In Reply to: Past Volvos, 850 (sport model), current Volvo, S40 (more...), Keith [Profile/Gallery] , Sat, 16 Dec 2000 18:11:35

Keith, there are a lot of things I like about the 9^5.

When the base 9^5 first came out, I was one of the first to drive it. I liiked it. I knew that the V-6 SE was in the pipeline, and I was very concerned that the 9^5 Aero was going to have the V6. I am pleased that it has the 2.3l which as a 9000 lover I identify as my Favorite All-Time Drivetrain.

There are a lot of disappointed folks with their own points of view, but if I had to pinpoint my own less than fully enthusiastic response to the 9^5, it would come down to the intangible character issue that you identified as "mainstream." You know, if the 9^5 were a hatchback instead of a wannabe sedan, I think that would be enough to make me happy. (I never liked the 9000CD either.) And I'm sorry, but that dorky-looking wagon with the greenhouse clumsily grafted onto the back of the sedan's C-pillar just doesn't do it for me. I mean, if they wanted to make an estate, couldn't they have assigned a couple of designers to design one instead of just tacking that thing on? Couldn't they persuade the GM accountants to let them budget a couple hundred styling hours? I think they put more thought into picking out the bright blue and bright yellow colors that can observed (how can one miss them?) on certain 9^3s. And on the subject of careless design, who spec'd those tacky BBS wheels? Certainly it was no self-respecting SAB engineer. I mean we're SAAB owners, not urban slammers or BMW bad-boys. But I digress.

Don't get me wrong; I understand why management made the 9^5 the way they did. The mainstream sedan is far outselling the 9000, and the ugly wagon is doing well, too, though the moms in my neighborhood favor the Volvo wagons and Yukon XLs over the 9^5 wagon by about 3:15:1. Absent sales volume, the SAAB marque would quickly go the route of Plymouth and now Oldsmobile. Doesn't mean I have to be enthusisatic though.

I can differentiate between objective analysis of what is going on in the marketplace versus my own emotional reaction to these cars. The emotion is noyt something to apologize for. After all, if we did not have emotional reactions to cars, there would be no market for SAABs; we'd all be driving Toyotas or -- get 'em while you can -- Oldsmobiles.

Let me also acknowledge that I am upholding the decades-long tradition of the SAAB afficionado turning up his nose at the latest SAAB designs. I am sure we could find some guys on this board who express disappointment with the 9000, and who say that it's not a real SAAB if it doesn't have a V-4, or it's not a real SAAB if it doesn't have a 2-stroke. How come they put the engine sideways in these new-fangled SAABs anyway?

