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Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 09:21:44 -0800
From: "Dima" <dimanospamystems.com>
Subject: Re: the wraparound windshield to return!


Tex, I love the newer Saabs as much as I do the older ones; I came to love the marque through a purchase of a 1997 900SE. However, my hope are not very high. The following link from Business Week does an honest analysis of GM's business strategy, with a conclusion that some of GM "brands" must closed, with Pontiac and Saab topping the list. http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/mar2005/nf20050317_3493_db016.htm I think in light of this analysis, any hope of a promised wraparound windshield is beginning to wane. When the money is not flowing, a beautifully thought out project can be stopped in the middle, and the people involved fired. I would love to see a future Saab with a wraparound windshield, and some innovative engine technology, which would allow it to reinvent itself like it did in the 70's. My bet though is that the best chance for Saab is to be sold to a successful auto company that truly is interested in it being a Saab. I hope this buyer company won't be one of the upcoming Chinese automakers though :-) -Dima "Tex" <texnospamm101.org> wrote in message news:aq-dnbw9Ae8Zg9_fRVn-hgnospamast.com... > "Craig's C900 Site" <c900nospam.apana.org.au> wrote in message > news:d1sdvs$59t$1nospam.apana.org.au... >> Johannes H Andersen <johsnospamsssssssssssizefitter.com> writes: >> >> And it not surprising that as soon as he leaves, GM announces formerly > > I think you mean "formally". > >> that >> they want to make Saab's in Bavaria and other places where the cars will >> end >> up looking like US-ified BMW's or Opel's if nothing else. > > Not true. Russelheim is in Hesse not Bavaria. At this point, it is pure > speculation what future Saabs will look like. Will they look like today's > Saabs? Maybe. More than likely, in whatever form they arrive, they will > undoubtedly carry on the Saab "DNA". Many people say I look similar to my > father, but few people would mistake me for actually _being_ my father. > That surely doesn't make me bad, just different. > > GM Europe (Carl Peter Forster) has essentially taken over as head of Saab. > In short, Saab/Sweden will design the vehicles but their ultimate > production fate will go through GM Europe's upper management (Forster) > first. Clearly, if you've read the press lately, you'll know GM is under > the gun to produce vehicles that are first and foremost, profitable. GM > is tired blowing wads of cash at their European operations. > Unfortunately, what they perceive as higher volume/profit-making cars > isn't necessarily what you or I want as a vehicle. > > I actually like the current 9-3 and 9-5s...however, in my view, they > suffer from a few poor design decisions, and some low quality components > and workmanship. This is unacceptable coming from such an expensive car. > >> But it's one of the things which has made Saab's (especially the C900's) >> stand out as a marque. > > Correct, but now every manufacturer has FWD cars. So Saab is no longer > alone on the FWD podium. It's not really much of a competitive advantage > any more. Yes, you could probably well argue that Saab pioneered FWD > technology so they inherently must be the best at its execution. Maybe, > maybe not. Consumers no longer recognize the difference between various > manufacturers FWD implementations. If they sit a FWD Audi side by side > with a FWD Saab, most consumers would say, on that level, they must be > equivalent. > > - tex > >

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