Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 21:38:35 GMT From: fakenamenopsamspring.com (chris) Subject: Re: Please, Saab is not a "GM car"
Many common parts in an opal and a SAAB. Sorry. -Chirs On Wed, 29 Jul 1998 11:31:24 -0400, Michael <michaelnopsamhens.com> wrote: >Anyone loyal to the marquee will shiver at the notion that SAAB is a GM >brand.... > >It's no more a brand than Lamborgini is a VW, or Aston Martin a Ford....... > >Lets not start to think that these big characterless car companies take the >character out of our favorite cars just because they put money in.... > >Michael > >Jason Porter wrote: > >> AAH, IT PAINS ME >> >> SAAB IS NOT A GM BRAND in the same sense that Chevrolet, Opel, Pontiac, and >> Cadillac are. Please, GM may have a large financial investment in Saab (50% >> of stock I believe), but I hate to hear Saab termed "a GM car." Saab is not >> a GM car in any sense other than the financial. Daimler-Benz now owns the >> Chrysler Corporation, but I would hesitate to call the Chrysler Concorde or >> Dodge Durango "Daimler-Benz cars." I would be as hesitant to call Ferarri a >> "Fiat car." GM has very limited influence on the engineering of Saab >> automobiles, and even less influence over the parts with which the new cars >> are made. True, the mid-90s era V6 engines were built on a GM block, but >> that trend has ended for the new ('99) cars. The sheet on the 9-5 shows its >> US parts percentage as less than 2% of the finished car. >> Saab has maintained the independence of its engineering and its image, >> regardless of the source of funding. In the US at least, GM cars are >> characterized by their general inferiority to other brands, especially when >> viewed from an engineering standpoint (i.e. Chevrolet, which is IMHO >> generally a piece of shit - remember the Corsica?). If Saab were truly a GM >> car, or a GM company, wouldn't GM be putting that Saab engineering prowess >> to work, and turn out a truly decent (world-class) Chevy or Pontiac for the >> first time in 25 years? One more thing - while I'm on the subject, why do >> we as Americans continue to purchase Chevrolets and their ilk at a furious >> rate, when GM actually makes a *quality* automobile in Europe - the Opel? >> Can someone explain to me why I can't go to my local GM dealer and buy an >> Opel Vectra? Is it that GM feels that Americans are too stupid to know the >> difference? Are their profit margins not high enough? Must we stand and >> watch GM reclothe an Opel Omega in cheap plastic, take out the good parts of >> the suspension, and resell it for 20 grand more as the Cadillac Catera? >> What do they take us for? >> Thank God Saab is free from that kind of GM management. >> >> -J.P. >> >> Mark Orr wrote in message <6pjiqu$on$3nopsamurst.ccs.yorku.ca>... >> >Yeah!! I'm using $2500 in GM points towards my Saab 3 year lease. Make a >> BIG >> >diff in a 3 year lease. I doubt I would buy ANY other GM car. >> > >> >Mark >> > >> > > >