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This Scandinavian sure can fly

By: Ryan Konko

It’s a beautiful day, clear skies, sunny, warm, perfect for a ride in a jet. Instead of heading over to the airport, I grabbed the keys to a Saab 9-3 Aero to see if it holds true to Saab’s “Born from Jets” heritage.

The exterior styling of the 9-3 Aero is sleek. It looks more like some sort of aircraft inspired machine, ready to take off and break the sound barrier. The light strips located on top of the xenon headlights give the 9-3 both a state of the art and menacing look at night. Overall the 9-3 appears to have been designed by a few aircraft engineers who worked on the Stealth Fighter.

You cannot fly on looks alone however. If this Saab is going to look like a fighter jet, it must have the ability to provide large amounts of thrust as well as housing a full arsenal of weapons. The 9-3 Aero has this in spades. Saab holds true to its roots here with a powerful turbocharged V-6 engine with 280 horsepower. Since the 1970’s Saab has been turbocharging its engines, and this one does not disappoint. Flooring the gas pedal I’m tempted to get on the radio with air traffic control to confirm it is clear for takeoff. On the highway the car accelerates with great ease. Flying from 60mph to 90mph takes only a couple seconds, yes it does have afterburners. There are two downsides with this engine; it achieves poor gas mileage, and there are hints of turbo lag. These drawbacks will be forgotten once the jet like exhaust is heard.

Inside the cockpit you are welcomed by soft leather seats and ample amounts of room. The controls are laid out, easy to read and use for the driver. The cupholder is a unique and quirky design, but is spoiled by cheap plastics and impracticality. The gauges are well laid out, and Saab’s trademark Night Panel is standard, which automatically darkens the entire gauge cluster except for the speedometer for easier night driving. The ignition is still located in the center console, just like a traditional Saab and add’s to its quirkyness. A cooled glovebox is standard along with a Parking Assist system. Build quality seems to be good. There are hints of subpar quality in things such as the cupholder, and center console plastics. You will be left feeling you are in first class, however there are no free peanuts.

Safety is one of Saab’s top priorities. All carry on luggage should be stowed in the trunk behind you before takeoff. Make sure your seatbelt is fastened tightly around your hips, and should be worn at all times. In the event of a water landing, Saab XWD will assist you in staying on the road as well as a traction control and electronic stability control. If a rear end collision occurs Saab Active Head Restraints will prevent whiplash injuries. On Star will assist you in an case of an accident. Thank you for flying Saab airways, sit back and enjoy your flight.

The new Saab 9-3 does have that traditional Saab heritage and feel in some ways. It has an aerodynamic exterior, a strong powertrain, and comfortable and safe cockpit. The gas mileage is subpar, and it comes with a hefty price tag of $44,000. Even so, this 9-3 feels like a jet ready to take off into the clouds.

By: James Sawers

Saab cars have always been known for their quirky ways, their owners, and their design. They have always had a loyal following, usually associated with the latte sipping lefties of society. Saabs are an international icon, an icon on the edge of being out of business. Saab is a Sweedish automaker that has been under the management and control of General Motors since 1990. This column is not about Saab per se as much as it is about the lesson we can learn in business from the acquisition made in 1990.

Saab was once a car company known for innovation, engineering, reliability, quality, and safety. Today many don’t even consider a Saab when thinking of purchasing a car. General Motors had an opportunity and wasted it with this Saab business deal. Once a company always in the black, Saab became debt ridden and in the red constantly. They are a Sweedish icon that was denied a bailout in December 2008. This has left no option but for GM to put the brand up for sale, probably a blessing in disguise.

First we must take a look at Saab pre-GM to understand why they are in the current situation. Saab was a well perceived, quirky brand, and was known to the world as solid, reliable, jet inspired cars. They had turbo engines, diesels, safety, innovation, distinct styling, and a loyal following. In fact it was once reported in 1988 that nearly 66% of Saab buyers bought a Saab again when they purchased a new car. Two-thirds loyalty among the customer base in enviable for all business. Even Wal-Mart can’t touch those numbers, yet today, in 2009 that number is a small 20% for Saab. A 46% drop is not acceptable and needs to be investigated. General Motors let Saab fail, and here is why:

• Poor Quality
• Poor investment into an “investment”
• Generic design
• Lack of pride and soul in the product
• Poor materials, fit and finish, and quality
• Mass produced cars built on true assembly lines
• Arrogance, refusing to listen to the customer

This leads one to believe that General Motors management isn’t capable of managing anything, let alone the world’s second largest automaker and the Saab division.

