Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2003 09:41:00 -0500 From: "Walt Kienzle" <wkienzlenopsam.net> Subject: Re: SAAB IS OVER
Too bad this cooperative arrangement wasn't around when Subaru was trying to sell the wonderful, slightly flawed and overpriced SVX. If Saab could have morphed it into a hatchback to increase cargo space, removed the motorized seatbelts earlier, and put in a stick shift, I would have saved all my pennies to buy one. Walt Kienzle 1991 9000T "J Lark" <jelarkspurnopsamail.com> wrote in message news:2a3d56ba.0304221758.31a7ad12nopsaming.google.com... > bobpaulenopsamcity.com (Bob) wrote in message news:<661e81ed.0304160744.36124217nopsaming.google.com>... > > Hi: > > > > I drove Saabs and love them. > > > > Read the 4 page statement on the SAAB USA page about the new 9-2 > > vehicle. Will be manufactured in JAPAN by Subaru owned by Fuji with > > 20% of Fuji owned by GM. This sounds like a suicide note. > > > > GM is chopping up SAAB after years of nonprofitable subsidies. > > > > Farewell Saab :( > > I think you're overreacting. Granted, it's discouraging that Saab > will be sitting in the back seat when it comes to the 9-2's design, > but at least they're basing the new car on a unique, high performance > C&D Top 10 winner, and not on leftover parts from a Pontiac. Of all > the models in the entire GM empire they could have had thrust upon > them, the WRX was the best case scenario. Plus it fills a couple > voids in their lineup (entry level, AWD, hatch) and costs them next to > nothing in R&D. That's a steal for a company that lost $500 million > last year. Finally, Soob and Saab are something like #4 and #5 in > reliability ratings, so there's no loss there. > > It's worth a shot given the money they're losing. The Saabaru > collaboration is not the solution to Saab's problems, but it's hard to > see how it will hurt. When GM forces Saab to make a SUV from a Chevy > Trailblazer, THAT will be a dark day. Personally, I'd like to see > Soob and Saab continue in a tech-sharing relationship if this works > out. They could be the bizarro version of Toyota and Lexus. But I > respect the desire to maintain Saab's purity. I just don't know how > that can happen if they keep losing money every year. If selling > Saabaru 9-2s allows them to keep refining their 9-3s, 9-5s, and other > pet projects on their own, isn't that worth it?
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