I’ve got a bunch of questions to pass the time. This post holds one of them, and there’ll be a bunch more coming in another post later on.
The first one concerns the direction of future Saabs. Design, powertrain, the whole package.
I have very little doubt in my mind that Saabs in the future are going to be better designed (no disrespect to Messrs Mauer, Lo, Padian, Daniel, Dyson, Czorny and co), better built and as a consequence, somewhat more expensive than what we’re used to.
Don’t be too surprised with that. It was part of the Koenigsegg plan to take Saab upmarket and everyone bidding for Saab has done so on the basis of the existing business plan. Obviously they’ll change and adapt as they go along, but for now the basic premise has to be “build better cars and charge more for them”.
So be it.
Whilst I love the new 9-5 – I’m getting to love it more and more with each viewing – and look forward to a new 9-3 and even the 9-4x, I do wonder what’s going to be Saab’s reason for being?
What is going to make Saab appeal to the drivers, rather than just the cross-shoppers and the loyalists?
——
I started thinking about this when I was looking around the classifieds today. I check them out every other day, just to imagine what I might pick up next to fill my dream garage.
(As an aside, someone asked in comments the other day, what would be your five car garage – non-Saabs included. Saab 9-3x, Saab 9-3 Viggen, Saab 99 Turbo, Alfa Romeo 33 16V and mid-1980s Porsche 911).
Anyway, as I was perusing the classies, I came across this photo.
Now what do you suppose is the purpose of that car?
It’s nicely trimmed for the period, but it’s not a cruiser. Bucket seats, prominent gearshift, steering wheel and gauges. That’s what stands out.
This car is an Alfa Romeo 1600 Junior, and it’s sole purpose was to be driven. It was comfortable inside, but the beauty of the Alfa was its advanced engine and drivetrain.
What’s this got to do with Saab?
I know they’re going to offer all the latest and greatest gadgetry, the most efficient powerplant they can develop. I’m am quite sure that the engineers there in Trollhattan have a number of surprises up their sleeve and our eyes will pop when we see some of the things they can do.
I’m excited by all of those possibilities.
But I also wonder if there might be room in a future Saab range for something they used to do incredibly well – a lightweight, compact, driver’s car.
One of the questions I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on is this: what’s the minimum equipment level you could live with? Appropriately priced, of course.
Personally, I’d like power steering, power windows, a heater and a radio. The only other things I need are all underneath. The thrill of the turbo, some nice direct steering that puts the car where you point it and a chassis that keeps you there.
Will there be room for a car like that in a new Saab range? And would you want it? Or am I just some foolish old romantic?
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That Opel blurb...
{ 89 comments }
Swade, I
I for my part do hope that Saab still could be affordable brand so that it does not become a luxurybrand who few can afford.
I’m in the market of a 9-3 or a “9-1″ I have no need of a bigger car but still I have to have a Saab
Let Saab be Saab! What more can I say?
In the late ’80s I owned an Alfa Romeo Sprint Green cloverleaf, stripped out, with the 1.7 litre boxer motor. What a car! Superb handling and lovely noise from the boxer engine!
Something along these lines would be great for a driver orientated Saab coupe I reckon. Low, rakish 3 door, comfortable leather buckets, great engine, rorty exhaust, basic spec but probably including power windows, locks, mirros and aircon – and not much else!
Hi Swade,
You are not alone. Do I like the NG 9-5 and would I drive one? You bet! Can I afford one? Not likely.
Would I be happy with and buy a lower cost Saab with a hatchback if offered? You bet!
Your equipment list is about all I need. I’d like a manual transmission, power windows and radio. I don’t even need the power steering (and I do remeber what that’s like still owning a 99T.
I have driven cars without heat and AC and don’t mind a more crude environment even though most of our Saabs have all the toys they include in later years. Perhaps I would take a sunroof, even a manual one (like an old 99).
Impatiently waiting for good news…
Steve
Talking on gadgets. There will always be people loving them an people afraid that to big number of them makes car difficult to operate and less reliable. The choice should be given with each car model.
Great idea to talk about what we expect in future. Less stressing than waiting for the news.
In 2001 I got a 9-3 (Turbo Anniversary I think). It was my first new bought Saab and it in fact had not much, power steering, power windows, climate control and a cd player. It had the 175 hp 2,0 engine with a huge Turbo thrill and was a fun to drive. I went to northern Sweden for a two week holiday with that car and I ended up looking for dirt roads all the time because it was such a fun to drive it on them.
Though I’m one of those who like to get all gadgets into a new car I really loved that car, in fact I’m sorry I didn’t keep it to drive on weekends…
You’re quite right Swade, when it comes to driving itself you don’t need much of that gadgetory.
confused but anything over AUD$60K is out of my saab limit, 5 car garage would have to include a motorbike and a classic manual 900, for saab i say have biopower, vector, aero and x models only [too many options confuse the buyer and badly affect resale].
I’m with you on that one. I am fed up seeing more and more useless and costly features on cars. Who actually needs dual zone climate control and power folding door mirrors for goodness sake? The trouble is for some people car buying is a box ticking exercise and the more boxes ticked the ‘better’ the car. Call me old fashioned by I still miss my 99 from the early 80s
Awhile ago there was that article in the UK about turbocharging and saving the environment. I think Saab will begin to clarify what makes it a great car: engineering, drivability, weather, safety. I think they will then take that to the next level. When I drove the Toyota Prius with Variable Valve Timing for the gas engine.. I thought what if we had the Hybrid system with a turbocharger instead of VVTI
The way the engine and turbo engage.. no other turbocharged car( (Mitsubishi, VW, etc) feels like that.
My garage: 1992 SAAB 900 Turbo, 1993 SAAB 900 Turbo, 2010 9-3 SportCombi with XWD, 1987 Volvo 240DL Station Wagon, 2010 Toyota Tundra Double CAB Offroad 
All that super kinetic engery in that car! It would be explosive. Pneumatic valves… hydraulic hybrids… in a SAAB. Yummy.
When I sit in my SAAB, I’m sold on how the clutch/gas/brake peddles seem almost ergonomically designed. The peddles are in the perfect place for my feet and joints! The dashboard, the comfort of the seats, the fact I can more or less stand in the back (SAAB 900).. and that the SAAB is as long and has same cargo room more or less as a small pickup truck. Those are customer things.
As a driver, the car loves to be peppy and weave in and out of traffic and get the people behind you to slam on their brakes.
But in terms of expense… the Prius V.. is 38k. The Toyota Venza is 38k, fully loaded. Same engines, but bluetooth,sunroof, etc. Whats really going to matter is at the dealerships and getting the customer to be able to justify the cost by explaining what other cars would offer them.. and how SAABs hold value for all the things I’ve mentioned and more.. but also SAAB has a way better packaging system than most brands (especially Volvo!). When you buy the 9-5, you are going to get floor mats and cup holders, keys and door handles.. it wont be extra to add those in and jack up the price even more.
