Saab promises 'different' SUV; mid-sized truck will fill big void in model lineup (Trailblazer based)

[NFS4]

Saab SUV based on the Trailblazer platform?? PATHETIC!:|:disgust:

http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=03278127

 

[MikeMike]

u argueing that the trailblazer sux????

or just that saab would do that?

cuz if you are saying the trailblazer sux, it doesnt, its comfy, can fit 7 comfortably, and im 6'2, dads 6'4, decent accel. gas mileage decent, decent looks, good body structure.

now about the saab would do that, i got nutin on that

MIKE

 

[NFS4]

The fact that Saab would build a truck-based SUV off a Trailblazer is pretty damn pathetic. Don't you think we already have enough Trailblazer clones:

Trailblazer
Envoy
Bravada
Rainier
Ascender
9-7

Badge engineering at its worst. They should think about making unique products for the brand instead of badge engineering everything to hell.

Also, compared to others in the segment (Pathfinder, 4-Runner, etc.), the Trailblazer is pretty damned pathetic when it comes to overall refinement and fit and finish. The inline-6 is sweet though.

When my dad went to go look at getting a new SUV in the Nov '01, we looked at the Explorer, Highlander and Trailblazer. The Trailblazer was the most expensive and had the sh!ttiest interior I've ever seen in an SUV at that price range. Cheap Lego plastics and poor fit/finish and large panel gaps. The ride of the thing was nothing to write home about either. The only saving grace was the engine.

 

[Glitchny]

well if Sabb can put their quality finish in the car then it should have a great interior and good engine... whats to complain about?

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Glitchny
well if Sabb can put their quality finish in the car then it should have a great interior and good engine... whats to complain about?

B/C a truck based SUV does not at all fit into the Saab "mantra." Instead of pussyfootin' around building 50 million clones, GM should have put up the dough for a proper car-based SUV (like the Volvo XC90).

If you really think that a rebadged Trailblazer is going to keep people in Saab showrooms, you're sorely mistaken.

 

[conjur]

Wow....guess greenies will be boycotting Saab left and right now.

Either that...or giving into the dark side.   :Q

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: conjur
Wow....guess greenies will be boycotting Saab left and right now.

Either that...or giving into the dark side.   :Q

Yeah, this TOTALLY goes against what Saabs stand for (at least IMHO). I think of decent handling sports sedans with frugal engines. Not a lumbering truck-based SUV. They'd been better off making a jacked up car-based SUV based off the 9-5 wagon platform and they'd have a hit on their hands like the Volvo XC90. But I don't think that Saab owners are stupid enough to fall for a 6th iteration of the Chevy Trailblazer. Isuzu owners sure aren't buying it either.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: conjur
Wow....guess greenies will be boycotting Saab left and right now.

Either that...or giving into the dark side.   :Q

Yeah, this TOTALLY goes against what Saabs stand for (at least IMHO). I think of decent handling sports sedans with frugal engines. Not a lumbering truck-based SUV. They'd been better off making a jacked up car-based SUV based off the 9-5 wagon platform and they'd have a hit on their hands like the Volvo XC90. But I don't think that Saab owners are stupid enough to fall for a 6th iteration of the Chevy Trailblazer. Isuzu owners sure aren't buying it either.

True. SAAB owners are a niche group..but then GM is trying to get rid of that stigma. They want the brand to me more mainstream (which I don't agree with), but thats the only way they can milk money from it.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: conjur
Wow....guess greenies will be boycotting Saab left and right now.

Either that...or giving into the dark side.   :Q

Yeah, this TOTALLY goes against what Saabs stand for (at least IMHO). I think of decent handling sports sedans with frugal engines. Not a lumbering truck-based SUV. They'd been better off making a jacked up car-based SUV based off the 9-5 wagon platform and they'd have a hit on their hands like the Volvo XC90. But I don't think that Saab owners are stupid enough to fall for a 6th iteration of the Chevy Trailblazer. Isuzu owners sure aren't buying it either.

