The banner above is an advertisment - if it asks you to download software, please ignore.
Site News - 3/26 M Car Covers (by State of Nine) | 12/12 Make Amazon Pay Saabnet!
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 16:51:13 GMT
From: "pablo" <pabloNnopsamsimplyhombre.net>
Subject: Re: GM plans Saab Restructuring


"Zweef" <barboernopsamemotorfiets.nl> wrote in message news:MPG.18457c5c58bf28239896danopsam.demon.nl... > > That's a bit oversimplified, i know trucks and SUV are booming in the US, > but there is also still a market for 'normal' types of cars Read some recent Business Week articles on GM. Their car business is not making them money - trucks and SUVs are. It is not an oversimplification, that is the way things are for GM right now. > That's what i thought when they took Saab over, but they have turned the > 900/9-3 into a luxury Opel/Vauxhall Vectra clone, i know a lot of > dedicated Saab drivers who are disappointed in what GM had done with Saab > in de last 8 years. I have not read single magazine review that claimed the new 9-3 was inferior to the old 900. They unanimously praised the improvements, and were either taken or annoyed by the remaining quirks. Sounds like a better Saab to me. :-) You clearly dislike the Opel product. By that logic -simply disliking platform sharing- brands such as Audi, Jaguar, Aston Martin, and even increasingly Mercedes Benz (it's a Chrysler!) have become worse cars. All evidence is platform sharing all in all improves quality and choice, since the R&D investment goes into bits that truly fine-tune the car more to its specific audience. If it's done right. We will have to see. The truth is that GM has no choice except making sure Saab is sucessful: it is their one premium car brand, and that is the most profitable segment in the market. > ... what idiot replaces the 9-3 wit a sedan, with the hatch always having been ... I've expressed my views on the matter elsewhere, and agree with your statement to a certain degree. My assumption is the strategy is to go for mainstream first, and then build from there, and others seem to have confirmed there are definite plans for a hatch. > It's that uniqueness part that's bothering me... Oh, I totally agree with that. It remains to be seen how to master-plan plays out. *If* the new Saab 9-3 become a mainstream success and sells by the millions... how is that going to change the Saab brand perception in the market? Part of their appeal has been the best-kept-secret thing, and Saab seemed to enjoy that role. > Oh? tell me then! And please don't start with the new Vectra being some > outstanding design value..... Actually, the new Vectra and Mondeo have won tests in Germany against Merc and Beemer. Sounds like the platform holds some promise - but that is just the foundation, the key is to build on top of that and differentiate. ...pablo

Return to Main Index
StateOfNine.com
SaabClub.com
Jak Stoll Performance
M Car Covers
Ad Available

The content on this site may not be republished without permission. Copyright © 1988-2024 - The Saab Network - saabnet.com.
For usage guidelines, see the Mission & Privacy Notice.
[Contact | Site Map | Saabnet.com on Facebook | Saabnet.com on Twitter | Shop Amazon via TSN | Site Donations]