Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 18:25:55 -0500 From: "Walt Kienzle" <wkienzlenopsam.com> Subject: Re: new 9-3
Bravo! I couldn't have said it better myself. My standards are quite similar to yours, except I look for at least 200HP and would also like at least a 100 inch wheelbase. Walt Kienzle "pablo" <pabloATsimplyhombreNOSPAMnet> wrote in message news:urbdnls668jh00nopsam.supernews.com... > > I saw the new 9-3 this morning while leaving my '02 9-3 convertible in to > get some kinks ironed out. I am sure it is a very competent car, but styling > wise there's nothing original about it. It builds on styling cues that are > absolutely nothing new, even for Saab. Mix some Beemer and Acura elements > with the 9-5, and voila, the new 9-3 emerges. It in undeniable the unique > personality factor diminishes. Then again, that probably was entirely > intended to appeal to what Saab and GM strategists regard as the wider > public they want to appeal to. > > The blander mix often has more general appeal - it will not develop an > irrational fan base, but then again it will not alienate a statistical > majority. > > It is a diffiicult decision to make as a corporate strategist - do you try > to protect your loyal 3% and keep appealing to them, or do you try to carve > a 5% niche in the remaining 97% of the market? Enter the MBAs. :-) > > To me, a car with 4 doors utterly eliminates itself from my list. Tried it, > found it boring. 2 or 3 doors, that is it. Make it upscale. Coupe or > hatchback. Give it over 190HP. BMW and Mercedes are moving into that > segment, top end fashion cars like a fully-accesorized Mini Cooper > furthermore turn up the heat in that niche... and maybe that is why Saab > decided to move out of it into a wider market before they re-enter it. > > I can't help but think that, once Saab tries to main-stream itself, it > discovers that simply latching 4 doors on isn't enough - that public also > likes V6 engines and a total absence of quirkiness and personality. It'd be > a damn shame if in the end the 9-3 morphs into an Acura or Lexus. Not > because those are bad cars, but simply because it turns the car market > grayer and more boring. Fewer choices. But I guess markets always go through > this consolidation cycle, and richer times will come again when vendors dare > to be different, and happen to strike a gold-mine here and there. > > Fact is, until Saab comes out with another 9-3 hatchback, every Merc C230 > sale is potentially one sale they gave away. And I hear the C230 is selling > quite well. > > ...pablo > >
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