Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 13:05:09 -0600 From: "Walt Kienzle" <wkienzlenopsam.net> Subject: Re: Saab 9-3 hatchback - if & when?
Ken, I agree with everything you say (except I haven't found the 4 door hatchbacks from Mazda or Toyota on their US websites yet). The problem is that 1) I have been told "We have the 9-5 wagon; that's _better_ than a hatchback." Assuming that I would immediately understand why or how a huge wagon is better than a hatchback. 2) European manufacturers like Mercedes and BMW don't make hatchbacks (please ignore the discontinued 318ti and the new C230 coupe because they are 2 door models). > Why on earth would Saab drop one of its distinguishing features in this > market, and become yet another entry-level luxury vehicle (and one that, > unlike its competitors in the U.S., has a four, rather than a > six-cylinder, engine)? It just makes no sense to me. That sums it up perfectly. I see Saab's current product line as the best way to make them an "also ran" among the vast lineup of models available. The only thing they have going for them is their turbo technology, and that may be a negative for many people that remember the unreliable turbo powered cars from Chrysler when they put small engines in big cars. Walt Kienzle 1991 9000T "Kenneth S." <nimrodnopsams.com> wrote in message news:3E71E905.391Bnopsams.com... > Tara Murphy wrote: > > > > I don't believe there is any plan to make a hatchback version for the new > > 9-3. > > > > "Ric" <spamnopsamcom> wrote in message > > news:b4sca7$ahl$1nopsam-reader11.wanadoo.fr... > > > Is there going to be a hatchback version of the new 9-3? If so, when in > > > Europe? > > > > > I have to say that I simply don't understand the logic behind this > situation, particularly for the U.S. market. I bought my 1996 900 SE, > partly because I'd always been interested in Saabs, but also partly > because quite a few years of renting hatchbacks during visits to Europe > had convinced me that this was what I wanted to drive in the U.S. > > Although hatchbacks are very common in Europe, the Saab is almost the > only four-door hatchback on the U.S. market, particularly two years ago, > when I bought mine. Recently, however, such vehicles seem to be making > a comeback in the U.S., with Mazda and Toyota versions being available. > > Why on earth would Saab drop one of its distinguishing features in this > market, and become yet another entry-level luxury vehicle (and one that, > unlike its competitors in the U.S., has a four, rather than a > six-cylinder, engine)? It just makes no sense to me.
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