 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / Saab Cars / October 2007"Latest Saab 9-3 retains distinctive personality, performance"
Latest Saab 9-3 retains distinctive personality, performance at http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070921/AUTO/109210035/1009 >Latest Saab 9-3 retains distinctive personality, performance at >http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070921/AUTO/109210035/1009 Managed to get a "quirky" in there too - can't have a Saab article without that word!!! > Latest Saab 9-3 retains distinctive personality, performance at > http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070921/AUTO/109210035/1009 We then have "This Swedish manufacture". The Scandinavian origin is also heavily emphasized in the UK TV commercials. But Saab models are all going to be made in Rüsselsheim, Germany along with Opel cars! > We then have "This Swedish manufacture". The Scandinavian origin is > also heavily emphasized in the UK TV commercials. But Saab models are > all going to be made in Rüsselsheim, Germany along with Opel cars! Well, apart from the Opels which'll be built at Trollhatten... > > We then have "This Swedish manufacture". The Scandinavian origin is > > also heavily emphasized in the UK TV commercials. But Saab models are > > all going to be made in Rüsselsheim, Germany along with Opel cars! > > Well, apart from the Opels which'll be built at Trollhatten... That doesn't make sense? I have heard that the Saab based Cadillac BLS will be build in Trollhatten. >> > We then have "This Swedish manufacture". The Scandinavian origin is >> > also heavily emphasized in the UK TV commercials. But Saab models >> > are all going to be made in Rüsselsheim, Germany along with Opel >> > cars! >> Well, apart from the Opels which'll be built at Trollhatten... > That doesn't make sense? You want sense from GM? Anyway, my c900 was built in Finland. > I have heard that the Saab based Cadillac BLS "Saab based"? Well, yes, it's a Vectra C, as is the 93. > will be build in Trollhatten. It has been for a couple of years - but Trollhatten's going to be gutted and refitted for the next Astra - which will be built at Trollhatten, Ellesmere Port (UK), Gliwice (PL) & Bochum (DE). [...] > It has been for a couple of years - but Trollhatten's going to be gutted > and refitted for the next Astra - which will be built at Trollhatten, > Ellesmere Port (UK), Gliwice (PL) & Bochum (DE). That next Astra will of course spurn the ugly Saab 9-1. But then BMW 1 series is also ugly, so Saab has to reflect that :-) Anyway, Saab 9-3 is selling well, that is my impression from the cars I spot on the streets. > >> > We then have "This Swedish manufacture". The Scandinavian origin is > >> > also heavily emphasized in the UK TV commercials. But Saab models [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > "Saab based"? Well, yes, it's a Vectra C, as is the 93. It looks close to the Saab 9-3, but with sharp creases. It also has the same turbo engines, but is softer sprung. A pointless car for the European market. > > >> > We then have "This Swedish manufacture". The Scandinavian origin is > > >> > also heavily emphasized in the UK TV commercials. But Saab models [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > has the same turbo engines, but is softer sprung. A pointless > car for the European market. Being lumbered with the Cadillac badge was the final straw. It's not as if it's a brand that your average European is likely to aspire to. Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? Graham > Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? Since Chevrolet is "GM's global value brand" - value being used in the same sense as "Tesco stripy" - and is the badge now stuck onto Daewoos, I doubt it's quite what they're aiming for with the BLT... > > Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? > > Since Chevrolet is "GM's global value brand" - value being used in the same > sense as "Tesco stripy" - and is the badge now stuck onto Daewoos, I doubt > it's quite what they're aiming for with the BLT... At least it's not associated with white haired Floridians and a reputation for building barges. I doubt many in the UK know it's a 'value brand' anyway (aside from Daewoo having being renamed Chevrolet). They're more likely to look at the Corvette and think 'Ooohh' ! Graham > > > Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? > > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > having being renamed Chevrolet). They're more likely to look at the Corvette and > think 'Ooohh' ! Or they're are usually trucks? Chevy trucks have this very prominent Chevy cross on the front. > > > > Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? > > > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Or they're are usually trucks? Chevy trucks have this very prominent > Chevy cross on the front. Not something you'd see in the UK. There's no real market for 'trucks' here. Graham > > > > > Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? > > > > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Graham Yes, a strange difference to the US market where trucks are the thing to have, apparently. But trucks have high fuel consumption due to drag, and we pay over twice as much for fuel. > > > > > > Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? > > > > > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > have, apparently. But trucks have high fuel consumption due to drag, and > we pay over twice as much for fuel. Is it strange ? Why would the average person even want a 'truck' ? Graham > > > > > > > Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? > > > > > > [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Graham Dunno, ask the US citizens here why they wanna pick-up truck, many of them have one. >>>>>>>> Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? >>>>>>> [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] >> >> Graham > Dunno, ask the US citizens here why they wanna pick-up truck, many of > them have one. To clear the snow in the NE! I remember seeing new ones for sale with snowploughs attached.  