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Peugeot 3008 pinches some cockpit inspiration

April 20, 2009 in Archive

We’re yet to see what sort of aeronautical goodies, if any, that Saab might pack into the new Saab 9-5 or 9-4x next year.
But another manufacturer with a new vehicle about to hit the road has got the jump on Saab and has included a reasonably 9-4x-ish interior with some “born from jets” touches.
The vehicle is the Peugeot 3008 and like the 9-4x, it’s intended as a soft-roader and is due for release in the near term.
I’m not so fond of the application of Peugeot’s cat-like styling to the front. I don’t think it stands up anywhere near as well as Saab’s adaptation of the Aero-X language to the taller 9-4x.
Peugeot3008body.jpg
Inside the car, they’ve got an interior that reminded me a lot of the 9-4x in terms of the general shape of the center stack, etc. The grab-handle’s a nice touch, though I wonder if it’ll fit the car’s intended use (more likely to be speed bumps in shopping center car parks than outdoor trails).
It does manage to look fairly rugged, doesn’t it? And pay particular attention to the little slip of clear plastic in front of the steering wheel.
Peugeot3008.jpg
Here’s that little slip of plastic as a feature photo.
Peugeot3008HUD.jpg
It’s a heads-up display, though not as many other manufacturers do it. Others tend to beam information on to the windscreen in front of the driver. This system is perhaps a little more jet-like in that it direct information on that little screen, which is closer to the driver and doesn’t take up much, if any, of the driver’s road vision
It’s a nice, clever touch. And to think that Saab were the company born from aviation. Peugeot should be working on the car’s pedals and chains, shouldn’t they?
——
Thanks Ken!

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Memo to a young, new Saab – please make the details a priority

April 20, 2009 in Archive

I have the best photo that was ever taken of my Viggen as my desktop wallpaper on one of the computers I use and as I fired that computer up this morning, I thought to myself “Wow! What an awesome looking car.”
This is the photo, taken by my mate Stu the lens genius. Many of you will have seen it before:
9-3ViggenHobart.jpg
My mate Richo in Sydney had a Viggen until recently. His was actually much better than mine. He’d BSR’d it and it had a brand new engine installed last year with only around 4,000kms on it when he sold it. The young lady who bought it, Suzanne, got one heck of a good car for very good money.
I had the chance to drive Richo’s new car on the weekend, a BMW 3-series coupe. He bought it brand new. It’s got the detuned 6 cylinder so the performance isn’t hot, but it’s quite adequate. It’s very comfortable, looks pretty good (if you like that sort of styling) and definitely has quite a presence by the roadside.
Seeing my old Viggen photo again this morning made me compare notes in my head. Richo’s old car vs his new car. I can only do this from my perspective and I’ve only had a short drive in his new car but it was enough to form an impression.
The impression that I got was one of solidity. That’s probably the best word I can use.
The car looks solid. It looks like an evolution of its forebears and therefore has a solid history behind it.
The car feels solid. There are no moments as you open or shut things, as you operate any controls, as you drive, that suggest any sort of fragility. There are no “oh, I didn’t expect that” moments whatsoever. There are no moments where you wish they’d done something different.
The best example I can think of – and it’s a small one but demonstrates the comparison perfectly – can be found in the stalks that operate the indicators.

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Saab company ownership update

April 19, 2009 in Archive

Just to catch up on the news that was reported whilst I was away…..
Last week, it was reported that Saab had signed confidentiality agreements with 27 potential investors.
I should point out that one of our regulars here at SU, Ed K, works in mergers and acquisitions and was quick to point out that 27 confidentiality agreements can mean very little in the M&A world:

In a competitive M&A sales process for a company (as in the case of the sale of Saab), companies with any interest at all in a company or the industry in which such company operates regularly sign confidentiality agreements in order to get their hands on an information memo (and the valuable information contained therein), even if they have zero interest in purchasing the target.

