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That is the European stereotype of Americans, yes
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Posted by BillJ (more from BillJ) on Tue, 7 May 2002 17:52:36 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: American Car Companies Have No Clue!!, z, Tue, 7 May 2002 15:35:43
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And you're overweight, tasteless, arrogant, pushy, loud-mouthed, ...
However, Europeans that hold that stereotype are themselves a stereotype. Most intelligent Europeans seem enlightened enough to realise that stereotypes are seldom accurate. Err... if I'm not contradicting myself... (???)

Regarding the direction Saab is taking, I feel it is inevitable. It will not be long before the only small car manufacturers will be the real specialists that can command a very high price per unit (Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, Porsche, etc.). Saab is not in that league, and will end up competing in the bottom end to mid-range. In Europe, only Mercedes and BMW still span the gap (and perhaps Porsche with the Boxster), and of those, BMW made the move downmarket many years ago and Mercedes are well on the way now. The market continues to demand more car for less money and this is the result.

However, with SUV's (known more popularly as 4x4s here in the UK) I draw the line. Going back to stereotypes because it suits my argument and I suddenly don't remember anything I wrote above, the epitome of an aggressive driver must one driving a BMW X5! Whoops... I feel enlightenment coming on again...

I do find 4x4s (SUVs) ridiculous vehicles for the use to which most of them are put. There are Range Rovers and Land Rovers that are used both off-road and on-road and I certainly don't mean to disparage those who buy them for this dual purpose. However, the US is not the only car market where slaves to fashion are to be found.

Anyway, back to the point...

While I will always deny any association with a Saab 4x4 (again, I mean SUV, not 4WD car), I realise that Saab has to make money in the car market. The prestige car makers are all owned by shareholders. Growth is everything and that means more profit every year. There is no room for exclusivity, although in the UK at least, Saab is trying to grow its market by promoting its image as the car for the person who wants to be different (as Audi did a year or two ago - both of which I interpret as BMW-bashing exercises). In reality, though, you cannot grow market share by courting free-thinking individuals, but rather by courting the masses (worryingly, of whom only a few seem to be free-thinking).

As an aside, I have driven an NG900 and a 9-3, as well as some of the Vectras that they share a platform with. As well as the obvious difference in power plants, the Saabs felt much more solid. I hope GM continue to maintain this distinction.

I still haven't found a modern Saab that I would replace my Aero with. I regard the 9000 as the "last true Saab". I might be interested in a new, innovative Saab model - one with, perhaps, 4-wheel-drive (not an SUV) and a powerful, high-tech power plant (with the quality and longevity built in that we have come to expect from the Saab 4-cylinder engine). And above all else, something not everyone else would want to buy. What are the chances of that, though?

I don't blame anyone in particular. Saab had to change or fade away. Time moves on and we all have to move with it. I'll hold onto my Aero for as long as it's viable, though.

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