You are here: Forums Sedans Saab 9-5 Saab 9-5 Sedan

Saab 9-5 Sedan

2231 messages,  Last post on Oct 06, 2009 at 5:47 PM

You are in the Saab 9-5 Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Saab 9-5, Sedan

Messages Page 7 of 223 1 ... 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... 223 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#61 of 2231 I guess I am not into the puppet thing. by saabber Oct 10, 2000 (7:41 pm)
I prefer to generally respect others, especially those who have less than I do. Whether or not this issue is worth chucking about at the "club," well, that is not for me to comment on as I like to judge people on their personal character rather than on the amount of money that they inherited from their parents. If saab is going to try to break out and double its sales as it suggests, it is going to have to wake up to the fact that it is going to have to attract some of those Camry-type drivers away from their current choices. Hopefully it can do this by "reinventing" its culture. It cannot continue the attitude of "build it and they will come" as evidenced by the fact that it cannot even sell the cars that it is producing now without a heavy lease subsidy. Just my ideas for saab to help to make the company produce a car that I will like better in the future. I wonder what it is like to sit at a table at the "club" and talk about those "new" money saab owners who buy cars that they don't love and yet they do not dispose of them immediately?
#62 of 2231 sabber by c21robdav Oct 10, 2000 (8:22 pm)
You seem to be outraged with your Saab, with Saab Corp. and with anyone on this board who will not agree with you. Perhaps it is not fair to the rest of us for you to continuously clang the negativity bell. You have made your point about your opinion of the Saab car and organization. But (at least IMHO) when you keep going on and on about this with post after post it starts to change the character of the forum into that of griping or maybe even whining. This is not bringing people into line with your point of view. Rather, it is probably alienating those who might otherwise listen to you. Your points about Saab shortcomings are well taken. You're using a bazooka where a pea shooter would do the job.
#63 of 2231 Yeah, I can understand by saabber Oct 10, 2000 (8:53 pm)
Yeah, I can understand how some hate that there is someone here who states negative things about a saab. If I were not here, this site would primarily consist of those talking about how they love their saab which is the greatest car they ever owned. I have a different perspective as a "real" owner who can positively claim that I do not associate with saab in any way (I am not best buddies with my saab technician either). I am positive that there are many out there who have an individual incentive to make sure that I do not post here, for whatever reason, I do not know. I understand that several got together to try to go to the Host at once to get rid of me. The reason, they first provoked me (as they did with Lopatham and Bibrit), and then claimed that I was just repeating negative things about the saab over and over. I appears that the Host understands the real siutation, and is not willing to go along with these claims. As for the last comment, what is it exactly that I said that offended you. Was it that I said that saab could not continue a "build it and they will come" philosophy. I am trying to see how such a comment would offend someone who was looking neutrally at the comment. I guess you are right and my comments can change the character of the forum to be a debate which includes ALL opinions of the vehicle. I can say that I don't like some other's opinions on this board as well, but I would never go to the host to try to "get rid" of someone because their opinions were different than mine. If I say anything untrue, you have every right to complain. If I say things that you merely disagree with because they are negative, well, I am not so sure that I agree that I need to be censored. It doesn't take much just to ignore my posts, but for some reason, that just doesn't happen (and I wonder why?)
#64 of 2231 See The Humor In Saaber by davekovacs1 Oct 10, 2000 (9:01 pm)
Actually I find Saaber comments to be of interest. I don't find them to be of the same sophisticated humor as one would have seen in the New Yorker. But it is still actually worthy of a daily chuckle or two, three, four - -all depending how many times he repeats his issues. He is not just my puppet but he also fills the role of my court jester too!!! Regards, Dave Kovacs
#65 of 2231 What's all this money talk? by bretfraz Oct 10, 2000 (9:27 pm)
