by RobinM
January 12, 2012 in Events, News
The guys are working very hard in the OutSide Saab offices in Holland and here is the latest World Wide News.
42 countries, 105 events ;_) have been in touch so far.
As for Holland itself, 1139 saabs are heading for the Dutch get together.
The rally plates are ready and I’ve printed a break down of the models after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry →
by RobinM
January 11, 2012 in Events
And the Dutchies are still in the lead but only just…..
This list is the envelopes & parcels that have been sent out since the sickers arrived in my house 6 days ago.
There are still 40 unclaimed imvoices so the total should read over 400 very soon.
by RobinM
January 7, 2012 in SaabsUnited Related, SU Shop
Just a quick list of the countrues that have sticker orders.
Iceland = 1, Japan = 1, Taiwan = 1, Russia = 2, Canada = 6, USA = 50, UK = 26, Sweden = 36, Denmark = 8, France = 13, Portugal = 2, Malta = 1, Switzerland = 10, Norway = 8, Belgium = 12, Germany = 13, Latvia = 1, Italy = 2, Finland = 7, Austria = 4, Czech Republic = 5, Spain = 2, Holland = 63, Poland = 1, Mexico = 1.
This is the number of envelopes that have left my house but do not include the “lager” amounts of quantity orders (clubs, garages etc).
There are many orders that have to be paid still and I’ve had another 30 orders this morning which I will now get to work on. Also I have had quite a few people who have paid over night and that is first on the list to sort out. Just needed to clear the table before I filled it again,lol.
Robin.
by JasonPowell
December 8, 2011 in Editorial, Off-Topic
We’ve had some nice stories today about Tim’s visit to the factory and about some options that Saab is exploring. To me, where we are now is a place where it is of the utmost importance to get something done now. Now that I’ve stated the obvious, what does Saab mean to you and why do you want to see it survive? I’m not a fan of the I hate GM stuff that I’ve seen as I see it serving no purpose at all, what I am a fan of is the customer and employee stories of why Saab? Some of you have had a lot of years with Saab, what keeps you coming back? I’ll start with what sticks out in my mind.
by till72
November 21, 2011 in Editorial, News
It’s a bit misleading that this post appears in the category “news”, it could well appear in “no news” as still we have nothing breaking to report. While this process of waiting is nerve wrecking for us it is also a good sign that all parties are focussed on getting a deal together. Indications we get from various sides also hint that things are moving, albeit slowly. The creditors meeting has been postponed so we don’t nessesarily expect big things to happen this week. We’d hope for it though, as for employees, dealers and the cash situation at Saab every day without a deal and production is a lost day.
Read the rest of this entry →
by JasonPowell
November 20, 2011 in Editorial
I posted an article a few days ago about what makes a Saab driver a Saab driver and the responses are still coming in. I had noticed a very short response from David Mills and I pushed for more of a response and he told us why safety was such a big thing to him and it was quite moving. He also has owned about 15 Saabs over time and will tell us his favorites. I felt his response should be a post on its own and asked him to write a follow up to his response. We may not always agree on everything written on SaabsUnited and that is the beauty of a site like ours, I thank David for sharing this story.
Jason Powell has asked me to write an article about my experience with Saabs, as a follow up to his article asking why we on SU buy Saabs. Jason asked me to elaborate on my answer to his question about why I have owned so many and why I am so loyal to the brand.
I have leased, or purchased, or helped to purchase, 15 Saabs for my immediate family since 1999. So why so many? Primarily safety. I think pound for pound, Saabs are the safest cars in the world.
I am a safety nut, geek, and guru, and I must confess to a car safety obsession. I realize that most people never think about safety the way I do. Although safety is becoming more and more part of the car purchase equation today, that has not always been the case. And in my early years of car driving, it was hard for me to find out any information on car safety no matter how hard I tried. I am also a car nut generally, and had car magazine subscriptions for 30 years. But I think it is fair to say that car magazines are very deficient at giving good safety information about cars.
by till72
November 16, 2011 in News
I stumbled across an article from Ny Teknik which points out why in Saabs case reconstruction is to be preferred over bankrupcy. It’s the better solution for all parties involved. Worth mentioning that this piece was written by Frederick Sidahl, CEO of the supplier organisation FKG.
Early on we, FKG – Automotive Suppliers trade association of automotive suppliers, the position to support a reorganization instead of bankruptcy for Saab Automobile. As an industry organization, we work to ensure that our members get the right business opportunities and bring their collective action in the larger context. Along with legal expertise in insolvency law was judged that the reorganization of Saab and not bankruptcy was to advocate for our members’ sake.
by RobinM
November 13, 2011 in News
Saab’s tale of woe in recent months has resembled a horror movie – but it hasn’t spoiled Graeme’s enjoyment of classy saloon.