General Motors management needs to take a lesson from a successful Indian car company, Tata Motor Group. In 2007, Tata finalized a deal with Ford Motor Company and purchased Jaguar. Jaguar was another brand that was hurt dreadfully by poor American management that wanted to produce Jaguar for the masses, as GM did with Saab. Ford hurt Jaguar in many ways and eventually almost to the complete failure of Jaguar. Ring a bell GM? Tata has successfully turned Jaguar around with innovative products, engineering, and design. The root of success for Tata is simply to be a financial backer and in the end successful investor in Jaguar. Tata allowed Jaguar to return to its soul, roots, and heritage.

Tata is a formidable buyer for the likes of Saab. Saab carries a global name, a loyal following, and a true heritage. General Motors ruined Saab. It alienated its customer base, it ruined the products it made, and manufactured Saab on the cheap. It tried to make Saab appeal to the masses and in the end that plan failed miserably. General Motors ruined Saab so much that even Hummer, a division that loses four times more money annually was sold faster to a Chinese firm.

The title of this column mentions the importance of Saab. That importance isn’t in the brand itself, but rather the lessons that can be learned from the debacle of a deal GM made 19 years ago. It’s a lesson in business that can be learned and should be learned from. In the auto world or any business remember the old adage: “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it” and remember the General Motors and Saab deal that took place over the course of 19 gloomy years.

 (Photo Source: VW)

By: Ryan Konko

With everyone today concerned with global warming and the environment one of the greenest decisions you can make is to buy a…diesel.

Wait…a diesel? Yes a diesel. The TDI engine gets great gas mileage, and is rated at 30 mpg city and 41 mpg highway although higher numbers were observed on my drive. Great gas mileage doesn’t make a car green though. The Jetta TDI has very low CO2 emissions and low nitrogen oxide emissions to meet requirements in all 50 states. The great thing is that you get all this green technology without the smug hybrid badged plastered all over your car letting everyone know you’re saving the world.

Outside the Jetta looks like some kind of pop culture icon, something that everyone can enjoy no matter what age you are. It’s styling doesn’t offend or look mean at all, rather it appears playful and fun. Inside it is the opposite. It seems average, nothing in the interior really sets it apart from its competition. Controls are well laid out and easy to use, but are very basic controls. The high point of the interior were the steering wheel and gague cluster. The steering wheel controls were well designed and easy to use, while notorious red and blue gagues are easy to read while driving. The interior seems very basic and almost boring but after you start the engine and start raking up the mpg’s you forget about it all.

Driving the Jetta was rewarding. Not only was it great to see the mpg gauge stay around 30-60 mpg and sometimes climb into triple digits, but the car was quick for only having 140 hp. The Jetta feels like it has more power than its 8.5 second 0-60 mph time suggests. This TDI’s secret weapon is torque and it has plenty of it, 236 lb-ft from only 1750 rpm. With all this torque I found myself squealing tires a few times. This power lets Jetta tackles hills easily, many times not even requiring a downshift. The six speed DSG transmission is wonderfully smooth, shifts quick, and has a fun sport shift mode. Handling is what you would expect from a German sedan, it feels solid and sporty, although there was some body roll in harder corners. It feels capable at highway speeds and provides a comfortable ride.

Starting at $22,270 the Jetta TDI is a wise choice for a car. It provides great gas mileage, low emissions and surprising fun. With diesel fuel less expensive in most areas than gasoline and the incredible gas mileage, it gives hybrids a run for their money. Diesels have a reputation of lasting forever, while hybrids may have to have their batteries replaced after years of use. Plus who wants their car covered in hybrid badges?

by James Sawers

In the automotive industry some companies are more successful than others, but it sees that no matter what the companies make it through their rocky times. Recently General Motors and Chrysler have not fared very well. For the first time in 100+ years of business GM declared bankruptcy. A sad day for them and their history for sure. Chrysler LLC. This week was purchased by Italian automaker Fiat AG, something that those who follow the industry did not find surprising.

This brings me to Daimler AG. The Germans have their “Big Three” and two are in serious trouble. BMW AG and Daimler together only sell a bit over 3 million units COMBINED. The third competitor VW AG sells more than double that figure with their units.

Can Daimler succeed? My answer is in the short-term yes, they can. Daimler has reset the way the do business as of late internally at their company. Daimler (Parent of Mercedes-Benz) has gone to their ways of the past, when their products were known as “German tanks”, cars that led in technological advances, lasted forever, and were top quality. They were truly worth what you paid for them. The reason for this turnaround? CEO Dieter Zetsche has gone back to the mantra “Built to a standard, not a price”. This enables engineers and designers to focus on the product, the overall car, and the experience of owning a Mercedes-Benz again.