Ok
Heated steering wheel !!! (My company Renault diesel needs 25 minutes until it gets warm). I’d love it in my next Saab.
Personally I like lots of extra equipment in a car, but I remember my best car ever (in terms of reliability) was 1986 Audi 80 with nothing electric in it. I bought it as I needed anything to commute when it was 16 years old and drove for 6 years just changing oil and brake pads. Gadgets spoiled the image of Merc and Renault. They put too many of them without prior proper testing. If New Saab wants to offer lots of extras, they’ll need lots of time for checking everything works.
plus a diesel landcruser, peugeot 205xs and a 9-5 aero [all manual]
swade, that’s a question that has been occupying my mind as well. It’s all very well for loyalists to proclaim the purity of the Saaby Saabs, the love of hatches and what makes them special for us but that won’t make sales and bring people into show rooms. So what *can* Saab do to distinguish itself? I haven’t driven them for long (~ 4 years) but what stands out are the great features that come standard (as compared to say, a Holden or Ford), the power steering, the turbo (O, that turbo!), the feeling of luxury without being overly flashy. Didn’t one commentator say that that they were always meant to be well-built family cars? I love the new 9-5 and think it should be priced accordingly, but it would be sad to make Saab some sort of pale Audi imitation.
and you can have as many sections as you like!
As for the ideal garage: there was no limit to the number of cars
Swade,
Thanks for your superb work so far!
Assuming things go well:
Do you think the SAAB community can play a bigger role in the future to interact directly with SAAB regarding quality concerns, development direction, etc?
If so, do you think this site could be a future central point for such a SAAB community?
Regards
Exactly! Its like the Apple-PC debate: PC users can go on and on about what is missing from, say the iPhone, but really the average user doesn’t need so many features.
Well, you
Hi Swade!
I defenately need some comfort as well. Climate control is an absolute must. Parhaps we can do both. I will drive the new 9-5 and you can have a raw Aero X. Both happy!
/Johan
I think we need a rebuilt Saab 900 first gen, with a bit more interoir width, a more rigid passenger cabin, better crumble-zones (like these of the new 9-5) and with all modern safety electronics and with really good seats like in the late 900 first gen or Sabb 9000 (the ones in the new 9-3 e.g. aren
Hi Steven,
looking at your list, I got the impression you need a Lotus elise. So mabe a Sonet IV would be your car. But when or If SAAB can aford to build such a car is still unknown.
Maybe they can work together with Lotus to build a Sonet IV/Spyker pure.
In my case, I need a certain amount of gadgets, which makes the car less nimble, but as an ex-Motorbike driver I’m still searching an affordable car that gives me a similar feeling.
Every safety features must go standard. I include AC and fully adjustable seats and few other comfort features here as in fact they are safety ones. A driver working in a comfortable environment is a safest one. Things like folding mirrors, rain sensors, lane sensors, radars active cruise control… I can live without.
What is more interesting for me in future Saabs is their “design language” Will the new 9-3 be just a smaller 9-5 or a cleverly developed car with some common lines of current sports sedan (I opt for the the second choice – 9-3 ss is a great design)? Will 9-1 ever be built (9x or rather 9x biohybrid)?
In terms of returning Saab’s image to that of a driver’s car, I think you’re right on Steven. Saab became the company it is because of those great machines that were light, direct, and basic- they were drivers’ cars. It’s for that reason that BMW is leading the luxury market segment. Sadly, I think As much as we like to hope it’s all about the driving experience, in the end if it doesn’t come without all the extras, no one will buy it. I don’t think that a basic car without ESP, extensive safety systems, and advanced electronics can make it anymore. Ten years ago, maybe- now, absolutely not. First off, I don’t think it would maintain the 5-star NCAP or IIHS rating without serious standard traction, side airbags, and pedestrian safety systems. It wouldn’t maintain ULEV II certification without some serious emissions systems.
Even if the average driver is never going to subject their cars to track-like maneuvers, the idea that they can hit 60 in less than 6 seconds reigns supreme. By honing their strategy as the driver’s car, Saab could be a force to reckon with. What I’m fearful of is that it isn’t a question anymore of simply making a great driver’s car OR luxury car, one must make both. I’m worried that during the late GM years, the competition has been finding ways to do both at the same time while Saab just went on developing catch up plans for Opel and filling in gaps in GM’s product lineup. Undoubtedly the industry is more competitive than ever and the reason why automotive journalists are teasing Saab so much now is because development has stalled on so many fronts. To compete in this segment, we have to not only offer great handling and sport characteristics but be able to stand on its own as a comfortable car. Modern Saabs must do both to succeed in this market, in my opinion. When you ask what is the minimum configuration I’m willing to live with, I don’t think it
If we were to purely look at driving appliances, then players like KTM come to mind for maximum thrill (but zero practicality). If we’re at the low end, Hyundai is trying to compete with the new Genesis coupe, with pricing starting around $22K for a real wheel drive fun box (but near zero luxury). Saab most clearly fits into the Subaru category presently- well thought out cars that aren’t quite full luxury. If Travis Pastrana can jump barges in a Subaru, there’s no reason a Saab can’t either. The next 9-3 should be able to be stripped down as a driver’s car for those who choose to do so, but if it doesn’t feel better to sit in and look much better than an A4 or 335i, we’re all in trouble because there will be no operating income on which to design new cars. Sadly I have to say that romanticized notions of bare bones fun to drive cars aren’t going to sell to the average buyer, especially the younger set who is used to every new technology and wants it last week. Ford’s experience with the Sync system proves this very well, as more than twice as many cars with the system moved off dealer lots last year than those without the system. Which leads me to where I think Saab has to stand out (and probably where future installments of your speculative series will go, sorry to jump the gun)- Design (with a capital D).
I don’t say this because I’m an architect, or because it’s the reason that brought me to Saab. I say it because it’s the cheapest, easiest way for the brand to become Saab again. I have supreme faith in Saab Powertrain engineers to build great handling cars. I even am encouraged that GM seems to have some great new technology in their parts bin for Saab to have access to in the next few years. What Saab needs to sell in the next 3-5 years is stand out design that gets people excited about the brand again. Muller seems to get this, and that’s why from the very first interview at the LA autoshow I’ve been behind him, second only to perhaps ivo71 on this site. Saab has to prioritize design ahead of anything else, and then maybe it will get the chance to concentrate on its small driver’s car.
I think the opportunity for what you’re looking for will present itself when new technology, specifically electric propulsion, revolutionizes the industry. With instant torque curves and far less moving parts, the chance for a fun to drive, inexpensive, volume but high tech car will present itself. I know this analogy has been beaten to death, but this week it bears examination especially, the Apple model. Next week, the iPad (or whatever it will be called) Apple tablet will come out. What many people don’t remember is the Apple Newton that was out 12 years ago…I had one, silly me. At the time, technology wasn’t ready for the device to really shine, no mobile internet, no advanced processors, and no multitouch technology existed at the time. By cultivating and strengthening its software (and thus corporate identity) in the last decade while technology caught up, Apple is poised to again redefine their market segment. Saab has a lot to learn from this, in that it can refocus itself on its core customer, on design, driver feel, customer service and reliability while taking advantage of new technologies (whether it is in VCR tech or electric) to leapfrog the competition. Perhaps that’s why I’m so excited about Genii collaborating on advanced technology with Spyker (and so many others are too).
