This is the most ludicrous statement I've ever seen. SAAB's QC is better than at any time in its history-just look at its JD Power initial quality rating (and notice that no pre-GM 9000 or C900 *ever* made this list). The '02 wood dash is just a matter of preference-apparently, this same color wood is popular in other makes of cars. I'm personally ambivalent about it-I like the feel of the new wood in the '02 kinda prefer it for its lack of acrylic gloss that I feel plagues my '01 9-5 wagon.

Batteries fail? not a problem. That's what the warranty is for. My Dad's M-B E series went through 2 batteries before 10k. What's the point there? Brakes? Can't comment on that since my '01 wagon is only 2months and 3k miles old. I'll hold reservation there.

Dealer network? Well, this is SAAB's weakest link and greatest challenge in regards to its future in the US, IMHO. Unfortunately, SAAB is stuck in the "catch-22" position of needing more dealers-however, to justify more dealers, one needs to sell more cars. The problem here lies with how the dealer network is distributed. SAAB owners in SAAB rich areas like the Northeast, where SAAB dealers are plentiful are not a problem. It's in areas like where I live-Louisiana, where there is only one dealership servicing the entire state. In fact, there are more dealers in New Hamshire, for example-a small hamlet of a state-than in LA, MS and AL combined! That there are more dealers in CT than a huge state like TX is a travesty. One wonders why SAAB can't sell more cars? Because SAAB concentrates its sales efforts in areas that are oversaturated and ignores areas of potential growth (South, Midwest, CA for example). SAABs rationale for changing its HQ from the North (CT) to the South (GA) was probably partly in deference to try to increase sales outside the Northeast.

It hasn't happened.

As to your last point, I still feel that SAAB's 9-5 wagon provides more value than a comparably equipped BMW 3 or 5 series, Volvo S60/V70 or Audi A4/A6 FWD models.

'01 9-5 LPT wagon w/3.1k miles
'94 900SET w/125k miles

posted by 12.82.2...

• Is General Motors, Dumbing Down SAAB? A Bit Long!, Saabee, Thu, 27 Dec 2001 18:03:22
  • IMO the 2002 Aero is much nicer than my 2k Aero., Jon , Sat, 29 Dec 2001 00:22:13
  • Is GM Dumbing Down SAAB?......... Thank You!!!!, Saabee, Fri, 28 Dec 2001 15:57:20
  • understand that saab is not a normal car..., swan, Fri, 28 Dec 2001 13:50:57
  • Re: Is General Motors, Dumbing Down SAAB? A Bit Long!, Ron H, Fri, 28 Dec 2001 12:01:34 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Re: Is General Motors, Dumbing Down SAAB? A Bit Long!, '01 9-5 SE Wagon "Snaab", Fri, 28 Dec 2001 09:32:23
  • Is this the single most overdone topic on TSN?, Scott Paterson , Fri, 28 Dec 2001 02:36:32
    • Re: Is this the single most overdone topic on TSN?, Polaris, Sun, 30 Dec 2001 12:05:39
  • Re: Is General Motors, Dumbing Down SAAB? A Bit Long!, Andrew Gay, Thu, 27 Dec 2001 19:46:41
    • Re: Is General Motors, Dumbing Down SAAB? A Bit Long!, Jarett, Thu, 27 Dec 2001 22:16:17
  • Re: Is General Motors, Dumbing Down SAAB? A Bit Long!, Lou, Thu, 27 Dec 2001 19:19:27

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