RE: Saab: Going, Going...
Discussion
This is what I'm driving today.
As you can see, in my workshop at the moment from left to right. 1972 Saab 99 Turbo with a 16v lump and motec ecu - track prepared, Saab 900 16v turbo with Saab 9000 engine management, Saab 900 Carlsson undergoing restoration, Saab 99t undergoing restoration.
As you can see, in my workshop at the moment from left to right. 1972 Saab 99 Turbo with a 16v lump and motec ecu - track prepared, Saab 900 16v turbo with Saab 9000 engine management, Saab 900 Carlsson undergoing restoration, Saab 99t undergoing restoration.
ejenner said:
They made some undesirable cars which were hardwearing. The worst car ever to carry a Saab badge was the 1994 to 1998 Saab 900, rebadged as a 9-3 and strung out to around 2002 before the 9-3ss came out. I've never even thought about buying one of those, not even for a second, not even if it were cheap. They made lots of desriable cars too.
For the last 20 years they've based their cars on tweaked GM junk and this is what's cost the company their customers. People used to pay over the odds for the old Saabs because they were quality cars. Everything was 30% thicker than the same part on any competitive car of the era. The cars were tough, people knew this and they wanted them.
Trouble is you can only trade off a reputation for so long and the name wore out in around 2006.
Spot on.For the last 20 years they've based their cars on tweaked GM junk and this is what's cost the company their customers. People used to pay over the odds for the old Saabs because they were quality cars. Everything was 30% thicker than the same part on any competitive car of the era. The cars were tough, people knew this and they wanted them.
Trouble is you can only trade off a reputation for so long and the name wore out in around 2006.
And can I just say, that I know a lot of people think I have it in for Saab but that is a very impressive collection you have there.
I don't dislike the cars (especially some of those beauties you have there.), I dislike what has happened to the company. It could have been the Swedish Porsche, instead it possibly has days left to run.
And as a P.S. I can't quite read the number plate on that Carlsson but I think it might have wandered across an old forecourt of mine a few years ago...
ejenner said:
This is what I'm driving today.
As you can see, in my workshop at the moment from left to right. 1972 Saab 99 Turbo with a 16v lump and motec ecu - track prepared, Saab 900 16v turbo with Saab 9000 engine management, Saab 900 Carlsson undergoing restoration, Saab 99t undergoing restoration.
Nice collection you have there. The black turbo & the 99 being my favourites.As you can see, in my workshop at the moment from left to right. 1972 Saab 99 Turbo with a 16v lump and motec ecu - track prepared, Saab 900 16v turbo with Saab 9000 engine management, Saab 900 Carlsson undergoing restoration, Saab 99t undergoing restoration.
H7 JPE. I've owned it since 2004 so if you think you've seen it since then it wouldn't have been the same car. It's a private plate but was on the car before I bought it. I bought it from Simply Saab. I think I paid a bit too much for it but it was a long time ago now so not bitter. It will be a lovely car when I finally get it back on the road. I've renewed everything.
As a meek boy boy of 12 (I'm 52 now) I mitched school and went to the Motorshow in Belfast on a bus from Fermanagh. Every year I sat in a Saab (96 99 and then 900) and marvelled at the cars they made. Owned four 96s three 900s two 99s and one and back in 2001 after a promotion at work finally bought a new 9-3 to replace a boring Avensis. Was a rough but comfortable car (a diesel) and with a Van Aitken tuning kit went okay too. Was chopped in after a couple of years for a new 330d BMW but still miss the Saab (S44BTD where are you now?). Will seek out and buy a good non GM 900 in the coming days to remind me of some of the best engineered and thoughtful cars ever built. RIP beloved SAAB.
ejenner said:
This is what I'm driving today.
As you can see, in my workshop at the moment from left to right. 1972 Saab 99 Turbo with a 16v lump and motec ecu - track prepared, Saab 900 16v turbo with Saab 9000 engine management, Saab 900 Carlsson undergoing restoration, Saab 99t undergoing restoration.
