Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2001 12:52:19 GMT From: Nutmegger<Menopsamcretroadagain.com> Subject: Re: Saab SUV
In article <9mvbi8$rr5$1nopsamnews.rcn.net>, Jeremy Brown says... > >I know that this is another GM/Saab thing, however it is not my opinion, >just a news release. > >From the October 2001 Motor Trend: >SO LONG SAAB RENDEZVOUS. >HELLO SAAB LAV. >Saab's Pontiac Aztek\Buick Rendezvous based sports\utility crossover is off. >First scheduled for a '04 release, plans have shifted to an all-new model >based on the Sigma-platformed Cadillac LAV. The Cadillac will be introduced >in mid to late 2003 with a 251-hp version of the 3.6L high-feature V-6 >("News," Sept. '01), while the Saab version will appear at least one year >later and with a 3.2L\321 hp turbo V-6 from the new GM engine family. >Cadillac has hinted its luxury activity vehicle (LAV, not it badge name) >will look like the Vizon show car, but with a sleeker body and better >proportions. > > >Now some of my opinions >1. Saab does not need a SUV. I fully agree - GAK! They are just jumping on the market. A little late too in my opinion. > Saab is a car manufacturer that is well known for making tight, fun >cars. GM is forcing a SUV on them because of the current SUV craze here in >the US. I hate [large] SUVs: they are gas guzzling monstrosities that make >the driver of it feel if the are invincible. I know! I see lots of it around here, and especially women seem to think that way. >Most people do not know how to >drive a large truck based vehicle like the Ford F150/F250/F350 or GM >1500/2500/3500 class SUVs, and as a result are unsafe drivers. I do know how to drive those, I learned on one and I was NOT too happy about it either. I owned an SUV about 5 years ago and I made it almost a year with it. I hated it - big time. I'd rather drive a station wagon. >(My '85 900 >was rear ended by one of these idiots while I was stopped at a red light. >The only thing that kept the car from being turned into an accordion was >that it was a heavier, well made, steel based vehicle unlike the new cars >today. It was still totaled by the state, I rebuilt it.) Yeah....they piss me off when the follow too close, that's when I usually downshift and say "bye" > >2. This is a bad example of the GM takeover. > Self explanatory. Period. Totally agree. > >3. The Pontiac Aztek and Buick Rendezvous are bizarre. > These two cars are weird looking and an acquired taste. Thank god GM >scrapped them as the base for the Saab SUV. (Which is still a stoopid idea!) > >4. By its description, this vehicle will be a small SUV (an oxymoron) that >is in the vein of the Mercedes ML class, Porche Cayenne, and BMW X class. I >do not know if this is a good thing because it means GM believes that Saab >is equal to these other marques, or if it is bad because GM is trying to >force Saab to become equal to these other European luxury brands. At least >it will be turbo. It is not a good thing, it shows how easily a car manufacturer is influenced by public opinion verses what is safe, and best for the vehciles status. It's big business, just how it goes. ~J~
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