Anyone buying Saab stuff for Christmas?
Some stuff from Saab GB…..
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SNOW WON’T PUT BRITS OFF THIS CHRISTMAS
Despite the flurry of snow and cold weather hitting the UK this week, it seems that Brits won’t be put off by the bad weather when it comes to visiting friends and relatives over Christmas.
Research released today by Swedish car manufacturer Saab GB, shows that the average family travels up to 207 miles over the festive period, making five stops to drop off the 37 presents they’ve bought for friends and family for a total of £520.49.
85 per cent of families refuse to travel on Christmas Day – preferring to have already arrived at their destination, or staying at home for the entire 24 hours. Instead, 36 per cent of folk will travel before the 24 December, and 18 per cent will arrive at friends and family on Christmas Eve. In the lead up to Christmas Brits will make three long distance car journeys of 59-miles and a further two short 15 mile trips to deliver presents.
The figures emerged in a study of 3,000 households, which also shows that Brits are spending more cash than ever in December.
As well as giving more than £500 worth of presents, they will also receive an average of 21 presents to the tune of £248.28.
This means a staggering 58 presents worth just under £800 will be passed between immediate family, friends and extended family members such as uncles, aunts, grandparents and cousins. The North East will be the most generous with 43 per cent planning to exchange more than 20 presents with family members this Christmas.
Meanwhile, those in Northern Ireland are expected to make the most trips with 17 per cent planning more than eight trips to visit friends and family this year, whilst people in East Anglia will travel the furthest, averaging 80 miles over the Christmas period.
A spokesperson for Saab GB, which commissioned the research, said: “Given these results, people could easily be fooled into thinking Christmas was all about the presents – but it’s hard to avoid when you’re part of a family.
“Christmas often brings out the best in people as it is the one time of the year we truly want to spoil those we love, which often means travelling long distances to deliver presents. It stands to reason then, that as well as being one of the most giving times of the year, Christmas can also be one of the most stressful.”
The research shows families will pack 18 of their 58 presents into the car at any one time in a bid to carry out several drop-offs at once. But 15 per cent of folk often get stressed or worried about being able to fit everything in to the car over Christmas.
One in 10 people admit to breaking or damaging presents when trying to squeeze them into the car, and 17 per cent have been forced to leave gifts with a relative as they couldn’t get them in the car.
Twenty-six per cent of people say they need another break after the Christmas holiday to recover from all the festive travelling with half of those polled stating every year that they vow not to give as many presents. 25 per cent swear they won’t travel as far next Christmas.
Saab’s spokesperson continues, “Travelling at Christmas needn’t be stressful and can actually be one of the most enjoyable activities over the festive season as you get to spend time with your family travelling to visit people you wouldn’t normally see. As it seems that Brits are determined to travel whatever the weather, I’d encourage drivers to be extra careful on the roads, pack your car carefully to ensure you don’t reduce visibility and make sure you’ve carried out all the necessary winter checks before setting off.”
Saab’s new 9-3 range is ideal for winter driving, introducing a range of fuel-efficient vehicles that are the cleanest, low-carbon Saabs ever produced. The new 9-3 range includes a Saloon, SportWagon and Convertible offering high performance, plenty of boot space and low emissions. All three vehicles have been optimised to deliver just 119g/km CO2 taking it below the 120 g/km taxation threshold and making it tax-exempt for vehicle excise duty.
Say what… the 9-3 SW and 9-3 C has been adapted to 119g/km CO2?????? SAW WHAT? Is this true? If it is.. my God.. that’s some great news!! The Saab Uk has not been updated in that case. Please.. can somebody conform this, because if this is correct it’s one of the most important news for Saab in the last weeks!!!
It would be too nice, but I don’t think is true, as the third vehicle is the Convertible, and this didn’t have the “low-CO2” transmission.
Well.. they might have changed the transmission.. 😉
Sorry if I say so, but it would be a little stupid from Saab.
The convertible is still a fun car, no need for a “low-CO2” transmission that makes the car feel less sporty.
It does read that way, but I’m not sure. It could just be badly written and the “three vehicles” they’re referring to relate to the three power outputs available in the diesel (if they sell all three there).
I’ll write to a few people and seek clarification.
Thanks for picking this up. It slipped my eye.
If it is true.. this is the most perfect Christmas gift from Saab ever. So typical for Saab super-engineers doing this, if it true that is. Hope you can get some clarification.
Carl-Henrik,
the German sales numbers for November are out. I’ve already posted that, but I think you have overseen it 😉
In which post did you post it? Despite my hangover today I try to focus as much as I can.. 😉
They I’ll be nice to you and give you the data directly 😉
Saab sold 100 cars in Nov 10 in Germany, up 150% from the 40 sold in Oct 2010 and up ~78,5% from the 56 sold in Nov 2009.
The YTD values are 667 in 2010, still far away from the 1188 in 2009.
I don’t have “per model” values, sorry.
Yay for Saab Germany! How many dealers selling Saabs do you have in Germany now?
PS. Actually, I just wanted to have my post in the blue background 😀
AFAIK, about 60 dealers, don’t know how many of them only sells Saab.
100/60 = less than a car per dealership, that’s brutal. OTOH, it just can’t stay that way. I guess every dealer will find a way to move the extra unit or two in the holiday season 🙂
Do you get a special “package” deal on MY2011 9-3s like other European countries?
100/60 is more than a car per dealership 😉
And no, there is no special package deal on the 9-3 like in Spain or Austria.
They don’t even make much noise about the 119g TTiD.
Hope they make more noise when the Griffin special edition comes 🙁
It sure is, I’ve had a temporary disconnection between my brains and the keyboard, I sure meant “less than TWO cars”. Anyhow, that’s tragic. Does your car tax depend on the CO2 figures now? It used to depend on kW IIRC, but if it is about CO2, not going out and loud about it is inexcusable. First off, everybody needs to move the old stock ASAP, before the Griffin comes. There are some 3K non-Griffin 9-3s to be sold in the US, it’s 10 months’ worth if we go by October numbers. I have no idea what the situation looks… Read more »
The taxes are CO2 dependent since July 2009, and 120g is also a magic number.
Here in Germany most of the cars are build on Order, so there is no much “old” Stock at the dealers.
Just received a reply…..
The sub-120g still only applies to the sedan. I’m not sure what’s got this wording placed in this press release, but my guess is that an edit will be made to make it clearer.
So now we Brits know who to ask if we have any questions about Christmas presents. But who do we ask if we want any accurate information on Saabs?
Dave R: We ask Swade ofcourse 🙂
offtopic: Swade,any plans for a new Temp-war like last year?;)