True. SAAB owners are a niche group..but then GM is trying to get rid of that stigma. They want the brand to me more mainstream (which I don't agree with), but thats the only way they can milk money from it.

No, that's the only way they can bring it back to profitability. Saab has been losing money for years, and GM is hoping they can plug the leak with this truck. I'm not sure I agree with the decision, but I undertstand their reasoning.

Kelly-Ennis said Saab originally wanted to use the platform of the new Cadillac SRX for its vehicle. But after a year of discussion, the project was scuttled because of the costs involved.

This would have been an excellent idea, but of course GM wouldn't pony up the extra cash.

 

[prontospyder]

Well, they need the money for future product development.

 

[UNCjigga]

A true Saab 'SUV' would be car-based with a four-cylinder turbo engine...

 

[Chadder007]

So...its going to be a Trailblazer with the Saab grill and emblem on the front. Pathetic. I HATE GM.

 

[Dragon365]

You would think that they would learn what happens when vehicles are continually cloned.

 

[Shantanu]

Here's a radical idea, how about we wait until the product comes out first before bitching about it?

The Cadillac XLR and Chevrolet Corvette use the same architecture, and are built at the same plant. Yet, the two cars are very little alike, especially on the inside. Platform sharing is not the same thing as badge engineering.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

This could be the worst idea I have seen from GM. Saab SUV based on Trailblazer? Wtf? I thought Saab was about quirky FWD sedans. But GM has always been good at destroying brand identity.

Originally posted by: Shantanu
Here's a radical idea, how about we wait until the product comes out first before bitching about it?

The Cadillac XLR and Chevrolet Corvette use the same architecture, and are built at the same plant. Yet, the two cars are very little alike, especially on the inside. Platform sharing is not the same thing as badge engineering.

How about we wait until you say all the stupid stuff you can say before calling you a moron? Nah, let's do it now.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Shantanu
Here's a radical idea, how about we wait until the product comes out first before bitching about it?

The Cadillac XLR and Chevrolet Corvette use the same architecture, and are built at the same plant. Yet, the two cars are very little alike, especially on the inside. Platform sharing is not the same thing as badge engineering.

The Trailblazer platform is badge-engineering PLAIN AND SIMPLE!

The Bravada and Rainier share MOST body panels and share the EXACT SAME interior
The Ascender is a rebadged Envoy with the same interior

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: conjur
Wow....guess greenies will be boycotting Saab left and right now.

Either that...or giving into the dark side. :Q

Yeah, this TOTALLY goes against what Saabs stand for (at least IMHO). I think of decent handling sports sedans with frugal engines. Not a lumbering truck-based SUV. They'd been better off making a jacked up car-based SUV based off the 9-5 wagon platform and they'd have a hit on their hands like the Volvo XC90. But I don't think that Saab owners are stupid enough to fall for a 6th iteration of the Chevy Trailblazer. Isuzu owners sure aren't buying it either.

i'm wondering if ford is gonna try to leverage the XC90 into the lincoln brand. detroit was with its pants down with the minvan/station wagon suvs for the most part. not as bad as the japanese were caught when the explorer and GC really took off tho.

 

[Chadder007]

Originally posted by: Dragon365
You would think that they would learn what happens when vehicles are continually cloned.

Yeah, remember Eagle and Plymoth? (sp?)

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Chadder007

Originally posted by: Dragon365
You would think that they would learn what happens when vehicles are continually cloned.

Yeah, remember Eagle and Plymoth? (sp?)

Yep, and they're both dead. The way GM is running Saab, they'll be dead soon too.

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: NFS4
Saab SUV based on the Trailblazer platform?? PATHETIC!:|:disgust:

http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=03278127

Your bias disgusts me. :disgust:
The SUV, to be called the 9-7, will have different exterior design, interior trim and chassis refinements than the TrailBlazer, said Saab product spokesman Kevin Smith.
"It will have very different handling, with excellent braking and performance," he said. "It will be significantly different than the GMC Envoy, Chevy TrailBlazer or Oldsmobile Bravada."

