Comments on: On Saab 9-4x road tests

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:15:00 +0000

Hi Swade. How has sales been of the 9-4x in the US the first couple of months? I guess production has not been affected by the problems with the factory in Sweden?

By: R. Piereck

R. Piereck — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 23:04:00 +0000

SAAB also needs a diesel engine for the Eeuropean market. I can imagine a lot of potential buyers in Europe are shying away from the 9-4x due to no diesel engien being available.

By: Jose Nino

Jose Nino — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:01:00 +0000

Thanks for sharing AJ.

By: Steven Wade

Steven Wade — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 05:46:00 +0000

I can see the HUD being the #1 method where it exists. No HUD in the 9-4x, though. Don’t know if there are any plans to add it.

By: Just Saab

Just Saab — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:27:00 +0000

I tweeted a response to C & D’s review, referencing Peter Dorrich’s role (the best I could with a generous 38 characters). I should be used to auto-journo’s ‘kick a brand when it’s down’ behavior by now but the lack of relevant, accurate (and very important) information from the highest level of auto-journalism amazes me. I won’t belabor the points that Steven has so eloquently made. I will simply say, ‘I agree’.

My point in writing is to share a story relevant to the entry:

My first point:
Tonight we had a couple in looking at new Saabs. They own a new Cadillac SRX. They came to the store surprised that Saab still existed…Admittedly they fell prey to the media’s coverage of ‘GM’s shedding of brands’ ending when Saturn, Hummer, Pontiac and Saab were announced as the brands they’ll extract from their portfolio (another story).

They loved the ‘new’ Saab styling i.e. NG 9-5, 9-4x, and 9-3 sedan. They even gushed over the styling of the 9-4x. Particularly when I told them it shared architecture with their SRX. He admitted he liked Saab’s styling better…said the lines were more ‘natural’…as he pointed to his tail lights.

They left pleasantly surprised at what Saab had to offer. They were equally as baffled by why the message wasn’t being communicated (more effectively) that we’re not dead and that our product portfolio is so impressive (these folks were comparing us with the cream of the Euro crop: Merc, BMW, Audi, etc).

My second point:
We’re seeing increasing interest in the 9-4x. Sales are starting off far better than the new 9-5 did. The challenge is inventory…we have just 2 in Dayton and only one in Cincinnati. We’re having to buy from other dealers.
Despite all the forces pulling us down, people are still buying Saabs. And not just bargain-basement, giveaway-priced Saabs, either. 9-4s are selling at little discount off sticker which is a product of ‘right-pricing’, the Aero 9-5 is the best selling 9-5 in our store and the 9-5 is outselling the 9-3 combi, convertible and sedan…combined.

A good sign, right?

So, simply (<–tongue-in-cheek) get the news going in the right direction, re-start production, get us the inventory of 9-4's, and I assure you the North American dealers will get this train back on track.

AJ Murphy
Just Saab

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:18:00 +0000

I read the article and was so hurt that I would cancel my subscription. If I had one.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:15:00 +0000

You’re right about the altimeter – as a NG 9-5 Aero owner, its the center display that I use most often; however, I find the HUD the most convenient way to monitor speed. Saab’s HUD needs a little refining but its my favorite feature on the NG 9-5!

By: Jose Nino

Jose Nino — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:35:00 +0000

Saab needs to drop a 4 cylinder turbo in this SUV. The Audi Q5 with the 2.0T has been flying off the shelves, and it can’t be that much lighter than the 9-4X. Besides, we all know Saab’s 4 cylinder turbos have no equal.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:19:00 +0000

But you also have to take into consideration that the Saab has a much more original- and way better – design then the SRX, which – unfortunately – not necessarily makes better sales-numbers in a mainstream and “lowest-common-factor-market” ….
The same with the suspension: The Saab is a little harder, as I understand what I have been reading – which most Saab-fans will see as an advantage – in contradiction to the main-stream, I presume…
So all in all : I don’t see any proportionality between real quality and sales-numbers at all – unfortunately.

By: Steve C.

Steve C. — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:10:00 +0000

They called it a “Short Take Road Test” but it was more like short shrift. Quite an outlier review compared to most of the others. But did they really have to add insult to injury with their closing comments about checking out the competition first? I hope that doesn’t dissuade interested folks to check out the 9-4X. Hopefully, those folks will see the other reviews too!