This SAAB SUV situation concerns me most because it seems to be more of the same dull-witted GM thinking that killed Oldsmobile, i.e., too little, too late. By the time Olds management figured out how to build decent cars that could compete with European cars, it was too late because the European cars had established a loyal customer base that would not defect back to Oldsmobile.

The SUV fad is dying - inventories of all SUVs are piling up, and if we have an economic downturn, or a surge in gas prices, or both, that will only hasten the end of fad and status motiviated purchases of SUVs. I predict that by the time the SAAB SUV hits the market (fall of 2002), the bottom will have dropped out of the SUV fad with the American car buyer, and SAAB will take a financial bath on their SUV. Typical GM management thinking: copy what everyone else has been doing well for several years, then wonder why the sales aren't there.

SAAB/GM management would be much better off figuring out what the next trend in vehicles will be and produce a vehicle for that segment, rather than copying everyone else. I think what upsets me most about the SAAB SUV is that SAAB used to be a trend leader, and with the SUV it's a trend follower. I just hope that the financial bath they take on the SUV isn't too bad, or we could see SAAB become just a badge on an Opel or a Saturn!

• Latest on SAAB SUV, Caspar, Thu, 11 Jan 2001 05:27:35
  • Re: SAAB SUV=Buick Rendezvous=Pontiac Aztec!!, PMartin, Sat, 13 Jan 2001 20:40:13
  • Re: Latest on SAAB SUV, Steve L, Fri, 12 Jan 2001 09:44:23 <-- Viewing This Message
  • WHAT A JOKE! UGH!, Adrian, Thu, 11 Jan 2001 18:50:37
    • I would expand on that but it is not suitable for prime time n/t, saw, Thu, 11 Jan 2001 22:09:46
    • Hey, don't hold back; tell us how you REALLY feel. n/m, Rafe, Thu, 11 Jan 2001 21:40:56
  • Re: Latest on SAAB SUV, MPY, Thu, 11 Jan 2001 15:52:10
  • They should leave the SUVs & minivans to Volvo and.., Dave Westlake, Thu, 11 Jan 2001 14:30:25
  • Mexico, in itself is not a problem, the VW plant in Mexico, Tcar, Thu, 11 Jan 2001 09:03:32

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