SAAB SUV

Sorry to ask this silly question ... but ... even in german magazines I read in a regularly manner "SUV". I know what it stands for but what is the full text version? I cannot find anything anywhere.

Greets and a good slide into the new year ;-)

"Hale" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:Z9NHb.683389$Tr4.1710084@attbi_s03...

I just can't understand why city people buy SUVs? What are they for? I just can't, I don't get it, I juts can't get it into my little head.

One of the typical answers from SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) owners is that they can't get the car seats (required by law) for their 3 (or more) children into anything smaller. In the US, an SUV is considered to be a truck, which allows it to have more relaxed fuel economy laws. These fuel economy laws (and the taxes imposed on cars that violate the law) are the primary reason that there is little availability in (what we consider to be) large cars. The only thing left that meets some people's needs is a truck - which in most cases is overkill. More vehicle choices are now again being made available by the manufacturers, but years without much choice have gotten people into the bad habit of buying the same thing they bought before. They also enjoy a vehicle that lets them be higher than they would be in a car (and block the view for the rest of us).

Other reasons why people buy SUV's:

1) 4 wheel drive. Not available in many cars (no US made cars that I can think of) and people think they need it, not realizing that ABS is probably more valuable than 4 wheel drive. 2) Towing capacity. Many cars are not rated for towing. The ones that can are only rated for the lightest duty - typically 1/2 ton. If you want to tow your boat or trailer, you need a truck.

I'm not saying that they are good reasons, but they are reasons just the same. Just my opinion.

As a side note on the fuel economy taxes, GM's Pontiac division will be importing a Holden as their new GTO model. The fuel economy from this Australian car is so bad, that the automatic transmission model has a disclaimer stating that there will be a $1,000 "Gas Guzzler" tax on it. The tax is deserved because it gets poorer fuel economy than all but the most gigantic SUV's.

Walt Kienzle

1991 9000T

I see quite a few high value SUVs around here; BWM X5, Mercs, Porche cayennes. These cars don't really offer much space, say a 9-5 estate would be just as good. But it may have something to do with image and status. Suppose that you want to show off that you're in the 40-50k+ car status set. Then if you buy a merc or other prestige limo, you have to worry a lot about keeping it nice and clean and free of sundry scratches, whereas such are more tolerable on a SUV as it's seen as more rugged. Hence easier ownership. Petrol (gas) consumption is heavy, but probably less important in this category for people with this kind of income. But I find the waste of energy disturbing, even if I could afford it. My 9000 CSE with 2.0 LPT is beutifully efficient for such a large car.

Happy New Year. Johannes

I agree with you completely. The models you mention are not the ones we typically see here, and are usually owned by someone wants to flaunt their wealth. The BMW and Mercedes have been in the US for awhile, but I believe the Porsche model was just recently introduced here. I don't believe I have seen any on the road yet. But then again, I might not have noticed, since all those big hulking things look alike to me. Of the advantages I mentioned, the only one these models offer is 4 wheel drive, at the expense of handling and fun (IMHO). Exactly as you say: a status symbol.

I also think my 9000 is the perfect car, but with mine being 12 years old and with 140K miles on it, I am in a quandary as to what a comparable replacement would be from the list of new car offerings. My choices are limited as I am excluding any cars that offer only automatic transmission, cannot comfortably seat 4 people, or has less than about 200hp. Oops, I think I just excluded every US model currently being offered. The requirement for manual transmission eliminated about 90% of the US models, the remaining models being cheap, small, and underpowered deathtraps, or the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette (another example of excess). The Mustang isn't exactly comfortable for 4 people, and I believe that my Saab gets better fuel economy.

Happy New Year to you also.

Walt Kienzle

I see a lot of 4-wheel drive luxury SUVs and others around East Tennessee. It's justifiable here. Add some rain or snow to the twisty steep hills and it comes in handy. Also have a lot of unpaved and gravel roads and long driveways. The usual luxury cars are rear wheel drive and not good under those conditions.

The 9000 CS suits them perfectly, though. Really pleased with how it has handled this winter in snow and ice. Also like the way the heater warms up so fast.

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Sport Utility Vehicle

Then explain "Sport" please?

Sport as in "throw your football gear in back" or "haul your boat to the lake", not sport as in "drive fast and have fun".