There is a needed improvement, as since 2006 sales have fallen nearly 25% and with the international financial crisis, the failed marriage with Chrylser, and a modern reputation for not being very quality and reliable, Diamler needed to make a change. It all started with the 2008 Mercedes Benz C-Class and will continue with the 2010 E-Class. Daimler has focused on engineering vehicles in Germany again, and working on improving its image as well.

Business has been awful as of late for the entire industry. Daimler sells only 1.9 million units annually, including their Smart brand, and in order to survive with revenues and profits to be used for advancing technology, funding redesigns, and working on building a better business, the company needs to expand. Sources say that Daimler may think of working with the French automaker Peugot/Citroen AG to expand their business and their ability to sell more units. The downside is that some on the Board of Directors are nervous about this, following the disaster with Chrysler (Daimler lost $2.5 billion in the deal).

Daimler has a major advantage in this situation that costs virtually nothing, they are very well known internationally. The company has a heritage, history, and elegance to it that very few can match. They are on the cutting edge of technology and design.

The question remains, Can Daimler succeed by “Building to a standard, not a price?”. My opinion is that they absolutely can. Americans want to get what they pay for. The average sale price of a Mercedes-Benz is the U.S. in 2008 was $46,000. That figure shows that the C-Class and E-Class were the most successful models for this company. By focusing on these models, improving marketing, design, quality, reliability, and an overall business model to be more successful globally, Daimler can truly be THE standard once again in the United States and the world.

(Photo Source: JD Power)

By: Ryan Konko

As a company Suzuki started out manufacturing weaver looms, now they make cars. Can a company that started out making tools for the ancient art of weaving create a fun and practical car?

Taking a look at the SX4 Crossover its design doesn’t really stand out against the competition. For a crossover it looks small in comparison to other crossovers like the Ford Flex, if anything it looks more like a bulging hatchback. Viewing the exterior did not conjure up images of a rally racing across Scandinavia.

Getting into the SX4 I was surprised with the amount of space, especially head room. Kayne West could even fit in here with his ego, him stuffed in the trunk of course. Cargo space at maximum is a very roomy 43 cubic feet. The seats, well they’re your basic run of the mill cloth fabric, something you would think a weaver loom producer would excel at. Room is plentiful up front and in back. You can comfortably stretch out as you have enough headroom to reach the sky. However there will be no stretching out on this test drive.

The SX4 competes in the FIA World Rally Championship, yes the SX4. Don’t believe it? I didn’t either at first, I laughed at the idea of a budget priced crossover speeding across dirt and gravel until I took it down some winding roads. This little weaver loom’s crossover felt more than able to quickly shoot through some curves. The exhaust note on the 143-hp, 2 liter was dare-I-say growling as I reached higher rpms. The all wheel drive system on the SX4 is excellent, and word on the street is that it rivals that of Subaru. There are three modes: two wheel drive of the front wheels, i-AWD auto which automatically detects slippage and adjusts accordingly, and i-AWD lock, giving a 50/50 front and rear torque distribution that automatically turns to i-AWD auto at 36mph.

This little crossover has a surprising list of features inside that you will not find in similarly priced cars. Apart from the available AWD, there are standard Electronic Stability and Traction Control systems to keep the car on the road in case the AWD doesn’t. A touchscreen pop-up navigation is also available. Yes touch screen and pop-up, and no this is no $60,000 luxury car. The navigation is easy to use displaying everything from maps and directions to movie listings, where lowest gas prices are, and weather. Six airbags are standard just in case you find yourself overwhelmed while rally racing.

Now being a budget crossover, the SX4 sports a great list of features for less than $20,000. Gas mileage on the AWD version is a respectable 21/28, just slightly worse then the 22/30 on the front wheel drive version. Its not a gas sipper but it beats many other crossovers in days where mpg’s can be a deal breaker.

So a company that manufactured weaver looms decided to make cars, and today that has led to a practical and economic crossover that has the power to compete in the FIA World Rally Championship. After driving the SX4 I was left with a newfound respect for Suzuki, and a desire to take one off road.

The Honda Fit Sport: Small on the outside, BIG on the inside

By: Ryan Konko

This car is more of a bug than the Volkswagen Beetle. From its headlights to its large rear end the Fit resembles a pesky insect, however this car is far from pesky. Everything in the Fit has a purpose, and is very well designed for practicality and also fun.

What keeps this bug buzzing is its 117 hp 1.5 liter i-VTEC engine. It is a very peppy engine that is more than willing to rev high. Driving this car I didn’t believe that it was only 117 hp. At higher rpm’s the engine did have a loud buzzing sound, but wasn’t unpleasant. The manual transmission was easy to shift and provided for a fun driving experience. This peppy little bug was more than happy to buzz around town and loved driving through winding roads. While it is no sports car, you may find yourself throwing this car into a few corners to be pleasantly surprised.

