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Sure, Koenigsegg's ownership could slant Saab back to a performance stance of years-gone-bye, but a balance must be struck and that balance, ultimately, will be determined by beancounters. Beancounters don't figure into cars like Koenigsegg, or any other exotics for that matter. Cars like this are manufactured without concessions regarding cost. They're very narrowly focused automobiles and appeal to a very select crowd......some are true enthusiasts and others just have more money than sense and/or good taste. A step down from these exotics are certain sports cars, that while maybe not defining the term "super car," are certainly geared toward performance on public roads......more like your garden variety Porsche, Aston-Martin, M-series BMWs and AMG Mercedes. All of these cars can be pushed north of a hundred grand, and what makes them so expensive (in my opinion) is that the "beancounters" aren't allowed to step all over decisions of the engineers.
Then we have "me." Beancounters allow a balance to exist so mere mortals such as myself can drive a certain type of car. When I read about Koenigsegg's involvement regarding this acquisition, I was pleased concerning the performance and quality aspect that I think that GM parasitically has ebbed from Saab for some years now. However, I haven't strayed for the last 28 years because Saab has met my needs and overall, I've been treated well and fairly by the company.
I don't think that any of us expects Koenigsegg to be building us a four door 200 mph grocery-getter. Koenigsegg doesn't have to worry about appealing to the masses with their limited production product, but I'm sure they already have a list of qualified people in line in order to market a car to a working-class type of performance buyer/driver. I do hope that they push the car back up a couple of rungs on the ladder where they used to be when I bought my first Saab. I remember, during the mid-80s, a friend of mine asked me what I paid for my new '86 900. When I told him, he said, "Wow, for three grand less, you could have bought a decked-out Honda Accord!!" I thought, "Exactly."
Steve
posted by 24.12.8...
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