Just because you test drove a Trailblazer (the worst of the SUVs built off of that platform), that's no reason to write off the entire line of vehicles. An SUV built off of the same platform (Envoy) won SUV of the year when it was introduced a couple of years ago... that has to say something about the viability of using that platform.

As for the "fact" that it goes against everything Saab stands for:
The mid-sized truck will fill a huge hole in Saab's buyer-retention numbers - 25 percent of buyers who leave the brand each year do so to buy an SUV, according to Debra Kelly-Ennis, CEO of the U.S. sales arm.
They are just trying to please their current customers. Just because they didn't build some gay ass Highlander clone doesn't mean it can't be a competent SUV... for christ's sake there aren't even any pictures of it yet!

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: N8Magic

Originally posted by: NFS4
Saab SUV based on the Trailblazer platform?? PATHETIC!:|:disgust:

http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=03278127

Your bias disgusts me. :disgust:
The SUV, to be called the 9-7, will have different exterior design, interior trim and chassis refinements than the TrailBlazer, said Saab product spokesman Kevin Smith.
"It will have very different handling, with excellent braking and performance," he said. "It will be significantly different than the GMC Envoy, Chevy TrailBlazer or Oldsmobile Bravada."

Just because you test drove a Trailblazer (the worst of the SUVs built off of that platform), that's no reason to write off the entire line of vehicles. An SUV built off of the same platform (Envoy) won SUV of the year when it was introduced a couple of years ago... that has to say something about the viability of using that platform.

As for the "fact" that it goes against everything Saab stands for:
The mid-sized truck will fill a huge hole in Saab's buyer-retention numbers - 25 percent of buyers who leave the brand each year do so to buy an SUV, according to Debra Kelly-Ennis, CEO of the U.S. sales arm.
They are just trying to please their current customers. Just because they didn't build some gay ass Highlander clone doesn't mean it can't be a competent SUV... for christ's sake there aren't even any pictures of it yet!

The point of the matter is, there are ENOUGH of these damn clones running around as it is. Just adding another one and slapping a Saab badge on it isn't going to fool any current Saab owners. They're just going to move on over to the other Swede...the XC90.

You have to realize who Saab caters too. Your typical Saab owners isn't some mud-slinging off-roading type. They're educated professionals with sensible tastes. That is where car based SUV's come into the picture. And basing the 9-7 off the current 9-3 or 9-5 would have been the best bet. You'd have a TRUE Saab with the same handling dynamics and engines/transmissions that Saab owners are used to.

The SRX platform would have been just as good, but GM is too cheap to use the platform for Saab, so they pawn off another Trailblazer clone.

I'd take a gander to say that the 25% of Saab owners leaving for SUVs aren't going after truck-based SUV's. They're going after RX330's, SRX's, FX45's, XC90's, MDX's, X5's, etc. Anything Trailblazer based has nothing on those vehicles in refinement/handling/ride quality/etc....PERIOD.

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: NFS4

The point of the matter is, there are ENOUGH of these damn clones running around as it is. Just adding another one and slapping a Saab badge on it isn't going to fool any current Saab owners. They're just going to move on over to the other Swede...the XC90.

You have to realize who Saab caters too. Your typical Saab owners isn't some mud-slinging off-roading type. They're educated professionals with sensible tastes. That is where car based SUV's come into the picture. And basing the 9-7 off the current 9-3 or 9-5 would have been the best bet. You'd have a TRUE Saab with the same handling dynamics and engines/transmissions that Saab owners are used to.

The SRX platform would have been just as good, but GM is too cheap to use the platform for Saab, so they pawn off another Trailblazer clone.

