Saab about to go

lemonjelly

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14839649

Application for bankruptcy protection refused. Likely to disappear in days".
:eek:

Really2

lemonjelly wrote: »

Saab about to go again
:eek:

Fixed.

Why spyker thought they could turn a profit after in not returning a profit in 10 years is beyond me.

I think they have only made a profit 1 or 2 years since the late 80's!

Batchy

thye have the wrong balance of cars, and appearing to be executive without actually being exec isnt great!

Really2

Batchy wrote: »

thye have the wrong balance of cars, and appearing to be executive without actually being exec isnt great!

The new car looked nice, but only there only proper new car in how many years?

Also they stopped becoming an exec brand IMHO when GM took over.

Lets be honest saab have been dull and behind the pack for over a decade. In reality Kia and Hyundai are better cars than saab now in terms of refinement and technology (and have been for a few years). All saab had is a bit of 80's/90's badge credability.

ruggedtoast

Really2 wrote: »

The new car looked nice, but only there only proper new car in how many years?

Also they stopped becoming an exec brand IMHO when GM took over.

Lets be honest saab have been dull and behind the pack for over a decade. In reality Kia and Hyundai are better cars than saab now in terms of refinement and technology (and have been for a few years). All saab had is a bit of 80's/90's badge credability.

I would still much rather drive around in a Saab than a Kia. No one actually 'wants' a Kia. Its the kind of car you buy because you have run out of other options.

Really2

ruggedtoast wrote: »

I would still much rather drive around in a Saab than a Kia. No one actually 'wants' a Kia. Its the kind of car you buy because you have run out of other options.

I have had Kia's and Hyundai in the past and to be honest not one ever let me down, not even any gremlins to repair. (and I have had nearly every other brand, i seem to be an unknowing wheeler dealer)

It's only badge snobery now, they are european quality now, I think they are even going to start building in europe.

I like the New Sportage. Also like the look of the new Hyundai I40 saloon if i has the same engines as the estate they just released.

So give me a choice of driving without problem I would go Japanese or Korean

If I wanted to pose on a hard sholder My ex alfa 159.

If I wanted to people to think I am doing better than I am one of my Volvos, BMW or Merc

I can't think of anything worse than a grey german clone mobile TBH. I like a bit of individuality.

I have no problem with hyundai or kia, they have made no outstanding cars but also no dogs either. Just stuff to get you to A-B on reliably and without fuss or cost. Very much like the japanese model.

vax2002

They needed a flagship.
If they had have had the sense to build a tarmac ripping 4x4 version of the car that screamed performance then this would have sold the lesser models.
Look at what the WRX did for the boring farmers car the subaru .
No car range sells well without a flagship to take the brand in to battle.
They grew a reputation as boring toothless run of the mill cars with no new pedigree and bankruptcy was inevitable.
Given they had access to the GM turbo petrol engines and 4x4 system why they just did not create a performance version left many gasping.
Saab turbo's were tarmac eaters of the 80's
The last range of Sabbs would struggle against a mobility scooter.

Really2

vax2002 wrote: »

Saab turbo's were tarmac eaters of the 80's
The last range of Sabbs would struggle against a mobility scooter.

It is interesting to see how far saab never went when you compare them to Volvo.
Volvo were old mans cars until the "t" engines come out (my t4 was a stupidly powerful saloon car in it's day)
Volvo evolved from the math's teacher at schools estate to what they are now with a multi car line up for virtually all sectors. Now known for being quick as well as safe.

Saab a few virtually identical models shooting in the same "exec" sector.

vax2002

I guess the lesson learnt here is if you want to sell cars, don't listen to people who ride bikes and wear sandals..

Really2

vax2002 wrote: »

I guess the lesson learnt here is if you want to sell cars, don't listen to people who ride bikes and wear sandals..

Or sell just 2 models, both in the same class. The class that is the most competitive and with quality demands far past your products.

It's sad really, they were good cars back in their day.
I wonder who will buy & rebadge the new 95, could be a scoop for the MG owners IMHO. No R&D to do could ship the machines to longbridge.

quantic

Maybe this will teach them that "ugly as !!!!" does not = unique, funky, different etc.