You must understand the reason WHY car makers share platforms... It's because ALL cars are built to a price.

The venerable Audi A4 shares LOTS of parts with the VW Passat
The Porsche 911 shares lots with it's cheaper brother the Boxster (the front on view is nearly identical).
Even high-end Mercedes are cutting costs every which way they can.

Why? Because people want lots of features but they're not gonna pay a lot for em! And developing a whole new car from the ground up is very expensive...

The good news is that Saab was at the forefront of developing this new Epsilon platform. Rather than saying that the new 9-3 was built on an Opel platform, it really should be said that the Opel is built on the Saab platform! Trollhatten engineers definitely got their say in the matter...

What percentage of parts are shared we don't really know but I'll bet it's not at much as you think. It's always mundane stuff that you never see or touch like subframes, floorpans, engine mounts, etc. Who cares!

And why does everyone automatically assume that if it ain't Swedish it's Crap! (wasn't there an SNL skit to the tune of "if it ain't Scottish it's crap"? ;-)

Accept the new 9-3 for what it is... A very competitive, modern near luxury mobile that should do very well in comparison to other European cars.

posted by 209.213.20...

• New 9-3 is a good looking car in its own right..., Alex Athanasiou, Mon, 13 May 2002 10:42:51
  • another mean looking aggressor-mobile, compaqted, Mon, 13 May 2002 15:56:41
  • I want to see SAAB come out with RETRO designs of...., Gehn, Mon, 13 May 2002 15:52:40
    • Ain't gonna happen, nor should it., Bruce, Mon, 13 May 2002 18:07:51
      • What i meant when i said "RETRO" was....., Gehn, Tue, 14 May 2002 10:11:25
  • Just like new A4..., Neil, Mon, 13 May 2002 14:59:30
  • I just watched my mother pull away in my '99 9-3..., Alex Athanasiou, Mon, 13 May 2002 11:44:50
    • Here's that link..., Alex Athanasiou, Mon, 13 May 2002 11:46:56
      • Wrong again, this one works I promise..., Alex Athanasiou, Mon, 13 May 2002 11:50:39
  • Re: New 9-3 is a good looking car in its own right..., Steve L, Mon, 13 May 2002 11:19:44
    • Agree and disagree, AdamB , Mon, 13 May 2002 12:24:38
    • I beg to differ, Ron H, Mon, 13 May 2002 11:32:47
      • Re: I beg to differ, Steve L, Mon, 13 May 2002 11:55:33
      • classic 900 sedan, T., Mon, 13 May 2002 11:40:13
        • New saabs are based on Opel platforms right?....., Gehn, Mon, 13 May 2002 15:56:39
          • Yes, but..., Bruce, Mon, 13 May 2002 18:15:44 <-- Viewing This Message
            • Good to hear it, much of what iv heard was hear-say /nm, Gehn, Tue, 14 May 2002 10:14:54
    • Re: New 9-3 is a good looking car in its own right..., Alex Athanasiou, Mon, 13 May 2002 11:30:58

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