Date: Thu, 27 May 2004 20:28:16 +0100 From: Johannes H Andersen <johsnospamfitter_spam_gets_fried.com> Subject: Re: As read in the NY Times....
Martin Rich wrote: > > On Tue, 25 May 2004 16:08:26 -0400, "Fred W." <Fred.Willsnospampam > myrealbox.com> wrote: > > > > >All of this lamenting of the SAABs of yore sounds very similar to the > >caterwailing that is going on in alt.autos.bmw newsgroup over the new 5, 6 > >and 7 series models. The funny thing is that I agree with both camps. The > >newer 9-3's and 9-5's are no match for the Classic SAABs C900's or even > >9000's any more than the new BMW's are for their past models. > > > >It appears the trend is to continue to morph and dumb down all of the > >european car marquees until they are indistinguishable from the "world cars" > >being spewed out by the American and Asian car companies. > > > > I agree that the new Saab 9-3 looks anonymous, but certainly don't see > a trend towards *all* European cars looking like 'world cars'. The > new big BMWs do deviate from the classic BMW look, but they are > certainly distinctive and to me at least have a strong presence on the > road. Talking of BMWs, the new (pastiche) Mini looks distinctive and > BMW seem to be selling as many of them as they can make. It is annoying when particular fads starts mushrooming on all new cars. This boot lid that is cut into the rear bumper... I think VW started it, then Vauxhall and of course now the new 9-3. Another strange new feature is the rear windows that are blackened out around the rim; the black rim somehow gets wider and wider. It looks like a cheap production short cut. I suppose that with modern advances, it is no longer a problem to make a car that is sufficiently comfortable to do the job, even with a fairly small engine. Such a car becomes a commodity car, e.g. Ford Fiesta and the like.
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