Rafe

• If there were no Saab... (from the Oldsmobile thread) Jetta V6 VW, Scott Paterson , Sat, 16 Dec 2000 15:40:50
  • This thread says a lot about Saab owners, Scott Paterson , Wed, 27 Dec 2000 12:09:33
  • Last Generation Toyota Supra Twin Turbo, Shaun , Mon, 25 Dec 2000 19:22:19
  • E36 M3 4dr n/m, DS, Sun, 24 Dec 2000 16:32:02
  • Re: If there were no Saab... (from the Oldsmobile thread) Jetta V6 VW, muddpuppt, Fri, 22 Dec 2000 15:50:22
  • Don't knock me.Just drove a Lexus IS300, great handling car n/m, Jake , Thu, 21 Dec 2000 18:47:30
  • Bentley Azure - now there's a nice convertible with serious HP, Utan Tak, Tue, 19 Dec 2000 22:17:45
    • It weighs as much as a excursion :o) Eeeeeeek n/m, GM, Wed, 20 Dec 2000 17:30:25
      • The way to think about it is ..., RS , Thu, 21 Dec 2000 12:51:23
  • Re: If there were no Saab... (from the Oldsmobile thread) Jetta V6 VW, Garry, Tue, 19 Dec 2000 21:36:08
  • I'm biased but a V6 Saturn L300, Atul, Tue, 19 Dec 2000 20:11:39
  • Volvo V70 Cross Country n/m, destijl, Tue, 19 Dec 2000 14:20:33
  • BMW 3-series, Jeff S., Tue, 19 Dec 2000 09:46:41
    • E30 M3 in the garage - You trying to make me jealous???, Bryce, Tue, 19 Dec 2000 10:43:17
  • Re: If there were no Saab... (from the Oldsmobile thread) Jetta V6 VW, SAAB-err, Tue, 19 Dec 2000 09:27:45
  • Hatchback/Wagon and performance...., REM in Seattle , Tue, 19 Dec 2000 09:19:33
  • Impreza WRX or maybe new Mini Cooper n/m, pmr, Tue, 19 Dec 2000 07:10:49
  • New A4 TDI 130hp or new 2002 Opel Vectra., Carlos Blasco, Tue, 19 Dec 2000 02:50:11
  • Re: If there were no Saab... (from the Oldsmobile thread) Jetta V6 VW, David Hanley, Mon, 18 Dec 2000 19:22:09
  • Might go with a 3 liter, 5 speed Alfa Milano. n/m, K, Mon, 18 Dec 2000 16:13:26
    • Fun to drive coefficiet is VERY high. Great car n/m, Tcar, Mon, 18 Dec 2000 16:34:15
  • '94 Civic--shiny 18" rims,fat exhaust,yellow fog lights, Han, Mon, 18 Dec 2000 15:12:15
  • Audi TT Quattro 225hp - Since were dreamin' here, A.Roper, Mon, 18 Dec 2000 13:24:51
    • Make that single turbo 1.8.....n/m, AdamB , Tue, 19 Dec 2000 18:26:17
  • Closest thing to my 9-5 Aero ..., Caspar, Mon, 18 Dec 2000 13:09:40
    • I'm sure you mean Aston Martin Vantage?, AdamB , Tue, 19 Dec 2000 18:20:49
      • Nope, though that would be my second choice (more), Caspar, Sun, 24 Dec 2000 00:27:22
  • Lancia S4 or Peugeot 205 T16, Kalle, Mon, 18 Dec 2000 12:47:38
  • 1982, 4 door Cutlass with auto tranny and spoiler., Kyler, Mon, 18 Dec 2000 12:31:36
    • My cuzin Jimbo gots one of them, its hella-fast too! n/m, Curtis, Sat, 23 Dec 2000 12:28:10
  • Re: If there were no Saab... Audi A-4 or A-6 n/m, Dan Wyman, Mon, 18 Dec 2000 12:22:09
  • Real: Used 911. Fantasy: 917-30KL, But..., Ricky J, Mon, 18 Dec 2000 12:21:34
  • Subaru WRX or Audi S4 n/m, TonyG, Mon, 18 Dec 2000 12:05:05
  • if I'm practical again - late 90's Maxima; if lead foot - M3 n/m, MJM , Mon, 18 Dec 2000 09:24:31
  • Re: If there were no Saab... (from the Oldsmobile thread) Jetta V6 VW, Seamus, Mon, 18 Dec 2000 08:49:58
  • BMW 330ix, Bryce, Mon, 18 Dec 2000 08:08:22
  • Either the 2002 Audi A4 or 2001 MB C-Class....., Paul , Sun, 17 Dec 2000 23:41:07
  • Re: If there were no Saab... (from the Oldsmobile thread) Jetta V6 VW, jp, Sun, 17 Dec 2000 22:55:38
  • late 70's early 80's Ferrari.........., steveC in BC, Sun, 17 Dec 2000 15:42:57
  • If there were no Saab, I'd go with a Corvette!, zeke, Sun, 17 Dec 2000 12:41:28
  • Need something unique & eccentric (not Yugo), Bill D, Sun, 17 Dec 2000 11:37:50
  • Entry Level Mercedes, JasonS, Sun, 17 Dec 2000 01:13:41
  • Re: If there were no Saab... (from the Oldsmobile thread) Jetta V6 VW, MPY, Sat, 16 Dec 2000 21:55:34
  • So what your saying is that there are other cars?, saw, Sat, 16 Dec 2000 21:42:10
  • I'd need more than one car..., SS, Sat, 16 Dec 2000 19:14:31
  • Horrible thought, but I have a plan "C", Dinger, Sat, 16 Dec 2000 18:07:43
    • Go with plan 'C' - Bentley Azure - or buy Saab back from GM!!, Utan Tak, Tue, 19 Dec 2000 16:50:35
  • Re: If there were no Saab... (from the Oldsmobile thread) Jetta V6 VW, Bill S , Sat, 16 Dec 2000 17:48:19
  • Subaru SUS or Audi quattro.... n/m, Tim, Sat, 16 Dec 2000 17:40:23
  • Scott, I'd just have to ...., Rafe, Sat, 16 Dec 2000 17:24:36
    • Past Volvos, 850 (sport model), current Volvo, S40 (more...), Keith , Sat, 16 Dec 2000 18:11:35
      • Good topic..., Andrew , Sun, 17 Dec 2000 18:40:13
        • Yeah, I screwed up... post meant to go in main thread not here nm, Andrew , Mon, 18 Dec 2000 21:12:55
      • 9^5 disappointment, Rafe, Sat, 16 Dec 2000 21:39:03 <-- Viewing This Message
        • Sorry but, ...., GM, Fri, 22 Dec 2000 23:24:10
        • 'Cause that's the way Opel does it, and they are modified, Tcar, Mon, 18 Dec 2000 16:22:12
        • I disagree....., AdamB , Sun, 17 Dec 2000 13:12:13
        • disagree with your comment about "dorky" 9-5 wagon, MW, Sun, 17 Dec 2000 11:59:45
  • Re: If there were no Saab... (from the Oldsmobile thread) Jetta V6 VW, Saab 1, Sat, 16 Dec 2000 17:18:54
  • I'ld regress to my roots:, Roger S, Sat, 16 Dec 2000 16:02:09
  • I'll take the Ford Focus WRC... (n/m), MW, Sat, 16 Dec 2000 15:42:51

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