Here are the brochure prices for the most expensive new Saabs in the UK at that time:
(excuse the tabs not working!)
1949 Saab 92 £400
1960 Saab 96 2/S £885
1965 Saab 96 Monte Carlo £1,059
1970 Saab 99CM2 £1,295
1975 Saab 99 C Coupe £2,617
1976 ditto £4,355
1978 Saab 99 turbo £7,850
1980 Saab 900 turbo £11,100
1985 Saab 9000 turbo16 £15,995
1986 Saab 9000turbo16SE £22,495
1988 Saab 9000SE £25,295
1991 Saab 9000Carlsson £27,995
1995 Saab 9000Aero £31,995
1996 Saab 9-5Griffin £33,995
2000 Saab 9-5GriffinEstate £34,995
2005 Saab 9-5AeroEstate £29,536
2009 Saab9-5 2.3TEstate £25,898
Note the steep price rises in the 1970s (almost tenfold) and in the mid 1980s. And remember that, in this middle period, things like catalytic converters, ABS and leather were extra (on top of the prices quoted) whereas they are now included in the overall price - not to mention sat-nav and all the other new technology.
Prices started falling in real terms from the mid 1990s and, on top of that, serious discounting started in the mid 2000s. New (pre-reg) cars were available in 2009 for up to £7k less than the brochure price. For example, a 9-5 Griffin would have cost £34K in 1996. I paid under £19k for a new 9-5 2.3T (auto and fully loaded) last year. That's almost HALF!
The brochure price for the new 9-5 is expensive when compared to the discounted original 9-5 but it does compare well with the price we (our employers ?) paid fifteen years ago. And now there are big discounts available on the new 9-5. The high spec Aero can be had for under £30k which is much the same as a 9000 Carlsson cost twenty years ago. Its probably a better car but I would quite like a new Carlsson!