Sorry for being so long winded, I’m just antsy about this sale and feel like writing a lot this morning so I can actually function at work. One last point. I have to reiterate what has been said here so many times, that a tiered approach with Spyker at the top with Saab staying in the middle and down the road developing an entry level model (A1 competitor) is the smartest path, and it appears Victor Muller thinks so as well. Saab needs to optimize profits and stay alive, that is priority #1. By the time a new 9-1 or 9-2 can exist, if it’s not using advanced technology that most likely supersedes turbos and bare bones tech, it won’t succeed. Fortunately, I think the Trolls have a lot more up their sleeve.
Swade,
I thoroughly agree with your idea of a new “drivers” car. I have to say that the OG900, NG900, OG9-3, NG9-3, 9-5, and so on have all done the best job I’ve ever seen at being practical daily drivers that double as a drivers car. Let me reword that. They are the sportiest most ergonomic cars available, though they are definitely far from a drivers car. One of my brothers has a Mazda Miata, and the other has a Datsun 280Z. These are clearly purpose built sports cars but the point is, they are meant to be “driven”.
If Saab came out with a new car like this, I suppose it would be sort of like a new Sonnett? I can’t say for sure though because the Sonnett was way before my time, so I can’t obviously remember how it was priced/equiped compared to the competition.
Anyway, providing Saab nailed the 9-5/9-3/9-4x and had the money to actually go out on a limb (which I think we can all agree doing something like this would be going out on a limb for them) it would have to be small, light weight, turbocharged, power windows, locks, steering all standard. Optional automatic, heated seats, auto dimming mirror, ACC, blah blah, just like you used to have with the OG900 trim levels. I’m picturing a front wheel drive car just because… Well they always have done front wheel drive; though AWD/XWD or even RWD would be huge and if Spyker is in the picture I’m sure they would love to help.
I think they could get away with a relatively “stripped” out trim level and there would be a market for it. Cloth seats, 6-speed manual, knobby HVAC controls, no cold weather package.
Sorry for the long response, just my 2 (or maybe 10) cents.
Swade,
Oh how I would love a new toy. I would seriously consider replacing my 1977 911S. The 911 is definitely raw with manual windows and a motor, when you accelerate, sounds fantastic. If Saab can give me a safe and absolutely “raw/ fun” car, modern features & be a little classic/retro looking, I would buy it.
I want something that I can hold onto, take to local car shows -so it has to be very different from any other modern car.
Well the 9-X is a good starting point.
Swade,
Most of these mod cons are cheaper to build than the mechanical systems that they replaced.
Power windows cost less to build than wind-up windows, keyless start replaces an expensive mechanical lock with a switch that costs pennies, traction control is a few lines of code that piggybacks on the ABS hardware. Even sat nav is free on mobile phones. If you’ve ever seen the rat’s nest of cables, levers and actuators that hide behind an old car’s dashboard, you will appreciate the savings that come from having a touchscreen interface and a CAN-bus.
One of the things that I’ve always loved about Saab is the fact that they are always at the cutting edge of electronic integration, and that they don’t generally charge you extra to access built-in functionality.
I do agree with you that Saab needs to offer lightweight, compact, driver’s car. There’s a big market for premium compact cars such as the 500, the Mini Cooper and the GTI. I love my 9-3, but I have to admit that I very rarely need a car that big, and I would gladly trade load capacity for the lower weight, sharper handling and better fuel economy of a smaller car.
Heck, if they made the load bay flat, I wouldn’t be making any compromise at all.
Jeff, well said! I took the time to read it and I’m glad I did. I agree 100%. I wont go on and on, I’ll just say I agree on all but 1 point. I think they could pull off a “base model” with fewer bells, whistles, and buzzers. But that’s just a trim level issue, not a big deal.
Anyway, thanks for putting into words what I was thinking way better than I could.
* power steering
* power windows
* parking assist (at least if the tail end looks like the one of the 9.3)
* A/C
but most imoprtant:
* CONVERTIBLE TOP (power or manual depends on the question 2 or 4 seater, a 2 seater’s top could be operated by hand from the driver’s seat…)
5-Car Fantasy Garage -
*900 Aero 1988 (Red)
*9-3 Viggen (Black)
*9-3 Turbo-X Sportcombi (Black)
*Nissan R34 Skyline V-spec II (Blue)
*Porsche (993) 911 Turbo S (Silver)
Gadgets –
I’m happy with the gadgery level in the Viggen…. which is a decade old as an indicator. Power steering is essential. Climate control is nice. ABS is awesome!!! Basic cruise control is excellent too.
That’s about it really, unless it’s essential to the componentry….. ie XWD would require traction control in order to function properly.
I think MotorSport is defiantly on the cards for SAAB regardless of whether Sypker or GENII end up with SAAB in their hands.
Maybe instead of bringing back SPG the new generation of Sport models could wear a new ‘Racing’ Logo.
With each model, SAAB can strip out all the heavy electrics and leave these models for the purist and help with Homogulation regulations.
The car still needs to be safe and will have to be ecologically responsible. It will have to grip like no other car in its class and match them on performance.
racing is turning to Bio-ethanol this car needs that capability
I still believe in an iPOD/mobile phone docking station for entertainment and onboard navigation. It’s light weight and would do away with radios and CD players. Seating should be Leather/Alcantara. It’s still premium but will hold you in place. Body panels should of light weigh materials but not necessarily Carbon.
SAAB’s hallmark safety features need to be on this car. After all they invented them. The big question is what gearbox? Despite how much I love a manual, SAAB does need to join the Dual Clutch era and therefore the car needs a sequential gearbox.
Performance wise I want to see SAAB reach there own benchmark of 150hp per litre capacity. Meaning we need 210hp from a 1.4Ltr engine.
240hp for a 1.6T
300hp for a 2.0T.
I would like these version to cost the same as… should I say the Aero model but I fear that the Aero logo will disappear once GM claim the rights back on the name. however; They will be a trade off between Luxury Vs Performance.
Meaning the luxury version will come loaded with features as standard making the competition look over priced.
Form Follows Function!
Though every Saab is a real
Saab have changed over the years and become more “British”. They started with a car designed by engineers, but have progressed to cars which are comfortable cruisers with a lot of low-down torque.
Low-down torque is an “British” feature brought about by the early way the rules calculated horsepower. This resulted in long stroke engines.
In other parts of Europe the hp/tax rules were different and resulted in smaller high revving engines.
The Saab LPT design has resulted in a “British” car.
Where does it go now? Well, if it wants to be innovative then its cars will have to be very different – fuel cells, hydrogen, electric hybrids etc.
At the launch of the 9-5 the Saab GB team were talking about cars with four electric motors – one in each wheel. What will power them?