Nice collection! As you can see, in my workshop at the moment from left to right. 1972 Saab 99 Turbo with a 16v lump and motec ecu - track prepared, Saab 900 16v turbo with Saab 9000 engine management, Saab 900 Carlsson undergoing restoration, Saab 99t undergoing restoration.
I'm a bit too young to remember when 900s, etc, were new, but I've always rather fancied some of their models. They were quirky, even downright strange compared to most of the cars here in the US, but somehow had an appeal all their own. I particularly remember wanting a 9-3 Viggen when they were new, in that metallic blue of the car in the ads. I'd imagine they are probably affordable now; since there are obviously those more educated than I on the marque on PH, was the Viggen any good? Certainly looked the part.
I have had 6 SAABs as they were the perfect car to do 30k miles annually effortlessly and comfortably
My favourite was my 3rd, a '98 9000CSE run out model, it was badged as a 2.3 turbo, but had the Aero HOT engine, LSD and I had Offord tweak it up to just over 300bhp, the perfect Q car! I did 70k miles in it selling it at 160k miles
Seen here at Goodwood FoS with my mate in his long lost 'Grale:
My first 9 5 was a wobbly mess of a 3.0t that blew a big end, my second was an Abbott R5, a dealer option before the Aero was available, 230bhp from an LPT and suspension lowered as far as it would go with twin exhaust (and the air conditioned seats!), Strangely this car has turned up at the house opposite my Mother in Law's!! I ran it for 55k miles and sold it at 135k
My last was what looked like a scrapper of a 9 3 that I bought for £1500 as a station car, complete with dented door, a closer look revealed an Abbot tune to 230bhp and the complete Viggen Rescue kit on the front end (braces around the rack and bulkheads & poly bushes), so a SH leather interior was fitted and some fandango 17" wheels and it did 18 months sterling service, I sold it at 146k miles for £750, still with the dented rear wing & door!
I am thinking of getting a late 9 3 Convertible as the prices are plummeting and might be a good long-term comfy proposition whilst i build an Ultima....
My favourite was my 3rd, a '98 9000CSE run out model, it was badged as a 2.3 turbo, but had the Aero HOT engine, LSD and I had Offord tweak it up to just over 300bhp, the perfect Q car! I did 70k miles in it selling it at 160k miles
Seen here at Goodwood FoS with my mate in his long lost 'Grale:
My first 9 5 was a wobbly mess of a 3.0t that blew a big end, my second was an Abbott R5, a dealer option before the Aero was available, 230bhp from an LPT and suspension lowered as far as it would go with twin exhaust (and the air conditioned seats!), Strangely this car has turned up at the house opposite my Mother in Law's!! I ran it for 55k miles and sold it at 135k
My last was what looked like a scrapper of a 9 3 that I bought for £1500 as a station car, complete with dented door, a closer look revealed an Abbot tune to 230bhp and the complete Viggen Rescue kit on the front end (braces around the rack and bulkheads & poly bushes), so a SH leather interior was fitted and some fandango 17" wheels and it did 18 months sterling service, I sold it at 146k miles for £750, still with the dented rear wing & door!
I am thinking of getting a late 9 3 Convertible as the prices are plummeting and might be a good long-term comfy proposition whilst i build an Ultima....
Edited by Fat Albert on Thursday 13th October 08:32
Sorry everyone but SAAB died a long time ago.
They produced only a few cars and kept them going when the rest of the world had long moved on. The engines were tough and tuneable, the convertable was nice but overall it was hard to see why you'd choose one over something else.
The GM era did nothing to change this.
When Rover went they had the 75 including a RWD V8 and a mid engined sportscar. Considering that SAAB were supposed to be the "Northern Alfa Romeo" where is their highly acclaimed new model, their big engined sports saloon or proper sportscar?
Sad but they're gone.
They produced only a few cars and kept them going when the rest of the world had long moved on. The engines were tough and tuneable, the convertable was nice but overall it was hard to see why you'd choose one over something else.
The GM era did nothing to change this.
When Rover went they had the 75 including a RWD V8 and a mid engined sportscar. Considering that SAAB were supposed to be the "Northern Alfa Romeo" where is their highly acclaimed new model, their big engined sports saloon or proper sportscar?
Sad but they're gone.
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