Got a picture from Gert Nilsson in the Facebook group I organize for owners of the last Saab model made by SAAB Automobile.Gert say that approx 40 NG are showing up this weekend in the northern German town that once was Swedish. The Facebook group for actual owners has 250 members worldwide. (Int Saab 9-5 NG Owners Club)
Picture taken by Gert Nilsson, Thank You
It is nice to see that such a modern car already has become a collectors item with cult status. I wish all the NG drivers a nice weekend and hope for more pictures to float in soon..
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=125&artikel=5888295 Nevs has financial problems and lack of money. Therefore, the automaker stopped production of Saab cars and nearly 200 people, consultants and temporary employees may quit because of the crisis. The reason is that the Chinese partner city of Qingdao has not paid the promised money, according Nevs. To solve the economic problems negotiating Nevs with Indian Mahindra about a collaboration, according to several sources for P4 West. The companies are negotiating to Mahindra will join as an owner in Nevs, according to the data. Mahindra is a major Indian corporation with over 180,000 employees in 100 countries around… Read more »
http://www.svd.se/naringsliv/motor/ar-det-kort-for-nevs_3644304.svd Think of Nevs and Saab as a small rose bush that 2010 was about to hit, but that got too little nutrition, too much neglect and now pre-shrunk. And in principle can not be saved. Is it over for Nevs? That’s the big question, and before I give my answer, let’s look at the current situation. It was TV4 News that on Monday night revealed that the Enforcement Authority received 14 applications for payment proceedings against Nevs since the main financier, Qingdao City, stopped giving money. In total, Nevs liabilities of 10.4 million. On Thursday, it’s time to pay… Read more »
http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/fordon_motor/bilar/article3831990.ece Asian hope for indebted Nevs Nevs stops the production of Saab Developer leaves Nevs Nevs on the backburner prepares electric car From Nevs in Trollhättan do not want to specify that debt. The company admits that there is no cash to pay accounts payable, and that the possibility to borrow against fixed assets. On May 22, halted production after the Chinese city of Qingdao, with 20 percent ownership in Nevs, not been able to contribute more money. Consultants and temporary employees has left the factory. According Nevs for one conversation with two new Asian partners, one of which reportedly… Read more »
Such a shame the NG 9-5 never had its chance to prove itself.
The very best Saab through the history, A BIG performer, and with styling that is really world class. I have been given so many times compliments from unknown people, many of then not realizing it is a Saab at first. The sedan is beautiful, that I can not say about the SportCombi thet one looks like they have added on the combi part. Happy in a way that those where only made in 28 pieces.
That’s interesting; I think the Combi NG 9-5 is fantastic looking!
somehow i get the feeling that there has become a separate (elite?) group of people driving the (exclusive) only Saab, albeit the very last one. a pity, if you ask me.
but hey! that Saab Insignia isn’t half as exclusive as my recently bought convertible, a green 1994 Mercury Capri, of which there are only 68 in my country.
Ehhh…? Are you joking,or?
Saab Insignia? Are you for real?
I’ve had mine for almost 4-years now. I’ve seen less than 5 “in the wild” during this time. NEVS should have purchased the required agreements from GM and produced this one car (instead of the 9-3) until the Phoenix was ready. Oh well, water under the dam.
The 9-5NG is still way too fat. Saabs history is characterized by building cars that were getting bigger and fatter. Beginning at 92/93 > 96 > 99 > 900 > 9000 > 9-5NG 2. Somehow they forgot to build compact and light cars and through that losing their real “aircraft” heritage by moving upmarket. Sadly enough they never realized that a smaller Saab might have saved them – instead they did build this 5m monster and never got that car really competitive against the rivals (which the first gen 9-5 somehow was – even in its own way). The 9-5NG… Read more »
Have to agree, the NG9-5 would be to long for me. I think one can understand this in the context of the General Motors range. They were probably aiming at a non-Cadillac car above the Opel Insignia. Since the Insignia is about as long as the OG 9-5, the new 9-5 had to become longer, and more prestigious. The idea was probably that somebody who had “outgrown” the Insignia (or other Chevrolets) Prestige/Price wise, could still be kept in the GM Family. It is the same non sense GM had been doing with their US brands for decades, that never… Read more »
So, for you who don’t know or had a chance to drive one of these beautiful cars – it is BRILLIANT on the road!!! Somewhere on youtube there is a driven interview with the chassi engineer who developed the suspension and related parts, and it is effing awesome! I have only tried 2 different setups, A. the NG 9-5 XWD Aero, and B. the 9-5 TiD, both sedan. While A was extremely planted and stable, I only drove it for an hour or so, a worried dealer rep next to me, so no extremes. B was a huge surprise, while… Read more »
Great to see this! Love the NG9-5. Saab lover since I was born due to the fact we had a Saab 96 two stroke sitting in the drive way when I was born.
Currently owning an OG9-5 Aero and an OG9-3 cabrio
Perret, the NG 9-5 was probably the only Saab in many years to be truly competitive in the market. A car that actually came out in to or almot in top in both Swedish and foreign tests. To me it is hard to comprehend that sales where so slow. Only approx. 11000 cars in all. Hampering sales: – Buyers where afraid to by not of the car but of the ownership etc. at Saab Automobile, speaking for myself I had an order ready to be signed of a loaded 9-5 AERO in the spring of 2011. That same week I… Read more »
Pricing in the US has the biggest hurdle IMO. I purchased mine in October 2010. My Diamond Silver Aero XWD was already sitting on the lot for 3-months. The list price was $54,000 USD. I was able to purchased the car for $45,000 USD (some got theirs for far less). I was comparing the car to the Volvo S80 V8, Acura TL SH-AWD, and Audi S4 – all could be purchased in the mid-to-high 40’s. For me, this was Saab’s true competition and once I compared the features on the NG 9-5 with the competition I narrowly selected the Saab.… Read more »
Why did you compare the NG 9-5 to those cars? The S80 is smaller, and the S4 is much smaller. Compare it to similarly sized cars, like the BMW 7, or Mercedes S class, and you will find it more than competitive.
I have to confess I was really scared regarding the future of Saab after reading the first reviews of the new 9-5 in the British and German motoring press. Even TopGear mentioned the problems with the 9-5NG in their Saab tribute – “To get the money rolling in he needed to get the new 9-5 into the showrooms as quickly as possible. And it went on sale before it was finished. And that meant it was a commercial flop.” The ride and the interior quality wasn’t on par with its rivals with the same price-tag. Saab solved many problems with… Read more »
What was not good with the interior. I have now had mine for 3 years and 30000 km. What specific in the interior is compared to other brands “inferior”?
In the demo NG 9-5 Aero and the rental TID, I remember a few issues directly.
A. Squeaky door in sides.
B. Loose panels on dashboard, especially the instrument cluster cover. Was loose, can be pushed upwards high enough to put a finger between the cover and the cluster.
C. Loose outside trims. At one point the TID lost the front light spray cover.
Just the things that came to my mind this minute. Even wrote an email to Swade at the time, but as he said, there were more pressing issues…
@Trued. This is THE car I want to have in the future, regardless of what happens to Saab/Nevs. I think it”s magic and I just got seduced by the marketing campaigns they ran for it.
But I’m wondering. Does Orio have spare parts for the more exclusive features of this car? Like for instance, the LED rear lights, what happens if one of the lamps stop working? Just leave it to an authorized Saab repair shop? 🙂
Smithy, if everything turns out well with Mahindra You will be able to drive a luxury Saab in the future! Pick a used NG 9-5 for the moment join the FB group for Owners and wait for the future models.