The segment of the market that wants a stripped down vehicle has declined horrendously. The actual percentage of people that prefer a stripped car is minute, especially a stripped European car. With the amount of engineering and the height of the price that this engineering commands, you'd be hard pressed to get the public to pay for a $24k car that doesn't have at least power windows, keyless entry and leather. The new 9-3 is as stripped as I've seen a Saab in several years. I know that VW comes to mind as an objection, but the majority of the stripped VW's are Jettas, Golfs and Beetles. These cars can be bought in the teens. The only way to bring the price down on ours would be to use a cheaper means of production and transportation. I.E build a car in Mexico (like these VW's), and ship them in via Railroad. I think that the 9-2 is a step in the right direction. An AWD high horsepower car starting in the neighborhood of $21k? That's very attractive, and is certainly a compromise in the fact that it won't be built in Sweden. However, if I had to choose an alternative to being built in Europe, I would choose Japan all day long.

I think that you are a frugal minority. You are economic minded, yet have enough sense to want a well built car that performs well when hit by foreign objects. You are definitely a minority. The rest of these buyers don't have the common sense that you have, and will buy a Honda or (heaven forbid) a Cavalier in the $teens.

Cheers,
Brian.

posted by 65.106.25...

• New Saab models, Paul , Mon, 24 Feb 2003 18:01:38
  • I think the FX45 is a Nissan Murano with a V8..., Noel, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 17:11:50
    • Re: Nope, they are not..., BillCs, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 17:38:37
  • All Road is big seller in New England!, Liam S., Tue, 25 Feb 2003 10:24:50
    • But Saab is a big seller in New England too :) nm, Craig, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 12:51:11
  • Can't disagree about Nissan..., b.flippo, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 10:09:18
    • You have to see the FX 45 in person first....., TKC, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 17:07:30
    • Best psot nomination...seconded!! FX35/45 revisited, bamaSAAB, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 15:48:25
      • Sat in one at the Auto Show this weekend..., b.flippo, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 19:05:27
      • FX45 = Delicious., Brian, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 16:19:25
        • Aero wagon?, bRAD, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 16:33:38
          • FX35 more HP less$$ than Aero wagon, bamaSAAB, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 19:06:58
            • MSRP maybe..., bRAD, Wed, 26 Feb 2003 10:19:43
              • Re: MSRP definitely...$38,000 or less! n/m, bamaSAAB, Wed, 26 Feb 2003 13:46:57
    • Or a motorcycle that needs Whitworth tools! n/m, Texron, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 13:03:05
    • It's wrong . . ., MJP, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 13:01:36
      • Small segment of the market..., b.flippo, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 13:50:46 <-- Viewing This Message
        • Well, I think the point is (+), Vlad, Thu, 27 Feb 2003 17:56:37
          • I understand completely, and agree with your..., b.flippo, Fri, 28 Feb 2003 10:30:04
    • I nominate this post for TSN "Post of the Year!", VP, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 12:03:43
    • Well Said Brian!, Jon in Chicago, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 11:06:27
  • SRX regret anyone?, Jeff, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 09:45:42
    • SRX looks like new Explorer...its NOT different, Liam S., Tue, 25 Feb 2003 10:35:56
  • Imagine what Saab could have been like if Nissan, KB88900T, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 02:54:18
    • Not Nissan but Renault. Renault turned Nissan around, Terraplanem, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 10:40:45
      • Yes, I agree with that! Does Renault own Nissan? n/m, KB88900T, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 12:24:36
        • I believe that Renault owns a controling stake. They, Terraplanem, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 13:03:41
          • G35.... a large step up from the LeCar. :-) n/m, b.flippo, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 19:34:50
          • Hmm I though Nissan owned Renault?? nm, AdamB , Tue, 25 Feb 2003 13:05:20
            • Renault owns a controlling share (51%??) of Nissan n/m, TKC, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 13:25:18
    • The "Moondance" commercial makes me want 1 LOL, Bryan , Tue, 25 Feb 2003 10:00:55
  • Re: Infiniti on a roll..., BillCs, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 00:50:19
    • Your wrong....................however, Liam S., Tue, 25 Feb 2003 10:45:45
      • nope you're wrong, Jeff, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 11:14:40
        • I think it's a phobia..., b.flippo, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 12:43:23
        • Brush bars look silly on a wagon... n/m, bRAD, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 11:32:06
  • write Saab!, mark17, Mon, 24 Feb 2003 23:40:53
  • Infiniti on fire, Redmilk, Mon, 24 Feb 2003 22:23:39
    • Yeah, the g35 coupe is awesome..., Andy E, Tue, 25 Feb 2003 01:52:04
  • agree - FX35/45 is incredible, mark, Mon, 24 Feb 2003 21:40:58
    • Re: agree - FX35/45 is incredible, Kevin, Thu, 29 Dec 2005 15:15:33
  • FX35/45 is an excellent benchmark for the 9-3X !!! n/m, bamaSAAB, Mon, 24 Feb 2003 18:19:56

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