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, Fri, 24 Jun 2005 18:32:46
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Mike, I share your thoughts on the 9-5 design. I think it is truly a gem but the sorry fact is the automobile industry, spearheaded by the successful Japanese manufacturers, has made it a habit of changing models much quicker than before, as you very well know. The bottom line is that 9-5 sales have trickled to a minimum, which puts Saab back in the uncomfortable position it was in at the turn of the Century when 9-3 sales were dying because the design was just to old to keep up with the competition and the more recent 9-5 sales were driving the company. Sure today there is the 9-2x and 9-7x but those sales are at best marginal. I really don't see Saab succeeding without strong 9-3 and 9-5 sales. For now, the rest is gravy, but the meat to pour it on is getting thin. Let's not forget, per GM statements, Saab needs to sell at least 250, 000 cars a year to be profitable, if my memory serves me right.
Concerning the new grill on the 9-5. Where do you see the outside holes ? I see a center grill with headlights on each side of it. My dealer confirms this is what he saw, which is a shame. Saab had a distinctive, readily recognizable look with the three hole theme which evolved graciously over the years, and was officially referred to, per Saab literature, as a distinctive feature. To me, the new design is a 9-5 with a generic fascia. As somebody else pointed out, looking in a rear view mirror, it could be mistaken for a Hyundai.
I don't like it for one minute but hope I'm wrong and that it will be enough to pull us through to the next Epsilon-II AWD capable 9-5, of which we know next to nothing, except it will very likely be built in Germany and offer the V6.
posted by 64.18.189...
, Fri, 24 Jun 2005 18:32:46, Sun, 26 Jun 2005 14:00:23
, Fri, 24 Jun 2005 18:21:58
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