| KenF |
Being a Saab/Acura MDX family that happens to live next to another Saab/Acura MDX family I noticed that a lot of people have Saabs in their signature as the second vehicle.
What do you think about Saab's choice for their SUV, basing the 9-7 on the Chevy trailblazer platform?
I owned three Saabs before jumping ship to Acura because of the MDX. If the 9-7 had made it out earlier and been car-based rather than truck based, I probably would have considered it more.
So how do the 9-3 SS owners like the latest generation of Saabs? If you bought your Saab after the MDX, what made the choice not to get an Acura sedan? |
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| Blackura |
I've had two Saabs in the past, but none at the moment. They were both great cars.
Gotta say that I'm really disappointed in the way GM is treating Saab. It was a very unique car with very unique buyers. Now it's becoming just another GM "product" without the special appeal.
I understand the need to sell more cars, and some "main-streaming" might be necessary to do that. The 9-2 "Saabaru" looks interesting, but it's not all that unique. At least the Subaru it's cloning is a good car.
As for the 9-7 SUV, I fear a disaster in the making. The Chevy/GMC versions of these vehicles are close to awful, yet they keep expanding the nameplates rather than creating quality vehicles. A friend has a Trailblazer and it's constantly leaving him stranded and the dealers (yes, plural) can't seem to fix any of the numerous problems.
Remember the Acura SLX (SUV precursor to the MDX)? It was an Isuzu with an Acura badge. Didn't sell well at all. Then was the target Consumer Reports controversy. Not good publicity for Acura or Isuzu, to be sure.
I worry that the 9-7 will taint Saab's good name. And that's rally a crime. Just my opinion perhaps, but I suspect many others will agree.
Down the road a few years will be a Saab SUV designed from the ground up by Saab. That should be interesting, but the 9-7 temporary stopgap vehicle might kill the Saab SUV reputation before it even gets built. The MDX was able to overcome the bad rep of the SLX. I hope Saab will fare at least as well. |
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| s2k000L |
current 2003-04 generation are GM horrible!
let me preface this message with the fact that my brother owned an early 90's 900 Turbo, and i recently sold my last company car (2002 9-3) to him just recently (nov 2003). great cars, with little or no problems.
i am now waiting for my THIRD 2003-04 9-3 Linear from the factory. i am in the unique situation where my company carries the saab 9-3 as their fleet vehicles--all expenses paid--so i don't have a vested interest in saab. well, after the horrible experience (< 1 week old/~660mi odo), the car simpy stalled on the freeway here in the san francisco area at a speed of 70mph! brought it back to the dealership, and they repaired it (supposedly) after a week--couldn't actually find the problem. picked it up on a saturday, and BOOOM--had the same thing happen to me at a busy shopping mall parking lot.
long story short, i had to file a claim with saab customer service, and they took back the car, as i patiently await my replacement in their loaner car (another 2003 9-3 Linear). here's the best part: my company has at least 200 field-based personnel, and a good 25% of us have experience various electrical problems with this current generation of 9-3's. i should've just gone with the safer (but boring) toyota camry.
saab owners/perspective buyers beware! |
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