Going For The "Different" Option.
Discussion
Following on from the annual "Bristol argument" which happens to be in the Bristol cars in administration thread, it occured to me that some cars are built to entirely different concepts than others.
Bristols and Saabs are two good examples. When PH ran the "open season" article on the Saab 9-3 cabrio it divided opinion. The people who were negative about the car were mainly complaining about the "dated styling" and "dashboard from the eighties". Similar comments have been made about the Bristol range (amongst other varied comments).
I didn't get the attraction with Saabs until I drove mine. I know that mine is a "Vauxhall Saab" rather than a "Saab Saab" but a lot of Saab's values have been carried over. The dashboard may look outdated at a quick glance, but everything is where you would want it to be and is very intuitive to use. The sightlines are very good all round too.
I suppose what I am getting at is: am I the only one to realise that the way a car drives and feels is more important than how it looks? A car must give you some emotion to drive and be in. I honestly wouldn't mind what a car looked at as long as it drove well and was a nice place to be. A Bristol Blenheim sounds like it could be a great car for me, apart from the lack of funds (on my part and, seemingly, Bristol's
). Am I the only person to get in a car and sit there without driving anywhere, just enjoying the feeling of being in the car?
Sorry, I know it's a badly written OP, but I hope you get the gist.
Bristols and Saabs are two good examples. When PH ran the "open season" article on the Saab 9-3 cabrio it divided opinion. The people who were negative about the car were mainly complaining about the "dated styling" and "dashboard from the eighties". Similar comments have been made about the Bristol range (amongst other varied comments).
I didn't get the attraction with Saabs until I drove mine. I know that mine is a "Vauxhall Saab" rather than a "Saab Saab" but a lot of Saab's values have been carried over. The dashboard may look outdated at a quick glance, but everything is where you would want it to be and is very intuitive to use. The sightlines are very good all round too.
I suppose what I am getting at is: am I the only one to realise that the way a car drives and feels is more important than how it looks? A car must give you some emotion to drive and be in. I honestly wouldn't mind what a car looked at as long as it drove well and was a nice place to be. A Bristol Blenheim sounds like it could be a great car for me, apart from the lack of funds (on my part and, seemingly, Bristol's
). Am I the only person to get in a car and sit there without driving anywhere, just enjoying the feeling of being in the car?Sorry, I know it's a badly written OP, but I hope you get the gist.
Sometimes the road less travelled, is less travelled for a reason.
Modern Saabs aren't really Saabs I've owned 95, 96, 99, 900 including turbo variants and modern Saabs aren't different - not even close.
Bristol - sorry but IMO they have got away with murder for years - still hope they get saved though.
Nothing wrong with different, I've had loads of different cars over the years.
I've put hill climbers on the road, XR4x4 running gear a P100, currently run a supercharged MX5 which owes me more than a Boxster / S2000 but I wouldn't swap it for either.
Going for outdated, overpriced or badge engineered cars is also fine but don't expect approval of your choice.
Modern Saabs aren't really Saabs I've owned 95, 96, 99, 900 including turbo variants and modern Saabs aren't different - not even close.
Bristol - sorry but IMO they have got away with murder for years - still hope they get saved though.
Nothing wrong with different, I've had loads of different cars over the years.
I've put hill climbers on the road, XR4x4 running gear a P100, currently run a supercharged MX5 which owes me more than a Boxster / S2000 but I wouldn't swap it for either.
Going for outdated, overpriced or badge engineered cars is also fine but don't expect approval of your choice.
I'd love to know why people have this assumption that modern Saab's aren't really Saab's. One thing is absolutely certain. They aren't Vauxhall's and never were.
So is a Lamborghini not an Audi then?
How about a Rolls. Are they BMW's now?
The list is endless of who is what what is who - but at least Saab are back in their own hands in a manner of speaking. The future may be bright.
So is a Lamborghini not an Audi then?
How about a Rolls. Are they BMW's now?
The list is endless of who is what what is who - but at least Saab are back in their own hands in a manner of speaking. The future may be bright.
Similar I guess to Volvo in trying to be different.
The floating dash arrangement in the S40/V50
looked pretty different/new in 2003!
Also the back of the C30 and the front lights of the newer Saabs are design features that maybe don't make the cars look better (don't like the back of the c30!) However do make them look different.
