Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Saab
Comment Corner: Saab more Gen Y than BMW, Mercedes-Benz?
In response to the post, Generation Y continues to flummox automakers, Autoblog reader JohnA writes: This article claims Saabs are appealing to gen-Y types
"This article" shows that 1.28-percent of Americans age 18-24 will consider purchasing a Saab as their vehicle according to research firm, Conway Inc. (CNW). While writer Alex Law admits the figure does not sound very high, he points out that the Jeep Wrangler only garnered 16.92 percent as the highest desired vehicle. Not a single BMW or Mercedes-Benz model even received the minimum one percent to make CNW's list. Law writes that image contributes to the Saab's appeal among Gen Y buyers... in other words, mom and dad's matching Bimmers aren't helping that company's cred with the younger crowd. Law covers Saab's entire lineup, and declares the 9-3 convertible to be his unabashed favorite.
Let's hear it from the 18-24 crowd. Are Saabs cool?
[Source: Auto 123]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
James 4:12PM (5/29/2006)
Saab's are cool. Well, they would be cool if they didn't break all the time.
But they're gorgeous and have nice interiors and turbo power, which us useful types like.
My dad just sold his 9-3 Aero 6M Convertible (2004) because it always had something broken. He's 52.
-James (Age 18)
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Keija 4:13PM (5/29/2006)
Saabs are really cool!!
a driend of mines mom bought a saab 9-3 Convertible and it looks amazing
.. I'd stick with audis though! but i think theire designs are comparable :)
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Steve 4:15PM (5/29/2006)
No.
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Adam 4:17PM (5/29/2006)
I'm a 21 year old male. Given the funds, I would buy a Saab 9-3 sedan or SportCombi but not the cabriolet. Now that they've gone and beat the 9-5 with an ugly stick, it's unapproachable. And while the 9-2X and 9-7X from time to time look good, since I know what's underneath, I have no desire to drive one.
However, I would much prefer and Audi A4 or Volvo S40 to a Saab 9-3. Or a Mazda 3 to that Saab.
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Blah Blah 4:18PM (5/29/2006)
I am 21 and have recently traded cars with my dad for a few months because he drives so many miles(750 per week). It is a Saab 2003 9-3 Arc. I haven't driven many luxury cars but the 9-3 is a damn nice car. Mine is black with a grey leather intrerior and inside and out it is a really cool looking car. It is a lot of fun to drive even though it is a little heavy. The breaks are awesome and I get around 34 mpg when I am on the highway and 28 mpg in town. It has 80,000 on it and has never had one problem.
So after babbling for so long I would not consider the 9-5 or the 9-7, ever. I think the 9-3 is a cool car especially if you can get into a base model one for around $25,000. I have driven the 9-2 aero, which was cool, but I wouldn't buy one for no 27,000, ever.
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jared 4:19PM (5/29/2006)
NO. sorry they are not cool. above post proves it even though he does not realize it.
"Saabs are really cool!!
a driend of mines mom bought a saab 9-3 Convertible and it looks amazing"
Keywords "mom bought"
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Alex Zhao 4:21PM (5/29/2006)
im 17 and i don't like saab's, maybe if i wait one more year...
but seriously, what gm is doing to them is horrible. The 9-3 is okay, but I'd rather buy japanese
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The Driver 4:24PM (5/29/2006)
NO saabs are not cool. Yes I'm part of the younger crowd. Saabs to us are like equivalents of Volvo and Buick. In my hemisphere (northern) young drivers would much rather have a Benz or a BMW than a saaah.
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Merkis 4:28PM (5/29/2006)
I'm 18 and I think Saabs are nice.
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Sam 4:35PM (5/29/2006)
I'm a 21 yr old male, and out of the entire Saab lineup, the only one I would be interested in is the 9-3 convertible. I like the little quirks that make a Saab a "Saab" and I kinda have a thing for Scandinavian cars in general. That said, I prefer my TL ...it is much more appealing overall, as is the Lexus IS.
I also must admit I have a thing for Volvos and if I ever settle down and have/adopt a kid or something, that's probably what I'd get.
