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, Sun, 9 Feb 2003 14:54:29
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with a friend of mine. Drove an off white automatic with 16 inch wheels. Nice car, rode well and would appear to handle well, given the short dealer-along-for-the-drive test ride on suburban streets. I could not replicate the uneven power delivery mentioned elsewhere. The car did feel like it was well put together. No five speeds were available for testing.
As far as SAABness that would make me want to buy it,I would be looking for roomy interior with high level of outward visibilty, unique/elegant styling, practical features like the hatch, above average power from 4 cylinders and reliabilty and longevity.
The new car, well, to my eye its styling is not unique, more 7/8ths Catera or a Jetta on steroids than its benchmark, the BMW 3 series; nothing really elegant or different about it. Heavy handed front fascia treatment, slab sides. First impressions were thick A and B pillar and a high beltline that lends to a claustrophic interior; back seat not very roomy. Bland dash. No hatch, reasonable trunk, small deck lid means no more unusual carrying capacity. Further, when you look at the overall dimensions of the car, a hatch would not appear to work should they try to add one later.
As the dealer knew that I was not the buyer, he focused on my friend, I kept my comments to myself. I wandered off to look at used 2000/2001 9-3s and was impressed with that car, so I will probably look for one of those when the time comes. The SAAB features of elegant styling, practicality are still there. I could not find an older 9-3 with a leather interior to compare the pebble grain leather of the new cars (new 9-5s come with the same design)so I need to keep looking on that issue.
So Scott, in answer to your question, is there anything I still like, well, nothing to hate, but nothing on the new car inspires me to buy. A nice freshman year design effort by GM that will appeal to a larger target market that never knew traditional SAAB values. My friend is 5-5, grew up on Hondas and Accuras and now wants an "upscale" brand. Her impressions of SAABs come from her boss's 9-5 and the fact that I have two older models with high miles. So the marketing issues seem to work for GM, put the badge on a more rational car and go for volume. Lowball lease rate did not include features she wanted, so the final decision isn't in.
Its not the end of the world, but its not a SAAB either.
Thanks for the time. Never cared for Kool Aid anyway.
posted by 208.212.2...
, Sat, 8 Feb 2003 11:48:24, Sun, 9 Feb 2003 14:54:29
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