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The Death of SAAB cars

post #1 of 38
12/19/09 at 12:34am
Thread Starter 
Today the official death of SAAB cars is announced.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle6961723.ece

I never owned one, but the owners I've known have been very passionate about them. For those who do/have owned them, what made them so special for you?
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post #2 of 38
12/19/09 at 12:44am
Poor montecristo.
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post #3 of 38
12/19/09 at 12:47am
i knew rob. rob had a saab.
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post #4 of 38
12/19/09 at 12:48am
under the ford ownership, not much is lost.
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post #5 of 38
12/19/09 at 1:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by guardimp View Post
under the ford ownership, not much is lost.

Ford owns Volvo. The company formally known as GM owns Saab.
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post #6 of 38
12/19/09 at 4:14am
I owned a '96 900 Turbo. A great car - fine handling and good road feel.
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post #7 of 38
12/19/09 at 5:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by thekunk07 View Post
i knew rob. rob had a saab.

I'm also Rob and I had a saab once too. I got a 1981 900 when I was 18 and drove it for 6 years. It was brown. They don't make enough brown cars these days. I hit a deer in that car.
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post #8 of 38
12/19/09 at 8:46am
Yup, you should see the Swedish newspapers. They are full of people who are "shocked" and "dismayed". Not to mention the "just before Christmas" aspect. The fact that Saab has basically never been profitable seems to elude everyone.
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post #9 of 38
12/19/09 at 8:53am
I have not owned a Saab, family and friends have over the years. Great handling, excellent 'road feel' and in some of the earlier models (especially the 900 and 9000) had outstanding visibility (900) and packaging (9000). The 9000 had a cavernous interior despite its 'midsize' external dimensions.
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post #10 of 38
12/19/09 at 9:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baron View Post
I'm also Rob and I had a saab once too. I got a 1981 900 when I was 18 and drove it for 6 years. It was brown. They don't make enough brown cars these days. I hit a deer in that car.

This is true.
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post #11 of 38
12/19/09 at 5:00pm
I used to own a 1991 900S (white). Great road feel, under powered, insanely expensive maintenance. I finally convinced my wife that it had to go when the annual maintenance exceeded the blue book value. Most cars these days look like every other car on the road, older Saabs have a unique and instantly recognizable look.
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post #12 of 38
12/19/09 at 7:17pm


I had a 1988 900 SPG. Owning this car was a perfect example of an abusive, addictive relationship. Saabs were the very modicum of unreliability. What car has a clutch pedal that breaks? This car left me stranded within three weeks of leaving the showroom - - mysterious electrical problems. A/C compressor broke three times. I probably spent at least $7,000 dollars on maintenance in five years of ownership.

This car was a blast to drive. With its panhard rod rear suspension, this front driver could get tail-happy on a cloverleaf. Once I slid sideways down a wet hill towards the Potomac while hotrodding through Pallisades above Georgetown.

Saab's demise was long overdue.
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post #13 of 38
12/19/09 at 7:37pm
I am a life long Saab driver. Owned most every model (except for station wagons), and currently drive a newer 5-speed manual shift 9-5 aero.

Shopped everything, but always came back to Saabs because of their distinctly understated styling and practicality. I am pissed beyond measure
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post #14 of 38
12/19/09 at 10:06pm
oh god, another SAAB story. \t
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post #15 of 38
12/19/09 at 10:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ld111134 View Post
I owned a '96 900 Turbo. A great car - fine handling and good road feel.
I owned 1997 Hatchback 900SE turbo. Worst piece of crap I have ever driven save for the nice stereo. Good riddance. That fucking company could not manage to produce company's badge for the hood of the car that would not peel and flake off after 5 years.
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