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I disagree. Even your beloved (economy) Saab was a failure in the US market and dropped.
Fuel economy is not a top priority of sporty hatch buyers in the US market. Its also a very niche market. I don't think much of it however I only drive about 7500 miles/year in a 23MPG fun to drive hatchback.
Youre right... they dropped the 175 hp version of my car, for more power, because that is what the MASSES want, and what company A,B,C, and D provided to them and advertise on the idiot box. It is merely through portrayal of their potential beauty and superior social stature should they have more HP that makes them want it, not because they can ever use it other than to mash the go pedal and race from the stoplight better. Similarly, my MB diesel makes 120hp at full boost if Im lucky. Newer versions have much more power (fortunately with the same or better fuel economy though), and capability, but still at least cater to the el cheapo diesel crowd (another thing that has been killed away by idiocy in this country). Is that bad? Is that good? Is it indifferent?
For anyone to tell me that economy isnt the priority of sporty hatch drivers, when many of these same schmucks who don't care about economy, and care more about power and showing off are the same ones whom ultimately Ill be forced to bail out from their subprime mortgages, credit card debt, etc. is unacceptable.
Even more unacceptable is the fact that the bulk of idiots everywhere make it impossible for me to buy a decent car with an MT anymore. It is the decisions of this bulk of people who care more about coach bags, name brand this and that, and having over 200 hp from their car, while carrying excessive debt that impedes what I want. So why shouldnt I be against that???
I wear a rolex, but its because I carry no CC debt and paid for it cash. I bought a semi-luxury car, and paid cash for it. I have a lot of decent nice stuff, but I pay for it and dont carry debt except for a reasonable mortgage. Why? Because I dont believe in maintaining unsustainable behaviors. Am I lucky? Yes. But when the masses degrade what I desire and would like to the point where it is not even an option or loss leader anymore, then it isnt a point of getting with the times (which given the times, is even more pointed towards fuel economy and fiscal responsibility), but rather my desires being harmed (rather than celebrated, which obvisously wont happen because Im an evil white male professional) by the choices of the masses.
Please do keep in mind that I do not intend to clump you with the masses of idiots because of your car choice. It is merely the point that you made which seems to drive the decisions of car offerings, and thus spoils it for the likes of me. If volvo wants to offer a high performance engine, great... but too many people have their priorities to far out of line, and it is the responsible folks who pay for it. Probably 2 in 4 volvo (or MB, or saab, or BMW, or lexus, etc., etc) would be better off purchasing a kia than the car they are driving. Unsustainable behaviors yield big trouble...
JMH