Life with the Saab has been like a Hollywood movie recently. Not because of anything the 9-5 has done wrong, but because in the past couple of months the firm has experienced more twists, turns and heart-stopping moments than your average box office blockbuster.
by JasonPowell
November 10, 2011 in Editorial, Hirsch, News, USA
I will do my best to have a flow to this post as there is a lot going through my head. I will start with Hirsch and what this means to the dealer body and what some dealers have already started doing. Hirsch offers dealers something very attractive that not all major car manufacturers offer or at least not to this extent. With Hirsch, we have the opportunity to sell something other than just the car. We can sell dash kits, performance exhaust systems, body kits, wheels and performance upgrades that increase horsepower by 30 hp. This can all be done in house without having to send a customer elsewhere and provides the dealer with a great opportunity to make a little money but more importantly, satisfy that customer want or need for something different. When I posted about Hirsch finally being available for the Canadian market, people again voiced there concerns about price differences between USA and Canada and I do believe from the performance side of things that our pricing is the same or very close. When you take a new or pre-owned Saab and add even $2000 worth of Hirsch product, you really don’t affect a finance payment by much. It may be a total of $40 per month on a 60 month term. Watch out, here comes the salesman side of me. You can break that down and it’s a little more than $1 per day to have some style and horsepower.
Read the rest of this entry →
by RobinM
September 26, 2011 in News
Convoy from Northern Germany with updated location ideas and maps.
I hope you can understand everything Red and I have tried to plan.
Puttgarden 10.55,
meet just outside the ferry terminal,
Red and I are booked onto the 11.15,
so we will join the queues at 11.00.
———————————————————-
Rodbyhavn,
meet and re group as we leave the ferry in the laybys,
we will leave no earlier than 12.00
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by RobinM
September 12, 2011 in News
Press Release from Saab.
Saab Automobile Signs EUR 70 Million Technology License Agreement.
Trollhättan, Sweden: Swedish Automobile N.V. (Swan) announces that Saab Automobile AB (Saab Automobile) signed a technology license agreement with a special purpose vehicle named Swedish Automobile coöperatief U.A. (SPV). The license agreement relates to the non-exclusive rights in Saab Automobile’s Phoenix architecture technology for a consideration of EUR 70 million.
As part of the transaction, Youngman has also signed a technology license transfer agreement with the SPV on purchasing the license and providing a guarantee for its payment of the license. This commitment of Youngman and the technology license agreement between Saab Automobile and the SPV are part of a bridge financing transaction. This bridge financing transaction and receipt of funds by Saab Automobile are still subject to finalization of definitive transaction documentation with the lender that will provide the bridge loan.
It is the intention to repay the bridge loan with the proceeds of the EUR 245 million equity investment of Pang Da and Youngman, which is still subject to approval of the relevant authorities.
by RobinM
September 10, 2011 in News
The Saab Club of Italy are putting on a fantastic event this weekend called “Flying Saab”
Here is a little bit of information in their own words.
We look forward to hearing how the event went as well as seeing photographs and hope all those Saab fans in Italy can make the journey.
Hello SaabsUnited
We wanted to point out to all of this fantastic event organized in Italy by Saab Club Italia: “Flying Saab” (10/11 September near Verona town)
An event that will give the opportunity to experience the historical and new born Saab, know info and curiosity on brand and fly by helicopter, skydiving and gliding!!!
For more info, here are three links:
1) http://www.saabnews.it/2011/06/flying-saab-levento-italiano-dedicato-a-saab/
2) http://www.saabnews.it/2011/07/nuove-news-su-flying-saab/
3) http://www.saabclub.it/
It would be a pleasure for us and for the organizers (Saab Club Italia)…
Thank’s a lot!
by RobinM
August 24, 2011 in News
We had an e-mail from Martin at Concept Saab which included a few very nice old adverts that we wanted to share with you all. Here are Martins words.
On a recent clearout of our Leamington Spa branch we came across two old framed Saab pictures. The pictures were pages taken from a journal named Motor Sport dated February 1961!
by RobinM
August 23, 2011 in News
The above head line comes from ttela.se and I have reproduced the article below.
This is not just about Saab and bankers and money. Victor Muller made the right decision last Wednesday by putting into action the largest, best, and most creative dealmakers on the globe on this case.
This is no ordinary business deal to any of us. These icons of business understand that this is a special situation. This is indeed a sacred mission to all that are working on this around the clock 7 days a week and until this comes to swift conclusion.
What we all carry in our hearts as we work together through these nights, is the worry of an unnecessary demise and failure of Saab. Read the rest of this entry →
by RobinM
August 22, 2011 in News
My friend Martin who works at Concept Saab in Cardiff (www.concept-cars.co.uk) sent me an email about a game show just the other day.
Concept Saab was asked if they could provide Saab Convertibles that could be shown in a Welsh Speaking Game Show.
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