Saabaru

[Kevin Brewer]

What do you all think of the upcoming Saab 9.2X based on the Subaru Impreza?
Is it something that a typical Subaru buyer would be interested in? Just
wondering.....

 

[H. Whelply]

Pictures I've seen are appealing. If it's an Impreza (WRX, actually, isn't
it?), only more luxurious, why wouldn't a Subaru fan be interested, budget
permitting?

As for the "typical Subaru buyer," what is that? I'd find that very
interesting, as a new, first-time Subaru owner: what are the characteristics
of the "typical" Subaru buyer? Especially those that distinguish him/her
from typical buyers of other marques?

HW

 

[Kevin Brewer]

As far as a typical Subaru buyer...I'm not sure what that is either. I work
at a Saab dealership as was just curious what Subaru owners thought. We have
never had a car like this, 4WD and priced low to mid $20's, so it should be
a whole new market for us. let me know what others think......

 

[John]

Saab will now become the luxury version of Subie much like Toyota/Lexus,
Honda/Acura as parent GM focuses on pickups and suvs. Its being build in
Japan and looks to be competing against its own subaru line, especially if
priced in the mid 20's. The only benefit would be the fluff of a Saab
unless there is actually some more kick to it. Safety can't be a major
selling point as in past Saabs as this is essentially a rebadged Impreza.

As for being a "typical subaru buyer" I'll look at the price before I write
the check.

 

[David & Caroline]

at a Saab dealership as was just curious what Subaru owners thought. We have
never had a car like this, 4WD and priced low to mid $20's, so it should be
a whole new market for us. let me know what others think......

Do you have any more details on the car? Is it essentially a WRX wagon with
cosmetic changes to make it more Saab-like in appearance, or are there other
upgrades, such as leather, sunroof, fancier wheels, upgraded brakes,
upgraded suspension, etc. - have there been any changes (softening of
suspension, changing the gearing, etc.)? If it's the same thing as the WRX
with a higher price tag, I would think it's unlikely you will get Subaru
fans fleeing to Saab - could definitely expand the Saab market, though...

I'll be curious to see what happens - in stock form (227hp/217ft-lbs + AWD),
the WRX should best any of the 9-3's in terms of all around performance (and
give the 9-5 a run for it's money as well - bettering it in poor road
conditions), though they both have substantially more creature comfort
things then the Impreza (and a bigger price tag)

 

[Kevin Brewer]

Hopefully (for me) being a Saab will be a selling feature for the car over
the Subaru (not that there's anything wrong with a Subaru). I do worry about
our safety reputation. How safe is the Impreza? I know it's a smaller car
but hopefully sonehow they will make it a safer car.
As far as the price the 9.3 starts at $27k with incentives one could be had
for as low as $24k. Hopefully the 9.2 will start at $21-22k. We'll see they
haven't told us anything firm yet.

 

[meld_b]

For years SAAB insisted that AWD wasn't necessary, and so far the little
bit of snow driving I've done in our 01 Outback wagon (with new snow
tires) and a (recently acquired) 98 SAAB 900 I agree with them. In going
around corners with the Outback in the snow if you hit the gas you don't
know what the rear end is going to do with AWD (These are both manual
transmissions) The SAAB is very predictable - Oversteer and lots of it.
Sure hill climbing is better with the AWD but I'm with SAAB that it's
just not worth it most of the time. Now if you need to tow a trailer...
then things start to look different.

So for us ravingly loyal SAAB fanatics (this is my 3rd SAAB) This will
seem like another sell out. It probably WILL help market share, so
that's good they can work on my next FWD car.

It will be interesting to see what "scandanavianized" (As Car&Driver put
it) really means. A SAAB engine? (with a Timing chain) Can't sell it
without a Turbo right? Redone suspension? Beefed up components? Got to
at least have a new dashboard ?!

-D

 

[Ken Gilbert]

tires) and a (recently acquired) 98 SAAB 900 I agree with them. In going

around corners with the Outback in the snow if you hit the gas you don't
know what the rear end is going to do with AWD (These are both manual
transmissions) The SAAB is very predictable - Oversteer and lots of it.

in your FWD saab, when you punch the gas in the middle of a low
traction corner, you get "oversteer and lots of it?"

i don't think that's true... at least it hasn't been in every FWD car
i've driven in the snow.

jm2c
ken

 

[harv]

Yes, I got lots of understeer in my '67 saab 96 (3 cyl, 2 stroke, oil
injected) and all the other fwd cars I've had. Making handbrake turns would
induce gobs of oversteer though.

