Comments on: Spyker plans to rebuild Saab around 9-5, compact 9-1 model shelved http://www.caradvice.com.au/52032/spyker-to-rebuild-saab-around-9-5-as-compact-9-1-model-gets-shelved/ Resource for Car Reviews, News, Advice, Road Tests, Green Cars, Hybrids Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:10:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Baddass http://www.caradvice.com.au/52032/spyker-to-rebuild-saab-around-9-5-as-compact-9-1-model-gets-shelved/#comment-174811 Baddass Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:50:38 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=52032#comment-174811 I agree with SAAB producing the potentially hugely profitable 9-4X, but choosing not to build the 9-1 hatchback is a serious mistake. It would seem that SAAB has elected to make medium and large sedans in a market that is literally shrinking towards small cars. Most car companies have small cars these days, and buy electing not to introduce a premium, unique offering in a market that is craving for just that, is a recipe for disaster. Just Look at the succcess of the Volco C30 (the 9-1's most realistic rival), the BMW 1-Series, MINI and the Fiat 500. My advice would be to adopt instant moneymakers like the 9-1 and 9-4X, and then worry about niche vehicles (in the scheme of things)like the 9-5. I agree with SAAB producing the potentially hugely profitable 9-4X, but choosing not to build the 9-1 hatchback is a serious mistake. It would seem that SAAB has elected to make medium and large sedans in a market that is literally shrinking towards small cars. Most car companies have small cars these days, and buy electing not to introduce a premium, unique offering in a market that is craving for just that, is a recipe for disaster. Just Look at the succcess of the Volco C30 (the 9-1′s most realistic rival), the BMW 1-Series, MINI and the Fiat 500. My advice would be to adopt instant moneymakers like the 9-1 and 9-4X, and then worry about niche vehicles (in the scheme of things)like the 9-5.

]]> By: DGS http://www.caradvice.com.au/52032/spyker-to-rebuild-saab-around-9-5-as-compact-9-1-model-gets-shelved/#comment-174808 DGS Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:10:55 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=52032#comment-174808 I suspect the Chinese on the other hand will sign up for a sale with that clause with no intention of ever honouring it and knowing that the Chinese government will back them when they refuse to sell the Brand back to the Americans after it is back on its feet and profitable. The Chinese government now has the biggest stick for trade disputes: The Americans owe them trillions of dollars and China only needs to demand repayment to crash the American economy. I suspect the Chinese on the other hand will sign up for a sale with that clause with no intention of ever honouring it and knowing that the Chinese government will back them when they refuse to sell the Brand back to the Americans after it is back on its feet and profitable.

The Chinese government now has the biggest stick for trade disputes: The Americans owe them trillions of dollars and China only needs to demand repayment to crash the American economy.

]]> By: davie http://www.caradvice.com.au/52032/spyker-to-rebuild-saab-around-9-5-as-compact-9-1-model-gets-shelved/#comment-174789 davie Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:09:26 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=52032#comment-174789 Similar to the Roewe brand? Isn't it the old Rover tooling? What would it be called? Saavv? Similar to the Roewe brand? Isn’t it the old Rover tooling?

What would it be called? Saavv?

]]> By: Tim http://www.caradvice.com.au/52032/spyker-to-rebuild-saab-around-9-5-as-compact-9-1-model-gets-shelved/#comment-174727 Tim Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:08:21 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=52032#comment-174727 Yep, and then GM will compete with the product they created lol. Yep, and then GM will compete with the product they created lol.

]]> By: Wingman77 http://www.caradvice.com.au/52032/spyker-to-rebuild-saab-around-9-5-as-compact-9-1-model-gets-shelved/#comment-174719 Wingman77 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:41:38 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=52032#comment-174719 ............Spyker sold 43 cars last year..........that does not sound like the ideal owner for SAAB. I think it's funny how the above posts are blaming GM for the "slow process".....if anything it will be that potential buyers like Spyker will be wanting so many guarantees and freebies from GM that in the end it will probably just be worth more to close SAAB then to underwrite someone else's attempts to save it. My prediction is that if Spyker gets SAAB then it won't be long before they are in trouble again. The ideal situation for the new 9-5 etc seeing the light-of-day is for GM to close down the brand and sell the tooling, engineering and designs off to a Chinese group who will not be burdened by SAAB's existing structures and debts. …………Spyker sold 43 cars last year……….that does not sound like the ideal owner for SAAB. I think it’s funny how the above posts are blaming GM for the “slow process”…..if anything it will be that potential buyers like Spyker will be wanting so many guarantees and freebies from GM that in the end it will probably just be worth more to close SAAB then to underwrite someone else’s attempts to save it.

