The 9-3 is again in the shop, (needed a new thermostat), but this time my loaner story is a bit more interesting that the "Kia Rio":http://ned.suckahs.org/archives/002686.php of last week. You see, I was given a 2004 "9-2X":http://www.saabusa.com/saabjsp/92x loaner -- albeit, the base model. What's funny, however, is that I came away from the experience feeling once again that "Saab":http://saabusa.com is _harming its brand_. Why you ask?
First, this is _not_ a _Saab_. I don't care if it has a 9-3 front-end, and "griffin logo":http://home.swipnet.se/danny/saablogos.htm slapped on the wheel... the overall character of the car _screams_ Japanese. Based on the "Subaru WRX":http://www.subaru.com/servlet/showroom?track=topnav_s&command=overview&webModelName=IMPREZA&modelYear=2005&webTrimName=WRX_SPORT_WAGON, Saab supposedly added a few stylistic and performance "enhancements".
I should note that it handles well, (AWD is standard), and was fun to hit the MassPike exit ramps at a high velocity. But, as an automatic, and lacking Turbo, (which Saab invented), I felt like I should have a couple of kiddos in the back seat.
The interior was surprisingly sparse -- the displays were old-fashioned gray LCD, and the radio knobs was pretty low-end. In short, is lacks the Saab _experience_. When I first test-drove my 9-3, I felt as if I was in an airplane cockpit, with its short windshield, ignition between the seats, (rather than on the steering column), and the way the controls lit up. By comparison, the 9-2X feels very much like all the other cars you've ridden in.
Overall, it is a fine car -- though I'm not sure why one wouldn't just go buy the Subaru version. "GM":http://gm.com, (Saab's parent company), is probably trying to attract a lower-priced market segment -- 20-somethings who are attracted to the Saab brand, but who aren't looking to spend $30k.
It was a risky gamble, toying with the unique character of Saab... that said, I don't think I've ever seen a 9-2X on the road, though there are a glut of old 900s and 9-3s parked in my neighborhood.
Saab 9-2X
The 9-3 is again in the shop, (needed a new thermostat), but this time my loaner story is a bit more interesting that the "Kia Rio":http://ned.suckahs.org/archives/002686.php of last week. You see, I was given a 2004 "9-2X":http://www.saabusa.com/saabjsp/92x loaner -- albeit, the base model. What's funny, however, is that I came away from the experience feeling once again that "Saab":http://saabusa.com is _harming its brand_. Why you ask?
First, this is _not_ a _Saab_. I don't care if it has a 9-3 front-end, and "griffin logo":http://home.swipnet.se/danny/saablogos.htm slapped on the wheel... the overall character of the car _screams_ Japanese. Based on the "Subaru WRX":http://www.subaru.com/servlet/showroom?track=topnav_s&command=overview&webModelName=IMPREZA&modelYear=2005&webTrimName=WRX_SPORT_WAGON, Saab supposedly added a few stylistic and performance "enhancements".
I should note that it handles well, (AWD is standard), and was fun to hit the MassPike exit ramps at a high velocity. But, as an automatic, and lacking Turbo, (which Saab invented), I felt like I should have a couple of kiddos in the back seat.
The interior was surprisingly sparse -- the displays were old-fashioned gray LCD, and the radio knobs was pretty low-end. In short, is lacks the Saab _experience_. When I first test-drove my 9-3, I felt as if I was in an airplane cockpit, with its short windshield, ignition between the seats, (rather than on the steering column), and the way the controls lit up. By comparison, the 9-2X feels very much like all the other cars you've ridden in.
Overall, it is a fine car -- though I'm not sure why one wouldn't just go buy the Subaru version. "GM":http://gm.com, (Saab's parent company), is probably trying to attract a lower-priced market segment -- 20-somethings who are attracted to the Saab brand, but who aren't looking to spend $30k.
It was a risky gamble, toying with the unique character of Saab... that said, I don't think I've ever seen a 9-2X on the road, though there are a glut of old 900s and 9-3s parked in my neighborhood.
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