A glance in the rear-view mirror: Erik Carlsson interview from 1986
December 27, 2011 in Troll Stuff
I apologize for the rather stark lack of English in the following clip, but plenty of nice archive footage to be seen.
You are browsing the archive for Troll Stuff.
by Rune
by RikardH
The SAAB Owners Club of GB visits Trollhättan
April 15, 2011 in Troll Stuff
Some of you may have already seen it.. RobinM (a writer on SU) and his The SAAB Owners Club of GB Ltd visits Trollhättan this weekend and they got interviewed today at the Saab Museum..
More from his weekend will come from Robin himself next week I quess 
/RikardH
by Swade
SU meetup – New York
April 15, 2011 in Events, Troll Stuff
Hi all, Swade here.
I’m heading over to New York on the weekend to cover the NYIAS for Saab. We’ll be using the New York show to launch our all-new Saab website (more on that later).
If any of you can be in town on Sunday afternoon/evening then I’d love to catch up with you for a casual get together.
A clarifying note – the meetup is proposed for this Sunday, April 17th. It’s not for Easter Sunday.
I realise that Sunday will be a religious holiday for some (Passover), but unfortunately it’s the only time that I’ll have available. The rest of the week will be quite busy with Saaby activities.
The proposed meeting time is 4:30pm, which should hopefully give some people time to come in and then leave at a reasonable time if necessary. Those who’d like to linger longer would be most welcome to do so, of course.
A venue I’ve had suggested to me is Café Un Duex Trois at 123 West 44th. Good place, good food and a good size. They get busy from 6pm to 8pm so getting in early should assure us some space, too.
RSVP
It’ll be essential to let them know we’re coming, so please let me know asap via email (swade99-at-gmail.com) if you’ll be coming in, and how many people will be with you.
It’ll be great to meet some of you for the first time, as well as re-connecting with some old friends.
See you in New York!
by eggsngrits
One last shot for me, too.
March 16, 2011 in Editorial, Troll Stuff
Well, since I’ve not been around much of late, it’s as if I really ended my involvement with SU some nine or ten months ago. My time pressures will get no better in the next few months, and so I will no longer be around much, either. Like Swade, I’ll have new challenges work wise and with a planned house move on the horizon, Saab networking online will be taking a back seat. I’ll get a number of hours more actually driving the convertible rather than writing about it. I may pop in from time to time with some photos, but that’s the extent of it for now.
Thanks for everyone, especially Steven, for allowing me to participate. It’s been loads of fun and I’ve enjoyed all of it. If you take just a day or two in Steven’s seat, you gain an immediate appreciation for the man and you gain perspective on the prodigious amount of time required to operate SaabUnited. It is overwhelming.
Special thanks to Andy, Grippen, Greg and Golfhunter for ideas and information. Special thanks to Robin for all of the excellent photos and the spirit.
Also, thanks to Mike Colleran, Steve Shannon, Pierre Belperron, Marty Adams, and the late Jan-Willem Vester for being such gracious hosts. It is not forgotten.
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P.S. I’ve been saving a screed about how auto dealer compensation is not aligned with consumer interest, but this simply isn’t the time for it to appear here. I’ve posted it on my own (nearly defunct) blog site if you’re interested in my thoughts.
by eggsngrits
Robin’s Comprehensive Geneva Photo Gallery
March 5, 2011 in News, Troll Stuff
Robin, aka Trollpowersaab, our officially unofficial UK ambassador, has posted a huge number of photos from the Geneva Motor Show on his Flickr photostream.
Here’s a keeper:
Here’s a photo that I believe answers a question posed in comments. A reader asked if the rear seat headroom were significantly greater in the 9-5 SportCombi vs. the 9-5 Sedan. It would appear so.
I particularly like this use of the projection background as an attention getter. Well done!
by Swade
SU – tackling the tough questions
March 4, 2011 in Troll Stuff
The more serious stuff is below, including a very good look at the Saab 9-5 SportCombi.