Whatever the powertrain, if the car is not comfortable and good handling, it will not get good reviews from journalists. And that’s where most people get their information.
Some “toys” are useful.
You need electric folding mirrors when you park on the street in the UK. Otherwise it could be
For me SAAB have had – and schall keep – an intelligent, minimalized “less is more”-philosophy.
Every part is there for a reason – nothing for decoration or conformism (including no “semi-wooden” stripes on the dashboard).
Design should keep clean, Scandinavian, aero-dynamic, elegant and with sculptural attitude and originality.
Tehnichs should support handling, driver-experience and not at least; energy-saving. Off-course a modern car will contain a lot of electronics (and SAAB has been early with many, not at least Trionic and Seat-heating). But still: Innovative, simple solutions will allways be a goal for designers and hopefully for a future SAAB-company.
I think that the 9-X and 9-X air are really pointing the direction.
Swade,
Although I currently need a large car (family), I’m counting on Saab prducing a 9-1 which matches the original Saabs for the mix of chuckability & fresh design but with more than it’s fair share of practicality & safety. Having used a 99 as my commuter car within the last 3 years, I can confirm that a ‘back to basics’ approach works for me, I don’t even need ‘leccy windows but the misted up windows in the rain makes me want a basic aircon system!
All the germans have recognised the need to provide an entry level model to draw punters into a marque for future (larger) purchases
About trim levels,
do you have the Linear trim in the states?
Because it is a entry level trim with almost no bells and whistles.
s2000 then,
What made me fell in love with my 9000 CS:
1. The unusual look: The 1991 facelift was great no one designer hesitated to add a sporty nose the car looks different after years.(As I work in spare parts business I sometimes visit body repair garages. When you see a current Toyota, Kia, Ford… with bumpers, lights and grills taken off you’ll never guess what car you are looking at.)
2. The versatility: You could use it for “street rallying” (2.3T even without any adjustments is a well performing car), it could be an executive car, really comfortable (- the fist car I like to be driven at the back seats). It can take your whole family on holiday with no need of a roof box, You can fold the back seats and make it a small track.
3.Safety (don’t have to explain)
This is my answer to the question of future Saabs.
They must be safe, versatile, and never follow the trends in car design.
I’ve owned 6 Saabs, a Subaru, an Audi and a Volkswagen. Of my 6 Saabs the first was a plain-jane ’82 900 (I’ve told the story here about its swan song being on a motocross track)
Of all the cars I’ve owned I miss that one the most. It had manual windows, no AC, no power locks, cloth seats etc. It was just bare bones, but it had nothing holding it back so the 8-valve 2.0 liter powered it fine.
Perhaps there is some sentimentality there or maybe I just remember the later cars feeling underpowered by the extra draw of the AC, SIDs dropping pixels making me nuts and all the other nuisances that came with added gadgetry.
I still dream of finding a mint early ’80s 900 with low miles. In my opinion, you don’t need gadgets to have make fun car.
Climate control is a must. You must feel warm on those cold winter days (like now), and you must be cool on thos hot summer days (not now).
Heated seats are a Saab-thing.
All safety things must be there as it is also a saab thing. Even if I think it makes the car unnecessary heavy.
Power steering and Power…turbo power.
My garage would include: Saab GT750, Saab 95 V4, Saab 900 Aero, a dutch orange 9-3X and of course an Aero-X.
A Renault Spyder and a Mercedes 300SEL6.3 would sit nicely among those Saabs.
Was that more then five cars? Sorry
The most important thing is to love your car. And what makes you love your car? The fact that it speaks for you; that it proclaims you are different because it is different. It is different because it attaches importance to intelligent design.
As I tell people about my classic 900, it is not a luxury car, it is a practical car built not to a price, but to a standard.
As far as gizmos in the car, what I don’t want, is things doing my thinking for me. Turning on wipers, dimming lights, or setting the air conditioning.
Neither do I need heavy motors to move lumber support and other seat adjustments, or to open hatches and doors.
I do like a good sound system that I can plug mu iphone into. Performance from the average sedan these days is the equal of yesterdays supercar. 250kph is enough isn’t it?
Jeff that was a fantastic read.
I agree with you on every point.
In my list I’ve missed a few things out but that’s because they will have to be incorporated into the can to met new global safety and emission regulations.
To sum up real quick I think SAAB should make a drivers car, with as much taken out to make it lightweight but retaining enough to still make it sellable.
SAV-Nav, Phone intergration, A/C, leather.
To give it the performance but with out pricing out of the market.
Here’s where its at-people always want something fresh and new so for ten years its pale ales and for then years its lager- (read Audi/Bmw) maybe now with all the publicity and a degree of hope for the future SAAB is back on people’s radar.
I’m not even sure it actually has to be fresh and new…it just needs to be well priced and different from the competition yet practical and sporty-as the man said -frighten a sportscar whilst being capable of going to the tip or looking good in the ambassador’s driveway.It’s not complicated but its not seeling out to the mainstream either- like GM did.
Some of the greatest successes of recent years have been inspired by the wonderful desings of the past-look at the new Mini- take the porsche 911 as an example-still current-these examples are few and far between but the quality shines through they are unigue rather than run of the mill -yet they are popular, and the design statments are bold-people know exactly what they are getting. Saab has all these ingredients in its mix and a half wit could see that-let’s hope it happens.
Toby
My Saab history:
99 EMS-78
900 T16 Aero-86
900 T16 Aero-88
900 SE T-94
9-3 SE T-2001
9-3 SE T-2002
9-5 Linear Sport estate-2003
9000i-91
900-96
9-3 SE T-2001 (currently)
The ones I really would like to own again are the top three! Unfortunately none of them are alive today R.I.P
What Im wishing for is the 9-1 Aero XWD. Amen
Saab may want to move upmarket, but the perceived value of Saab cars at the moment, is probably at an all time low. If Saab wants to move upmarket to perhaps an Audi level, the number of generic GM components will have to be reduced, and that will take several years. Saab first has to convince buyers why they would consider buying a Saab again, then perhaps a bit later they can ask the buyers to spend a little more.
My 5 car garage would be:
A C900 Aero. (Black)
A 3dr Viggen. (Yellow)
An Aston Martin V8 Vantage. (Silver)
An NSU Ro80. (Blue)
A Daimler 2.5 V8 (British Racing Green)
Thanks, I’m not sure I even understood what I wrote. I hadn’t had my coffee yet, and only now am I realizing I left sentences unfinished
Can’t say we’re not passionate people. I’m just saving all my proofreading for actual work items today. Riiight.
What I’m sayin is- Saab needs to make $$$ now. Sell some loaded 9-5 9-4x and 9-3s all 5% less than comparably equipped Audis, make some money, sell a cool looking new 9-3 with great versatility, and all the while be developing that insanely good alt energy car that blows everyones socks off. Make the technology scalable. Balance the engine placement. Out BMW BMW. Do it within the next 5 years while maintaining cash reserves and establishing Spyker as an ultra-premium brand. Make your margins on the Spykers, sell them 20% less than astons but make them even sexier and more exotic. Then go kick some ass and take names.
