mmarshall

One of my predictions is coming to pass. ( I don't have a written record of it, though, because I was not at CL then ).

Several years ago, when Saab decided ( no doubt at master GM's insistance ) to try and expand beyond their core base of loyal customers by dropping all of the hatchbacks that were the company's bread-and-butter, I felt.....and said so at the time......that it was a mistake. They went ahead and converted their entire 9-3 and 9-5 lineups into sedans.
One thing you cannot do in the auto industry is ignore your loyal customers just because you want to broaden your market appeal....and that is just what GM and Saab did by dropping all the Saab-designed hatchbacks.
Yes, you have the 9-2X hatchbacks, but they are not real Saabs....they are converted Subaru Imprezas and WRX's. The 9-7X is a converted Chevy Trailblazer ( a vehicle noted for poor build quality ) and the upcoming 9-6X will be a converted Subaru B9X Tribeca....hopefully with a better grille.

Well...it looks like the GM and Saab marketers have finally learned the lesson they should have learned several years ago. Even now....this is not quite a pure Saab.....it is an Epsilon-(world-platform)-based wagon, but it is closer to what the Saab purist would be looking for than anything offered in the last several years.

See for yourself...............the Saab Sport Combi

http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=101888

http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=102880

http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_sh...aab_9_3_sport/

whoster

i'd call it a station wagon....not a hatch.

Gojirra99

Saab cars always look very boring to me, whether it's sedan or wagon. They don't have a good reputation in reliability too . . .

STIG

what about 9-2x?

whoster

i love that sucker. 9-2x is a Impreza wagon though. the turbo makes some exciting driving experience.

mmarshall

I mentioned the 9-2X in my post. Yes, technically it is a hatchback but it is essentially a Subaru Impreza (or WRX) with a Saab grille and some extra sound deadening and trim. IMO it is not the kind of Saab that purists would want....and the low sales seem to bear that out. I myself test-drove a Aero 9-2X some time ago and saw no reason to spend the extra money over a Subaru WRX ( although Saab is now giving BIG incentives on this car due to those poor sales ).

http://www.fast-autos.net/saab/saab92x.html

SoCalSC4

I agree, can't see why anybody would spend the extra money for the "Saabaru."

And, no, I don't want to hear anyone's Saab story (sob story).
Sorry, dumb old joke between my friends, one of whom owned a P.O.S. 900 Turbo

LexFather

^^ U ddint' have too, they were selling them 8k off list, still are from my understanding.

I think both these wagons/hatches look very good. I hope this one does better

mmarshall

Don't get me wrong....the 9-2X is a nice small car, with Subaru quality and a proven AWD system. I just don't see any real need to buy an Impreza in the more expensive Saab version, that's all.

GFerg

If I was in the market for a small wagon I would dish out the extra money to get the Saab version over the Subaru version. The Saab version looks sooooo much better than the Impreza plus there arent that many 9-2x's on the road. But thats just me and looks are subjective. I could justify spending the few extra grand.

whoster

it's got leather seats...if you buy them...the suspension setup has been lightened buy using all-aluminum arms or something, the wheels look nicer (the aero trim) uhm.... uhm......

yeah.


and given GM's willingness to deal with prices, i'd take the Saab. especially with teh front end changes coming to Subaru, i'd pay to be in a less ugly car.

STIG

i tried to locate one for Employee discound price over a month ago, but there were none thru out the entire state. that was 9-2x aero, and i was told that that was it since saab stopped making it for 05 and 06 are coming in a few months which are not included in GM employee discount. But there were a lot of buyers who are lucky enough to get one for 21K which was a killer deal!

videcormeum

The new 9-3 will feature GM's 2.8 liter V6 turbocharged to 250 hp (and 258 lb-ft of torque).

Impressive figures. The new powerplant might also help to iron out some of the reliability issues Saab has had with this car.

Source: Automobile Mag: Saab 9-3 SportCombi

M.