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1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
In the ancient days of The Long Run -- when the Nikkei was approaching 30,000 and Tokyo real estate had a total valuation of about four times all the real estate in North America -- there was a lot of negative talk about turbo reliability. (Can you say Mitsubishi engineering?) The Long Run demonstrated that it was other marques, not SAAB, that had the turbo problems. It was, of course, as you say "marketing," but The Long Run certainly helped to build a positive image for the 9000, and helped sell some cars -- perhaps enough cars, at the margin, to save SAAB from extinction. perhaps enough cars to persuade GM to invest in SAAB. You know, the way that GM has bailed out some Nipponese car managers in more recent years.
On a personal note, The Long Run influenced me in my decision to buy a beautiful brand new Talladega Red 91 9000T. (Yes, somehow I managed to bring myself to part with my P.O.S. graduate-school-era Toyota Tercel and get an Aero instead.) And my very favorable experience with that car led me to purchase several other SAABs.
On a road trip in 1992, I visited Talladega. In the small Talladega museum there is one of three Long Run cars. The good ole boy who drives the van tour of the track saw the 91 and said something like "Ya'll got youself a real fine car there." He said his praise was based on his personal observation of The Long Run, which impressed him very favorably. He made it clear that as a Talladega insider, he is not easily impressed. I guess he sees cars break under heavy stress far more often than he sees them NOT break under heavy stress.
Sorry you're not favorably impressed, but it doesn't seem IMHO that SAAB management made a strategic error.
I'm glad you like your fine Japanese car. One question though: why is a rice afficionado hanging out on a nordic chat board? Got anything positive to contribute, or are just trying to find a way to assuage your well-deserved feelings of automotive insecurity?
See you rater!
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