What I would like to see is a new Saab Sonett. I wouldn’t call it the Sonett of course, but Sonic. Saab Sonic and it’s more powerful brother Saab Super Sonic. That would be cool.. Both should of course be electric cars with a range of 150-200km.
The car would of course be a two-seater and with as little extra weight as possibly added.
Thus, no AC (there should be windows that can open though..), simple stereo with USB facility for listening to MP3s, leather seats and a very scaled down interior with a lot of cockpit feeling to it.
It will never make sense to me why the imbecills in GM’s management made the Opel Speedster instead of a Saab ditto..
I for one wouldn’t mind paying extra for a Saab such as the one above. In fact, to me Saab is all about appealing to the less logical parts of the brain. So, a typical driver’s car it is, but with a twist. That’s what I’d want. It would be a nice image booster for Saab as well.
What we really need is a SAAB is a good commercial basis, to advertise their strong point!
And not only on their Biopower.
Show cars
Since I bought my 9.3 Aero in 2009, while people s’aproche my car as if it were a strange animal. ons say they are afraid because it is not known.
But as I ask them to try, he fall in love immediately.
It must also communicate on networks Saab, guarantees interviews. ECTT
Many people today want to have a car but not the disadvantages of the car!
Improved services After sales, there is plenty to do.
The quality of reception in a concession, most services in a concession,
All this is too much difference!
Audi, Bmw, Mercedes, is understood all that, their car’s sound base, yet has improved services around the car,
Saab has a good car, you just improved the service!
People prefer to pay a bit more the price of a car, but be sure to have a complete service!
Saab, whatever you do, please don’t put an MMI or iDrive in you cars. I walked away from Audi in 2006 because controlling the radio and environmentals via a knob and screen is absolutely distracting. Driving is an analog experience. MMI/iDrive is the accessory controls version of the digital speedometer.
Keep a decent warranty. Don’t become evil like Audi of America. Nit pick every issue to save a dime and run off dollars of customer goodwill. Keep your suppliers supplying good parts. Don’t have a mess like that coming out of Ingolstadt where electricals and pumps eat themselves. Don’t over-engineer. Some of my Bimmer friends by association have had serious troubles with transmissions and such because they’re so complex and prone to breakage and are made in Europe and take forever to get to the States and cost a ton of money. Don’t totally reinvent cars every 4 – 6 years only to take 3 years to work out the bugs.
Please continue to make a line of practical driver-oriented cars that compete with the Acuras and Subies. Feel free to go upmarket and compete with Audi at A6+ and BMW 5 series and beyond. I’d likely add both to the collect sometime down the line (high end and practical Saabs). These additions will likely happen in 4 – 6 years after I pay off the 2008 9-3 ‘vert and 2009 9-5 SC that I had to buy because leasing went buh-bye.
Swade,
I think SAAB enthusiasts share a lot on the car wish list.
Owning Sonett’s and 96-es ( garaged & for fun) I drive privately a XC70 ( for kids safety and the brute engine!).
Last year I was very excited , that for once, the timing of changing my lease car would fit perfect: ordering a new 9-5, supporting the factory , pleasing myself.
Delaying the decision on a new car since november 09 did not help as is known.GE lease company is not having any SAAB on the menu ( for more than 6 months !)
This is running out: I need a car very, very soon.
If worst things happen it is going to be a BMW ( sorry!)
My “in between cars -car” is an Audi.
This would perhaps cure my prejudice against this brand?
I can tell you the prejudice got stronger against this car ( A6, A5, A4 : all of them clean cars, well screwed together, but giving no emotions at all.
No engine sound ( some like this??), it is just like a train… BORING . It gets you from A-B.
With all the snow here lately, it should be fun going out drifting… If you de activate the ESP the car goes bananas ! the electronic handbrake…. eeeek!
Going up market is OK; however up market does not mean endulging in unnecessary, undesired luxury.
It means “well put together, light weight as to have favorable power to weight ratio, best seats ( heated) and a design that you either hate or love.
It is for customers that like something different, but do not need the car to better market themselves.
It is a drivers car! It is fun, the SAAB makes a proper noise!
My 5 car garage: a 2 stroke 96, Lancia Stratos, Saab 9 X ( pls build it) , 77 Porsche 911 turbo, dodge challenger ( lucky me, the brand is going to be killed as well?!!)
P.S. I have visited many car dealers during the most important task in life; the quest for a new car.
most dealers only discuss options or colours. Do they know they are selling cars? ?
Exception: the Chrysler dealer is a real petrol head( THe Netherlands!)
SAAB should certainly shed of the GM kind of customer approach and certainly deprive of”slogans “now you can buy a SAAB as from 29K
I believe that the future is building lighter cars. I’m nut sure this would mean a lot less toys on a car as it has been stated before that all this stuff doesn’t weigh/cost that much.
I would advise to go the way Lotus did (BTW check their safety figures, not bad at all !!) and I firmly believe a car in the 9-3 class should weigh no more than 1.300 kg.
Look to the specialists (like lotus did with Alpine) for radio/CD/nav and concentrate on making the drivetrain and chassis worldclass. (Lotus could help there too)
Keep it simple (scandinavian style), but with good looking, solid and durable materials. Power steering, power windows, aicon is pretty much all one needs and imagine a 2.0T with 220-270 bhp in a car that weighs 1.300kg… Or maybe that 1.6 SVC engine…
Make sure there is a decent boot under the hatch and I believe we have the Saab of the future !
You have a good point.
Mazda used thinner but hi-tensile steel when they produced the latest Mazda2 (based on the Ford Fiesta floorpan)
Strong and light is the answer
Car is basicly a product like any product. In the past, cars werent safe, they didnt operate well in winter, reliability and endurance was lousy and so on. It took surprisingly long time before others started to use turbo engines in wide scale.
Why? Because its all about making money, if product makes money, there’s no need to make it better.
Others gained on Saab’s lead only because they were forced to do so. And this same rule applies today.
Saab’s thinking was to make best product they can. It was called engineer based design, or over-engineering sometimes. If future Saab company can direct this engineering devotion into right focused areas then future is bright.
Cars we have today are far from perfect, there’s loads of innovation to be done for those who have the will and skill.
Retro look is dead end, outlook has to be windtunnel based. Interior has a lot more room to change, even radically.
Powertrain wise there’s not much that could be taken out of combustion engines anymore, at least with Saab’s small resources. Competitive edge comes from hybrid/EV tech.
AWD could become a lot more popular in the future too. Now with XWD it would be a golden time to conquer market in this segment. Marketing pennies should be inserted here.
In safety and material areas there’s lot to do still. One new area could be to offer optional handgun proof windows and doors, already factory installed. Demand for these will increase and Sweden has ballistic know&how due to their large defence industry.
Reliability of cars has improved a lot in recent years but there’s still more to go. Saab has to be leading edge in it. One great ever lasting problem is corrosion, Jaguar has selected aluminium to fix it, Saab should figure out something new too. Todays cars also weigh heavily, way too heavily.