A lot of fools buy SUV's (and trucks) with 4WD and then drive with it at speed under the mistaken impression it helps you drive fast in the snow. Apparently they don't know the difference between 4WD and AWD.

It used to be that all the "cowboys" bought pickup trucks. Big toys for ungrown boys. Now they buy SUV's.

The Saab SUV is going to be built in Dayton, Ohio by the local General Motors plant.

You mean a SaabARU?

Dick in Falls Church

No, that would be the 9-2x and what a horrendous mistake that is, taking a Subaru and sticking a Griffin on it and call it a SAAB!

I am certain no selfrespecting SAAB owner would buy it. Only the slowpoke Subaru owners would consider it a trade up.

...and it is bloody ugly.

This factor - not the rest of your account, which makes interesting reading - also applies here in the UK, but there are plenty of other ways of buying a car with room for 3 or more children. For instance small-ish people carriers (minivans to Americans), with three rows of seats, such as the Renault Scenic and the Vauxhall Zafira are popular where I live in London. A criticism of these is that they don't have much boot space when you use all the seats, but I doubt if a big ostentatious 4-wheel drive would be much better.

Nevertheless you do see plenty of monster 4-wheel drives, including some American ones, in London. You even see some American-style pickups, which strike me as about the least suitable vehicle imaginable for our conditions. My suspicion is that a lot of the

4-wheel drives are only used for short school and shopping runs, so don't cover that many miles in a year, which may be why their owners aren't troubled by their heavy fuel consumption

Martin

No. That is the 9-2x

?

You probably drive an SUV as well.

Both the SAABaru and the monstertuckmadness 9-7x are the livingnightmare of what happens to a once original and well reputed car maker that becomes part of the GM "Family" of imbred brands...

Goes for both of them. I hope they NEVER dare to introduce them in Yurp!

Please see

Where are you, Walt?

My 1995 9000CS with 152,000 miles is blowing steam, because the turbo leaks coolant, so I'm probably going to replace the car. I might fix it, but I still haven't decided. Because of the leak, the wastegate is shut OPEN, giving too much boost, so I have to keep a light touch on the accelerator, or else the car bucks.

I need a hatchback. Can't live without it. My wife has a Honda Civic hatchback, and in many ways, it's the mini version of my car. It can really haul cargo! And the back seats really aren't too bad. And the Honda, because it is small, short, and light, really corners much better than my Saab. Whee.

I might buy a 9-5 wagon or a VW Passat wagon. No sedan for me. As I said, I need a hatchback. They are both available with manual transmission. I haven't owned an automatic yet.

The 9-5 is pretty expensive, even used. I only buy used cars. And I think it has gotten too technologically advanced. I don't want a fancy multi-hundred-dollar key with a chip embedded in it. I'll break it or lose it. The $50 key on my Saab is already too expensive.

I'm also considering a Subaru wagon. They are available with manual transmission.

And for the unthinkable thought, I am also considering a minivan. OH NO! But I test drove, and I know this isn't a glowing review, but they really don't drive badly. They handle pretty well! And since so many moms drive them, market demand has made them pretty crashworthy. But not a single minivan comes with a manual transmission.

One reason I need a wagon or minivan is that I have a wife, two kids, and now I have a large dog, i.e. a greyhound, who is very tall.

I test drove the Dodge. I hate this company, but as hard as I tried, I could not hate this car. The handling and acceleration on this car were good! So was visibility. Damn. No wonder it sells so well. But does the horrible resale value mean it breaks down a lot after a few miles? Normally, low resale value is good for someone like me, since I buy used, but this looks fishy.

The Honda minivan is the best. The third seat folds flush into the floor. Very slick. But they are VERY expensive, even used.

Any insights?

Overall, I think I'm leaning to the Passat wagon. Sorry to leave the Saab fold after 13 years. This is my third Saab, and I might be saying goodbye.

Take a look at the Mazda Protege5 -- I think that's what it's called. It's the wagon/hatchback version of the Protege Mazda brought out a couple of years ago.

I had an early Protege hatchback. Much roomier than you'd think. It was the most trouble free car I'll ever own. Mazda makes good manual transmissions, they're particularly well suited to city driving.

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