I’ve only just had a chance to settle in front of the computer after another travel day, coming from Geneva to Gothenburg via London. You wouldn’t think it would take that long, but it did.
Anyway, I’m knackered. But I did received the following question via email from Rikard tonight.
[Let's imagine] You need to fit 4 kids and 2 adults into a car along with luggage. Will we ever see a SAAB that can manage this equation… legally…?
The serious answer to this question, according to everything I know, is “No”. There are no plans for a 7-seat Saab as far as I’m aware.
However, given that I’m rather tired, my mind has entered that creative space where you come up with unusual solutions.
My proposal is that Saab allow customers to register their children with their local dealers. When the number of progeny reaches three, the dealer can then send out Saab-branded birth control solutions, for either the male or female, depending on customer preference.
This would save the customer from the embarrassment of having to get a minivan and it would keep customers in the Saab family.
I’ve even come up with a slogan for the campaign:
Regular ‘servicing’ is important. Just make sure you do it safely with your Saab dealer
How am I doing?
——
Like I said. Serious Saaby stuff is below.
My 2 cents on the PhoeniX and a visit to the Saab museum coming up tomorrow
Have a good one.
by eggsngrits
More photos and video from Geneva 2011
March 3, 2011 in News, Troll Stuff
Well, let’s start with the fun stuff, shall we?
From Swisstroll, we have our inimitable host, Swade, along with Jason Castriota and Golfhunter. Looks like they’re having a good time!!
I laughed out loud at the photo from Golfhunter. It’s certainly not the Saab 9-5, which I may add, looks absolutely magnificent in this color — Java Brown. Can you guess why I laughed?
That’s right! I chuckled at this picture because one can clearly see the Opel and the Subaru logo and banner, respectively. They both had a shot at being closely related to Saab, and neither was able to make it work. There, right in front of them, is this gleaming 9-5, full of potential and energy. I guess that you could call it schadenfreude. (Of course, Subaru is on a roll of their own, but it’s still an odd juxtaposition.)
In another bit of fun at someone else’s expense, check out the write up over at Autoblog on the Chris Bangle/Jason Castriota confrontation as noted in these pages yesterday. Hint: one of the designers was called out for “hassling” the other. I’ll let you be the judge.
We’ll wrap up with a one-minute long review of the new Saab 9-5 as posted by MotorsTV France. Good capture.
Well, it turned out that it was all fun stuff. Who knew? 
by Swade
Driving Octavia
February 18, 2011 in Troll Stuff
Hello peoples.
I’m off to Melbourne tonight. Another weekend with Mrs Swade, and visiting the rest of the family.
Euopcar says this is the car I will be driving. I’m hoping they’re correct and not planning to slot me into something else at the last minute.
Given the reviews that Skoda have been getting in the press here, it’ll be an interesting drive for a few days.
I’ll still be posting over the weekend, just not as much.
Have a good one.
by Swade
For the techies – forming a racing block from billet aluminium
February 17, 2011 in Troll Stuff
Non-Saaby.
I’m constantly amazed when I see the things people can do with the right tools. They always make me feel like a complete idiot, but in the nicest possible way.
If you’re like me and have absolutely no idea about the real work done to build components, then here’s your insight. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KLNJ8d8Vqc
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by Swade
Spare a thought for Queensland (again) – TC Yasi
February 2, 2011 in Troll Stuff
This is completely unrelated to Saab, but when I saw these images online today, I couldn’t help but post them.
Queensland, the northeastern state in Australia, has already suffered terribly with the floods a few weeks ago. Whilst they were absolutely massive, the worst damage was done in the south-east of the state.
Now the people of northern Queensland are bracing for tropical cyclone Yasi, which is already affecting the coastline but is due to hit with full force at around 11pm this evening (some seven hours away, as I sit here writing this).