Saab’s “reason to be” is to be bit better in most of areas and way better in few selected areas.
Saab needs a lot of partners, there will no 2-seater or entry level model without major cooperation.
Future is about merging different industries together into car product. Just like Saab was orginally airplane thinking + car thinking, that gave them competitive edge. 100 years from now and even biochemistry&health industry will be standard aspect in most car products.
Dear all,
I do not know whether anyone has read my messages. I already explained that I am not sure whether Saabs are really better than other cars, but I felt in love with Saab at the age of 10 when my father bought his first car, a beautiful silver grey 99EMS. We do not have one single picture of that car but I can still remember it was a classy car then, even for Dutch standards.
One year later my father changed his Saab for a Volvo 245, simply because with 8 children, we did not fit in the Saab. It was a great car, mechanically maybe even better than the Saab. Eventhough, our father always kept updating us about the new models of Saab (turbos, 900s, 9000s, etc.) saying sometime he wanted to go back to Saab. He loved the swedish quality concept, etc.
During my student life in Holland I never bought a car, but I maintained my admiration for any Saab I saw on the street, promising myself to buy a Saab whenever I would be economically able to.
Now I
For what the new Saabs will sell for I want all the expected amenities. I don’t think that means the car can’t be a drivers car. I recently drove the previous gen M3 which had all the amenities and still was clearly a drivers car. For future Saabs my suggested DNA is (relative) light weight, agility with top notch feedback from the steering brakes, clutch and shifter. Nothing new there but the key I think is to keep the weight down, this probably means lighter (more expensive) materials and cars that are at the smaller end of their class. Not unlike the current 9-3′s size relative to other mid-range cars.
I can see Saab offering a lite Sonnet like sports model. I think decontenting the 9-3 would be a big mistake (they already went through the cost cutting phase where they made things that used to be standard optional). I had a 9-3 loaner with the built to break manual seat adjuster for the passenger side. My first thought was “you have got to be kidding me what is this a Toyota Yaris” I went for the premium package on my vert because memory for the driver seat and the better radio was a must. I don’t have heated seats but wish I had gotten them. When we come to the issue of in car tech, not having blue tooth is unforgiveable these days. Perhaps a new 9-1 equipped along the lines of the VW golf would make sense if priced accordingly. The 9-3 simply trades for too much money to not include all of the bells and whistles and that applies even more to the 9-5.
First thing SAAB needs to do is recall what make the old 900 such a fun car to drive then build that sense of fun into a somewhat quirky new 9-3. Not too quirky to scare off customers but just enough to make the car stand out. Then what they should do is sell the car at a low base price and let the customer choose from a very long list of options. Things like electric windows, AC and traction control should be standard issue. Why put heated seats standard in a car if you live somewhere like Australia? Its never cold enough there, is it?!
What SAAB needs right now is a car that will grab the worlds attention to show we are back. That car should be the 9-X Air which is the coolest vert I have ever seen.
Griffin up!
PS Im getting a bottle of fizz ready for when that announcement comes!
Light and strong is indeed the way forward. I’m not so sure the hybrid/electrical ‘boom’ is for now. If you want to sell the numbers the comming years you will still need a decent ‘classic’ petrol/diesel engine. It’s what people are used to and still want. This doesn’t mean I don’t believe in it for the future.
The simple way to get CO2 down is to get mpg down. Lower weight would make a big difference !
I would prefer a car that has all the basics right to a car that has all the ‘amenities’. They do need to use topquality materials, to make still it a statement product.
Look at high-end audio compared to the mainstream hifistuff… The latter has all the bells and whistles, 1000+ buttons and sounds… like cr*p. The former is a lot simpler, using better enginering, better materials (inside and out). Put them next to eachother and have a listen… I know which I prefer.
I think Saab could make a new retro model based perhaps on the Saab 99 turbo or the 96 in the way that BMW did with the Mini and Fiat have done with the 500. Saab have a great legacy and they can use this to make great new cars which capture the spirit of the former model.
“Philosophisationing” (Aussies should get that one) is just as much a part of being a Saab owner as enjoying that pressure boost on an open stretch of tarmac. Saabs are designed thoughtfully and with real world attention to the details and the functionality for the driver. It is not flash, it is not fad. Saab is and always has been great design integrated with powerful but practical performance. A day does not go by when there isn’t something special that I appreciate in my ’02 9-3SE.
Wow, a remake of the legendary Saab 96! I’ve only owned two-stroke Saabs, one 1962 babyblue 96 and one white 1965 96 (longnose)
A Sonnett sports roadster with few gadgets would be nice, too.
But not in the way that Porsche does: remove gadgets and ask for a higher price
(The new boxster speedster is really hot, but the price is unbelievable. and the tent-style softtop is definitely no choice for a central eurpean country
Alfa doesn’t even make light sporty cars like the The GTV or Giulia anymore. As much as I “obviously” love Alfa their cars are heavier and even more laden with gadgets than SAAB’s. I just dont think it is the motion of most of the industry (besides maybe Lotus) with Safety regs etc. The only truly light cars are the smarts and yaris’ of the world which are not appealing to a sporting sort. Even a mini weighs 500lbs more than that 1600…..
I agree there is still a market for the internal combustion engine …. who holds the rights to the Saab Variable Compression engine?:
http://smallr.com/s7c
Last line: “The SVC project was shelved by General Motors, when it took over Saab Automobile, due to cost.”
and the hybrid ‘Plug-in’ electric Hybrid (also completely fossil fuel free!):
http://jcwinnie.biz/wordpress/?p=1553
and again, Saab were ‘alledgedly’ gagged by GM
These technologies need resurrecting
I like the idea of a new retro Saab with minimal options/gadgets, for everyday driving. But a 2 seat (or 2+2) sports car would fit in well also (again, with minimal options/gadgets).
I think you have to be conscious of what your competitors are selling. If Spkyer wants to move it more upmarket, then it must compete in the bells and whistles category with Audi, BMW, Lexus, etc.
To me, my Saab was a “better” Mazda. Focus on sportyness and handling with good contented features on the inside. I wasn’t expecting to have the interior trim level of an A4. I have a ’05 Aero 9-3. I would be happy with a more “standard” sound system that loses proprietary connections. IMHO, every car should come with a USB port or Bluetooth (Sync rules.)
After that, just take some more weight off of it, continue to offer manual transmissions, compete on style and drivetrain technology (I want a diesel hybrid!), instead of interior features or sound deadening. This will be difficult to keep priced competitively especially when the car isn’t built in Mexico like some other’s products.
I recently bought a 9-3 here in Canada. Since the only models we get are Vectors and Aeros I bought a Vector with the 2.0T motor. The car is awesome but there are a few things I could live without. I wanted a car that was smartly engineered, safe, quick, fuel efficient, and fun to drive. The Saab meets all those requirements but to get them I ended up with a lot of features I didn
True luxury in the future will mean a healthy environment. I.e. silence, clean air, amenable temperature and positioning of the body that does not harm nore hurt, nore exhaust.