To me, the "new money" vs. "old money" is nothing but class warfare. Reminds me of a scene from "Titanic" which, by the way, was the death of class warfare, at least in how the British played it. I really think the line between the classes is so blurred its impossible to tell who has it and who doesn't. When the richest man in America wears denim shirts and has a bad haircut, that should tell everyone that personal appearance no longer determines anything. Subsidised leasing also erases class warfare as it allows us peasants the ability to drive a car that only nobles could afford. Yes, I know my blood is impure, but at least I can feel like royalty in my 9-5. Re: Saab improving market share, I think we've covered this topic. First thing is a bigger product line. Volvo is doing what needs to be done to maintain market share. Saab can't continue like this forever unless GM is willing to let them. Yeah, better quality, more dealers, more advertising and all that is important, but you need product. Americans like lots of choices. You've got to give it to them or they'll flat ignore you. I can't imagine Saab looking at Toyota and saying they need to be like them; Saab's too unique. But Saab should shoot for Volvo and Audi as volume and market share targets. Saab is not a car for everyone. That's what makes it special. But Saab is not a car for no one either. As long as Saab can convince more people every year that it is the car for them, they'll be fine. Keep your current customers happy, find new customers who will like you, don't lose your soul in the process. Simple, right?
#66 of 2231 Thanks, it's good to see that you enjoy the comments by saabber Oct 10, 2000 (9:41 pm)
Many others here do not see the humor of my comments and seem to believe (based on their pointed comments) that I am a legitimate threat to potential saab sales. I don't really perceive myself as an actual threat as much as I perceive my comments to be helpful to those who want to know the "real" scoop about owning a 9-5. Based on the actual actions taken by certain, individuals, it is funny to see that many continue to try their best to make me go away so new customers do not learn about the "quirks" of owning a saab. I can imagine the scenario. A saab customer comes into the store and starts quizzing the dealership about the information they learned on "Edmunds." The dealer may lose the sale. Then the dealer starts to have its employees come here to make sure they "reinform" customers about the saab "quirks." This scenario then plays itself out over and over. I too have to step back and look at the humor of all of the attention that some have devoted in trying to discredit anything negative stated about a saab, and then going to the host to complain, etc. All in the name of preventing any negative comments to be made about a car (which has no feelings and does not take the criticism personally--I think). The funny thing is that this is just a car, and these are just my opinions, yet both will inspire some to go to all lengths to make sure that outsiders are afraid to post anything negative about the saab.
#67 of 2231 oh, and Saaber.... by bretfraz Oct 10, 2000 (9:42 pm)
....maybe try and not to take everything so personally in here. I like your perspective on various issues, but come on, haven't you been playing this role for long enough? Yes, I agree that others should just ignore your postings but you can also help by ignoring theirs. I don't see the logic in continuing to comment on every issue. It's very clear that there's a game going on in here that several people enjoy playing. The game is, "Who's Got The Biggest Ego". Believe it or not, I know how you feel. I've been down this same road here at Edmunds.com. And I've been slapped by our Hosts for engaging in bad behavior. It just ain't worth it to me any more. Maybe it shouldn't be worth it to you, either. Give it some thought.
#68 of 2231 That's a good thought bretfraz by saabber Oct 10, 2000 (9:48 pm)
Worth considering.
#69 of 2231 Speaking of Saab's plans by rtd1 Oct 10, 2000 (10:44 pm)
Here's an Automotive News article on the Saab CEO's view of what direction to take the company. No Camrys in our future, to be sure. It's nice to see that GM hasn't parked a Chevy product developer in the CEO chair, and seems to understand that the brand needs nurturing and to remain unique and cutting edge. I can forsee Saab reclaiming the turf they had in their heydays of the '80s by continuing to develop advanced powerplants and putting them into cutting edge cars. By leaving a strong Swedish-Euro influence in place, GM seems to be acknowledging how important the Saab demographic is to the corporation as a whole--a demographic that no other badge in house is reaching. Apologies for the massive bandwidth consumption. Automotive News October 9, 2000 JOE MILLER, Automotive News TROLLHATTAN, Sweden—Peter Augustsson, CEO of Saab Automobile AB, believes Saab needs to take a more radical approach if it’s serious about selling 250,000 vehicles per year, about double last year’s total. Augustsson, a 45-year-old, soft-spoken Swede, says Saab needs to change the way it markets and distributes its products. It needs to find unique ways to power its vehicles. And, most important, Saab needs radical vehicle designs. Although the Saab 9-5 has been a strong seller for the company, Augustsson says the car is too conventional. "Saab should never be conservative," he said. He was interviewed at a press event here. General Motors, Saab’s parent company, hired Augustsson, a former Volvo engineer and executive, as