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Location: The Golden State
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Ecclestone to buy Saab
Did I read this correct, Mr. comb over buying a car company?
Bernie Ecclestone to Buy Saab? - Formula One Blog - NYTimes.com Hasn’t he done enough to Formula One, first popularizing it then consuming it with ego? Maybe Bernie and Flavio should come out of the closet and retire to some desolate island.
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Rod... 2010 - 997 PDK, Black on Black, Daily driver. 1987 - 930 Grand Prix White, Not looking for crazy HP, just harmony! |
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01-08-2010, 07:03 PM
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Well, Saab is otherwise going into liquidation, so being bought by Bernie wouldn't be worse.
I think it all depends on how much the Swedish government will finance Saab's rescue. Saab was losing >$300MM/yr in 2005-2008 and probably lost more in 2009. The marque has been killed over the past year, everyone knows Saab is on its last legs, people have stopped buying, sales have collapsed (I think they are selling like 2,000 cars a month in all of Europe now). It says something really bad that not even the Chinese are interested in buying Saab.
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1989 3.2 Carrera coupe; 1988 Westy Vanagon, Zetec; 1986 E28 M30; 1994 W124; 2004 S211 What? Uh . . . “he” and “him”? |
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01-08-2010, 09:00 PM
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At that rate, even Bernie would eventually go broke... 
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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01-08-2010, 11:30 PM
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Dog-faced pony soldier
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He'll just mandate that the new Saab F1 team win every year like he's been doing for Ferrari.
I wonder what the details of his falling out with Scuderia are then...
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A car, a 911, a motorbike and a few surfboards Black Cars Matter |
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01-09-2010, 02:43 AM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
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Better than no Saab at all. GM killed their status as a quirky niche automaker, but I think there's still a market for a car that's "different". Not many (any?) Of those anymore.
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01-09-2010, 06:03 AM
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Model Citizen
Join Date: May 2007
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Not quite the same, but Morgan is still around, and I think even TVR, but I doubt they sell many cars at all these days. (and as enthusiasts, we can't forget Ariel Atom and KTM and Lotus)
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"I would be a tone-deaf heathen if I didn't call the engine astounding. If it had been invented solely to make noise, there would be shrines to it in Rome" |
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01-09-2010, 06:28 AM
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95 968 Cab, Speed Yellow, Kinesis Supercups, Promax chip, Big Reds, SS brake lines, 5/35 brake bias valve, H&R sport springs, mo30 sway bars, LSD, Brey Krause control arm brace, Dynatech billet strut brace, Cargraphic 100 cell cat and ss exhaust, Club Sport steering wheel, short shift, sport seats |
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01-09-2010, 08:42 AM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
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Morgan is still alive, at least as far as I know. They make the Aero 8, which is a sweet little car. All are very small makers though, Saab used to be a bigger company that made eclectic cars. They went south when GM tried to make them into a BMW clone and failed miserably.
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01-09-2010, 09:36 AM
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Cogito Ergo Sum
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01-09-2010, 10:02 AM
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There are 3 groups still looking at SAAB. Ecclestone, Konigsegg and an 'investor' group.
The Swedish government has said that they will not help fund the company. |
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01-09-2010, 10:50 AM
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Forbes lists Bernie's wealth at 2.7 billion...pretty sure he can afford this deal Bernie's financial arm is Genii Capital, which recently invested in Renault's F1 team.
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Rod... 2010 - 997 PDK, Black on Black, Daily driver. 1987 - 930 Grand Prix White, Not looking for crazy HP, just harmony! |
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01-09-2010, 04:42 PM
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Dog-faced pony soldier
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A car, a 911, a motorbike and a few surfboards Black Cars Matter |
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01-09-2010, 04:45 PM
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Porsche 911 SC, SAAB SPG
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC
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It seems obvious that GM doesn't really want to sell SAAB. They would rather kill it than compete against them.
How can you have so many interested parties only to have all of the deals fall through? GM did the same thing with Saturn. Penske made the deal, but GM changed the terms and Penske pulled out. It just doesn't make any sense why these buyers pull out for no apparent reason unless GM is making unrealistic demands. IMHO, GM would rather kill SAAB (and Saturn) so they do not have to compete against them in the future. Who knows what SAAB could do when released from the GM ball and chain.
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Jeff C |
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01-09-2010, 07:24 PM
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Oops, Not Konigsegg. You're right, they're out.
It's Spyker, Ecclestone and an investment group. |
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01-10-2010, 09:11 PM
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01-11-2010, 03:55 AM
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1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2
1986 Porsche 944 2.5l