So, a good sound and vibration dampening, good seats and good suspension, good air filters also for filtering nanoparticles, a climate control and an auxilliary heater. All this on levels unsurpassed by any competition.
And a full interface for my iPhone.
Different strokes for different folks. I want almost all the things you can do without: Leather seats stay nice and clean though the life of the car; automatic climate control absolutely; rain sensing wipers are incredible when doing 200 mile drives in conditions that are constantly changing from mist to rain to dry; back up warning is great for protecting painted bumpers in tight daily parallel parking; power seats with varied positions make it easy to adjust for different drivers and vary your position on long drives. Can I get along without navigation and lane change warning or auto braking? sure, but most people will want most of this stuff, even in a 9-2. But the idea of selling a Linear, Vector, and Aero in most markets make sense.
I agree. A model with some of those Lotus-like characteristics would be very nice. One reason I like the classic 900 is it’s really pretty basic. Has the features you mentioned… don’t really need much more (though new safety features are good of course)… Lots of common stuff now I can do without. I don’t even care much for power memory seats.
I do like the idea of some of the new features in the new 9-5, especially the HUD… and if they didn’t add much weight, why not? but I guess I’d have to try it to know for sure…
James…
Someone mentioned it before already; what Swade is describing is a Lotus Elise. I’d love to have one but it’s hardly a daily drive. Ever tried getting in and out of one in a graceful way?
For me the most important in a new generation Saab is that it doesn’t look cheap. This doesn’t mean that it has to come with each gadget imaginable or that everything needs to be covered in highly polished walnut. For me it means that the interior has to be executed in a ergonomic way and using materials that still look good after a couple of years. Comfortable leather seats are a must. Cloth seats are just not nice anymore after being farted in for a couple of years.
I could go on and on, but I just noticed that I’m describing my own Viggen (except for the cheap door handles, have to replace them by brushed aluminum one of these days).
“Don
A couple of quoted from John Ruskin (1819-1900):
“It’s unwise to pay too much, but is worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little – that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot – it can’t be done! If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run. And if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better.”
“There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man’s lawful prey.”
Somebody once told me.
I’m not rich enough to buy cheap things!
I think he also knew about Mr. Ruskin.
One thing that Saab needs to do is offer the choice of high quality fabric seats in all of its cars for all of us who detest leather. Leather is hot in the summer, cold in the winter and slippery all year round. Don’t tell me about the seat heaters that stop working when the resistance wires break after a few years or the perforated leather with the forced ventilation. These are examples of the complicating and cost-increasing gimmicks that make Saabs more costly and troublesome. I have not seen a twenty year old car with leather seats – especially the drivers seat – that does not have the leather hardened and seams ripped. The fabric seats in my 1987 900 Turbo are in like-new condition even though the headliner has been replaced and the car repainted. I stopped buying turbo Saabs when, apparently in order to justify their high price, I would have been forced to buy leather seats which I disliked and a sun roof which I didn’t want.
As far as rain sensing windshield wipers are concerned; the driver is the best judge of when the windshield needs to wiped and the Saab 99 very simply accomodated him by allowing just a light tap on the windshield wiper control stalk to produce a single sweep of the wipers. Why this feature was not carried forward on later models is beyond me.
Finally I would like to praise a feature of the Saab 99 and classic 900 that never seems to get mentioned. That is the roller chain power transfer drive from the engine to the transmission. They are the only cars that I know of that allow a clutch replacement without removing either the engine or gear box from the car; thus making it possible for someone without access to a lift or a crane to replace a clutch. That is a feature I would like to see brought back on future Saabs.
Swade,
while the Alfa cars (1600, 1750, 2000 GTV variants) were, indeed, absolutely about DRIVING, they remain one of the world’s most beautiful car designs as well.
Leave it to Italy, I guess.
(My dad’s had a ’69, ’72, and ’74 1750/2000, and my mom’s cousin races them. I’ve driven a few)
The old ads read: “For power, there’s a choice. For handling, there’s Alfa Romeo”
Off the top of my head, 5-car garage:
’91 900 SPG, Beryl Green
’04-’05 9-5 Aero Wagon, Cirrus White?
’89-’91 e30 BMW 325iS or M3, Lachsilber
’71 Alfa GTV 1750, Alfa Red
Late-90′s Land Cruiser?
Oh, it’s just so hard… a Viggen would be nice, as would an e36 M3, and my poor 9000 Aero must feel neglected right now… Still the best car I’ve owned.
What’s your Vector, Victor?
~P
But automatic wipers are getting better, and the sensor and 2000 lines of code are not that much weight increase.
My OG9-3 had this feature also, as well as any other car I know.
But in one point I do concur with you.
I hate to read in SAAB Catalogues: Only in combination with…
None of my seven c900s had the single sweep feature.
I wonder if there is some simple modification that can be done to the controller to enable it on my three remaining c900s.
Hi! I currently drive Saab 9000cs. I love it’s power, safety, the hatch, it’s room and size. I use my Saab in the city and on long distance (living in Austria with in-laws in Germany).
Any new Saab I buy needs to make me feel at home again. The now old Saab 9-5 made both my girl-friend and me feel at home instantly. At a Saab event some years ago we were test-driving a whole bunch of Saabs… I didn’t tell her which my favourite 9-5 was… when she started driving my personal favourite she drove off for 10 yards, stopped turned around to me and told me that that Saab was going to be our next car.
I guess we are a perfect match
Since we drive about 25k / year we want our Saab to be save and to make us feel comfortable driving it.
Take care & Griffin Up!
Alex
9000cs 2.3t
I never had a c900. And as my (still to be build) OG9-5 uses the same wiper control stalk as the OG9-3, I would say the OG9-5 has also this feature
The Renault Megane in cup spec comes to mind as a benchmark. Or Ford Focus RS. Or even BMW Z4.
Small & sharp.
A material more exclusive than leather (or Saab velour!) and as featured on the C900 and 9000 was Australian Merino wool spun and cut by the luxury Italian fashion house, Ermenegildo Zegna.
The playful Swedes picked this idea up during the Saab Lancia 600 era in the late 1970′s. Wool also has the benefit of being cool in the summer, warm in the winter, hard wearing and easy to clean.
Some later leather trimmed Saab models in the 900 and 9000 series had suede inserts to help prevent any sliding around!
The Saab 9000 features a separate front sub frame that can be unbolted and swung down to facilitate gearbox removal and clutch replacement.
Hi All,
I have been very appreciative of all the efforts on behalf of SAAB – very special cars – Currently in New Zealand, and not many SAABs here. I have owned two in the USA and could write a few book chapters about their values. Drove the 1988 – 900 Turbo – Black – for 330,000 miles and gave it to a friend. Then a 1999 – Blu – 93. Agree that we should attempt to influence the next manufacture about the SAAB concept. More later,
Swade, on a past post about prices I stated that SAAB was going after the luxury market. Why? That’s what GM was trying to do with SAAB and it failed. Obviously There are other reasons, such as GM’s incompetence, etc. SAAB should be more focused on the driver, style and power with efficiency.