The floating dash arrangement in the S40/V50
looked pretty different/new in 2003!
Also the back of the C30 and the front lights of the newer Saabs are design features that maybe don't make the cars look better (don't like the back of the c30!) However do make them look different.
Life Saab Itch said:
I didn't get the attraction with Saabs until I drove mine. I know that mine is a "Vauxhall Saab" rather than a "Saab Saab" but a lot of Saab's values have been carried over. The dashboard may look outdated at a quick glance, but everything is where you would want it to be and is very intuitive to use. The sightlines are very good all round too.
I don't get Saabs. They have great seats (apparently), but apart from that I can't think of anything else that the 9-3 or 9-5 does significantly better than the competition from BMW/Merc/Audi.excel monkey said:
Life Saab Itch said:
I didn't get the attraction with Saabs until I drove mine. I know that mine is a "Vauxhall Saab" rather than a "Saab Saab" but a lot of Saab's values have been carried over. The dashboard may look outdated at a quick glance, but everything is where you would want it to be and is very intuitive to use. The sightlines are very good all round too.
I don't get Saabs. They have great seats (apparently), but apart from that I can't think of anything else that the 9-3 or 9-5 does significantly better than the competition from BMW/Merc/Audi.Life Saab Itch said:
I suppose what I am getting at is: am I the only one to realise that the way a car drives and feels is more important than how it looks? A car must give you some emotion to drive and be in. I honestly wouldn't mind what a car looked at as long as it drove well and was a nice place to be.
There is some contradiction in what you say. So if a car had a disgusting interior (i'm thinking Jap/US cars .. ) but it was a fantastic car to drive would that matter to you? And likewise if it was a fantastic car to drive but it had a {insert brand with no appeal} badge on the front? IMO .. we're all a little attached to certain brands .. maybe except for certain car dealers who have driven everything that moves!Maybe true, but i've never driven a saab that drives as well as a BMW !! Without wishing to come over all "fanboy" on you, within the remit of "normal cars" (i.e. excluding things like 911s etc) then i genuinely belive that a BMW is more of a drivers car than any other comparable model (no, it's NOT "The ultimate driving machine" or other such marketing bolleux, but within it's class, it is the best resolved "drivers car".
For anyone who hasn't got "driver car" at the top of their check list (which is a lot!) then a saab offers a solid, reliable, if slightly conservative drive, which to many people is perfect in a car (which after all, is just a means to avoid walking to the pub;-) i think the biggest problem saab have is just down the road at Volvo, a company also playing in the "solidly built, conservative quality market", and so far, Volvo's new design lead product is to my eyes more appealing than saabs?
i would hazzard a guess that saab as a brand have the longest "ownership" period (i.e those people how have one, keep it for a long time) and that their brand loyalty is extremely high, ie you replace your current saab with another saab.
For anyone who hasn't got "driver car" at the top of their check list (which is a lot!) then a saab offers a solid, reliable, if slightly conservative drive, which to many people is perfect in a car (which after all, is just a means to avoid walking to the pub;-) i think the biggest problem saab have is just down the road at Volvo, a company also playing in the "solidly built, conservative quality market", and so far, Volvo's new design lead product is to my eyes more appealing than saabs?
i would hazzard a guess that saab as a brand have the longest "ownership" period (i.e those people how have one, keep it for a long time) and that their brand loyalty is extremely high, ie you replace your current saab with another saab.
Max_Torque said:
Maybe true, but i've never driven a saab that drives as well as a BMW !! Without wishing to come over all "fanboy" on you, within the remit of "normal cars" (i.e. excluding things like 911s etc) then i genuinely belive that a BMW is more of a drivers car than any other comparable model (no, it's NOT "The ultimate driving machine" or other such marketing bolleux, but within it's class, it is the best resolved "drivers car".
For anyone who hasn't got "driver car" at the top of their check list (which is a lot!) then a saab offers a solid, reliable, if slightly conservative drive, which to many people is perfect in a car (which after all, is just a means to avoid walking to the pub;-) i think the biggest problem saab have is just down the road at Volvo, a company also playing in the "solidly built, conservative quality market", and so far, Volvo's new design lead product is to my eyes more appealing than saabs?
i would hazzard a guess that saab as a brand have the longest "ownership" period (i.e those people how have one, keep it for a long time) and that their brand loyalty is extremely high, ie you replace your current saab with another saab.
