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The new 9-5 doesn't do much for me either - too big. It's about right for what it is, but shoulda called it the 9-6. OG 9-5 is about perfect for us. Outgoing 9-3SC a touch small, but fine.
Like you, I buy used. We're still an important link in the food chain though! I have a pretty clear path of models I like vs don't going through the years (eg I don't like the Dame Edna phase, but to each his own ;-)... I think the (now outgoing) 9-3 has really become more Saab-like starting around 2008, bugs are long worked out, + the Griffins look really appealing!! Many "new buying" saab fans seem enthusiastic as do outsiders... there's a thread on the 9-3ss board... 9-3X also has some real potential... many people are very excited for the future 9-3 (myself included)... the right stuff is coming back in the brand. it will just take a little time...
wrt Joeychess's comments, yeah, I get that all the time too... everyone thinks they are unreliable... my impression though is that the newer ones, *if* well maintained, are more reliable than the older Saabs... less durable, but more reliable... it's people who are new to the brand + not well enough educated wrt what they should do to maintain a european car that run into issues... often these buyers also own early model years! Outsider mechanics working on those problem cars probably help to perpetuate the myth... We have many "Subaru friends" who look at Subarus as gifts from the heavens + don't even look at Saabs thinking too unreliable... and yet, the amount one of them paid to replace a gas tank in an older impreza cost more than anything I've ever done to either (much older) c900 (including tranny + engine work)!
imho, Saab should target Volvo + Subaru, but also Audi (in an undercutting sense)... where they are currently positioned is imho about right. I think Saab lost a lot of customers to all 3 of those brands... at least around here, where the awd wagon market (snow+kids) is large... many former saab owners defected to suby... Saab's marketing needs to target them. Adjust the prices a little better + avoid the discounting... Having driven some subarus, I think defected saab owners can be won back!
James...
posted by 69.63.61...
, Fri, 1 Apr 2011 13:11:44, Fri, 1 Apr 2011 06:46:57, Wed, 30 Mar 2011 07:10:53
, Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:10:19, Wed, 30 Mar 2011 06:39:11, Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:57:03
, Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:59:56, Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:38:04, Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:01:54
, Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:56:44, Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:03:49
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