Here’s Yasi:
And another shot, from NASA (thanks Turbin)
And to help you get a grip on the size of this beast, here’s the full Yasi weather system superimposed over the US, and Asia, and Europe…..
Yasi is a category 5 tropical cyclone and winds are expected to get up to 300km/h at their peak. As I write this, winds are already reported to be up to 125km/h and the peak is still seven hours away.
Weather boffins say that just the eye of Yasi is 35km wide and there should be a calm when the eye is over land that lasts for up to an hour.
In some parts of the Queensland coast, they’re expecting a storm-driven surge of water up to around 7 meters in height.
Cairns hospital was evacuated last night, with around 250 people, including something like 12 or so babies in humidicribs and a number of ICU patients being flown down to Brisbane. A massive effort.
People were advised earlier this afternoon that their window of opportunity for outrunning the cyclone had closed. Their best option was to find an official shelter or hunker down in the smallest room of the house. Cyclone shelters don’t allow people to bring their pets.
Such is the size of the storm that the severely effected areas are expected to stretch from Cairns in the north to Townsville in the south – a 300+km stretch of coastline. Areas either side will feel lesser, but still significant effects and tidal effects could stretch down as far as the Sunshine Coast, another 1200km south of Townsville.
I don’t personally know anyone north of about Noosa, but I hope any top-end Queenslanders tuning in here at SU are going to be OK tonight.
by Swade
Help needed – Geneva accommodation
January 31, 2011 in Troll Stuff
It seems we may have only one of two attending the Geneva show. I had to scratch and argue to get my accreditation, which only came through yesterday after initially being denied. RedJ’s is not looking rosy at this point.
That said, with such a late confirmation of attendance, accommodation is going to be a massive hassle to find.
Just wondering – has anyone here got any local knowledge as to where to look. I’m assuming that as with every other year, Geneva itself is completely booked out. Consequently I might need to stay somewhere within commuting distance.
If anyone has a suitable lead, or suitable advice, please let me know via email (swade99-at-gmail-dot-com)
Cheers,
SW
–
UPDATE:
I’m not 100% sure about SW plans, but I think he/we needs accommodation for 3 nights, coming at the 28th of February and leaving on the 3rd of May.
by Swade
Another mini-milestone for Saabs United
January 12, 2011 in Troll Stuff
From my WordPress dashboard today…..
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“100%Saab” was the one who brought us to this magical all-9′s comment milestone (thanks!), which in some Saaby way feels every bit as important than the one that came after it…..
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Thanks to “74Stingray” for providing the first 6-figure comment here at SU.
It’s nice to see two regulars here fill in some important milestones. I feel like I should get a set of steak knives for both of you
Thanks all for your ongoing contributions to the life of Saabs United.
by Swade
Upgrades on the way for my Saab 9-3 Monte Carlo
January 11, 2011 in Troll Stuff
For those of you who are new around here, this is my car…..
It’s a 1999 Saab 9-3 SE Sport, known as a Monte Carlo here in Australia. We only got 50 of them here, each of them numbered. There are various configurations – 3-door, 5-door, Auto and Manual, all of them with a B204R engine, producing 200hp in manual form. Mine is #9, a 3-door manual.
Since getting the car, I’ve fitted the following:
- 17-inch wheels from a 9-3SS with Continental SportContact rubber
- Steering rack clamp and brace
- Custom made front subframe brace
- Rear sway bar
- Carbonfibre dash kit (originally fitted to Viggen here in Oz)
- Hirsch stainless steel cat-back exhaust
- Hirsch wastegate actuator
- Hirsch performance ECU
- Maptun performance air filter (I have a Speedparts one as well)
- Saab 9-3 Viggen dampers and springs
I’ve had the car for two years now, which is pretty good for me
I was considering replacing the car some time early this year, but some circumstances have arisen that have made me reconsider. Instead of selling, I’m now upgrading a few bits and pieces.
