The above is an advertisment. If it asks you to download software or create an account, please ignore it.
Site News - 7/11: No New News Today | 5/10: Members: Log In to See Fewer Ads!
[General | Members | C900 | 9000 | NG900 & OG93 | 93 | 95 | NG95 | 99 | Sonett | Vintage Models | Clubs | Other Cars | FAQs | Gifts | Member Photo Galleries | Member Directory | Classifieds | Manuals | *Buddy Registry | *Mileage Registry | Polls | What's New | Raffle | Photo of the Month | Sponsors]

NG900 & OG93 Bulletin Board
1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest]
(Search Author's Posts: e.g. Keyword:username)*Members Only

[Main NG900 & OG93 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ | Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ] Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
Allow me to elaborate... (long)
Like This Post: - Subscribe to Daily Digest for this Bulletin Board
Posted by SteveH [Email] (more from SteveH) on Thu, 19 Apr 2001 09:02:49 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: Re: Here's my theory, and a proposal to GM/Saab..., Jeff, Thu, 19 Apr 2001 08:00:08
Alert me when someone posts in this thread:
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup

I certainly understand the business dynamics involved, as I do product management for a living, and make similar decisions on a regular basis for a high tech company.

Let me elaborate on my position on the hatchback issue, with a few points:

1. I am not in any way opposed to Saab offering a 9-3 sedan. I am opposed to them dropping the hatchback. The entire Saab line currently consists of only 2 model lines, with only a handful of variations on each. If Saab cannot manage its business to profitably offer both a sedan and a hatchback in just one of those lines, then the company is doomed anyway, and we all will be looking elsewhere for our next cars.

2. Fanatics are crucial to the long term success of any consumer brand company. They are the choir who sing the gospel. One diehard Saab fan, who happens to own a hatchback, can influence many other would-be car buyers, even if those "general public" buyers are not interested in a hatchback.

3. Hatchbacks from many brands sell like hot cakes in Europe. Why in Europe but not in the U.S.? a) pervasiveness of SUVs and minivans in the U.S., b) high gas prices and tight roadways that make the larger vehicles impractical in Europe. Most 9-3 hatchback buyers that I personally know did not choose between a sedan or a hatchback. They chose between a hatchback and a wagon or SUV or (Gawdhelpme) a minivan. The hatchback offers most of the advantages of the other styles with few of the disadvantages. An SUV may be a good (and profitable) offering for Saab, but most hatchback buyers don't want to be saddled with a beast just to be able to haul a decent load. And a wagon, even it's a Viggen wagon, will never have the sleek lines and stylishness of the 9-3 hatchback.

4. Does anyone believe that the primary reason a target buyer for Saab (or BWM, Audi, etc.) chooses one of the brands other than Saab is specifically because they wanted a sedan and not a hatchback: "Gee, now that Saab offers a 9-3 sedan I'll run out and buy one. Thank God they dumped that awful hatchback."???

5. And lastly, Saab faces many serious competitive issues that have historically limited its sales, including disproportionately high pricing, small number of dealerships nationwide, totally lame advertising, and a NARROW range of offerings. While the lack of a reasonably priced sedan is indeed one of those limiting factors, the presence of a hatchback in its lineup is definitely not.

Anyway, that's my 5 cents. Others are welcome to add theirs.

SteveH
Posts in this Thread:
Alert me when someone posts in this thread:
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
Post a Followup

No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.

Name: Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
E-Mail: (Optional)
Re-Enter E-Mail: (Confidential & Secure - Not revealed to other users!)
Note: Please check your spam folder for BB responses.

Subject:

Posting rules are simple - No for sale/wanted ads may be posted here - use the site classifieds.
You may not cross-post your message to multiple BBs.
Not permitted: political/religious topics and being disrespectful (personal attacks, insults, etc...).
 Site Members do not see any red text, inline ad links, bottom of page anchor ads, box ads, or anti-spam check.

Message: (please no for sale/wanted classifieds - post those in the Saabnet.com Classifieds)
Links are now automatically made active, no need for any special code (or use the Option Link field below) - don't put links in () or end with a '.'
To add inline images to your post, use [img]http://www.domain.com/img.jpg[endimg] (or use the Optional Image Link field below).

Links are now automatically made active, no need for any special code (or use the Option Link field below) - don't put links in () or end with a '.'
To add inline images to your post above, use [img]http://www.domain.com/img.jpg[endimg] (or use the Optional Image Link field below).
Optional Link: (e.g. http://www.saabnet.com/)
Link Title: (Optional)
Optional Photo/Image Link: (e.g. http://www.saabnet.com/img.jpg)
Photo/Image to Upload: (Please be patient while file uploads)



StateOfNine.com
SaabClub.com
Jak Stoll Performance
M Car Covers
Ad Available

The content on this site may not be republished without permission. Copyright © 1988-2025 - 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]

Random Saabnet.com Member Gallery Photos (Click Image)
This is a moderated bulletin board - Posting is a privilege, not a right. Unsolicited commercial postings are not allowed (no spam). Please, no For Sale or Wanted postings, SERIOUSLY. Classifieds are to be listed in The Saab Network Classifieds pages. This is a problem solving forum for over 250,000 Saab owners, so expect to see problems discussed here even though our cars are generally very reliable. This is not an anything goes type of forum. Saabnet.com has been a moderated forum since 1988. For usage guidelines, see the Saabnet.com Mission and Purpose Page. Please remember that you are not anonymous. Site Contact | Site Donations | Other Sites by SP - Poverty2Prosperity.org | Run Club Menlo Park | ScreenBot


Site Members do not see red text instructions, bottom of the page anchor ads, or box ads.
Click here to see all the Site Membership Benefits!