 

[Jerre Bassler]

I am very disappointed that GM gave Saab the Subaru. If Saab is so
great why did they need to be rescued by GM
My last 3 cars have been Subaru but I'm considering others the next
time. GM will ruin Subaru's name and reputation. They will probably
give the Bowtie company a version next.
As far as safety is concerned, Subies have ranked among the best.

 

[meld_b]

Oh yes... understeer... it plows. But the back end never breaks away and
swings wildly (unless you jam on the parking brake! ! -D

 

[meld_b]

Same reason all the other makes in the world had to be rescued...Jaguar,
Volvo,Bentley,RR,Mazda? GM owns part of Subaru so were they rescued too?

I've already had several people tell me to buy a Malibu because it is
the same platform as the Saab 9-3

So? what'll you buy? Ford? Jeep?
-D

 

[Benleigh Bob]

yawn

 

[H. Whelply]

Turns out that Volvo didn't really need rescuing, and now perhaps wishes
they (old owners) hadn't yelled "Help!" when rich Ford strolled by. From the
latest Automobile magazine, inside back cover article, "PAG: The Pretty
All-right Group?":

Volvo rakes in the herring for Ford, and lots of it. The components set that
spawned the handsome (like never before) four-model range-from S60 up to
XC90-is a hit, not to mention perfectly credible hardware. The new S40 may
prove otherwise, but Ford's genetic galoshes print is, as yet, nowhere to be
seen in the Volvo family abode. Miraculously, the Swedish patient seems to
have staved off the inevitable mind-meld with Dearborn that promised to suck
the life out of it. In the process, the company has been so successful, the
brand proven so strong, we hear its former owners are busy kicking their own
Swedish asses for lacking confidence in what they'd wrought and selling out
to a very rich Ford. <end quote>

 

[Jerre Bassler]

GM bought into FHI, which owns Subaru. Sneaky way to get Subaru AWD
technology.

IF you cannot build world class cars, you try to by into them.

 

[Stu Hedith]

meld_b wrote:

....

I've already had several people tell me to buy a Malibu because it is
the same platform as the Saab 9-3

....

Conversely, this would tell me to stay away from the 9-3.

Stu

 

[Richard Kilpatrick]

...

Conversely, this would tell me to stay away from the 9-3.

The 9-3 is a Vectra, I think that the Saturns are also based on the
platform. Hey, if the Malibu is based on that, at least it's not based
on the J2000 platform...

Richard

 

[LeBernadin]

I'm sorry, i wasn't here for the rest of this thread. Are you referring
to the Chevy Malibu? If so, i used to rent them and they're not the
worst ride feel, i prefer them to a Mazda 626, or other midsize sedans
and definately over the taurus/sable. I wasn't aware of this Saab>Malibu
chassis. I used to have an '89 Saab 900S and come to think of it, the
Malibu did have that nice drive feel but felt more rigid imo than the
900S. But naturally the 900S and 9-3 are different chassis as well so
that's not an exact comparison.

 

[Kevin Brewer]

Same platform but the Malibu does not have the fit and finish, quality or
safety features built into it. The platform is just the base of the car.
Each car then has different body panels, interiors, engine, transmissions,
safety features etc.
Drive both and you'll definitely see a difference. I guess it's the same way
I hope they make the Saab 9.2X better than the Impreza

 

[ct]

In going around corners with the Outback in the snow if you hit the gas
you don't

know what the rear end is going to do with AWD (These are both manual
transmissions) The SAAB is very predictable - Oversteer and lots of it.
Sure hill climbing is better with the AWD but I'm with SAAB that it's
just not worth it most of the time.

I think AWD can be pretty predictable. If there's snow and I'm going around
a corner, if I'm in the torque band and give it a little gas, it will
oversteer a little (or a lot, depending on throttle and steering input).
It's just different.

Hill climbing with AWD is very nice when you're going around a snow 20mph
switchback...with my old FWD GTI, you couldn't turn and power up the climb
simultaneously, so you'd get wheelspin, even with Blizzaks. With AWD, you
can turn and maintain speed without spinning.

C