Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3 - Jalopnik Comments

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

RogueS4 — Thu, 10 May 2007 22:18:39 EDT

I might warm up to her... after a few drinks.

RogueS4

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

my favorite car is a motorcycle — Thu, 10 May 2007 14:55:56 EDT

A wagon/hatch/shooting brake offers better versatility with negligible drawbacks over the equivalent sedan or coupe. It basically triples the cargo room with a minimal weight/aerodynamic/cost penalty.

If you're forced to choose only one car, why would you NOT opt for the more versatile wagon? As we all know, the only reasons to opt for a utility vehicle is to tow a trailer or to drive extremely rugged trails.

Keep the momentum going, Saab. We're looking forward to the hatchback AWD Viggen.

my favorite car is a motorcycle

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

Turboner — Thu, 10 May 2007 13:17:35 EDT

@IppoJ: Isn't there a 9-3X wagon or something based on the WRX?

Turboner

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

c1josh — Thu, 10 May 2007 11:45:28 EDT

I can't wait to see if it comes with the chrome 'eyeshadow'.. It just makes me laugh when I see one of the new 9-5s.

And those tail lights that were copied from Audi who copied from Honda. Did they think the design was unique?

It must be difficult; do you try to 'break the mold' and boldly go forward with a new design, or build something that is non-offensive and weakly appeals to a larger audience?

c1josh

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

saabophile — Thu, 10 May 2007 09:45:17 EDT

@my favorite car is a motorcycle: "Looks like a competitor to the Audi A3. Same Haldex AWD, fairly similar FWD chassis, both with decent cargo room. "

The 9-3 is getting a new Haldex system, referred to as "XWD", which is not the same as the Audi/VW Haldex system.

The 250 hp 2.8L turbo V6 that's in the current Aero does not have terribly high boost pressures, so 300 hp is really just the start of tuning potential for this engine.

If my 9-5 wagon goes tits up, sign me up for one of these, a SportCombi of course!

saabophile

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

smokeydog001 — Thu, 10 May 2007 08:47:02 EDT

I still miss my 900 turbo. It was the perfect ridge runner. Damn you GM!

smokeydog001

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

Adam — Thu, 10 May 2007 01:09:38 EDT

Are there really that many people who need sporty wagons? At least it looks nicer than the new subarus...

Adam

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

stu-rock — Wed, 09 May 2007 19:47:32 EDT

Huh. I always thought one fights STIs with tetracycline.

stu-rock

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

CUL8R — Wed, 09 May 2007 19:45:30 EDT

It's about time SAAB gets off their ass. GM: Stay away from this project you idiots.

CUL8R

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

cs1984 — Wed, 09 May 2007 19:03:04 EDT

well saab better hope these sell considering they sell less than 4k cars a year. probably about 2k of those in massachusetts alone.

cs1984

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

TurboBrick — Wed, 09 May 2007 17:35:52 EDT

I'm sticking to my decision of not purchasing a Saab until they turn the engine back "the right way" like it was on the 99/900.

TurboBrick

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

my favorite car is a motorcycle — Wed, 09 May 2007 17:25:51 EDT

a vast improvement indeed!
Saab, now please remove that useless chrome.

Looks like a competitor to the Audi A3. Same Haldex AWD, fairly similar FWD chassis, both with decent cargo room. Sure, it won't handle like a better balanced rear-drive BMW wagon, but it should cost $thousands less too.

Given that this is a shared platform, could it be that GM will release a domestic sports wagon in the USA, or must we continue to suffer with rebadged Isuzu-designed small utility vehicles?

my favorite car is a motorcycle

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

IppoJ — Wed, 09 May 2007 17:13:38 EDT

In the photo it looks very 2008 WRX-ish.

IppoJ

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

elwood — Wed, 09 May 2007 17:10:51 EDT

I really hope it ends up being more Saab than GM. And I really think Saab needs a car that serious enthusiasts can get excited about, even though the 9-3 and 9-5 are very good driving cars for being FWD.

elwood

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

cyanics — Wed, 09 May 2007 16:07:20 EDT

ahhhhh saab.... you either love them or hate them.

there is no in-between.

strange that. remember my bud had a 85 900 turbo 4door. it was pretty tank-ish back in the day, until he through a brick-mailbox on top of it in the snow.

kept driving.... well, till a piston rod popped through the engine block and came out the hood. that kinda stopped it a little.

cyanics

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

-=[ArcSine]=- — Wed, 09 May 2007 16:00:22 EDT

Hey Beavis, I think I just uhh... Innoculated.

-=[ArcSine]=-

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

aychseven — Wed, 09 May 2007 15:59:02 EDT

i've always liked saab, but their GM influence seemed to be getting the better of them lately. this one looks like it has super potential

aychseven

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 09 May 2007 15:58:30 EDT

So the STI is going to be a hatchback only, this car is coming so is the M5 Wagon.

Now... if we can only get Audi to bring the RS4 wagon stateside...

Happy Days.

Jonny Lieberman

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

Dead Air — Wed, 09 May 2007 15:46:34 EDT

Oh Happy Day! I may be tempted into Saab ownership again ... a club I didn't want to leave, but felt forced out of by GM's dumb moves with the brand.

Dead Air

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

Miscellanea, now on the main floor! — Wed, 09 May 2007 15:26:41 EDT

Finally a Saab I'd let my fiance buy! And one I might actually want to borrow too!

Miscellanea, now on the main floor!

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

SwatLax — Wed, 09 May 2007 15:15:54 EDT

Go Swedish Hoons! May you honk your horns at the flight's apex forever!

SwatLax

Saab To Build STI Fightin' 9-3

RalphieDC — Wed, 09 May 2007 15:14:56 EDT

It's about time SAAB

RalphieDC