SignatureRichard Sutherland-Smith 19 Webb Road, Wanganui 4500, NZ >>>>>>>>Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? >>>>>>> [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > Dunno, ask the US citizens here why they wanna pick-up truck, many of > them have one. ahem... US citizen here. I don't have a pickup truck. My father had one when we lived in Maine. It was a 3/4 ton 4x4 Harvester International and had an 8' snow plow on it and an 8' bed in the back. We used to load it up with the wood cabinets that he manufactured in his shop and make deliveries to his customers in Mass. We also plowed his "driveway" which was really a 1/8 mile long gravel road. I have a Ford Explorer, which is an SUV built on a small 1/4 ton truck chassis. The only reason I bought that beast was to pull my boat (to the water) because any kind of waterfront property (including the little boat slips) here is ultra expensive. But having an SUV that will fit full sheets of plywood or drywall, move my kids back and forth to college, has a penned in area for our 2 Labradors in the back when they've just been for a swim, has AWD to get us to the skiing in bad weather, etc. etc. is kind of handy. It's sort of utilitarian. In a sporty way. And there's no doubt it is a vehicle. The MAIN downside to the whole equation is that it gobbles gas like there's no tomorrow (an appropriate phrase). However, neither I nor my wife "commute" and therefore the horrible gas mileage is of little concern to *us*. I don't say that I am the average US citizen. Not in the least. The average guy here buys one vehicle and uses that to do everything including some ridiculously long commute (by himself) every day. I, OTOH burn more of my hydrocarbons in pusuit of happiness, than in pusuit of employment. And that's the way I like it, yeah that's the way I like it... Signature-Fred W >>>>>>>>> Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? >>>>>>>> [quoted text clipped - 62 lines] > of employment. And that's the way I like it, yeah that's the way I like > it... yes I do know how to spell pursuit. I have no idea why I missed the "r" twice in the prior post. What the hell is "pusuit" anyway? Signature-Fred W >ahem... US citizen here. I don't have a pickup truck. My father had >one when we lived in Maine. <snip> He had a good reason to have one. >I have a Ford Explorer, which is an SUV built on a small 1/4 ton truck >chassis. The only reason I bought that beast was to pull my boat <snip> and you have a good reason too. >I don't say that I am the average US citizen. Not in the least. The >average guy here buys one vehicle and uses that to do everything >including some ridiculously long commute (by himself) every day. I, >OTOH burn more of my hydrocarbons in pusuit of happiness, than in pusuit >of employment. And that's the way I like it, yeah that's the way I like >it... Fred, you (and maybe me) the exceptions. All the cowboys here in the USA in their baseball hats used to buy trucks. Now most of them buy SUV's. Few of them ever haul anything. Many SUV's are driven by women who would never put anything bigger than their pocketbooks inside. I know a number of guys who actually make use of their truck or SUV enough to justify it (like you cited above). But, most of them are a bunch of ding-dongs and hee-haws without a clue. They don't know enough about handling and performance to even understand what a POS their poorly conceived and poorly engineered SUV is. >>ahem... US citizen here. I don't have a pickup truck. My father had >>one when we lived in Maine. <snip> [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > enough about handling and performance to even understand what a POS > their poorly conceived and poorly engineered SUV is. Yeah, I hear you. I am amazed at the number of goof-balls that drive their 3/4 ton V8 engined pickup back and forth to work, empty and alone. I laugh when I see them with the tailgate down, or the net in place of the tailgate, because they believe that will save them a bunch of gas. My Dad had a phrase he used to categorize this type of person. "More money than brains," he'd say. And they don't have all that much money... Signature-Fred W >Yeah, I hear you. I am amazed at the number of goof-balls that drive >their 3/4 ton V8 engined pickup back and forth to work, empty and alone. > I laugh when I see them with the tailgate down, or the net in place of >the tailgate, because they believe that will save them a bunch of gas. And like the SUV drivers, they drive them right off your rear end... because big vehicles apparently surpass the laws of physics and stop on a dime. >>Yeah, I hear you. I am amazed at the number of goof-balls that drive >>their 3/4 ton V8 engined pickup back and forth to work, empty and alone. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > because big vehicles apparently surpass the laws of physics and stop > on a dime. I've noticed this more often with women than men. On a completely different matter, I've heard that most women have difficulty with Physics class in high school. Signature-Fred W Ouch to a sweeping commnet - take cover Fred :) On 4/10/07 02:23, in article ya6dnZDL77cc3ZnanZ2dnUVZ_g2dnZ2d@comcast.com, >>> Yeah, I hear you. I am amazed at the number of goof-balls that drive >>> their 3/4 ton V8 engined pickup back and forth to work, empty and alone. