Date: Sun, 05 Sep 2004 01:01:54 -0400 From: ma_twain <ma_twainnospamo.com> Subject: Re: This may real bad news, and truly the end of Saab as we know it.
Shane Almeida wrote: > On 3 Sep 2004 14:24:32 GMT, Dave Hinz wrote: > >> A Saab built in Japan is not a Saab. A Saab built in Germany _could_ >> be a Saab, just as the ones built in Norway, Finland, and Belgium are. >> But if they're going to assemble it in Detroit or something, then I'll >> be keeping that 99-Turbo I'm getting this sunday (!) for a very long >> time I think. >> > > That begs the question: what makes a Saab a Saab? Is the location of the > factory that important? In February, I bought my first car: a 2004 9-3. > Because I'm new to Saabs (and vintage are older than I am), I can't > appreciate the "new Saabs aren't really Saabs" complaints. What did I > miss out on by buying my 9-3? > This could be the start of a long debate. But here goes: GM dictated that Saab should use as many common GM components as possible to reduce cost. Note that I did not say reduce price. The purpose of a business is to make money and you make money by reducing cost and keeping or increasing the price. The big complaint against this policy is the quality of the lower cost GM components. The GM Saabs earned a troubled reputation because of failures with electrical components - the shared common GM components. I have a Classic SPG 900T and all of the electrical components work just fine, as does the SPG components :-) I have a GM Saab, which has been in the shop for a faulty ignition switch, half the dash lights had to be replaced, power seat relay failed, radio failed, and a battery cable failed - all in the first 40 days. I am hoping this is it. Then there is the debate about the DI cassette replacement rate - but in all fairness other companies are having issues with DI cassettes. The rest is a matter of opinion. I like the body style of the Classic because you have fewer and smaller blind spots. I like the size of the cargo area in the hatchback design and the ease of loading and unloading. The Classic hatchback has no lower lip, you just slide heavy objects in and out - no lifting required.
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