Comments on: Saab Considering Premium Compact Platform

By: krazykarguy

krazykarguy — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:40:04 +0000

Trollhattan, not Trolhatten.

Another Saabista protecting the brand… ;-)

By: John Horner

John Horner — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:38:10 +0000

Saab planning a new vehicle? Right, I didn’t know Sweden was into weed so much. Did Saab sell anything last month?

By: ChopperDave

ChopperDave — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:37:17 +0000

TriShield :
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:21 am

But is anyone really considering a premium compact from Saab?

Yes. We may be a minority, but there are enough Saab-loyalists who put up with the occasional electrical gremlin and some GM-infused cheapness because we have an emotional connection with our cars and the brand. And then there are some of us who just want a small, fuel-efficient yet relatively premium car.

So, even if most of what drives is is just a feeling of individuality due to the perceived quirkiness of the brand (which, we’ll all admit, is somewhat diluted), there are some of us who would line up for a 9-1.

By: Dr Lemming

Dr Lemming — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:25:51 +0000

Given what GM has done to Saab, I simply don’t believe that it would now give Saab its own platform. Now, maybe Saab will be the first to use the new platform, but exclusive? No way. Sounds like spin to me.

By: nudave

nudave — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:05:38 +0000

Just what the world needs now. A Cruze with the ignition switch on the floor.

By: TriShield

TriShield — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:21:00 +0000

But is anyone really considering a premium compact from Saab? Why does GM waste their scare resources with this brand again?

By: Orangutan

Orangutan — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:27:50 +0000

Matthew Danda: They didn’t sell a car based on the WRX(Impreza) platform, they sold the WRX/Impreza. People who buy Saabs don’t necessarily look at or want Subarus. GM went for the cheap (shocking) and badge-engineered (shocking again) the WRX/Impreza as a Saab with the most minimal of changes. Platform sharing might have seen more buyers but it would’ve cost more.

By: Dave M.

Dave M. — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:55:49 +0000

As a Saabista (and sad Saab owner), this will be a case of too little way too late. The 9-5 is based on a platform developed 21 years ago. The 9-3 borrows the Epsilon II platform (and does a great job of it I may add), but it too is getting long in the tooth, and still pretty unreliable for these parts. The 9-4 is a glimmer of hope… but because of GM’s choking the life out of this chicken, Saab has become a boutique brand that matters little except in the upper corners of the country.

By: Matthew Danda

Matthew Danda — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:48:34 +0000

What happened to the 9-2X? If they couldn’t sell a car based on a freakin WRX platform (an awesome platform), how can this possibly work?

By: Orangutan

Orangutan — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:39:32 +0000

Assuming Saab survives GM’s death and the subsequent resurrection/reincarnation in some way.

By: ferrarimanf355

ferrarimanf355 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:22:47 +0000

I’m going to take the glass-half-full approach and hope that Saab pumps out a quirky Mini-fighter. I don’t think it will end up as a rebadged Astra. Just my two cents.

By: Rix

Rix — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:59:59 +0000

Saabeo? Aveab?