a Saab vice president two years ago. In March, he replaced Robert Hendry as Saab’s CEO. Since joining Saab, Augustsson has implemented changes to support a new lineup of vehicles Saab will launch during the next five years. Those changes include: Expanding its design studio under new chief designer Michael Mauer Upgrading its marketing and distribution strategy through a new program called "Saab Unlimited" Developing engine technologies that improve fuel efficiency without reducing performance. CONSERVATIVE IS OUT During the next five years, Saab says it will expand its lineup from two vehicles, the 9-3 and 9-5, to at least four. Those are expected to be the next-generation 9-3 and 9-5, a sport-utility variant of one of those two, and a sport-utility that will be a sibling vehicle to GM’s Pontiac Aztek and Buick Rendezvous. Augustsson says the new vehicles will give Saab the potential to sell 250,000 units per year worldwide, up from about 131,200 cars in 1999. Saab sold 39,541 units in the United States in 1999. But Augustsson knows Saab won’t reach 250,000 if it doesn’t stay true to its edgy brand image. Saab defines its image as "postmodern exclusivity." So in May, Augustsson recruited Mauer to pump life into Saab styling. Mauer, a German, was chief designer for DaimlerChrysler’s Smart car program. Mauer says he joined Saab because Augustsson promised him he would have more say than previous Saab design directors and just one boss: Augustsson. Although Mauer joined Saab too late to work on the next 9-3, due out in 2002, he will have a major influence on the rest of the lineup. "In the future regarding Saab, everything is possible," Mauer said. Mauer also is expanding Saab’s design studio with more creative talent. "It’s not more expensive to make good cars from a styling perspective," Augustsson said. "It’s about competence." UNLIMITED MARKETING On the marketing and distribution side, Saab is testing new direct marketing concepts using the Internet and new ownership options. Augustsson says upgrading Saab’s marketing and distribution alone, even without new product, could boost annual sales to 160,000 units. Saab is using key markets in Europe as test beds for most of the new programs. In the end, it hopes to bring the concepts that work to North America, its biggest market and the market with the most growth potential for Saab, Augustsson says. In Sweden, Saab is experimenting with a lease program called Saab Variations. Through the program, a customer can drive two vehicles a year. For example, a customer can get a sedan for the first half of the year and a convertible for the second half. In the United Kingdom, where Saab has a smaller, more homogenous dealer network, it is experimenting with Internet marketing and other new technologies. Augustsson, however, is keeping quiet about the details. RADICAL ENGINES "We really have only one market where we can use traditional mass marketing, and that’s in Sweden, where we have 10 percent market share," he said. "But if you have 0.5-percent market share, you can’t afford to do mass marketing. You need to find other ways to get your potential customers’ attention." Saab also is relying on unique powertrain technologies to attract customers. At the Paris auto show two weeks ago, Saab unveiled plans to use a combustion control system in a Saab vehicle within the next three to four years. The system reduces engine fuel consumption and emissions by mixing exhaust gases into the combustion process. Earlier this year, Saab introduced another concept that varies an engine’s compression ratio based on the load on the engine. Last month Saab invited journalists to test drive a car powered by the variable compression engine here at Trollhattan. Both technologies allow Saab to reduce emissions and fuel consumption without taking away from engine performance. Said Augustsson: "Our customers in the future, they need to combine good performance with the right fuel consumption."
#70 of 2231 Saabber and Drew fight through another 50 posts. by hello26 Oct 11, 2000 (4:21 am)
I do not think that if Drew writes comments such as "Does this improve anyone's comprehension?" (paraphrase) that it implies that he is concerned that Saaber's posts may affect SAAB sales adversely. As to the puppet master comments, other than "wow," I can only say that rfellman and I used hunting and barnyard analogies to great effect ("you are my fish on a hook" and "you squeal like a stuffed pig"), and decided that it was in bad taste, so to speak. In terms of the discussion of social class-- one might have the blood of seven European kings, meaning what-- one is an imbred moron, perhaps. Does SAAB appeal to such a person? Should SAAB even try? I thought that Mr. Hanley had informed us that SAAB was going to use Opel/ Saturn engines--and add turbos to them, at least that was my understanding. Is the above post meant to imply that SAAB will become more unique, and not less?

Messages Page 7 of 223 1 ... 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... 223 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Sedans Saab 9-5 Saab 9-5 Sedan