Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2003 16:28:37 -0700 From: B&D <NO_SPAMnopsamCOM> Subject: Re: GM to increase SAAB lineup
On 4/17/03 9:13 AM, in article v9tkls6njdtcc0nopsam.supernews.com, "Mark Gerritsma" <nl.autonopsamtmfweb.nld> wrote: > Here in Europe the politicians in the '70's though that if they just > stopped building roads, the congestion would get worse enough for > people to start taking trains. 30 years later that still hasn't > happened. So now we have massive congestion everywhere and lots of > plans to add extra asphalt. In those 30 years the circumstances have > changed dramatically. But then again, politicians always seem to lag > behind reality. The Dutch saying 'To govern is to look ahead' > certainly doesn't apply to my government anyway. When I was living in England in the mid 1990's, there was a lot of debate about road building - and that "if they build more roads people will drive more so it won't solve the problem" - that may be true, but if you *don't* build/expand roads when transportation demand is higher, your economy comes to a screeching halt! :( Either way, I agree, there should be a better way to achieve the goal rather than the "do nothing" they did. I haven't been back since 1999, but it sure was much more crowded than even 1994! Friends have told me how awful it has become since then as well. Go figure. > To get back to the original topic: If I read correctly the Saab 9-2 is > to get a 2.5 and a 2.0 turbo engine. That sounds an awfull lot like > the boxer-4's from Subaru as used in the Impreza. Or have I overread > something? I was wondering the same thing myself. GM top management has the habit of saying "here is a car made by our brand X, now make it "yours" and oh by the way your development budget is nonexistant and it can only rise in cost by 5%." They don't always do that, but in this case, with the drawings and engine choices being suspiciously like the Subaru's makes me think that is exactly what is going on. We're going to be offered a WRX with Saab decals. Now, if that is the choice or Saab is folded (after all it is not a profitable marque, and hasn't been profitable for awhile), then it is a small price to pay. Especially if they really do get to do the 9-3X (and not the re-badged Envoy one - if I want an Envoy, I'll go and get one from GMC) > Also a possible look into the future: Saab to enter the 2006 World > Rally Championship with the 9-2 turbo? Could just be. The Impreza is > very good rally car and Saab does have a rally heritage. Who knows... Could be cool, *if* Saab is actually allowed to touch the car other than cosmetically.
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