Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 22:44:02 GMT From: "Dexter J" <lamealameadingdongnospamlamelame.org> Subject: Re: "Jet-aircraft heritage evident in new Saab 9-5"
Salutations: Mike <yard22192nospamo.com> wrote: > Jet-aircraft heritage evident in new Saab 9-5 > The engineering excellence and association with jet aircraft is > definitely in evidence in both of Saab's lofty, new 9-5 models. > at http://www.washtimes.com/autoweekend/20060413-013716-3717r.htm Dear lord - what a load of horse feathers. They rebodied the 9-5 having had an unfortunate experience rebranding an end of lifecycle Suburu last year - then suckered someone at The Washington Times who evidently knows literally zip about SAAB engineering history into publishing yet another ill informed hand job about it using GM PR copy. It's the Times though, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. However what I still don't frankly get, having failed to use the above public relations model to generate substantial interest these past 10 years, is how someone again convinces the powers that be at GM to go with it. The 9-5 is actually a pretty respectable family hot-rod for $30,000+. Gets great mileage for the size, has *way more* than enough pick-up and toe-in to really toss the family around in their seat-belts for the price and while it is no 9000 Aero - it remains a fairly dignified ride in an undignified time. As regards why everyone whines about GM SAAB, well I think I can say that from the repeat owner's point of view - the only that really happened when GM bought SAAB was that evidently lesser quality, but more expensive, components where engineered into the marque than was popularly hoped for when the news of the buy out hit the streets. That's hard to bounce back from when people catch on frankly. Putting aside that in my mind GM completely missed a fantastic opportunity to honestly improve all their model lines by exploiting and mass producing the then industry leading turbo and engine management technology in favour of more/cheaper cylinders - they did manage to fix SAAB transmissions - which I suppose is always something GM did wonderfully. Sadly, they then screwed the pouch by trying to save a $10 on a oil-pick screen in the sump and started losing engines instead of tranny's for a decade. I guess at the end of the day, SAAB has done well with the 9-5 *despite* the evidently ill-informed and patronizing marketing. Which, if you ask me, is why so many hard-core SAAB enthusiasts react so very strongly when they see it. The only thing a current SAAB has in common with a Jet fighter is that they both have turbine compressors - one is big enough to swallow a SAAB whole, the other isn't. My 9000 has several interesting cockpit features that I'm pretty sure were gleaned from military Aircraft - big buttons and green back lighting for example - but that would be about it and my 9000 is 13 years old now. Trying to trade on the aircraft heritage when SAAB has so very many other more legit and desirable milestones to claim - first general production turbo, world rally titles, pikes peak records, Tallidaga endurance x2 (or is it x3 now), European Sports Car championship ('93 or '94 I think), countless club and regional racing titles and several highest safety standard ratings on both sides of the Atlantic - well - the evidently long 'aircraft' stretch is just so very lame isn't it? Anyway - I say again - epsilon platformed, wider/lower 9000 Aero with a 3inch exhaust, 50mm swaybars front and rear, recarro leather package and a turn taken out of the steering rack - you have a honest to goodness world market beater every day of the week. I actually sketched it out in photoshop a while back and have it tucked away somewhere - looks even better than the original. Sadly, I know that anyone at GM who should be interested long ago stopped reading this missive and has missed the good advise above. More's the pity, because I can keep my C-SAAB on the road indefinitely for the finance and insurance it would cost to lease out a new 9-5 with all the trimmings. Cheers brothers - hope all is well where you are. -- Radio Free Dexterdyne Top Tune o'be-do-da-day Nelson Charles - Seven Spanish Angels http://www.dexterdyne.org/888/179.RAM all tunes - no cookies no subscription no weather no ads no news no phone in no sign up required - all the Time
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