But as ctm pointed out in the same thread, a group of 27 is a bigger pool of ‘potentials’ than just two or three, and should hopefully provide enough real interested parties.
——
From 27 to 10
The Financial Times and Bloomberg filed the most significant stories about this over the last few days.
Bloomberg are quoting one of those ‘sources familiar with the situation’ and saying that the number is down to around six serious interested parties. The implication, of course, is that the rest of the “Saab27″ are just as Ed suggested – people trying to get a look inside.
From Bloomberg:

The bidders include an individual investor, a consortium of Swedish companies and at least two private equity firms, said the person, who didn’t want to be named because the talks are private. None of the most likely bidders are automakers, the person said.

It would be slightly disappointing if that last sentence were true. In case you missed it in comments, we did have a Koenigsegg executive sighting last week in Trollhattan.
The Financial Times were a bit more generous:

Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab’s managing director, told the Financial Times the brand would open the doors of its operations in Trollhättan, Sweden, to about 10 investor groups, out of more than 20 that have “shown a serious interest”.
“We are starting to have presentations on the business in more detail to potential buyers,” Mr Jonsson said, describing them as private equity groups, other financial investors and “international carmakers”.
“Our current plan is that there are about 10 we will review the business in detail with, then see whether we need to go further into the list,” Mr Jonsson said.
Saab would aim to shortlist two to three of these in coming weeks with the intention of finding an investor by the second half of May or beginning of June.

Those reports sound pretty accurate to me.
To have 27 parties suffiently interested in Saab to investigate them is a positive outcome, but to have as many as six being worthy of further investigation would be a fantastic outcome.
Saab are going to have to tie in with GM in the near-to-medium term, but I think they’ll try and move further away as progressively as they can. In fact, I can almost see what a few people have suggested here in the past – Saab becoming a bit like Lotus in terms of having some vehicles for sale, but also lending out engineering expertise to those who need it.
It just seems to fit.
——
From Automotive News….
SaabPollAN.jpg
….with thanks to the guy who’s name I can’t look up right now as Gmail seems to have blown up

