I know Saab wants to increase sales, but frankly to retain their core audience -- the ones who have sustained some level of sales -- they need a hatchback. The hatch is probably the only reason I bought a Viggen over anything else in its price class. Frankly, the Viggen is outclassed by a lot of cars at $37K -- but not if you want versatility with that performance. Hatchback versatility are one of the 4 essences of Saab -- performance, safety, uniqueness AND versatility.

There is absolutely no reason they couldn't offer both side by side. In fact, if they did, they would keep the loyalists happy with limited runs of a hatch while offering a sedan to attract loyalists and new buyers alike. It doesn't even seem like a hatch figures into future 9-3 variants (*other than the 9x and 9-3x models, which are not bread-and-butter cars like the 9-3 is intended to be), which is sad. A wagon is a compromise but not very attractive -- wagons still have a stigma as boring family cars, as useful as they are.

That said, I'll wait to see if the 9-3 wagon is more like a 9-5 wagon or Audi A4 Avant (i.e., a true wagon) or a V40 type wagon (leaning more towards a hatch) before I conclude that Saab is abandoning one of its core values.

posted by 138.88....

• I've seen first official pics of the new 9-3, Clawfinger, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 07:25:55
  • How come no one mentioned engine lineup?, JIM, Mon, 29 Apr 2002 11:43:33
    • Re: How come no one mentioned engine lineup?, Ron H, Mon, 29 Apr 2002 12:19:33
  • I betcha its all a fake........, Paul , Mon, 29 Apr 2002 11:34:55
  • I'll wait for the Hirsch 9-3 Aero....AWD 6 Speed n/m, Johnny del, Mon, 29 Apr 2002 00:25:36
  • Hatchback Reality, Sieglo, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 16:33:08
    • There will NOT be one (officially confirmed), Clawfinger, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 18:03:05
  • I'm in love but would like a hatch also and 3 spokes, Atul, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 15:06:43
  • Sweet, Sieglo, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 11:28:38
  • Re: I've seen first official pics of the new 9-3, Jonas, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 11:04:37
    • nah - check the wedge shape, John A., Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:47:12
      • that DOWN could read STRAIGHT (through), John A., Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:48:56
  • Awsome!, Coolknight, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 07:41:01
  • Good looking car! A hatch would've looked better! n/m, KS, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 23:45:41
    • Hatchback: the article says wait for 9-3 X, TimF, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 19:47:03
    • Hatchbacks are dead. Long live the hatchback., Ron H, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 02:06:53
      • One mans 4D hatch is anothers 'touring' or 'sportcross', TonyinLA, Tue, 30 Apr 2002 14:15:16
      • Agreed... sadly for me and my wife - hatchback lovers., Scott Paterson , Sun, 28 Apr 2002 13:12:28
      • Spot On Analysis!, Viggen Pilot, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 10:56:31
        • Amen, brother!, Ron H, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:47:39
        • Re: Spot On Analysis! Disagree, cbbc 3, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 11:04:27
          • Re: Spot On Analysis! Disagree, Ron H, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:32:08
          • Re: Spot On Analysis! Disagree, reese, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 11:52:13
            • Mazda MP5, Toyota Matrix, Lexus IS300 hatch, Hood, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:17:14
              • You're onto something... Mercedes hatchback, Scott Paterson , Sun, 28 Apr 2002 13:13:58
              • Re: Mazda MP5, Toyota Matrix, Lexus IS300 hatch, Ron H, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:41:15
                • Ford Focus Hatchbacks sell like hotcakes..., IronJoe, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 15:35:27
                  • USA Auto Sales 101 - Volume, then Breadth. Sedan First., redirector, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 19:27:10
                    • Hallelujah, brother!, Ron H, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 21:56:00
                • But why ditch the hatch totally?, Hood, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 14:05:53 <-- Viewing This Message
                  • Because they don't SELL, that's why!, KQuigley, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 15:32:49
                    • They do sell, just not enough for future goals..., Scott Paterson , Sun, 28 Apr 2002 19:05:50
                    • What the hell is your problem?, Hood, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 15:54:26
                      • Yes, it's abrupt and the truth hurts..., Scott Paterson , Sun, 28 Apr 2002 19:10:26
                        • Amen again, brother!, Ron H, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 21:46:44
                      • Re: What the hell is your problem?, KQuigley, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 18:38:50
  • Am I the ONLY one who doesn't like it?!?, IronJoe, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 23:19:24
    • I agree with you., Tim S, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:34:54
    • Yup... You're the only one!, KQuigley, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 23:47:45
      • Now I'm the second one. :), Aaron Gilbert, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 02:38:48
        • Mazda already has in the Protege..., Craig, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 13:16:04
    • yeah, it's just you! ;-), Ron H, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 23:41:37
      • Re: yeah, it's just you! ;-), Henrik Wagner, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 07:22:26
        • You, my friend-are wrong about the engine options, Ron H, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 11:51:51
          • Re: You, my friend-are wrong about the engine options, Henrik Wagner, Mon, 29 Apr 2002 06:53:35
  • Any chance the Diesel will make it to N. Am.? n/m, Cannonball, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 18:59:40
    • No!, BillR, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 10:40:39
      • Diesel A Real Possibility !!, JEC, Mon, 29 Apr 2002 07:50:53
      • Perhaps diesels do not sell well here ? Not surprising, Cannonball, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:01:12
        • Re: Perhaps diesels do not sell well here ? Not surprising, JEC, Mon, 29 Apr 2002 07:54:25
          • Re: Perhaps diesels do not sell well here ? Not surprising, Dean, Mon, 29 Apr 2002 17:01:13
  • wait, did you say tabloid? :)......n/m, Quinn S. Kurz, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 13:37:57
  • looks nice, but looks like a BMW...n/m, Boris 88SPG, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 11:00:34
  • Now you can see it on the web!!! (Link), Clawfinger, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 08:22:02
    • Nice looking. Rough translation of info in the article, Notes, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:10:39
      • What's the picture of the rotating ring? Thanks. n/m, JWH, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 13:17:18
        • Article doesn't say. (nm), Hood, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 13:57:58
    • Roof line reminds me of the Audi A6 or VW Passat, Allen K, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 14:00:47
      • Doesn't Epsilon Come in a Hatch?, JWH, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 14:23:41
    • Wow, good job... and again, nothing like the spy shots., Scott Paterson , Sat, 27 Apr 2002 11:56:35
      • Re: Wow, good job... and again, nothing like the spy shots., Rick D., Sat, 27 Apr 2002 12:45:19
    • handsome, John A., Sat, 27 Apr 2002 08:41:16
      • Re: handsome, MJP, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 09:23:45
        • Re: handsome, Leon Murphy, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 11:11:40
        • Re: handsome, Fredrik, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 09:26:44
          • better bumper incorporation - less jutting - both ends, John A., Sat, 27 Apr 2002 09:49:26

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