Discussion
The Hypno-Toad said:
They're not selling any cars.
Talking new 9-5. Ballards (of Finchley) selling them well. Dealer network selling, and have demos available. Local radio advertising. Ditto national press. I don't know where you're getting your info? I know a Saab indy sold two just recently also. The Hypno-Toad said:
With regard to the last one: maybe if your engineers were any good, your cars might have been a bit better and possibly you might have sold a few more. And speaking of selling a few more;
GM pretty much raped Saab. Saab to Opel to GM Engineering Europe - there's a lot of Saab in there. I don't believe there's a GM brand GM themselves wouldn't credit as being influenced by Saab design \ engineering.Deva Link said:
Miocene said:
That is shocking by Lexus!
Lexus is a pretty marginal brand now - a lot of their dealerships have closed. Porsche sold more cars in the UK than Lexus did last year.
k's sake. It's just a story about him and his dad. Who gives a sIMO Saab is one of those brands that really didn't do much in the styling dept for the last 25 years. Defo not a dynamic brand, but I guess that appeals to some people. My brother had a 52-reg 2.8 (unsure of exact model). It looked like it had come out of the 80's, and the quality of trim was awful. I'd compare the quality to the french - OK for a year, then things start falling off. They should have used GM as a springboard to really push the brand upmarket a little, and be more daring with the styling. Their demise is inevitable.
Miocene said:
Deva Link said:
Miocene said:
That is shocking by Lexus!
Lexus is a pretty marginal brand now - a lot of their dealerships have closed. Porsche sold more cars in the UK than Lexus did last year."Lexus is the most highly rated franchise in the UK in the NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey for Winter 2010/2011."
Current IS- see plenty of them and loads of RXs.
Bu t seeing a new GS or LS is a rare event
rallycross said:
Could'nt Volvo save it as a sub brand? Sell through their dealer network?
I think Volvo is too close to Saab in terms of its customer base and the vehicles it produces for Saab to work alongside them. It would have been better if GM had ran Saab as a premium arm to VX/Opel in Europe and made Saabs more exclusive but better as they were already platform sharing.
tali1 said:
Lexus sell about 7000cars in UK.
"Lexus is the most highly rated franchise in the UK in the NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey for Winter 2010/2011."
Current IS- see plenty of them and loads of RXs.
Bu t seeing a new GS or LS is a rare event
A new S Class starts at 60k for a diesel, or 80k for a S500L"Lexus is the most highly rated franchise in the UK in the NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey for Winter 2010/2011."
Current IS- see plenty of them and loads of RXs.
Bu t seeing a new GS or LS is a rare event
A new LS starts at... 90k! And is a second slower to 60 than the 80k Merc (not that 0-60 is important in these types of vehicles). No wonder I barely see any about.
On a side note... think i've just found the worlds fastest car!
Miocene said:
tali1 said:
Lexus sell about 7000cars in UK.
"Lexus is the most highly rated franchise in the UK in the NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey for Winter 2010/2011."
Current IS- see plenty of them and loads of RXs.
Bu t seeing a new GS or LS is a rare event
A new S Class starts at 60k for a diesel, or 80k for a S500L"Lexus is the most highly rated franchise in the UK in the NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey for Winter 2010/2011."
Current IS- see plenty of them and loads of RXs.
Bu t seeing a new GS or LS is a rare event
A new LS starts at... 90k! And is a second slower to 60 than the 80k Merc (not that 0-60 is important in these types of vehicles). No wonder I barely see any about.
On a side note... think i've just found the worlds fastest car!
Spec on a LS600 is something a Merc S class can prob only dream about BUT yes it is too much at 90k -Lexus got greedy with the praise of the original LS400.
The RX400 is a curiosity as it seems to be the default choice in London's best streets and mansions
I'm surprised that SAAB lasted this long.
When GM took over the cars were ancient designs, the 900 being introduced in 78 and still being sold in 93. What did GM replace these with? Vectras. Admitedly very nicely trimed Vectras with a nice cabrio option but not exactly up to their "rivals" at Mercedes, Audi, BMW or even Rover. That last one might make you think, just look at the last line up at Rover, they had the TF and the 75 in MG V6 and V8 guise. What did SAAB offer in, in many people's minds, a higher market segment? Vectras.
Now look at the Jaguar X type. Another prestige offering with a lower level car underneath. Ford put in a special version (no it isn't the same) of their V6 and four wheel drive. What did SAAB do to move the vectra up? Nice trim and a neat cabrio.
There was the promising tie up with Subaru, another niche player with strong associations with rallying and turbo engines, but this died almost as soon as it started.
It hasn't looked as if it would last for a long time....
When GM took over the cars were ancient designs, the 900 being introduced in 78 and still being sold in 93. What did GM replace these with? Vectras. Admitedly very nicely trimed Vectras with a nice cabrio option but not exactly up to their "rivals" at Mercedes, Audi, BMW or even Rover. That last one might make you think, just look at the last line up at Rover, they had the TF and the 75 in MG V6 and V8 guise. What did SAAB offer in, in many people's minds, a higher market segment? Vectras.
Now look at the Jaguar X type. Another prestige offering with a lower level car underneath. Ford put in a special version (no it isn't the same) of their V6 and four wheel drive. What did SAAB do to move the vectra up? Nice trim and a neat cabrio.
There was the promising tie up with Subaru, another niche player with strong associations with rallying and turbo engines, but this died almost as soon as it started.
It hasn't looked as if it would last for a long time....
There's so much rubbish in this topic I'm amazed many here aren't working and running Saab themselves they seem to know or have all the answers.
Saab a Vectra, do me a favour. It's a shared platform which is little more than a modified floor-pan and few shared brake and suspension components.
Saab's convertible outsold ALL its UK rivals put together. Likely still is.
You would think Saab built a bad car. Fact is, they don't, and never have. I'm all ears if anyone thinks they know of one. And no I'm not interested in personal taste or preference. That's not what I'm talking about.
Saab a Vectra, do me a favour. It's a shared platform which is little more than a modified floor-pan and few shared brake and suspension components.
Saab's convertible outsold ALL its UK rivals put together. Likely still is.
You would think Saab built a bad car. Fact is, they don't, and never have. I'm all ears if anyone thinks they know of one. And no I'm not interested in personal taste or preference. That's not what I'm talking about.
Have to agree with Slade Alive about the Saabs being much more than just a rebadged Vectra.
Saying the 9-3 is a Vectra is about as accurate as saying an Audi TT is a rebadged Skoda Yeti - after all, those two share the VW A5 (PQ35) platform.
Wondering how many who make the comparison have actually driven both the cars they're comparing? As a 9-3 owner who's driven plenty of Vectras (usually hired cars for business travel..) I can assure you that there any many, many differences.
Yes, there are some common components (base engines, but ECU settings and turbos unique to Saab). Suspension is not the same - setup very diffent and not all components interchangeable.
Some trim items are common (it uses the GM group Satnav system, for example), but many are unique.
Saying the 9-3 is a Vectra is about as accurate as saying an Audi TT is a rebadged Skoda Yeti - after all, those two share the VW A5 (PQ35) platform.
Wondering how many who make the comparison have actually driven both the cars they're comparing? As a 9-3 owner who's driven plenty of Vectras (usually hired cars for business travel..) I can assure you that there any many, many differences.
Yes, there are some common components (base engines, but ECU settings and turbos unique to Saab). Suspension is not the same - setup very diffent and not all components interchangeable.
Some trim items are common (it uses the GM group Satnav system, for example), but many are unique.
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