Saab used to be for people who wanted a relatively discreet well built car.For anyone who hasn't got "driver car" at the top of their check list (which is a lot!) then a saab offers a solid, reliable, if slightly conservative drive, which to many people is perfect in a car (which after all, is just a means to avoid walking to the pub;-) i think the biggest problem saab have is just down the road at Volvo, a company also playing in the "solidly built, conservative quality market", and so far, Volvo's new design lead product is to my eyes more appealing than saabs?
i would hazzard a guess that saab as a brand have the longest "ownership" period (i.e those people how have one, keep it for a long time) and that their brand loyalty is extremely high, ie you replace your current saab with another saab.
Personally I have chosen them over BMW because I wanted a FWD car for winter and / or I wanted a decent car with a hatchback (rather than an Estate)
Hot Potatoes said:
Another reason is these days people's car shopping list for a 'premium' executive car goes like this in this order ;
BMW
Audi
Mercedes-Benz
Jaguar
Volvo
Alfa Romeo
Saab
Obviously IMO...
But if you need to move something but don't want an "old man" estate I think I'm right in saying that the only (full size) hatchback on that list is Saab. (Although I think even they have dropped it now) BMW
Audi
Mercedes-Benz
Jaguar
Volvo
Alfa Romeo
Saab
Obviously IMO...
Max_Torque said:
Maybe true, but i've never driven a saab that drives as well as a BMW !! Without wishing to come over all "fanboy" on you, within the remit of "normal cars" (i.e. excluding things like 911s etc) then i genuinely belive that a BMW is more of a drivers car than any other comparable model (no, it's NOT "The ultimate driving machine" or other such marketing bolleux, but within it's class, it is the best resolved "drivers car".
For anyone who hasn't got "driver car" at the top of their check list (which is a lot!) then a saab offers a solid, reliable, if slightly conservative drive, which to many people is perfect in a car (which after all, is just a means to avoid walking to the pub;-) i think the biggest problem saab have is just down the road at Volvo, a company also playing in the "solidly built, conservative quality market", and so far, Volvo's new design lead product is to my eyes more appealing than saabs?
i would hazzard a guess that saab as a brand have the longest "ownership" period (i.e those people how have one, keep it for a long time) and that their brand loyalty is extremely high, ie you replace your current saab with another saab.
Please do tell which Saab is not a drivers car. How far back would you like to go? For anyone who hasn't got "driver car" at the top of their check list (which is a lot!) then a saab offers a solid, reliable, if slightly conservative drive, which to many people is perfect in a car (which after all, is just a means to avoid walking to the pub;-) i think the biggest problem saab have is just down the road at Volvo, a company also playing in the "solidly built, conservative quality market", and so far, Volvo's new design lead product is to my eyes more appealing than saabs?
i would hazzard a guess that saab as a brand have the longest "ownership" period (i.e those people how have one, keep it for a long time) and that their brand loyalty is extremely high, ie you replace your current saab with another saab.
Which comparable BMW drove as good as a 99 Turbo in 1977?
Which comparable BMW drove as good as a 900 16v Turbo in 1984?
Which comparable BMW drove as good as a 900 Carlsson in 1989?
Which comparable BMW drove as good as a 9000 Carlsson in 1989?
Which comparable BMW drove as good as a New 900 Turbo 3dr in 1994?
Which comparable BMW drove as good as a 9-3 Aero in 1999?
Which comparable BMW drove as good as a 9-5 Aero in 1999?
Which comparable BMW drove as good as a 9-5 Aero estate in 2003?
Which comparable BMW drove as good as a 9-3 Aero convertible in 2006?
Oh there's many a great Saab I've left out where BMW couldn't hold a candle to them. But then I'm sure there's many a BMW Saab couldn't compare to. Maybe because Saab don't make a comparable car in those sectors.............but if they did!
It's always the same for these prestige makers. Their flagships are great at being flagships, but their cheap seats are cheaper seats. People forget, Saab haven't made more than 150,000 vehicles in any one year. Pre GM that brought quality hard to beat. Not saying such didn't have draw backs of its own, but comparable to BMW, Merc, Audi, I do struggle to see where the comparable cars are to the Saab's when what really appears to be the case is Saab are often misunderstood, dismissed, or just some are ignorant to Saab as a brand. One car does not make a summer!
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