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Back-from-Sydney Snippets

April 19, 2009 in Archive

I’ll get up to speed on the Saab stuff shortly, but first….
——
Friday in Sydney – a tale of two Beamers
I featured a Google Images shot of Sydney when I posted the other day, but just to prove I was really there, here’s my own little postcard photo taken from my spot on the Manly Ferry.
IMG_1686.jpg
The place sure does look pretty on a day like that, though it’s still nuts.
That night, we headed off to the Belgian Beer Cafe, the NSW Saab guys’ unofficial home, for another get together over dinner.
Richo was kind enough to organise a ride for us, though as he no longer has his Viggen, we were totally reliant upon his taste and discretion for our transportation…….
IMG_1689.jpg
…..yes, we were in a Beamer.
Well, we were spread out between two Beamers, actually. That dark one is Richo’s own 325 Coupe, which I drove after dinner (more in a moment).
We also had this little baby, which is what I was driven to dinner in:
IMG_1690.jpg
The M3 belongs to a mate of Richo’s named John. He was kind enough to take myself and my young bloke, Geoff, over to the BBC and join us all for dinner.
Let me tell you, that M3 is one incredible driving machine. It’s got plenty of presence, though it’s not nearly as loud in the metal as it is when you press the loud pedal. It is one immensely powerful machine.
This M3 has a little ‘M’ button on the steering wheel and it’s like a switchable automotive steroid injection. John showed us the M button in action, driving at a moderate speed and keeping his foot in the same place whilst hitting the M pedal. Wow! No change in pressure at all on the gas pedal but the whole attitude of the car changes and it’s super-aggressive.
Incredible stuff.
I’ve given Richo plenty of grief about his decision to sell his Viggen and buy a new BMW and whilst I’d still rather see him back in the Viggen, I can now better understand his decision for the BMW. It’s a very solid car and quite a bit better than I’d expected.
I drove it back from dinner to our accommodation and whilst it’s the baby six of the BMW-bunch, it’s still got enough punch to keep you interested. The finish is exceptionally good and the attention to detail is, frankly, kind of jealousy inducing. But that’s what successful companies can do.
My thanks to Richo and John for the experiences and of course, just for catching up.
——
Dinner with the Sydney Saab guys is always fantastic and Friday night was no exception. It was mostly familiar faces with a couple of new ones too (G’day Sue and Alan!) and it’s always good to get together again with a group of guys with whom I waste so much time via email.
Here’s PT enjoying one of Belgium’s finest:
IMG_1691.jpg
Brendan bought his black 99T and Joe Lobo had his Turbo X there as well, so we had the Black Turbo bookends there.
Hawkeye had his Concours prizewinning BioPower 9-3 there as well.
——
Saturday.
Carlton lost, so Saturday sucked. Meatballs for dinner.
——
Back home on Sunday – time to sell the Alfa….
We came home this morning and I had plenty of work to do. I’ve been flat out raising money for the Alfa’s replacement car. I had 7 auctions on Ebay, which finished Saturday morning, and I also had to prepare for the two people who were coming over to check out the Alfa I’ve got for sale.
Yes, good photos did the trick again….
Alfa 33
The first group was a young kid with his parents. It was going to be his first car and after a ride in the car with me at the wheel, his folks came to the opinion that this probably wasn’t the ideal car for him :-) — They were concerned that he might get into trouble a little too easily in it. The young bloke looked suitably disappointed.
The second guy was in his early 20s and knew a little about them, having had an Alfa project that didn’t get finished a few years ago. He really liked the car and seems quite keen on it. He’s got to speak with the Ministers for Agriculture and Finance (i.e. the parents, from whom he’ll borrow the money) and should get back to me within a couple of days.
Fingers crossed.
——
MX5 or 944??
I’m feeling like I’m in a dilemma once again. The Alfa will be replaced with one of two models of car. It’ll either be a Porsche 944S or a Mazda MX-5. The only problem is that I can’t figure out which.
I’m really drawn to the Porsche. That badge just seems to have a giant magnet in it and I can’t help but being drawn back to it. BUT, I’m really worried about the maintenance cost if/when something goes wrong. And I know something will go wrong – something always does.
My brother-in-law in Canada got an old MX-5 last year and I drove it when I visited him in Vancouver. I’d never driven one before and it really was a lot of fun. It’ll be a little cheaper than the Porsche I’m looking at and is reputed to be more reliable, and would most likely be cheaper to maintain.
So….which to go for (if I get the chance)?????
——
Internal stuff out of the way, time for some Saab updates…..

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Friday evening very quick snippets – no V6 global edition

April 17, 2009 in Archive

Further to the post about there being no V6 engine in the 2010 Saab 9-3 for the US market, I can now confirm that this is not just a US thing.
I’ve been told quite reliably from Saab that this will be a global thing. There will be no V6 offered in any market in the Saab 9-3 from 2010.
——
The reason why there’s nothing new from me in the last 24 hours, and there’ll be nothing for the next 24 hours either, is because I’m currently enjoying views like this one…..
sydney.jpg
…and no, that definitely ain’t Hobart.
I’m actually writing this from Richo’s office in inner-Sydney. Tonight I catch up with a bunch of Saab nuts at the Belgian Beer Cafe before going to the football tomorrow (which was the whole basis of the trip – an 18th birthday thingy for the young bloke).
Anyway, things will be quiet, so please continue to talk amongst yourselves…..
——

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Vintage Saab Understeer – 1958

April 16, 2009 in Archive

Here’s one for the techies…..
Saab’s have a tendency to understeer, which in most situations is safer than losing control in an oversteer situation.
Ted Y recently picked up on an article about understeer in an old version of Road and Track magazine that he purchased on Ebay.
I’ll let Ted tell you the rest as he understands this stuff much better than I do:

I was reading “Sports Car Design 44″ in the May, 1958 issue which was discussing understeer/oversteer, applied power and a technical description of how to determine a car’s roll center, based on its suspension geometry.
Then I noticed a factory-provided graph showing the results of an understeer test, which I didn’t know any manufacturer actually performed. The part that caught my eye though was that it was provided by Saab. It showed that they were careful to make sure that the Saab 93 would maintain its understeer even when fully loaded, for safety reasons, unlike the comparison DKW which went to oversteer when fully loaded.

