As I was reading about the new Saab 9-3 SportCombi in this week's Autoweek I couldn't help but think, poor Saab is in a losing situation. The company has been completely brought into the GM fold. If the car isn't a rebadged job of one of GMs other brands, it at least shares its underpinnings with one.

Saab has not made a good return on GM's investment in it. With that in mind, I understand the General's decision to share platforms. (Rebadging is never acceptable, BTW.) Because of this platform sharing, and regrettibly the rebadging, GM may actually turn Saab around. Maybe break-even someday. Turning a profit might be the worst thing that could happend to Saab.

The Brass at GM are and always will be bean counters. Once Saab shows new signs of life with rebadged Buicks and Subies, what will be GM's motivation to let Saab return to making cars of it's own again? In GM's eyes this will never make good business sense. Time and time again GM has proven they will always take the cheaper route.

Let's all take a moment and pray Saab fails.

If anyone wants a Saabaru for cheap I guess they are offering $5000 rebates on the 9-2X. It's basicly a WRX with a Saab body, plus you get 2 years free maintenance. Theoretically you can get one for a couple grand cheaper than a WRX + the free maintenance and have nearly the fun of owning a WRX.

I've never understood putting different badges on the same car or why that would even work on the selling side. Does it bank entirely on brand loyalty? I think of the time when there existed both the Dodge AND Plymouth Neon. Did they just do that because they assumed Plymouth people will continue to buy Plymouth, or was it that they just needed some kinda car to put on the Plymouth lots??

Ike, just checked out the 9-2X's on Saab's website. I like it, generally, except that it's a wagon.

I've never understood putting different badges on the same car or why that would even work on the selling side. Does it bank entirely on brand loyalty? I think of the time when there existed both the Dodge AND Plymouth Neon. Did they just do that because they assumed Plymouth people will continue to buy Plymouth, or was it that they just needed some kinda car to put on the Plymouth lots??

Ike, just checked out the 9-2X's on Saab's website. I like it, generally, except that it's a wagon.

For the right person looking for a fun car that needs some extra cargo room it's a steal though.

I've always hated everything about saab. Even their turbo cars suck ass. I wouldn't mind seeing them fail.

Bought a 9-5 Aero Wagon last fall at an excellent price, largely to get one of the last true Saabs. Love the car. A great anti-suv.