need any extra luxury? Best way is to offer raised suspension as xwd option and some body cladding with it. Everything else should be selectable extra. Otherwise the price would be way out of competition. 2.8v6t should not be even an option. For Europe: 1.8t engine available with xwd and also Linear line with xwd. eLSD option to every xwd model. Unless they don´t want to be competitive. Which really seems to be the case now... This car would also offer all the luxury features that come on the Aeros, sort of being what the old SE trim level was for Saab in the 90’s.

But what if one needs to have rugged 4wd combi, but doesn´t like to pay premium and doesn´t want/need any extra luxury? Best way is to offer raised suspension as xwd option and some body cladding with it. Everything else should be selectable extra. Otherwise the price would be way out of competition. 2.8v6t should not be even an option.

For Europe: 1.8t engine available with xwd and also Linear line with xwd. eLSD option to every xwd model. Unless they don´t want to be competitive. Which really seems to be the case now…

]]> By: Alex http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/11/bring-the-saab-9-3x-stat.html#comment-55785 Alex Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:13:20 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=9807#comment-55785 Yeah, offer the standard sportcombi as a primarily FWD, with XWD only available on the Aero's. The goal should be fuel efficiency, and low entry cost with the benchmark to hit being a 30 mpg 2.0T FWD for less than $30k. The goal for the marketing campaign would be to try to win back some of the old hatch owners as well as conquer some of today's CUV and prius owners. To that end, the 9-3X would be a more rugged xwd car to go against the outback and the XC70, with the 2.0T being the only engine option. Even with XWD it should be able to hit ~26 mpg highway. This car would also offer all the luxury features that come on the Aeros, sort of being what the old SE trim level was for Saab in the 90's. They wouldn't be reinventing the wheel, for sure, but they'd definitely help Saab's sales situation in the short term Yeah, offer the standard sportcombi as a primarily FWD, with XWD only available on the Aero’s. The goal should be fuel efficiency, and low entry cost with the benchmark to hit being a 30 mpg 2.0T FWD for less than $30k. The goal for the marketing campaign would be to try to win back some of the old hatch owners as well as conquer some of today’s CUV and prius owners.

To that end, the 9-3X would be a more rugged xwd car to go against the outback and the XC70, with the 2.0T being the only engine option. Even with XWD it should be able to hit ~26 mpg highway. This car would also offer all the luxury features that come on the Aeros, sort of being what the old SE trim level was for Saab in the 90′s. They wouldn’t be reinventing the wheel, for sure, but they’d definitely help Saab’s sales situation in the short term

]]> By: triple http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/11/bring-the-saab-9-3x-stat.html#comment-55773 triple Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:47:24 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=9807#comment-55773 Subaru killed the Legacy wagon since more people bought Outbacks. I can't see having a regular 'Combi AND a 9-3x in a struggling lineup. It would have made the most sense to have introduced the 9-3x as the alternative to the regular SportCombi THIS year since the technology is there already. Subaru killed the Legacy wagon since more people bought Outbacks. I can’t see having a regular ‘Combi AND a 9-3x in a struggling lineup. It would have made the most sense to have introduced the 9-3x as the alternative to the regular SportCombi THIS year since the technology is there already.

]]> By: Johan http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/11/bring-the-saab-9-3x-stat.html#comment-55771 Johan Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:39:04 +0000 http://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=9807#comment-55771 9-3 Turbo X is an 9-3 Aero XWD with all options, with some slight differences. The main difference between the Turbo X and the Aero XWD is that the latter during its first year wasn't availible with the eLSD option. The Aero XWD is availible with the same engine as in Turbo X, the 280 hp B284L. From this year, the FWD Aero is also availible with that engine. As for the name of this crossover 9-3, I doubt that it will be anything else than 9-3x, that being inline with 9-4x and 9-7x. The '9-3 XWD' already exist, XWD is simply an option for cars with the 280 hp B284L and the 210 hp B207R. Unfortunatly, the XWD option isn't availible with the 180 hp diesel nor the BioPower range of engines. 9-3 Turbo X is an 9-3 Aero XWD with all options, with some slight differences. The main difference between the Turbo X and the Aero XWD is that the latter during its first year wasn’t availible with the eLSD option. The Aero XWD is availible with the same engine as in Turbo X, the 280 hp B284L. From this year, the FWD Aero is also availible with that engine.

As for the name of this crossover 9-3, I doubt that it will be anything else than 9-3x, that being inline with 9-4x and 9-7x. The ’9-3 XWD’ already exist, XWD is simply an option for cars with the 280 hp B284L and the 210 hp B207R. Unfortunatly, the XWD option isn’t availible with the 180 hp diesel nor the BioPower range of engines.

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