Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2000 22:49:35 -0400 From: "Jeremy Brown" <JBrownnopsamcom> Subject: Re: The end of Saab as we know it?
Ok some stuff: 1. To compete with Mercedes, MBW, and Audi Saab will need to expand their product line. All three manufacturers have V-8 engines that are truely Eurpoean in design. 2. Just because some thing is based on a platform, doesn't mean it will be identical. The 9-3 and the Cadillac Catera are based on the same Opel platform. Do they look alike? Do they drive alike? No. The Saab 9-3 and the Saturn LS series share the same engines, but don't perform the same. 3. Mercedes, and BMW have plants in North America, are they still considered European? Yes. 4. I love Saabs, but they cannont go on being a car known for its quirkiness. To survive against the other European manufacturers, it must compete on all levels of performance and price. Mercedes, BMW, and Audi all have sedans, coupes, roadsters, and SUV's out or in planning. When I heard that GM was investing in Saab, I was quite happy. I for one would love to see a Saab Roadster go against the Audi TT, MB SLK, or BMW z3. I think Saab needs a V-8 to compete with the Audi A-8, S-series Benz, or 7-series BMW. Ford will be doing the same thing with Volvo, and GM must stay compettive. Remeber these are all European companies. 5. Don't assosciate a V-8 Saab with the Caddy behemoths, that is very bad, almost unnatural. The only people in the US that buy those tanks are senior citizens, the mafia, the police, or limo companies. (Group politicians in with the mafia) A well off American will more likely buy a SUV or highend Japanese\European luxury sedan. Exactly the market GM wants. One more thing about the big, American cars- Ford has discontinued it large, full size cars and GM has only two or three of that size model left. 6. Let's e-mail, mail, or call GM: - The 9-2 could be their roadster, have the 9-3 stay competing with A-4/3-Series/C-Series etc, the 9-5 going against the A-6/5-Series/E-Series, and the 9-7 to compete with the A-8/7-series/S-series. - Make sure we tell them to keep the traits that define a Saab: the key must stay in the floor, the engine should give the car oompf that Saab's are famous for, it must should make your pulse excelerate as it excelerates. 7. Why must Saab expand? To survive, it must. Period. JB in MA, USA
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