Date: Sun, 02 Sep 2007 23:01:55 +1200 From: Richard Sutherland-Smith <richard.ssnospamr.net.nz> Subject: Re: What killed this group?
> "Al" <alistairdorenospamo.com> wrote in message > news:Z3%Bi.189412$lx3.6123nospamnews.blueyonder.co.uk... >> >> "DervMan" <thedervmannospaml.com> wrote in message >> news:46d853a4$0$13924$fa0fcedbnospam.zen.co.uk... >>> "E. Newnes" <enewns45nospamo.com> wrote in message >>> news:epafd3tbrdb1i5rh1d23ggjh65cskp0ikenospamcom... >>>> On Fri, 31 Aug 2007 06:21:14 +0100, "DervMan" <thedervmannospaml.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>>>On the other hand, there are many people being introduced to Saab >>>>>*because* >>>>>of the GM influence. >>>> >>>> But they are not being introduced to real Saabs, only to the ghost of >>>> the "brand". Long time GM customers are used to a diet of multi hued >>>> shit and would only expect more of the same, so they will >>>> inadvertently aid and abet the loss of Saab DNA. >>> >>> Says who? What makes a real Saab a real Saab? Why is a current Saab a >>> lesser Saab than a 1980 Saab? >>> >>> Drive any modern <insert brand> and it's very different from something in >>> the 1970s. Modern stuff with a Saab badge is a modern interpretation of >>> what you may consider to be a proper Saab. >>> >> Sorry, but that's just Tommy Rot. It's not an interpretation, it's a >> Vauxhall with a blue badge. (I like Vauxhalls BTW!) > Aie but who designed it? >> Real Saabs died with the 9000, the last Saab with any true Saab bloodline. >> >> That said, the 9-3 is an excellent motorcar, and the most reliable car (of >> any brand) we've ever owned was a NG 900s. > My heart wanted a classic Saab 900 Turbo with air conditioning. > My budget said 9-3. My head said Mondeo TDCi. > In the end I bought the diesel 9-3, knowing its faults* but also its > strengths. It has the understeery Saab-esque handling, it has those seats > and that interior, but it also has a Japanese engine and GM running gear. The old 9-3 had a GM diesel 2.2L, the new one has the Alfa derived 1.9L. They have a Jap auto gearbox? -- Richard Sutherland-Smith 19 Webb Road, Wanganui 4500, NZ