Here is the image, which should be fairly self explanatory.
Click to enlarge
SaabUndersteerTest_May58_RoadAndTrack.jpg
Now all you technophiles can feel free to clue us in as to the benefits of Saab setting the car up this way.
Thanks again to TedY for the scan.

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Saab 9-3 Carlsson Edition for Germany

April 16, 2009 in Archive

Now THIS is something grrrrrooovy.
Saab Germany have teamed up with Saab’s official tuning house (and Saabs United sponsor) Hirsch Performance AG, to develop the latest in a long line of Carlsson Edition vehicles.
Below is the press release translated from the original German by Mr G.Oogle.
——
Saab 9-3 Erik Carlsson

  • Special model for the 80th Birthday of the rally legend
  • Modern all-wheel technology and turbo engine with 240 hp

Rüsselsheim. Two victories in the Saab 96 in the legendary Monte Carlo Rally and a hat trick in the RAC Rally in England have made the Swede Erik Carlsson a rally legend. Also known as “Carlsson on the Roof”, the Saab ambassador celebrated his 80th Birthday in March. For the Swedish premium brand, that is reason enough to remember their tradition and sporting successes with a special model – the Saab 9-3 Erik Carlsson.
The Saab 9-3 Erik Carlsson Saab presents itself as a typical combination of sportiness and safety – with 240hp engine and the ultra-modern four-wheel drive XWD (Cross Wheel Drive) and electronic differential lock ELSD.
Sport-feeling – outside and inside
A doppelflutige exhaust system, a subtle, silver-colored front spoiler, a diffuser on the rear and standard 18-inch wheels give the Erik Carlsson Saab 9-3 a sporty appearance. Optional is a sports exhaust system, a sports suspension and 19-inch alloy wheels.
The interior continues the sporty-elegant impression: door, cockpit and center console in Carbon Fairings optics contribute to the sporty character and the tactile quality of leather dashboard, hand brake and shifting.
Saab Drive – Power with Responsibility
The heart of the new Saab 9-3 Erik Carlsson is the engine developed with Hirsch Performance with the modern four-wheel Saab XWD technology. The two-liter turbo engine makes 240hp and a torque of 350 Newton meters. That makes a sprint from stand to 100 in just 7.3 seconds, top speed is 245 km/h. Despite the impressive performance, the fuel consumption is only 8.2 liters per 100 kilometers.
The modern Saab XWD all-wheel system distributes the torque of the motor depending on the needs continuously between the front and rear axle and ensures optimal grip and stability in all situations.
An important part of the system is the electronically controlled torque distribution (TTD – Torque Transfer Device). The force is distributed between the axles. A valve increases or decreases the hydraulic pressure on the Nasskupplung inside the TTD is activated or deactivated, and so gradually the rear axle. The degree of slip is, how much the rear wheels are driven. The force distribution between the two axles can, in extreme cases, vary by almost 100 percent. The electronic locking differential (ELSD) – also a standard part of the special model – works on the same principle: It distributes the engine driving the rear axle in practice, also with close to 100 percent of the wheel, which has more grip.
The Saab 9-3 is Erik Carlsson as a sports sedan from 42,350 euros, the Sport Combi will cost 43,950 euros.
Saab9-3Carlsson1.jpg
Saab9-3Carlsson2.jpg
Saab9-3Carlsson3.jpg

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An update from Sweden on Saab’s investors

April 16, 2009 in News

I’ve just been chatting with a contact at Saab in Sweden and he’s provided me with the following information:

  • The investment process moves into a more intensive phase
  • Over 20 potential investors
  • Small number of auto companies interested but the majority are investment groups
  • Interest comes from Sweden, elsewhere in Europe, the US and Asia Pacific region
  • All have been vetted by Deutsche Bank and have the capability to become investors
  • All have signed confidentiality agreements and have been sent a ‘teaser brochure’
  • Some have moved into the next phase and have either visited Trollhättan already or have booked a visit in order to take part in more detailed discussions.