I'd take a gander to say that the 25% of Saab owners leaving for SUVs aren't going after truck-based SUV's. They're going after RX330's, SRX's, FX45's, XC90's, MDX's, X5's, etc. Anything Trailblazer based has nothing on those vehicles in refinement/handling/ride quality/etc....PERIOD.

Ok.

I'm not even going to argue with you anymore, as you seem to have the ability to read the minds of customers AROUND THE WORLD in the blink of an eye. Have you ever considered getting a job with Consumer Reports? I think they'd love your bias towards the popular brands of today and the whole car-based SUV thing.

Seriously, you should drop off a resume.

 

[Spac3d]

Saab is crap.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: N8Magic

Originally posted by: NFS4

The point of the matter is, there are ENOUGH of these damn clones running around as it is. Just adding another one and slapping a Saab badge on it isn't going to fool any current Saab owners. They're just going to move on over to the other Swede...the XC90.

You have to realize who Saab caters too. Your typical Saab owners isn't some mud-slinging off-roading type. They're educated professionals with sensible tastes. That is where car based SUV's come into the picture. And basing the 9-7 off the current 9-3 or 9-5 would have been the best bet. You'd have a TRUE Saab with the same handling dynamics and engines/transmissions that Saab owners are used to.

The SRX platform would have been just as good, but GM is too cheap to use the platform for Saab, so they pawn off another Trailblazer clone.

I'd take a gander to say that the 25% of Saab owners leaving for SUVs aren't going after truck-based SUV's. They're going after RX330's, SRX's, FX45's, XC90's, MDX's, X5's, etc. Anything Trailblazer based has nothing on those vehicles in refinement/handling/ride quality/etc....PERIOD.

Ok.

I'm not even going to argue with you anymore, as you seem to have the ability to read the minds of customers AROUND THE WORLD in the blink of an eye. Have you ever considered getting a job with Consumer Reports? I think they'd love your bias towards the popular brands of today and the whole car-based SUV thing.

Seriously, you should drop off a resume.

Take a look at what Ford is doing with Volvo. Then take a look at what GM is doing with Saab. Ford has managed to breathe life into Volvo, keep its heritage, and even add an SUV that has Volvo written all over it from safety to engines/transmissions/suspension to it's overall look. Hell, Ford has even seen it fit to give Volvo the hi-po S60-R and V70-R.

Then you look at Saab and just shake your head

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: N8Magic

Originally posted by: NFS4

The point of the matter is, there are ENOUGH of these damn clones running around as it is. Just adding another one and slapping a Saab badge on it isn't going to fool any current Saab owners. They're just going to move on over to the other Swede...the XC90.

You have to realize who Saab caters too. Your typical Saab owners isn't some mud-slinging off-roading type. They're educated professionals with sensible tastes. That is where car based SUV's come into the picture. And basing the 9-7 off the current 9-3 or 9-5 would have been the best bet. You'd have a TRUE Saab with the same handling dynamics and engines/transmissions that Saab owners are used to.

The SRX platform would have been just as good, but GM is too cheap to use the platform for Saab, so they pawn off another Trailblazer clone.

I'd take a gander to say that the 25% of Saab owners leaving for SUVs aren't going after truck-based SUV's. They're going after RX330's, SRX's, FX45's, XC90's, MDX's, X5's, etc. Anything Trailblazer based has nothing on those vehicles in refinement/handling/ride quality/etc....PERIOD.

Ok.

I'm not even going to argue with you anymore, as you seem to have the ability to read the minds of customers AROUND THE WORLD in the blink of an eye. Have you ever considered getting a job with Consumer Reports? I think they'd love your bias towards the popular brands of today and the whole car-based SUV thing.

Seriously, you should drop off a resume.

Well what do you suggest GM do with SAAB? Personally, I don't think an SUV with SAAB's quirky handling (or lack of..apart from the newest 9-3) would be quite safe , so I'm sure the Trailblazer chassis will improve on that.