Saab and Renault

sirwiggum · Post by **sirwiggum** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 5:59 pm

Anyone been following the car news over the last couple of days?

Mostly bad. Saab have went bankrupt and Renault are going to stop selling a lot of their cars in the UK including the Espace and the Laguna, their last proper big car.
The replacement for the Laguna will mirror what Nissan did with the Primera, one of these crossover pretend-4x4 Qashqow things.

kevtherev · Post by **kevtherev** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 6:40 pm

were saab still a single company on its own merits then? not been sucked up by GM or VAG. was havin this discussion in the pub the other day about which companies own others, some were surprised that ford own volvo.

highlander · Post by **highlander** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:07 pm

kevtherev wrote:were saab still a single company on its own merits then? not been sucked up by GM

They were sucked up by GM in 1990, but then sold to Spyker in 2010 (but still managed as an independently-operated subsidiary). They've been struggling to stay afloat ever since, and when a Chinese company tried to buy them out, GM blocked the sale - something to do with patent / IP licensing issues? So now Saab are f*cked, royally.

omega · Post by **omega** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:19 pm

the problem with saab is they never made a small car only big expensive stuff that wasnt to everyones taste.

sirwiggum · Post by **sirwiggum** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:49 am

kevtherev wrote:were saab still a single company on its own merits then? not been sucked up by GM or VAG. was havin this discussion in the pub the other day about which companies own others, some were surprised that ford own volvo.

As Highlander said, Saab was GM until recently, was sold to Spyker.

Volvo was Ford until a few years ago, it was sold to Geely in China.

Jaguar and Land Rover were Ford and were sold to Tata in India.

In fact, Ford closed down Mercury and divested its shares in Mazda, so I think it's only Ford and Lincoln left!

GM closed Pontiac, it is now GMC, Chevrolet, Vauxhall/Opel, Buick (mostly for China).

VAG own Audi, VW, Skoda, Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Seat (the latter of which may be wound down).

BMW (haaaccckkk, phut) own "MINI" and Rolls Royce

Merc created Smart

PSA own Peugeot, Citroen. Also Talbot (and the associated ex Rootes trademarks eg. Rapier, Sunbeam)

Renault own Dacia and have an "alliance" with Nissan (who created Infiniti)

Toyota I think own a bit of Dhaihatsu, they created Lexus and Scion.

Fiat own Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Chrysler (inc. Dodge) and Lancia (hence why we get Lancias badged as Chryslers in the UK, and Europe will get the next 300 as the Lancia Thema)

leestudd30 · Post by **leestudd30** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:56 am

Jesus, what a mess!

sirwiggum · Post by **sirwiggum** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:58 am

leestudd30 wrote:Jesus, what a mess!

That's business for ye!

Can be hit or miss. VW have turned around Skoda, but are aimless with Seat.

BMW took MINI for their own greedy mits, and let Rover die.

GM are floundering along and ruined Saab.

406loon · Post by **406loon** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 8:39 pm

"VW have turned around Skoda"

I think its the other way round. Skoda have always made good cars in thier own right. Skodas are actually better built and better value for money than the offerings from thier VW parent. Just look at every single reliability and warranty survery - Skoda is always top, and the rest of the VAG jumble trail behind.

sirwiggum · Post by **sirwiggum** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 10:14 am

406loon wrote:"VW have turned around Skoda"

I think its the other way round. Skoda have always made good cars in thier own right. Skodas are actually better built and better value for money than the offerings from thier VW parent. Just look at every single reliability and warranty survery - Skoda is always top, and the rest of the VAG jumble trail behind.

True, I was telling this to a Skoda owning friend who didn't understand why I didn't think VWs and Audis were as reliable as the media lets on but had a fondness for Skodas.

A lot of people see them as a cheap way of owning a VW, but they do seem to be better put together. Just look at the taxis and the fleets that run up intergalactic mileages!

In fact, they found the build quality of Skoda products so good that VAG get them to build the bodyshells for Bentleys, then ship them to Englandshire for assembly!

What I meant though was that 20 years ago, Skoda was the butt of many jokes with their rear engined Estelle, but nowadays they are a respectable proposition.

Captain Jack · Post by **Captain Jack** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 10:36 am

Ha... my dad had an Estelle.. and '84 one. It reminded me heavily of the Zaporozhets we used to have in Russia but was far more reliable.

lozz · Post by **lozz** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 1:18 pm

We had a skoda Rapide, shed of athing
but what a solid car, them things dont die the only car ive seen where you can change the clutch plate from inside the car

they was one of the best cars for hill climbs back in there day so im told

406oc.co.uk

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