Note that Deutsche Bank are engaged by General Motors to find Saab’s buyer, which means that GM’s interests are paramount in this process, but also note that GM’s best interest is served by Saab surviving to engage in future contracts with them. It’s hopefully going to be a win-win.
——
I noted in comments as I was putting this together that there’s also coverage at Reuters and in the Swedish media (thanks ctm)
E24 report the following:

“There are now 27 interested parties to Saab Automobile. Yesterday, the first of them visited the Saab factory in Trollhättan.
- Interest has been growing. Saab has signed confidentiality agreements with 27 potential buyers. The interest from Wednesday’s visitors was very large, a source tells Dagens Industri.
One interested buyer per day are received by Saab, so the this period is expected to be rather long. First, the “heaviest” ones visit factories and meet with management, and yesterday’s secret visitor was one of the more serious buyers.
Saab is reported to first talk to those who have the greatest capacity, capital and skills to take over the auto company.”

And Reuters have this to say:

Loss-making General Motors unit Saab Automobile said on Thursday it had signed confidentiality agreements with 27 potential suitors in its efforts to find a new owner to help it survive the downturn.
Saab’s court-appointed administrator said earlier this month that about 20 potential buyers were looking at the company and that a deal was expected to be completed in June.
“It is of course positive that there has been this level of interest,” Saab spokeswoman Gunilla Gustavs said.
The Swedish carmaker had held meetings with representatives of potential buyers this week, she added.
“We are now in an intense and more organized phase of presenting the company to potential interested parties,” she said.

——
Thanks to ctm and Tompa/Moose in comments!

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2010 Saab 9-3 model news

April 16, 2009 in Archive

UPDATE: text amended below. There will be both a FWD and an XWD version of the Aero model.
——
First, let me take you back to news that broke at Trollhattan Saab in October 2008:

Heard from some reliable sources that there is talk, (or already even determined?) that there will be no v6 in the 9-3. Low volume and emissions being the reason. Originally planned to be updated to the v6 today in the Insignia. Now, its scratched.
Is this the last year you can order a v6 in the small Saab?

That news came from someone who set up an email account with the name “Djup Strupe” (and for those who are new around here, Djup Strupe is Swedish for Deep Throat, and is the name I ascribe to all inside sources)
My comments at the time were primarily concerned with the image loss that Saab will suffer as a result of a decision like this. Saab have been on-again and off-again with offering a V6 for years now and former SaabUSA chief and Saab guru Bob Sinclair himself stated that he wanted a V6 offering for years, and that Saab lost a number of customers because they didn’t have one.
–
Today I can confirm that the 2010 Saab 9-3 to be offered in the US market will not have a V6 available in any trim level. The V6 is off the list for all models – sedan, Combi and convertible.
I’ve received this information from Djup Strupe and the source is rock solid reliable.
The full specifications of the 9-3 range were not made available to me but it seems the Aero will be offered with the same 2.0T engine as the base model, with the main differences being in terms of trim level and perhaps the specification of the XWD system.
In short, there will be a base model FWD Saab 9-3 2.0T, a XWD Saab 9-3 2.0T (I assume with no eLSD) a FWD Aero Saab 9-3 and an XWD Aero Saab 9-3 (I assume it will have an eLSD option), which will also have the 2.0T engine.
Added to that, of course, will be the Saab 9-3x, which will come with the full XWD system (incl eLSD and self-levelling) as standard.
From what I can tell, the Aero version of the Saab 9-3 will be close to a Turbo X spec car but without the V6 powerplant and available in both FWD and XWD spec.
Aside from the V6, other items gone for 2010 include premium natural leather seats, some of the walnut trim, Fusion Blue and Polar White paint on the sedan/combi and Steel Gray and Electric Blue from the convertible.
New colors for 2010 will include Glacier Silver Metallic and Arctic White, though their availability will be limited to specific models.
——
So, there’ll be no V6.
I should mention that at this stage, I don’t know if this is worldwide or just in the US market. My hunch is that it will be worldwide.
My first reaction is one of concern. No-one likes losing something as good as that V6 engine and the damage it may do to Saab’s reputation is something that must be considered.
I’m also concerned for Saab’s dealers and salespeople. If Saab can’t lower prices in accordance with a major shift like this then dealers are going to be left in a pretty difficult situation. Saab expect around 15% or more of sales to be Aero models. If the price doesn’t come down, why would anyone bother?
BUT……
Remember that this is a 2010 change.
In 2010 there will be a new Saab 9-5 and as I said back in October last year, I’ll donate a kidney to my neighbor’s cat if the 2010 Saab 9-5 doesn’t come with a V6 option.
So the 9-5 will be further differentiated from the 9-3. Not only will it be noticeably bigger, but it’ll be the vehicle with the V6 option. I’m not totally convinced that it needs to be the only vehicle with a V6 option, but that’s Saab’s choice.
Given Saab’s low volume expectations over the next 12 months, I can see why they might have taken this decision. The Aero is a small proportion of sales and total sales are going to be small in the next 12 months anyway.
Still, for a brand that wants to position itself amongst the bigger players in the premium market (and make no mistake, they still have Audi and BMW in their sights from what I’ve seen) the lack of a smoother, more refined engine option doesn’t read like a positive step.