It became evident shortly after the Hirsch ECU upgrade that my clutch was wearing. I’ve put up with it for a little while now, but I figured that this should be the first upgrade.
Hence, a Viggen clutch has been ordered and should arrive later this week, along with a few other goodies.
Since I’m uprating the clutch, I figured the car could do with a bit more power and some better breathing. Soooooooooo…. I emailed my mates at Maptun to see what they suggested.
Along with the clutch, I’m now looking forward to receiving:
- Maptun Stage 3 ECU
- Uprated Forge wastegate actuator (matched to ECU requirements)
- A big, fat downpipe to complete the exhaust system.
I’m told these upgrades should be good for a theoretical 280hp and around 400Nm of torque.
UPS tracking tells me they’ve left Melbourne, so I’m hoping for a call from my mechanic tomorrow to say they’ve arrived. If so, I reckon I’ll be risking a ticket some time early next week
At the same time as this stuff’s installed, I’m going to get my airbag and stereo controls back, and get Steve the mechanic to look at the front end for an occasional knocking noise.
Sometimes not buying a replacement car can be fun, too.
by Swade
SU Site Statistics – December 2010
January 9, 2011 in Troll Stuff
We’re in a new month so I’ll take this weekend opportunity to share the site statistics from December 2010.
SU served 467,222 pages during December 2010, to 67,261 unique visitors. A slower month, thanks to the Christmas break, which really was a break this year.
Seeing we’re at year’s end, why not a small sample of annual numbers as well?
Saabs United served 7,551,995 page views for the whole of 2010. These pages were served to 784,589 individual visitors. Not too shabby, eh?
——
The top 20 cities visiting Saabs United during December were as follows:
Munich, Berlin and Amsterdam were all in the 25, but just didn’t make it into the top 20.
Much is made of the potential contained in the so-called “BRIC” countries. Visitation here isn’t quite pointing to the same thing, but Russia’s good at 5,821 pages and China’s growing with 1,313 pages (Taiwanese Saab fans viewed just over 2,000 pages for the month). India and Brazil were both around the 400 page mark, so there aren’t many people looking for Saab information there…. yet
——
Here are some new stats for you….
19.7% of visits to SU in December were people visiting just once.
28.6% of visits to SU in December were the 200th (or more) visit for the person concerned.
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The top 3 individual pages viewed in December 2010 (aside from the home page) were as follows:
- Saab US sales data November 2011
- My 2 cents on Saab’s North American sales and other stuff
- Saab ad competition – vote for your winner
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That’s it for this month.
And here we go again for the start of 2011!!
by Swade
Housekeeping: Comments (again)
January 23, 2011 in Troll Stuff
I got an email from a Saabs United reader earlier today, which included the following:
It’s not the first time I’ve seen this. It’s not even the first time I’ve seen this in the last three days.
People seem to think that just because they can comment here freely, that they should. Comments become a place for throwaway lines, online comedy auditions, needless over-reactive negativity and/or the idea that “Saab will die if they don’t [do what the commenter thinks is important]“.
There have been a few other transgressions recently that have necessitated action. A number of racial comments have seen one regular relegated to a moderation queue. And a visit from someone whose sole purpose was to declare that Saab Is Dead has seen the same action.
This is an enthusiast’s website. I don’t mind discussion or polite, considered argument. I don’t mind disagreement. But the purpose of this site is to support Saab and document current events happening with the company and the ownership community. It’s not to prognosticate or prophesy on what could be the direst possible consequence of any given action.
I want this site to reflect positively towards the Saab brand. I want people who come here to see the picture that I see – an innovative company in a tough position, but working as best they can to proceed, and making progress towards that goal. I want it to be a positive experience for people who land here.
Some guidelines to commenting here:
Saabs United is not all about you. It’s not all about me, either. It’s all about Saab. Please consider the ramifications of what you want to say before you say it because it might well have a negative impact on the experience of others here.
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