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > On a completely different matter, I've heard that most women have > difficulty with Physics class in high school. >>>>>>>Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? >>>>>> [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Graham You have to ask? Its the same reason that you want a hatchback, only much, much bigger cargo. Signature-Fred W >>>>>>Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? >>>>> [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > have, apparently. But trucks have high fuel consumption due to drag, and > we pay over twice as much for fuel. Not just drag, although that helps (hurts?), but also the hugemungous engines they come with. OTOH, what else are you going to use to pull that 25' fishing boat with the twin 250hp outboard engines and 300 gallon fuel tank? Signature-Fred W > >>>>>>Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? > >>>>> [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > that 25' fishing boat with the twin 250hp outboard engines and 300 > gallon fuel tank? I'll bet there are vastly more trucks than 25 foot boats with twin outboards.. Graham >> Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? > > Since Chevrolet is "GM's global value brand" - value being used in the same > sense as "Tesco stripy" - and is the badge now stuck onto Daewoos, I doubt > it's quite what they're aiming for with the BLT... BLT :-) Bread Lettuce and Tomato ?, is'n it named BLS ? and manufactured in Trollhättan ( troll + hätta ). troll is a troll & hätta is old name for womens hat or cap. /Jorgen >>> Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > troll is a troll & hätta is old name for womens hat or cap. > /Jorgen hm. hätta would probably be translated to fire nowadays, not hat. /Jorgen >>>> Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? >>> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > not hat. > /Jorgen so trollhättan would be, "the trollheat" :-) /Jorgen >> /Jorgen >so trollhättan would be, "the trollheat" :-) Well, I like it - but when was Trollhatten founded vs. when the language changed? >>> /Jorgen >> so trollhättan would be, "the trollheat" :-) > > Well, I like it - but when was Trollhatten founded vs. when the > language changed? i was wrong it will be troll + hat/cap. ( the trollhat ). Founded 1200 and named Eiöar ( narrow water passage ). Called Trollhetta 1430 in Erik Af Pommern's taxregister. http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trollh%C3%A4ttan /Jorgen Jorgen Moquist (jorgen.moquist@n.o.s.p.a.m.mailbox.swipnet.se) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying : >> troll is a troll & hätta is old name for womens hat or cap. > hm. hätta would probably be translated to fire nowadays, > not hat. Mmmm. Spicy troll. > >> Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? > > > > Since Chevrolet is "GM's global value brand" - value being used in the same > > sense as "Tesco stripy" - and is the badge now stuck onto Daewoos, I doubt > > it's quite what they're aiming for with the BLT... > BLT :-) Bread Lettuce and Tomato ?, Bacon lettuce and tomato actually. Maybe they should have called it that. As for dodgy naming, I wonder how popular Jeep's Patriot is over here. Graham > > >> Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? > > > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Graham I must correct you there. It is: Bacon, lettuce and tomato. You forgot the comma! > > > >> Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? > > > > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > I must correct you there. It is: Bacon, lettuce and tomato. > You forgot the comma! I apologise profusely, O Wise One. ;~) Graham > I must correct you there. It is: Bacon, lettuce and tomato. > You forgot the comma! I always pick the commas out of BLT sarnies - they get stuck in my teeth. >Being lumbered with the Cadillac badge was the final straw. It's not as if it's >a brand that your average European is likely to aspire to. > >Would it have done better as a Chevrolet maybe ? Neither is it a car the average Caddy buyer would want. Yet another stroke of brilliance by GM. They consistently take brands that have a following and throw a car under the badge that has characteristics no one who buys that badge wants. There's a reason they lose money year after year. > > > We then have "This Swedish manufacture". The Scandinavian origin is > > > also heavily emphasized in the UK TV commercials. But Saab models are [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > That doesn't make sense? I have heard that the Saab based Cadillac BLS > will be build in Trollhatten. It IS built there. Or was at least. Did they ever manage to sell any sensible quantity of them ? I've been trying to find numbers for ages without much luck. It bombed on launch and hasn't been much seen since. It was a truly daft idea, no surprise there. Graham >> That doesn't make sense? I have heard that the Saab based Cadillac >> BLS will be build in Trollhatten. > It IS built there. Or was at least. Did they ever manage to sell any > sensible quantity of them ? I've been trying to find numbers for ages > without much luck. It bombed on launch and hasn't been much seen > since. I seem to recall reading that they've sold less than 40 in the UK - all ones which have been kicking about since the 2006 launch - and are quietly dropping it. > >> That doesn't make sense? I have heard that the Saab based Cadillac > >> BLS will be build in Trollhatten. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > ones which have been kicking about since the 2006 launch - and are quietly > dropping it. I just read they've introduced a 'wagon' version. http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2007/03/bls_wagon_annou.html Elsewhere another article said Cadillac sold 2000 'units' in Europe last year. It wasn't clear if that was all models though. Graham > Latest Saab 9-3 retains distinctive personality, performance at > http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070921/AUTO/109210035/1009 Shame they didn't build it as a hatchback. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.