Hehe, looks like the old 96. Suitable for rallying? Why not, 96 was great :)Quote:
Originally Posted by J.Lindstroem
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Hehe, looks like the old 96. Suitable for rallying? Why not, 96 was great :)Quote:
Originally Posted by J.Lindstroem
Why always bashing at the start of a new topic before really think about it for a moment. See a topic like this as opportunity to dream away for a moment if you have the imagination. That's just fun and please share that in the topic!Quote:
Originally Posted by J.Lindstroem
What I'm dreaming for instance; what about the deal the Chinese auto-industry want to make to get the license for the latest Saab models to produce. And with that deal that for instance Prodrive get the permission and needs to develop a new Saab 96 WRC !
"General Motors announced today that the intended sale of Saab Automobile AB would not be concluded. After the withdrawal of Koenigsegg Group AB last month, GM had been in discussions with Spyker Cars about its interest in acquiring Saab. During the due diligence, certain issues arose that both parties believe could not be resolved. As a result, GM will start an orderly wind-down of Saab operations."
A legendary company in motorsport are dead...sad.
A lot of fast drivers in the old days in Saab cars, like Stig Blomqvist and Per Eklund.
true, and when you look what crap stuff GM will continiue with, its even more sad.Quote:
Originally Posted by Micke_VOC
That's where it all went wrong!!Quote:
Originally Posted by COD
Way back when USA became so important to Saab, Saab USA's decisions on what car they wanted to push.
I know people at Saab Sweden from their old Rally Department and have talked to some of those folks who went elsewhere when the rally department was closed.
Saab USA was selling lots of the nice reliable, easy to work on and moderately priced V4s, in fact far more 96s that the heavier, more delicate, less reliable 99, but Saab USA decided "How shall we sell more 99s---with more profit?"
And their brilliant answer was: stop importing the 96 at end of 1973.
Later, when the 900 was introduced in 1979, Saab USA used the same brilliant logic was applied to 99--which had become acceptably reliable---but "How can we sell more 900s?"
I had a business that was 96% Saab 96 from 1984 to 2000 and here in Seattle a huge % of the customers were Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish decent---and even as they had kids growing up, like good Nordbo, they wanted fun but reasonable cars.
Amazing how frequently people would ask "What the hell is Saab (USA) thinking that they only sell the 900 with electric sunroof, electric windows, AIR CONDITIONING (which made replacing the water pump jump from 36min without AC to 2,4 hours with AC) POWER STEERING!!!! and AND ALL AS A PACKAGE???!!!
They were very loyal customers and Saab USA management wanted only to make more profit per unit not retain core customers.
As Saab owners tended in those pre-GM days to be very well read we, or they
knew 96 was made until Feb 1980, and we're unhappy they were forced into a very much more expensive car, same like later when we all knew you could get a 2 door 900 turbo with PS but no other junk, yet they were forced to have TONS of expensive junk if they wanted a car.
Poor decisions by US management simply got worse post GM take over.
I still have my '96 96, and my phone number is 431-9696, so no real tears now, the poor company died a long time ago killed by American materialism, and fantasies about "Luxury". satanas runkare!
Ok, seriously. I have never tried to imply that there isd anything wrong with dreaming. Don't try to put those words in my mouth. I just said that this thread only is about dreaming. Saabs desteny has been predictable for months now and i just wanted to say that there is nothing else than dreaming to say that a Saab Wrc is possible.Quote:
Originally Posted by GallardoGT
Dreaming is something great. I spent most of my days dreaming but sometimes you have to put it away from the reality.
And Btw, do you mean ME when you are talking about bashing a topic?
I agree 100 %. GM, job well done. Only morons like the ones in GM manage to kill such as great brand. I never got to own a Saab and now I never will get one.Quote:
Originally Posted by janvanvurpa
To be fair to GM, Saab needed a big partner to stay alive.Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodeye
To me Saab died properly back in the 90's when they stopped making these
http://www.e.kth.se/~e98_ama/bilder/...blackeberg.jpg
and started making these
http://www.hdk.gu.se/files/portfolio.../Saab900_1.jpg
My mum has a 4 door 900i similar to the one at the top although with different wheeltrims and the little rubber spoiler and although it's not the prettiest car it certainly was a great car.