The interior of the Fit is very well designed. At first the buttons and dials looked awkward, but after driving the car I found them to be very well designed. They are easy to reach and use for the driver and I didn’t feel like I was searching for buttons or taking my eyes off the road to do simple things like use the radio or air conditioning. My pet peeve about this car is the arm rest for the driver in models with the manual transmission. I felt that it was in the way while I was trying to shift gears, and ended up folding it up. The seats in the Fit Sport are comfortable and provide a good amount of side support. During my short drive I did not feel uncomfortable at all. The cloth is very soft, and I believe its one of the best in the industry.

Inside this buzzing insect’s thorax-like trunk there is an ample amount of cargo space that rivals many crossovers and SUV’s. Open the hatch and you’ll find a deep trunk and over 20.6 cubic feet of space. The rear seats are brilliantly designed to not only provide comfort for the rear passengers, but fold down to provide 57 cu. ft. of cargo room and can swallow anything from a bike to small furniture. I’m warning you, this bug has an enormous appetite and will eat you, your friends, and any luggage they may have.

While this car has bite, you need not worry because it won’t suck your blood or money from your wallet. While swallowing cargo and having a buzz worthy engine, it provides a surprising 27 mpg city and 33 mpg highway with the manual transmission. A well laid out mpg gauge is placed where the driver can both concentrate on the road and also pay attention to saving the planet.

The Honda Fit Sport is a wonderfully practical and fun car starting at only $14,750. It provides a great balance of efficiency, sport, and sensibility with the reliability of a Honda. After driving the Fit, I must say that I’ve been bitten by it, and I’m left with an itchy feeling to go drive it again.

By: Ryan Konko

Disclaimer: I do not condone nor participate in dangerous driving. Driving is a privilege, please drive responsibly.

Rochester is a unique city with its garbage plates, lovely weather, rich history, and driving. Yes, driving. Compared to other cities and regions in the United States this city in western New York has a higher level of driving. The unique use of the left lane as a non passing lane, highly effective use of brakes, lack of turn signals, and refusal to go the speed limit in rain or light snow sets us apart from the rest of the country. Although we score the lowest in the National Driver Test according to GMAC, this just reflects our beliefs to create our own rules for safer and more efficient driving. We are a different breed of smarter drivers. Following these steps will get you on the fast track to intelligent driving à la Rochester.

Step One: The Left Lane

The Interstate and expressways running through Rochester have at least two lanes. The right and middle lanes are for those who are driving slow or just keeping up with the flow of traffic. The left lane in contrast is for passing. This was thought to be an effective way for preventing traffic congestion so NYS made it into a law. In Rochester this law needs not apply because here our use of the left lane for slower cars makes for a intelligent way of driving. This does not allow others to pass, and creates congestion so that they can experience our sophisticated way of driving for longer periods of time.

Step Two: Braking

Rochester is a gold mine for oil and parts companies. In this unique city braking always makes sense, even when there is no reason for it. If nobody is in front of you while you are driving down the road why not brake? Not only does it cause you to consume more fuel, but it also wears down your brakes and causes other drivers behind you to slow down. Cars are something so very dear to us in Rochester, and we love spending time fueling our cars or replacing brakes. In order to achieve the higher level of driving in Rochester, one must spend as much time as possible with their car.

Step Three: Turn Signals

In Rochester there is no need for turn signals. In fact petitions have been started so that these annoying devices can be removed from the car. In this city we are all telepathically linked while driving, so there is no need for turn signals. Drivers can alert others of lane changes by closing their eyes and concentrating for three seconds before a turn or lane change is made. Other drivers receive this information telepathically and alter their driving to accommodate for the turn or lane change. Usually other drivers may thank the person’s refusal to use their turn signal by slamming on their brakes or honking, and screaming obscenities. A gesture of one finger is usually returned as a sign of politeness.

Step Four: Mild Weather Driving

The weather in Rochester is beautiful and one of a kind. Drivers take this idea to an extreme. A light rain or small amount of snowflakes is something to be celebrated amongst drivers. This is a great reason to spend more time driving. Drivers will slow down and brake sooner not to be cautious, but to see the wonders of weather happening before their very eyes. Why spend time indoors during a light drizzle or small dusting? By driving slower in conditions that are safe this ensures others will experience the weather as well. The best way to embrace the weather is to drive slower than the speed limit ( at least 5-10 mph) and to apply the brakes frequently. This gives the driver and their passengers, as well as others on the road the full experience of Rochester weather.

These four steps will lead you to a higher level of driving. Practice them often and soon you will be a part of an elite driving community that is Rochester, NY. Always remember, the best teachers are often the elders of Rochester, for they have the most experience driving and have become masters of the art of driving.