Best idea ever. It would also be nice if Saab could crank out a few cars for those of us that don't have $40,000 to cough up.
My grandmother's 1979 Saab 900 had power NOTHING (not even power steering!) and yet, it's the best Saab I ever drove (although it would have been nicer with a 5-speed instead of a 4-speed).
I still say IKEA should buy Saab...they have enough money to buy Saab many times over, I'm sure. Of course, receiving your new Saab in 147 flat cartons and having to assemble it yourself with 32 different sizes of allen wrench isn't a happy prospect.
One night 32 years ago, I pulled the engine from my wonderful, wonderful '67 Monte Carlo ("a sports car with super performance," to quote the manual) all by myself in my parents's garage to fix the worn-out clutch. I replaced the clutch and bolted everything all together again, all the way up to the part where I was going to put the hood back on. That's when I noticed the circlip that holds on the throwout bearing lying on the floor of the garage.
The second time I pulled the engine that night it was even easier, as I had had recent practice.
@wkiernan: Oh, I lol'ed for that. Oh, oh. And you just can't hate how compact and easy to maneuver that engine is, in that roomy engine bay.
Yes, for its time the MC was one helluva car. It gives up a lot on power to modern rides, but it gains it all back on style and function. If I had one right now, that'd be my daily driver. I loved that bassy exhaust note, and the crazy-great aerodynamics made the most of every horsepower.
Better they should leave 9-5 production at Opel - which is what the car is - and develop another model to make at Trollhatten. Like a real 9-2 fer instance, or a Sonett, or one of those great auto show concepts they're always showing that only seems to result in funkier headlights on other models....
Good. Excellent. Now go a little bat-shit nuts, and give me a RWD or AWD sedan with a high-boosted four or six, as Saab should be, and I would seriously consider it. Basically, give it some soul and a bit of insanity, and you'll win me back. I've always had a soft spot for Saabs, but the GM Saabs just feel like rebadged Malibus to me.
I guess I just like the way that they look, at least in terms of the latest 9-3. And when I see the sketches for the next 9-5 supposedly due out in the next year, and I like it even more.
Looks aside, though, they have lost a lot of the character that made them such awesome little cars.
When in the Course of carmaker events it becomes necessary for one carmaker to dissolve the economic bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Cardom and of Cardom's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
My Dad used to have one of these. I suppose the new Saab won't produce another one but I was three years old and oh my how I love the smell of a two-stroke engine to this day.
@joshman: They should take the soundtrack from that video and put a speaker on the Prius that only plays that sound. Then maybe Andy wouldn't have been able to sneak up on Dwight.
Saab has always made weird cars. For too long they have been weird in the wrong way (overpriced badgineering). Now they can do these things: Make the Sonett IV. Make the Aero X. Make a lightweight hatchback 900 with a longitudinal 2.0T and 6-speed. Make a 2-door wagon. Etc.
So turbo me and take the key Put the ignition between the seats Hoon me like you'll never let me go 'cause I'm born from a jet plane Dont know when I'll be back again Oh babe, I hate to go
01/23/09
My grandmother's 1979 Saab 900 had power NOTHING (not even power steering!) and yet, it's the best Saab I ever drove (although it would have been nicer with a 5-speed instead of a 4-speed).
I still say IKEA should buy Saab...they have enough money to buy Saab many times over, I'm sure. Of course, receiving your new Saab in 147 flat cartons and having to assemble it yourself with 32 different sizes of allen wrench isn't a happy prospect.
01/23/09
Oh, it couldn't be all that bad.
One night 32 years ago, I pulled the engine from my wonderful, wonderful '67 Monte Carlo ("a sports car with super performance," to quote the manual) all by myself in my parents's garage to fix the worn-out clutch. I replaced the clutch and bolted everything all together again, all the way up to the part where I was going to put the hood back on. That's when I noticed the circlip that holds on the throwout bearing lying on the floor of the garage.
The second time I pulled the engine that night it was even easier, as I had had recent practice.
01/23/09
Yes, for its time the MC was one helluva car. It gives up a lot on power to modern rides, but it gains it all back on style and function. If I had one right now, that'd be my daily driver. I loved that bassy exhaust note, and the crazy-great aerodynamics made the most of every horsepower.
01/22/09
01/22/09
It's so much better when you go it alone.
I'm going to need some privacy, and some kleenex.
01/22/09
01/22/09
01/22/09
Little heavy on the Bork this morning, huh?
01/22/09
"Some people, SOME PEOPLE, like Saabs exclusively.
But I for one, care less for them..."
Of course, you know this can only be viewed as a good thing.
Saabs have gotten all GM-ey.
They need to get more Saab-ey again.
I think we can all agree on this.
01/22/09
I guess I just like the way that they look, at least in terms of the latest 9-3. And when I see the sketches for the next 9-5 supposedly due out in the next year, and I like it even more.
Looks aside, though, they have lost a lot of the character that made them such awesome little cars.
01/22/09
01/22/09
01/22/09
It sounded like this:
and looked like this but in yellow:
01/22/09
01/22/09
[Stage whisper] I don't like this cat. He reads minds.
01/22/09
Make the Sonett IV.
Make the Aero X.
Make a lightweight hatchback 900 with a longitudinal 2.0T and 6-speed.
Make a 2-door wagon.
Etc.
01/22/09
Put the ignition between the seats
Hoon me like you'll never let me go
'cause I'm born from a jet plane
Dont know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go
01/22/09
01/22/09
01/22/09
01/22/09
01/22/09
Bloody GM ruins everything.
I'm waiting for some auto manufacturer to have an ignition switch in the headliner.
01/22/09