Audi A5 Sportback (2009 - ) - Is the old Saab 900 / 93 back ?

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Sun 22 Nov 2009 08:13
Is the old Saab 900 / 93 back ? - OmNo
I was reading a review of the A5 sport back yesterday and it struck me that in a bid to try and fill every niche possible by BMW and Audi - Audi have recreated the old Saab 900 / 93 model with 4 doors and a hatchback. It does seem ironic that IMO Saab's failure was partly due to the fact that it decided to ditch this model and try and create a copy of the BMW 3 and A4. Now in a bid to increase sales Audi have gone to this format with the A5.
I wonder how many old 900 / 93 drivers that enjoyed the styling and practicality of the Saab will be tempted by this offering from Audi.

Edited by OmNo on 22/11/2009 at 08:16

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Sun 22 Nov 2009 08:25
Is the old Saab 900 / 93 back ? - cheddar
Hang on, 4 doors and a hatch back, that's what everyone else simply calls 5 doors ?
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Sun 22 Nov 2009 09:06
Is the old Saab 900 / 93 back ? - GroovyMucker
Hang on 4 doors and a hatch back that's what everyone else simply calls 5
doors ?


Unless you're BMW
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Sun 22 Nov 2009 09:19
Is the old Saab 900 / 93 back ? - daveyjp
This car would be of interest to me as I prefer a hatch. Unfortunately it only has four seats!
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Sun 22 Nov 2009 11:26
Is the old Saab 900 / 93 back ? - boxsterboy
It could also be compared to the Rover SD1, Renault 20/30. Except at least they were comfortable. Nothing new in this world.
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Sun 22 Nov 2009 12:13
Is the old Saab 900 / 93 back ? - Bagpuss
Yes, I'm a bit surprised by all this "niche marketing" hype regarding the Audi A5. It's a hatchback. This may be something new for Audi who up to now have made saloons and estates. But the A5 is still a hatchback, admittedly a very attractive one with frameless windows.

The BMW 5GT is a different can of worms. BMW have succeeded in sacrificing function for style to the extent of making a car which is heavier than a 7 Series and with less interior space than a 5 Series Touring. That's niche marketing.
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Sun 22 Nov 2009 17:28
Is the old Saab 900 / 93 back ? - adsk
Yes I'm a bit surprised by all this "niche marketing" hype regarding the Audi A5.
It's a hatchback. This may be something new for Audi who up to now have
made saloons and estates. But the A5 is still a hatchback admittedly a very attractive
one with frameless windows.


Except Audi have made hatchbacks before.

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Audi_1...G

The original Audi 100 Avant was a hatchback and based on the Audi 100 saloon. Nothing hew here at all. Perhaps this thread should really be called is the old Audi 100 Avant back...?

Of course, Audi have made smaller hatchbacks i.e the Golf which was known as an Audi 50.
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Sun 22 Nov 2009 18:17
Is the old Saab 900 / 93 back ? - Bagpuss
Except Audi have made hatchbacks before.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Audi_1...G
The original Audi 100 Avant was a hatchback and based on the Audi 100 saloon.


You're right! I'd completely forgotten about the original Audi 100 Avant which looked like a contemporary VW Passat only bigger.


Of course Audi have made smaller hatchbacks i.e the Golf which was known as an Audi 50.


Not quite, the Audi 50 mutated into the original VW Polo, the Golf was a completely new design. Though without Audi/ NSU front wheel drive knowhow it's doubtful whether VW would ever have been able to build the original Golf.
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Sun 22 Nov 2009 15:41
Is the old Saab 900 / 93 back ? - Avant
I agree it looks good. But whether it's worth £5000 - £6,000 more than a 5-seater Skoda Superb is debatable. It possibly is if you want the excellent 3.0 TDI V6 engine, which Audi won't let Skoda have.
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Sun 22 Nov 2009 15:45
Is the old Saab 900 / 93 back ? - Bagpuss
It possibly is if you want the excellent 3.0 TDI V6 engine which Audi won't let Skoda have.


That engine is also not available in the Passat CC. VAG in their infinite wisdom only put 6 cylinder diesel engines into Audis.
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