Saab 9-3 is getting GM-ified

Sun-Times News Group http://snipurl.com/1kfd1

One of the things that attracted me to the 9-3
http://snipurl.com/Saab_sucks was its quirky nature. I liked the waffle
cone air vents and the cup holder that pops out of the dash and the key
that looks like a wine stopper and the ignition on the center console
and the unique audio interface. That’s what made the 9-3 a Saab and not
just another GM product.

While much of the Saabness remains, I am starting to see some
GMification.

The most obvious place the 9-3 has been GMified is the audio interface.
It has that large center dial on the dash to adjust the volume
surrounded by the preset buttons and topped by a glowing green digital
screen that displays station information. It’s certainly more user
friendly than the previous interface. But it’s generic and unattractive.

Some of the interior materials have also been GMified. By that I mean
they do not show the level of quality that should be associated with a
luxury brand. Take the quirky cup holder as an example. It’s still just
as quirky, but it’s also incredibly flimsy in a way that I don’t
remember. I thought I’d break the holder just by putting an 8-ounce
water bottle in it.

Then there was the issue of the sliding armrest. I’m short enough and
sit far forward enough that I don’t even touch the armrest. But I had a
passenger during the test week who kept bumping it with his elbow, and
it would shoot forward or backward depending on where he hit it. I
don’t know if it was broken or poor planning, but either way it didn’t
win any points with this driver...

And, for the record, when people ask me what car I’d buy, I do still
answer: Saab 9-3.
==========
Saab, Onstar and GM - they blow http://snipurl.com/they_blow