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Well, I’ll grudgingly admit the author made some valid points. Even loyalists have to admit that Saab has been somewhat behind the curve when compared to its competitors. Saab seems to have good, dedicated people at the helm. GM needs to give them the freedom and the dollars to build a reputation and product that will allow Saab to keep a unique identity, while appealing to a wider range of folks, not just current Saab enthusiasts. Of course, they need to keep hold of those loyal fans as well. Don't blow the Hatch!
It's funny the author made no mention of the 9-3, neither the current model, nor the new generation model, which is really going to be a make or break car for Saab, as other folks have mentioned. And there is a face-lifted 9-5 on the way, as well as the dreaded SUV.
Based on Peter Augustsson's remarks in the article Scott posted on Saab's new marketing strategy, the new 9-3 will not be introduced till September 2002. So that leaves Saab with another 15 months or so of treading water with the outgoing model. The dealers are probably disappointed about that. If the introduction date proves correct, we'll likely see a run of final edition 2002 models of the current 9-3 before the changeover. And the deals will probably be more and more attractive as we get closer to the change-over, because Saab wants to get more Saabs into the hands of more customers in order to build up the ownership base. Hopefully, they can deliver top notch, world class build quality (which they do not currently have) and a trouble-free ownership experience (which they don’t consistently deliver right now) that will keep folks coming back to Saab. Because if Saab can't deliver, they'll be dead in the water.
From what I've seen posted, 9-3 sales have been up somewhat this year. But we know it's really due to the huge incentives/discounts available. The current 9-3 must, in all probability, be a real money loser for Saab. A post above mentions the apparently large inventories Saab already has when compared to other makes. I guess there can be a variety of reasons to explain this. But, Saab has a lot of selling and image building left to do. We'll see how it pans out.
I haven't been a Saab owner since I sold my 1988 900T in 1993, but I've remained a real fan of the brand. Sometimes, well, lots of times actually, I wish I still had it. And I've been sitting on the fence for the past year, making due with my old Chevy pick-up and Moto Guzzi LeMans, thinking (procrastinating) about what my next car will be. Haven't been in any real rush, since I don't drive to work anymore. At the moment, I do feel as if I'd like to get a current 9-3 coupe before the new model comes out. After all these years, I still think the styling looks fresh and, while it isn't perfect, I still like the driving experience of the current 9-3. But, I’ll admit it, quality and reliability issues have given me some pause for thought. I realize that you can’t judge solely on complaints and problems discussed on the board. And I know folks have reported completely trouble free experiences too. But it still makes me a bit gun-shy. I really enjoyed my old Saab and Alfa, despite the fact that they were more trouble-prone than other makes I had owned. That was the price you paid for driving something with “character”. However, unlike in my younger days, I'm no longer tolerant of mediocre quality control, unreliable machinery and poor dealer service. Today, I’d like my “character” with quality and reliability please. I’d like to think I can have it all………with Saab.
, Tue, 15 May 2001 19:52:13
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