Saab - First casualty of financial crisis?

pburns

One thing Volvo got right was the styling. There must have been a huge crisis of confidence when the 'boxy' design theme ran it's course. They hired a British designer (Peter Hornby?) who introduced the current 'shouldered' look. It could be argued that Volvo have relied too heavily on this and that all Volvos of the last decade or so look very similar but the forthcoming 3-series-sized S60 looks very promising (even without the motorshow glitz)
http://motoring.sky.com/news/galleries/detroit-motor-show-volvo-s60-concept.aspx

OK so the S40 is a re-bodied Focus but luckily the Ford is an excellent base - unlike the GM platforms Saab has been saddled with.

Who knows - maybe if Saab manage to survive and make a break from GM it could be a good thing. If a new owner steps in they are unlikely to do any worse than GM (grasping at straws).

Thing is a modern interpretation of the old 900 could be so right for the times we live in - a practical, sensible, durable, charasmatic, prestige option without the grasping me-dickhead image some of the Germans have.

Drummerboy08

galwaytt wrote: »

hold on, you said A4 and 320d. Both have ****e paddy specs, and no, you will always buy a Saab cheaper than a VAG car. Sad, but true.

Now, if you're adding an X-type...........ithat'd be nicer than a 320, but I digress.........I'll see your X-type and raise you.......C5

Call.

Oh god i hope thats sarcasm....:eek:

whiterebel

galwaytt wrote: »

hold on, you said A4 and 320d. Both have ****e paddy specs, and no, you will always buy a Saab cheaper than a VAG car. Sad, but true.

Now, if you're adding an X-type...........ithat'd be nicer than a 320, but I digress.........I'll see your X-type and raise you.......C5

Call.

Sorry Galwaytt, I know you helped me with opinions when i was looking to buy a new car, but you're wrong here. I could get the brand new A4 cheaper than a 9-3 Linear Sport, and with a great spec. I could have had an X-Type for €33K.....would be @28K now!!!!!!

Drummerboy08

Good news for you Saab lovers - the 93 diesel has been reduced by between 5 and 7k. Now it might be a bit more affordable..

niceirishfella

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Good news for you Saab lovers - the 93 diesel has been reduced by between 5 and 7k. Now it might be a bit more affordable..

and the bad news is the second you screw 09' plates on it, the price will reduce by 12k + ....!:eek:

Drummerboy08

Absolutely...

mumblin deaf ro

I think you should all buy Saabs so i can get them from you second hand for half nothing in three years' time. Otherwise it's going to be impossible to find a 09 Saab second hand.

Drummerboy08

Or you could just buy a new one now, and save yourself the hassle of buying one in three years time.... You'll already have a 09 then!!

biko

An interesting read about SAABs depreciation.
Mind it's from 2006 but still.
NB: check the comments.

The 9-3 Vector Sport is remarkably similar to the other models examined. It’s still at the bottom of the group - the Saab retains 40.17% of it’s value after 4 years, the Audi 43.95%, the Bimmer 41.96% and the Merc 44.97% - but it’s nowhere near as far off as I thought it would be.

whiterebel

I didn't go for a Saab myself, but to be honest depreciation wouldn't have mattered over 5/6 years anyway. None of us can tell if John Gormless will pull another stroke tomorrow to completely decimate the car market.

Drummerboy08

It'l go something like " if you dont have an electric car, you have to pay an extra 10k a year for killing a polar bear".

mumblin deaf ro

Maybe not dead yet - from Detroit Free Press via trollhattansaab:

Saab Automobile, the 61-year-old Swedish carmaker owned by General Motors Corp., will survive an industry slump if it sells attractive models, Sweden’s government said, defying GM’s view that Saab is artificially kept alive.

Saab, based in Trollhattan, Sweden, needs “good model programs,” Joeran Haegglund, state secretary in the Swedish industry ministry, told journalists from Detroit, where he spent the last days in talks with auto executives. Saab also needs to gain more independence from GM to be granted Swedish government guarantees for loans, Haegglund said.

“At the moment I don’t have any other belief” other than that Saab will still exist in Sweden in a few years, Haegglund said. “Compared to the situation last year, the vehicle industry will be smaller, but more economic and more successful.”

Stky10

Would be sorry to see them go. Before GM they were quirky and interesting.

maidhc

Actually, the car market has probably gone too far with samey samey stuff.

I don't care what people say, there is no appreciable difference between a C5, 3 series, mondeo, 5 series, Saab 9-3, Mercedes C Class or anything anymore.

Compared to say the Mercedes 190E, Saab 900, Ford Sierra, or Citroen CX/GS... or even interesting stuff from Tatra, NSU, Auto Union, or VW that was once produced.

mumblin deaf ro

Once Saab ditched the hatchback and switched to saloons to win over the US market it was on its way to blandsville.

VolvoMan

pburns wrote: »

One thing Volvo got right was the styling. There must have been a huge crisis of confidence when the 'boxy' design theme ran it's course. They hired a British designer (Peter Hornby?) who introduced the current 'shouldered' look. It could be argued that Volvo have relied too heavily on this and that all Volvos of the last decade or so look very similar but the forthcoming 3-series-sized S60 looks very promising (even without the motorshow glitz)
http://motoring.sky.com/news/galleries/detroit-motor-show-volvo-s60-concept.aspx

The guy you're talking about is Peter Horbury, who arrived in 1991 and replaced Jan Wilsgaard as head of design.

niceirishfella

mumblin deaf ro wrote: »

Once Saab ditched the hatchback and switched to saloons to win over the US market it was on its way to blandsville.

Thats focus groups for ya!

mumblin deaf ro

Saab needs to get back to making cars like these (review from 'old' Top Gear)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOX0pmQk3n0