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Opel Insignia OPC – so how does this make you feel?

April 15, 2009 in Archive

Opel have unveiled their hot-tomale version of the Insignia – the OPC – and it’s going to make you either hopping mad or quite hopeful for the future. If you look at it from the back it could also make you feel a little sick. You have been warned.
Pics and quotes from Carscoop, via VW Vortex
InsigniaOPC1.jpg
So why would it make you hopping mad?
Basically, this reads like the Turbo X drivetrain but with the sort of output we all wished we’d seen on the Turbo X

The top-grade Insignia comes with a specially modified version of GM’s 2.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produces a satisfying 325HP that is channeled to all four wheels.
The first ever four-wheel drive Opel OPC model also benefits from a new electronically controlled, rear limited slip differential (eLSD) which can transfer up to 40% of torque to whichever (rear) wheel has more grip. This is the same system that is used on the Saab 9-3 Turbo X.
Four-wheel drive system and eLSD aside, Opel’s engineers have also fiddled around with the Insignia’s suspension system as well as with the brakes. Stopping power is now provided by a set of Brembo vented and cross drilled discs.

Twin-turbo or twin-scroll turbo? More information was required, so I clicked through to the GM Media site, where there’s no mention of a twin turbo on the brief press release. That makes me think Carscoop might have messed up just a little in the semantics.
InsigniaOPC2.jpg
So why might it make you hopeful for the future?
The Insignia is, of course, on the Epsilon II architecture. The Turbo X is on plain old Epsilon, which may go some way to explaining why it was limited to 280hp. It might have represented a sort of ceiling that GM/Saab were willing to dish up on Epsilon straight from the factory.
The good news here is that the 2010 Saab 9-5 will be on Epsilon II, and therefore much more capable than even the Turbo X.
If you feel yourself throw up a little inside your own mouth right now, that’s because your eyes have subconsciously registered the rear-end view, below…..
InsigniaOPC3.jpg
That is truly shocking. The side and front views are much more friendly to the eye.
I’m not a fan of the interior, either…..
InsigniaOPC4.jpg
The Insignia OPC puts out 325hp and 400Nm of torque, it’ll get to 100km/h in six seconds and the addition of XWD (though they don’t call it that) ensures that it should be difficult to get askew.
It’s interesting that Carscoop instantly pitch it against Audi’s S-Line and others. That should be Saab territory, but considering the looming separation I guess there’s no point in pretending that everyone’s still friends.
Being the kind of person I am, I’ll be hopping mad for a little while but really, when all that’s said and done, the specs on this car are what I’m really interested in. Their meaning for the Saab 9-5 will be known later this year.
I can’t wait!
–
Thanks to Taylor from LotusEnthusiast

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Wednesday night snippets – in Sweden edition

