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Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1999 20:38:34 GMT
From: jazepedanopsamell.net (Alex Zepeda)
Subject: Re: Saab Scania logo


On Tue, 24 Aug 1999 11:00:47 GMT, nutmeggernopsameja.com wrote: >> If Saab (or Volvo, or Jaguar) can make use of >> the resources made available by a big car company while simultaneously >> maintaining their bloodlines, then it's a good thing. (Yes, it's a big >> "if".) > >I don't know, I just don't like it, something gets lost. Like what? Lucas Electric? :^) >Alright, I am not to fond of American Car companies, but I think GM is >much better than Ford. They don't give the same degree of engineering >and thought behind their product. Just look at the amount of recalls >and the stupid reasons for them, well......some have been outright >dangerous. Ford is number one for recalls. The American car companies >don't deal with consumer complaints in a timely, fair way and they treat >their workers like crap. Saab employees seem to be more like a big >family and they worked well together and Saab takes care of their >employees much better. What about that rash of 9000s that caught fire due to something Saab supposedly swept under the rug? All car companies make recalls. I think this is somewhat to be expected, especialy when they use newer less tested designs. GM may have fewer recalls, but that's because their designs (such as that "wonderful" 3800 V6) are upwards of 20 years old. But some of these old designs do suck. Look at the old (K series is it?) GM trucks with the saddle bag gas tanks, or the Corvair *grin*, or what about those old GM land yacht wagons from the mid 70s (I want to say Malibu, but the specific case was a Pontiac model..)? The exact model names and years escape me, but these have all made headlines, even recently. Or what about the Audi 4000/5000 automatic tranny fiasco as trumpeted up by the lovely Consumer Reports. >American car companies are obsessed with making a profit at any cost, >and Saab doesn't seem to do that to me. They research their product >well, they put driver safety first and the quality of the car speaks for >itself. If you want to argue saftey, I think that complaining about just a specific automaker or group of automakers isn't really accurate. The American public is just as much to blame for their lack of interest in safe cars (until recently). It's (AFAIK) illegal to make a car for the American market that will not start because the seat belts are not being worn. Why? Because it's too much of a hassle for some people. Americans as a whole are just not concerned with auto saftey, and I think this applies to many other countries too. If there was such a concern about saftey, side air bags and other such devices would be standard equipment on all new models now. >All you have to do is shut a door on an American vehicle and >listen to the tinny sound it makes. The only thing that manages to rattle and make funny noises on the Taurus that I drive ('89) is the exhaust system. Time for a new cat? Sure. Time for a new car? When I find the money. Do I want a Saab? Yes. Has the Taurus fallen apart? No, not at all. Aside from some basic wear and tear maintence that hasn't been done (shocks, break pads, etc), it drives very well, and is indestructable in the parking lot (the way I park this is a *good* thing). > I mean even the grade of plastic they use for the dash and bumpers are >inferior to cut costs. I haven't seen a Saab around me with a cracked >dash from the sun like I have American cars. The quality of the glass, the >leather for the seats are superior. Leather seats are evil ;) They may look nice, but in hot weather it doesn't matter who makes them, they hurt. Regardless, look at Jaguar. Sure they've been homogonized quite a bit. They share parts now with Aston Marton and Lincoln. But look at the S-Type. I don't care that it shares an engine (or parts of it) with the Lincoln LS, it *looks* damn nice. Or the XJR. I think Ford has done an excellent job so far with Jag, and I for one am pleased to see more Jags around here (sure it makes me jealous, but still). You'd have a hard time convincing me that the mid 80s XJ looked nicer than the new ones. That singular wiper blade was just gross, and AFAIK not Ford's doing at all. >The motors are very good, take a beating and last forever if >you take care of them. Nearly any engine can be made to last quite a while if it's given proper care. - alex

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