I’m not a car buff, a below average driver, and not a Saab owner, but if Saab should be willing to design my dream car, here’s what it takes:
———– Safety features:
- safe handling suspension
- ABS, ESC, power steering, power brakes
- climate control (a friend of mine crashed almost fatally when he fainted on a hot summer day 25 years ago)
- remote controlled engine heating – (so I don’t have to drive blind for the first 10 Minutes in winter)
- Good visibility, i.e. steep A-Pillar, thin B- and C-Pillar
- High upper edge for the rear window, so the rear view mirror can be mounted high enough so i can see traffic coming from the front right direction
- tire pressure warning
————– Goodies:
- Lots of places to put stuff, eg. drawers under the front seats
- indicators that light up when antifreeze or motor oil is low
————– Pet peeves:
- a roll mechanism to dispense and hold a plastic garbage bag to put stuff like used chewing gum or apple cores in
- a hook in the dashboard of the right-side passenger compartment to hang a plastic shopping bag from
- An eighties-style front bumper made of tough foam (grey, not in car color) that will survive a 60mph collision with a Row deer requiring nothing but a sweep with a pressure washer
- grey plastic manual operated side view mirrors that need a philips screwdriver and $20 to replace
- light bulbs you can replace within 1 minute on a cold winter evening at a dimly lit parking lot without consulting a manual – or just use LED-lights if they won’t fail suddenly
- rotary knobs to control the temperature and fans of the air condition, so I need not take my eyes off the road
- rotary type speedometer with white dials and white marks, or green dials and green marks, so that at night, my eyes with wide open pupils can focus both on the dials and the marks at the same time!
- station wagon style with flat bottom, but without (or with detachable) rail for a roof-rack – which I never used in 20 years, and which probably cost more gas mileage than all the visibility-impairing flat windscreens gained
———————-
Basically, except for ABS and and EPC, this describes a 90ies car – I do not see any problem with Saab’s long model cycles, and I do not need in car entertainment or 20 motors in the drivers seat. If I need extra electronic gadgets, I can always buy a game console!
So if Saab decides to concentrate on what it was formerly known for, safe, no frills, solidly engineered and proven quality vehicles you could depend on, I would be in the market for one!
Nice mention of Alfa Romeo. I am another long-time addict of both SAAB and Alfa Romeo, with a little Lancia Delta Integrale mixed in. These companies must never die.
While personally I like leather, I can confirm that at least my youger daughter dislikes the smell and feel. And it detioriates faster. I think that leather is just one example of how much buying decisions are not governed by personal taste, but by general trends (or mems, to use that term) that everybody follows like a herd of sheep. Another example is wheel design: You can have any wheel design, as long as it looks like alloy wheels. Or the seating position within the car (even on the rear seats) relegating all of us to formula 1 drivers (though this was countered by vans).
Saab themselves might have fallen victim to such a trend, when suddenly, hatchbacks had fallen from grace (though I am really not sure if later giving up on the hatchback did them a favour).
You may be a foolish old romantic, but if so, we all are… wait a minute. I’ve yet to turn 20!!!
And skip the ESP!
I’ve been thinking about a SAAB Sonett X since… I don’t really know. I was a child when I first got the idea. I saw a Sonett I, I listened to my dad talking romantic about the V4 with the freewheel, and somehow I had heard about four wheel driven 9000 experiments. That was a nice cocktail.
I kind of love the Maxda MX-5 Superlight that was on a car show in the fall. That is really lightweight fun. Well, I would want a hatchback. Would probably kill the whole GTI market…
But still, the right way to do this is without roof and windshield, and AC and windows and wipers and…
Power steering makes sense, since I would want rather large wheels anyway. But you don’t need much, think of the og900. You don’t need to put a stereo in it, I’ll probably do that better myself.
I would probably pay both the weight charge and the money for an XWD system on this thing. Not that I could buy it, considering I’m still a student. But make front wheel drive an option, and be sure to include a freewheel gearbox. Please go back to using the disc brakes for the handbrake. And not a button! We don’t use the brakes for parking up here in the snow
Now what do we have? A SAAB Sonett X, less than 800kg, more than 200hp and four wheel drive… we have fun!
Ideas by O8h7w
By now I’ve read through a few comments…
/O8h7w
Thanks to Jeff for a good read! But I don’t really know if I agree on all that…
And I happen to know a gadget I didn’t know about before my dad bought a 9-5 Aero -03. It has mirrors, that automatically darkens to nice green shade when your eyes risks being blinded. And when we’re three drivers in the family, electronic seat adjustment with memory is quite nice. But I wouldn’t need that on *my* car.
And coming to think of it, all SAABs have been 5-seaters, except for the Sonetts. But aint that weird? Now introduce a 4-seat 9-2 in your minds, that is in the near of a Golf. The fifth seat in those cars are nothing but an illusion. Maybe even the 9-3 should be offered with two seats in the back.
And then, a 2-seated 9-1. This is in the near of Mini Cooper, and the car I would be interested in.
Now think about Sonett. That’s a race car. Let it be a race car. Singleseated, small, open… skip the doors, they’re causing trouble…
Now let’s have another look at the equipment levels. I would like to introduce the equipment/trim level Raw. That would be the only one available for the Sonett, and that says it all. Stripped down so that the 9-3 could compete with a pair of rally replicas you probably know.
As for Linear and Vector, keep that as is.
But Aero. Remember what that meant in the days of 9000? It was something rather extraordinary. Let’s get back to that, please…
Now that I’ve introduced a few new models, I’m able to compile my dream garage:
SAAB 900 Aero (just for the sake of romantic)
SAAB Sonett X (the fun racetrack car)
SAAB 9-1 Aero XWD (everyday car)
Nissan GT-R (just got to have one of those)
Range Rover (yup, that one is a must, too)
Okay, way too much nonsense, but it was fun
The hatch back must come back same like the classic 900 and 9000. havinga fun to drive with such a unique look that can carry so much in the hatch was always one thing that made saab a saab… Def The turbo’s must stay and the 4 cyliders must stay as well.
SAAB needs to start making big hatchbacks again. These were a SAAB specialty from the 1970s right through until the early 2000s. SAAB made wonderful large hatchbacks, and if SAAB want to differentiate themselves from other manufacturers and win back some of their older fans that may have switched to other brands more recently, hatchbacks would be a good step forwards.
Yes, I know about the SportCombis … but they’re not the same.
HI as saab mechanic for 20 year in ca I recomend saab ,like (vw bag as beatle and miniminor as minicooper ) to bring back 92 900 turbo classic style convertble with 5 speed automatic trans& and full highdrolic cov-top like 2005 9-3 -that car is very popular here people love that car I recomend to stay away from tip tronic trans axle dual climate control and many other annesery gagets which at first they look cool but when it comes to repair it a big problem,
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