April 15, 2009 in Archive

All is quiet….
——
Saab finalised their redundancy plans yesterday and gave notice to 701 employees that their last day would be this Friday.
The original plan was for 750 people to go, with 650 of those being blue-collar and 100 white-collar. As it turns out, there’s only 55 white-collar workers leaving, with some having re-deployed to other vacant positions. 646 blue-collar jobs have been lost.
Of course, what we all hope for is that Saab will need these people back again some time in the near future as work ramps up again.
That all depends on the success of the search for a new owner…..
——
And on that front, Saab executives have put their Easter eggs aside for the week because they’re extremely busy playing host to potential buyers.
The race is on, with Saab hoping to get things sorted before the unnecessary complication that is a GM bankruptcy takes effect.
Eric Geers seemed a little tense about it all in a short article from TTELA today:
“It will be hard the next few weeks,” says Saab’s information director Eric Geers. Starting already this week is expected to an unknown number of stakeholders have come to Trollhättan, to acquaint themselves more closely with the company….
“Time is an important aspect, as everyone knows,” said Geers about the rushed schedule. But as soon as we have the financing completed, we started our business plan. The last few days, the threat against the Saab owner General Motors further strengthened, according to reports from the U.S..
And quite what the consequences for Saab could be appears to be unclear to most.
“You do not really know what will happen if GM ports in Chapter 11. But the key for us is to continue the job of separating us from GM and to build up service for the future, “ says Geers.
——
And away from Sweden…..
The other day I talked about my Monte Carlo jobs for the weekend – subframe brace, headlamp bulbs, and smoky side repeaters.
Only one was too difficult to finish, and you won’t believe it, but it was the smoky side repeaters. One of them barely has enough cable attached to reach the fitting, mening that if I took the existing orange repeater off, the cable may get lost forever inside the guard.
I’m not sure what’s going on with it, but I think the plastic inner guard lining might have to come off this weekend so I can have a look.
The headlamps were their usual thumb-busting pain-in-the-clacker, but the end result is fantastic.
And the subframe brace was an absolute pleasure to fit and what’s more, the results are fantastic! The car feels noticeably more solid in the bends now. Lars has made up a fantastic bit of kit, there. It doesn’t look as pretty as the name brands you might be used to, but it’s very effective.
Photos to come on the weekend.
——
Oh, and another reason things might be quiet around here…..
Some guy’s just loaded all-new episodes of Wheeler Dealers up on YouTube.
I’ve just been watching them do up a Citroen DS. Awesome!!

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Great moments in Saab design – Saab headlamps

April 15, 2009 in Archive

You can’t see this, but as I sit here writing this article, it’s teeming down with rain outside and despite the fact that it’s not even 10am yet, it’s almost as dark as I’ve seen a day get here in Hobart.
You may not know this, but Australian drivers are not required to run their headlights during the day. There are studies to show that it’s safer to do so and some countries do require daytime lighting, but Australia isn’t one of those countries.
When we get a day like today where it’s very dark and wet, there are a lot of people doing something they don’t normally do – they’re driving with their headlights on in the daytime.
Consequently, I can guarantee that the phones at the Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania will be ringing like crazy all day, and RACT service vans will be seen in driveways and shopping center car parks all over the city, providing a jump start to cars that have flat batteries due to lights being left on.
This is something that should never happen in your Saab and you’ve got Saab designers and engineers from way back to thank for it.
saablights.jpg Saab headlamps are wired in such as way so that when you switch off the ignition, you switch the lights off, too.
This is not a new thing, either. My 1979 Saab 99 Turbo had this feature and I’m pretty sure my Saab 99E from 1972 had it as well. That 99E was my first Saab and I got the 99Turbo not long after that. As I got more familiar with features like this – in a 1970s car, mind you – it deepened my appreciation for the way Saab design and build their cars.
Back in the 1970s I’m pretty sure there were no other cars on Australian roads with their lights wired through the ignition. Even today, in 2009, there are many companies that don’t have such a clever little feature designed into them and that’s a fact that always makes me wonder. It works so well, why wouldn’t others do it, too?
Next time you see a neighbor or a car at the local shops that needs a jump start, say a quick thankyou to the smart guys in Sweden who designed clever stuff like this into your car.