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the chad 4:44PM (5/29/2006)
I fit the demographic, and I personally really like the Saab 9-3 and 9-5. Though not so much the new 9-5. The model cycle right before that was great though. They're right up there (if not a little higher) with BMW 3's and 5's and the Benz C-Class for me, which are some of the cars I really like.
Actually, to clarify, I don't like any of the new Bimmers, just the last gen's, and if the new C looks anything like the S, it'll be a while before I can adjust to it, if I ever do.
Wow, why did all the Euro brands go through and fuglify their lineups?
And contrary to The Driver, I live in SF Bay Area, and Benz and Bimmers are EVERYWHERE, so I'd take a Saab just cause there aren't nearly as many.
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LittleJoeyStalin 4:45PM (5/29/2006)
Being 27, I'm a Gen X'er and maybe that's why I don't enjoy the Saabs. The could very well be wonderful cars, but GM ownership doesn't help the brand any. I think of Saab owners the same way I think of classic (non s-series) Volvo, or maybe Prius owners. Ownership stereotypes point me to middle-aged, left-wing, former hippies with an affinity for the enviornment. Saabs aren't really for people who need status symbols, but along with a Prius, tend to invoke a certain snootiness.
But that's just an opinion. People want Saabs? Let them drive Saabs!
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Kennymacks 4:51PM (5/29/2006)
I am 23 years old and recently bought a black 2006 Toyota Avalon Limited. The reason I chose this "senior citizen's car" is because it's a sleeping speeder that is great on gas mileage and has excellent resale value. I have 268 horsepower at my disposal and the police don't even give me a second look!
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Simon Speichert 4:56PM (5/29/2006)
I'm a 23 year old male and I love Saabs. I'll be ready to buy my first vehicle in a couple years and have made my decision already - it'll be a 9-3.
Why? Saabs are just different. They don't look like anything else on the road, they're stylish, they're reasonably fast, and they're comfortable. Not to mention their reputation for safety.
The only problem for Saab is this demographic, for the most part, can't afford to buy them new. I was at my local Saab dealership a couple weeks ago and was dismayed to see the list price for a loaded 9-3 Aero was $43,000 Canadian. I'd love to be able to buy a brand new Saab, but it's not going to happen. Saab lovers are pretty savvy, and we know that they depreciate like nothing else - sometimes as much as half their list price in three years. If Saab wants to stick around, they need to lower their prices or market to people who can afford to buy their cars.
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European 4:57PM (5/29/2006)
I just love that 9-3 cabrio and 9-7x! I just don't know why they don't sell 9-7x in my Croatia.
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Keija 4:57PM (5/29/2006)
@jared
I'm 18 and live in germany. Here it is one of the most unrealistic things to own/buy a new car, besides entry level cars like VW Fox or Toyota Aygo.
I really like the saabs design. And i think it is way cooler to own a good looking non-mainstream car, than a crappy designed "everyone-owns-it-so-they're-cool" BMW! here, BMW's, especially older 3-series bimmers, are mostly driven by younger turkish people. .. it's ridicolous.
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European 4:57PM (5/29/2006)
I just love that 9-3 cabrio and 9-7x! I just don't know why they don't sell 9-7x in Croatia.
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charlie 4:58PM (5/29/2006)
First of all, saabs and BMWs/MBs arent really the same price bracket. It would be more saab vs volvo, and between the two, I think the s40 is the nicest.
If I had the money to consider a 3-series, I would take it no questions. If I didnt, then yeah I would shop saab and volvo.
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FSZero 4:58PM (5/29/2006)
I'm 24 and I think saabs are a POS, their models don't look very updated compared to bmw or benz. There is very little respect for driving a saab in my opinion.
Why buy a saab, when a bmw/audi/mercedes/lexus cost around the same which are also more upscale and reliable.
I currently own a bmw 06 330i and I'm loving it
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MauiDan 5:04PM (5/29/2006)
I'm 22 and a big fan of european cars in general. Saab has really improved it's image over the past few years, but I'm not sure I would choose it over an Audi or BMW (probably over Mercedes though). The 9-3 Convertible would be my convertible of choice. There are a few here on Maui and they sure are sporty looking.
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