Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 20:53:40 -0500 From: ma_twain <ma_twainnospamo.com> Subject: Re: the wraparound windshield to return!
Tex wrote: > "Johannes H Andersen" <johsnospamsssssssssssizefitter.com> wrote in message > news:42419522.BFB264F6nospamsssssssssssizefitter.com... > >>"In a sense, building the next 9-3 in Germany is just a continuation >> of GM's policy of globally interchangeable plants" >> > > Agreed, but let's face it, Saab has a history of relying on others for parts > and to some extent plants. That's nothing really new. > > >>"Saab CEO Peter Augustsson was a staunch defender of the "Swedish-ness" >> of Saab, so it was hardly surprising when GM announced he would leave >> the company" >> > > I think it'd be akin to shooting themselves in the foot if GM threw away > Saab's "Swedish" DNA...that's, to a large extent, its greatest appeal. > > >> "Front-drive is no longer a core value for Saab" >> > > This can certainly be debated. I admit, I go back and forth on this. > Clinging to a technological achievement of decades ago is no way to run a > car company today. Plus, it takes a lot more than just FWD to make a car > stick to wet/icy/snowy pavement (perhaps the primary impetus for > FWD)...namely good gripping tires/rims (as my recent posts concur...my FWD > 9-3 Aero with its factory supplied tires/rims are awful in snow). Further, > FWD has its weaknesses....it lends itself to torque steer w/today's high > output engines, and it will never be a performer vs RWD and AWD vehicles in > its class. FWD has more torque steer if the drive shafts are different lengths. To be fair, compare apples to apples. I drive a rear wheel drive Volvo and Classic Saabs. Guess which one I prefer in the snow? The old 245 does not have torque steer because it does not have enough torque to induce torque steer, but they just keep on running for decades :-) The Saabs with the same horsepower do not have torque steer either. With the price of gas today, I wonder how much longer we will have these high output engines. I find the engine in my C900 turbo with the red box is more than adequate to get me in trouble on public roads - I don't need a 9-3 Aero. > > I'd say a true core value of Saab, while linked to FWD, has more to do with > sure-footed, performance driving than with FWD itself as a single piece of > technology. That said, the obvious next choice is an AWD model. This would > keep Saab squarely in line wth that core value. Unfortunately, the only > current AWD Saab model isn't even a Saab. Further, Saab would now look like > a mere imitator/wannabe (of AWD Audis and Volvos) rather than an innovator. > > Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating dropping FWD. FWD has proven to be a > worthy piece of automotive technology, but not one that is exclusive to > Saabs anymore. > > - tex > > >
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