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by Swade

Saab stimulus package – SaabUSA Parts

April 15, 2009 in Archive

Here in Australia, our fearless leader decided it’d be a good idea to throw around some money in order to keep our economy ticking over. Consequently, most of us Aussies are getting a $900 payment from the Australian Tax Office in the next few weeks – and never mind that it was our taxpayer money in the first place!
I’ve asked each of my four site sponsors in the right sidebar to provide some ideas as to how a Saab owner could best spend $900 on their Saab. Saab USA Parts were the first to respond, and Fred’s ideas are below.
Maybe you’ve got a little spare green coming your way under a similar scheme? If so, consider these as ideas to help get your car ready for the northern summer.
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The best way to spend $900 on a Saab is to pamper it with a Spring Clean using Original Equipment Saab Cleaning Products (kit exclusive to SUSAP – $74.95).
Then touch-up the body using Saab Touch-Up Paint ($17.50);
Restore scratched/faded headlamps with a Headlamp Restoration Kit ($59.95);
Install a new set of black powdercoated Saab Stainless Steel Plate Frames ($29.90);
Put a Saab Jumper Cable Safety Kit in the trunk ($77.76);
Place an Emergency Hammer / Tire Gauge in the glovebox ($21.59);
Install a set of Saab Wheel Bolt Covers to cover up rusty lug nuts ($10.95 for set of 20 with removal tool);
Cover your car with an Original Equipment Saab Car Cover (Saab 9-3SS – $149.00);
Be sure to keep a Saab Golf Umbrella in the trunk ($29.70);
Treat yourself to a Saab T-Shirt ($19.97), Saab Cap ($21.60), Saab Sport Glasses ($27.00) and Saab Turbo-X Driving Gloves ($32.35) from the Saab gear page;
Safe Driving,
You friends at Saab USA Parts
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That amounts to around US$600, which is just under $900 Aussie dollars. Of course, if you had $900Americanos, then you could make up the difference with a Saab USA Parts gift voucher, the balance of which you can whittle away as you need various bits and pieces over time.

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by Swade

Pics: Saab Car Club of Australia national event

April 14, 2009 in Archive

The Saab Car Club of Australia held their biennial national gathering in Canberra over the Easter weekend.
As promised, here’s some more photography and info from the event.
The photos have come from one of the Saab community’s most avid photographers, Steve Bunton, and you can click here to view the full portfolio.
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The gathering of the Saabs in Canberra.
SCCACanberraGroup.jpg
This 900 Convertible won best overall car at the Concours. Only 37,500 kms on the clock, apparently!
SCCA900-1.jpg
SCCA900-2.jpg
SU regular and master of all fastidious owners, Hawkeye, prepares his Saab 9-3 BioPower for the Concours. Rumours that he strapped his wife and child to the front of the car in order to prevent stonechips on the drive from Sydney are yet to be confirmed.
FerdPreparing.jpg
Unfortunately there’s no full shot of Hawkeye’s car, but here’s one very clean corner. Hawkeye’s car is a 2008 model and was one of the first ordered in Australia. It’s now done around 13,600kms.
FerdDisplay.jpg
And we have a winner!! Hawkeye won the the NG900-to-9-3 class in the Concours (a rather wide-ranging category, if you ask me.
Ferdwinning.jpg
Of course, our intrepid photographer had his Nordic-tuned Saab 9-3 Aero there as well. Sweeeeeet!
SAB1.jpg

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by Swade

Saab 9-5 caught in the wild – on film!

April 14, 2009 in Archive

We’ve seen one in motion in Spain, and now our mate Andreas from Carpix has been out filming a 2010 Saab 9-5 in northern Sweden.
The film has appeared on Tekniken’s Varld and there’s a writeup in Swedish at that link for those familiar with the lingo.
The rest of us will have to make do with looking at the video. The car appears to be in convoy with a Saab 9-3 SportCombi. Location unknown, but it’s good to see testing continues.
I’ve embedded the video after the jump as some people have trouble watching video on this site.
Here’s a screenshot to whet the appetite.
Saab9-5TV1.jpg
Thanks to Napahlm for the heads up!

Read the rest of this entry →

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