Bye bye Saab.
Posted by: Tony Lockhart on 18 December 2009
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by Richard Dane
quote:
Originally posted by Joe Bibb:
quote:
Originally posted by Richard Dane:
A great shame but was probably on the cards the moment GM took Saab on and then strangled it through lack of investment.
My favourite car of all was a Saab 900 Aero turbo. It's still around giving good service to it's current owner. I sold her with over 250,000 miles on the clock (lots of driving to Scotland and across Europe!) and the local Saab garage reckoned it was good for the same again without any major engine work. A beautiful old bus.
Yes, but part of the problem. The lovely old 900 Turbo we had was ridiculously over-engineered. SAAB were in serious trouble well before GM, appalling as GM are.
Joe
Yes, very true. I read somewhere that the old 900's bonnet took more time to build than the entire GM-era 900. It was also reported that the original 900 was mostly built by hand. Another interesting titbit I read about was that the structure was so strong that it technically didn't require a roll-cage for some competition regs in the US.
They must have lost a fortune on every one...
However, as a brand, I believe that before the GM takeover, Saab used to have the highest customer loyalty of any car maker, beating even Mercedes Benz. Easily lost, I guess...
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by Derek Wright
and now Volvo is being bought out by a Chinese company
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by Paper Plane
quote:
Originally posted by Derek Wright:
and now Volvo is being bought out by a Chinese company
Presumably the one that makes tanks for the Chinese military...
steve
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by u5227470736789439
Fuel efficient tanks though!
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by BigH47
quote:
Originally posted by GFFJ:
Fuel efficient tanks though!
Good to know while they drive over you?
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by u5227470736789439
Long way to come unless the buy the Scammel Company as well - they who made the best tank transporters!
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by BigH47
I fondly remember my Dinky toy mighty T and Centurian tank.
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by shoot6x7
I still miss my 1983 900 turbo, leaky alloy wheels and all.
I loved the way the hood/bonnet opened, how heavy the tailgate was, the beautifully curved windshield, the fact that it had heated seats ! And the ignition was next to the parking brake ...
I have a couple of stories about mine. When I got it from my brother, it had a crack in the rubber hose between the compressor and the waste gate, so it always gave maximum boost until the engine cut-off kicked in - this thrust was greater than a Porsche 928 ! Once I fixed the tube it wasn't as quick off the line any more.
The other 'feature was that the left hand screw in the parking brake controlled the right caliper and the right hand screw the left. My non-SAAB mechanic was pulling his hair out over that one !
And the final story, I had sold her when I moved to Canada, the guy I sold it to was contacted by the Police after he had sold it on ... apparently she had been involved in a murder enquiry ...
Boy do I miss her ...
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by Simply Grim
At least there is still Vauxhall.......
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by u5227470736789439
And Volvo ...
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by Joe Bibb
quote:
Originally posted by shoot6x7:
I still miss my 1983 900 turbo, leaky alloy wheels and all.
I loved the way the hood/bonnet opened, how heavy the tailgate was, the beautifully curved windshield, the fact that it had heated seats ! And the ignition was next to the parking brake ...
I have a couple of stories about mine. When I got it from my brother, it had a crack in the rubber hose between the compressor and the waste gate, so it always gave maximum boost until the engine cut-off kicked in - this thrust was greater than a Porsche 928 ! Once I fixed the tube it wasn't as quick off the line any more.
The other 'feature was that the left hand screw in the parking brake controlled the right caliper and the right hand screw the left. My non-SAAB mechanic was pulling his hair out over that one !
And the final story, I had sold her when I moved to Canada, the guy I sold it to was contacted by the Police after he had sold it on ... apparently she had been involved in a murder enquiry ...
Boy do I miss her ...
Before you get too misty eyed. I liked all of that...but,
Mine had a steering wheel that was surplus to requirements on mini roundabouts, whenever a hint of moisture on the road was involved. The worst under-steer of any car I've driven.
Also the most piddling fuel tank in history. Three hundred miles between fill-ups was a major achievement and probably meant the turbo was left unused for most of it.
Loved mine, but not blind to it's foibles.
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by shoot6x7
forgot about her thirst, she was a pre-APC turbo ...
Posted on: 24 December 2009 by Rockingdoc
Considering their tiny share of the market, it is surprising how many of this forum appear to be Saab owners (me too).
I wonder if there is a Naim owner/ Saab owner personality trait?
Jeremy Clarkson has always claimed Saab owners can be narrowly defined.
Posted on: 24 December 2009 by rodwsmith
You're onto something I reckon.
I had a 9-3 two cars ago. Solid but a bit dull.
Comfiest seats of any car I have ever owned, or been in though.
Posted on: 24 December 2009 by Derek Wright
"I wonder if there is a Naim owner/ Saab owner personality trait?"
You can get some really sub-setted people that are also Mac users and Olympus camera users as well as being Saab and Naim users. The ultimate subset of this subset are those that like the USA and especially New Mexico and Arizona.
Posted on: 24 December 2009 by shoot6x7
quote:
Originally posted by Derek Wright:
"I wonder if there is a Naim owner/ Saab owner personality trait?"
You can get some really sub-setted people that are also Mac users and Olympus camera users as well as being Saab and Naim users. The ultimate subset of this subset are those that like the USA and especially New Mexico and Arizona.
The important traits are:
- most of us are wealthy enough to afford relatively expensive HiFi
- most of us hate being 'mainstream'
- most of us appreciate the special nature of certain products
SAAB used to fall into that category, they were the cars that architects and photographers drove.
The last versions of the SAABs looked quite ironic, in the same way an aging woman would apply way too much eye-liner, the latest SAABs literally look like they have eye-liner applied.
Posted on: 24 December 2009 by Derek Wright
The front of the Saab is rarely seen as it is parked into the parking slot, or is driving in front of you and you only see the rear aspect.
The name for the current 9-5 style is the Edna Everage look and actually is not to far distant from the current BMW and Audi look.
Posted on: 24 December 2009 by shoot6x7
quote:
Originally posted by Derek Wright:
The name for the current 9-5 style is the Edna Everage look and actually is not to far distant from the current BMW and Audi look.
You're right ! I will laugh every time I see a new A4 or A5 drive by with those silly LED lights ! My current car is a '98 Silver A4 2.8
Posted on: 24 December 2009 by Paper Plane
quote:
Originally posted by Derek Wright:
"I wonder if there is a Naim owner/ Saab owner personality trait?"
You can get some really sub-setted people that are also Mac users and Olympus camera users as well as being Saab and Naim users. The ultimate subset of this subset are those that like the USA and especially New Mexico and Arizona.
3 out 4, Canon not Olympus.
steve
Posted on: 07 January 2010 by Tony Lockhart
Bernie Ecclestone to the rescue?
Tony
Posted on: 08 January 2010 by Tony Lockhart
Posted on: 08 January 2010 by u5227470736789439
I wish this bid all the luck. It could be revelatory ...
Even from a horrible little man: Ecclestone has clawed his way up from humble beginnings, leaving school at 16 to work at the local gasworks.
Lord Nuffield started repairing bikes in his garden shed ...
ATB from George
Posted on: 08 January 2010 by Paper Plane
OK, it's like having Simon C*w*ll managing your favourite band but if Bernie saves Saab I can live with it.
steve
Posted on: 11 January 2010 by Rockingdoc
Asset stripping
Posted on: 11 January 2010 by BigH47
quote:
Originally posted by Rockingdoc:
Asset stripping
Is that the next model name?