My prediction is that if Spyker gets SAAB then it won’t be long before they are in trouble again. The ideal situation for the new 9-5 etc seeing the light-of-day is for GM to close down the brand and sell the tooling, engineering and designs off to a Chinese group who will not be burdened by SAAB’s existing structures and debts.

]]> By: Shak http://www.caradvice.com.au/52032/spyker-to-rebuild-saab-around-9-5-as-compact-9-1-model-gets-shelved/#comment-174715 Shak Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:22:33 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=52032#comment-174715 Poor SAAB is again having to go through the stupidity of its parent while it trys to make good cars ala 9-5, and 9-4X. I really dont care who gets them now as long as its not GM Poor SAAB is again having to go through the stupidity of its parent while it trys to make good cars ala 9-5, and 9-4X. I really dont care who gets them now as long as its not GM

]]> By: Swade http://www.caradvice.com.au/52032/spyker-to-rebuild-saab-around-9-5-as-compact-9-1-model-gets-shelved/#comment-174701 Swade Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:58:52 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=52032#comment-174701 Not sure about Safety First's claims there. Bob Lutz wasn't involved in the Opel deal at all and Koenigsegg pulled out because the govt mechanisms involved in a loan from the European Investment Bank dragged their feet. Saab has buyers. It's just a matter of whether GM will deal. And Victor Muller was mis-quoted in the AOL article that this one is based on. He's already doing sketches for a 9-1, which he has said would be reminiscent of an older Saab (older than the iconic 900) in a phone interview I did with him a few days ago. Not sure about Safety First’s claims there. Bob Lutz wasn’t involved in the Opel deal at all and Koenigsegg pulled out because the govt mechanisms involved in a loan from the European Investment Bank dragged their feet.

Saab has buyers. It’s just a matter of whether GM will deal.

And Victor Muller was mis-quoted in the AOL article that this one is based on. He’s already doing sketches for a 9-1, which he has said would be reminiscent of an older Saab (older than the iconic 900) in a phone interview I did with him a few days ago.

]]> By: o http://www.caradvice.com.au/52032/spyker-to-rebuild-saab-around-9-5-as-compact-9-1-model-gets-shelved/#comment-174699 o Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:55:57 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=52032#comment-174699 That is the problem GM is worried that there tech might get into russian hands. That is the problem GM is worried that there tech might get into russian hands.

]]> By: Safety First http://www.caradvice.com.au/52032/spyker-to-rebuild-saab-around-9-5-as-compact-9-1-model-gets-shelved/#comment-174685 Safety First Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:40:15 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=52032#comment-174685 And here ladies and genltemen is the true problem.... GM want someone else to come in, anti up for the Euro Brands and revitalise them all whilst leaving a get out of Gaol free card that allows GM to buy back the company when it sees fit... When the German Chancelory withdrew that clause Bob Lutz pulled the sale of Opel. When K>G (can't be bothered spelling them :-P) wanted the clause withdrawn GM said No and the sale fell over. It will be interesting to see what happens now that GM has played it's card and said it will close down the Business, one would think that the Government would apply a lot of pressure to ensure that clause is withdrawn.. And here ladies and genltemen is the true problem…. GM want someone else to come in, anti up for the Euro Brands and revitalise them all whilst leaving a get out of Gaol free card that allows GM to buy back the company when it sees fit… When the German Chancelory withdrew that clause Bob Lutz pulled the sale of Opel. When K>G (can’t be bothered spelling them :-P ) wanted the clause withdrawn GM said No and the sale fell over.
It will be interesting to see what happens now that GM has played it’s card and said it will close down the Business, one would think that the Government would apply a lot of pressure to ensure that clause is withdrawn..

]]> By: Duckula http://www.caradvice.com.au/52032/spyker-to-rebuild-saab-around-9-5-as-compact-9-1-model-gets-shelved/#comment-174682 Duckula Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:28:06 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=52032#comment-174682 The 9-5 looks great, I just hope that they can finally do something about that god awful dashboard that all saabs have had since jesus was a boy..... The 9-5 looks great, I just hope that they can finally do something about that god awful dashboard that all saabs have had since jesus was a boy…..

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