As Tim Rokka mentioned in his last posting here that he has ordered a BMW 428i Xdrive. For the last two months I have been the happy owner of a BMW M4 Coupe. Last week I had a pilgrimage to Germany visiting BMW Welt + Museum and production facility in Munich. From there to a racing course at Sachsenring via a stop at the Audi Museum in Ingolstadt. The M4 is for me that Saab 9X or AEROX that Saab never made. The former owner Spyker had some racing cars but they where in my opinion sort of kit cars with an Audi engine and 100% impractical and just space for 2 people without any luggage. My present M4 has enough space to go to the BMW dealership and pick up a set of 255/40/18 wheels inside the car. Just folding the rear backrest and all the wheels fit.
It is my first rear driven car ever and I really look forward to this new relationship. Handling wise it is a supercar german motor magazine drove it on Nürburgring in 7:53 minutes. I managed in my very first timed slalom drive at the Sachsenring circuit get the best time. First time for me in a slalom in a rear wheel driven car.
At Sachsenring Circuit near Dresden, Germany
At the BMW welt (World) with the BMW Headquarters and Museum in the background
MY favorite racing car of all times the BMW 3.5 CSL in the original M livery that has inspired me to att the racing colors to my M4. Swedish Formula 1 driver Ronnie Peterson raced BMW when not in the Lotus or March cars.
Now I am off to pick up newly blasted chassis part for my Saab 99 Turbo 4 door car. I will post more on that project here on SaabsUnited. All You guys know where the SU crew hearts are!
Trued, I have to get accustomed to this. Hope you do not change your avatar as well 🙂
No I will keep my avatar, my 3 99 Turbo cars and the 96 V4 MonteCarlo. I also have plans to recreate the 92 car that Greta Molander drove in the 1950 Monte Carlo Rally. Working on convicing the present owner to let it go from the barn it has been in for the last 30 years.
I am convinced; look forward to hear from these projects.
Nice car ….
We are not becoming a BMW community, are we? 🙂
Perhaps you could consider the new triple-charger Volvo?
Come with alternatives to Saab, do you have any ideas?
I also love the E9 Bimmers. My dad owns a 2000CS (body by karmman) and its just the sweetest little coupe. The new M3/M4 is an absolute monster of a car. Congratulations on your new ride. As for my Saab replacement – I’m thinking perhaps a PoleStar version of the Volvo Coupe concept (better yet the shooting brake version if they ever build it) with Volvo’s Next-Gen 450hp 4-cyclinder engine might replace the NG9-5 Aero.
To each his own.
Just a thought.
Great article. If it was posted on the BMW blog. I must ask what the interest would be for a SAAB blog site to write about BMW and their models, museum etc.? Here is my advice and feedback as a SAAB fan reading SAABSUNITED as often as I can: Write the 99 turbo article and replace this article with that one 🙂 The BMW cars and their history are fabulous but they belong to the other blog. Sincerely, one of your readers.
+1
We don’t even use this site for news anymore, so what’s the point of being around if the posts aren’t Saab related?
When there’s a pathetic trickle of news about NEVS, I’m sure it’ll be covered here. Until then—-if the site has to survive with photos of BMWs or even recipes for creole bow tie pasta baked with chicken, I’m in. The drought of Saab news since the Spring of 2012 has been depressing.
I agree Angelo…. Guys, face it, right now Saab is dead legally at least, the brand name… Nevs? well that is all together another sad sad story.
Any how, show all kinds of new stuff why not? Until something really happens its fun ,,, keeps us informed.
+1 this blog is about Saab and Saab only; If anything, then maybe occasionally also about Spyker, that fantastic Dutch sportscar design 🙂 , or Jaguar…but surely not about characterless teutonic efficiency..
Hum… during Spyker era Saab 9-3NG was supposed to host a PSA/BMW engine, the Prince 1.6 liter. Previous Saab cars hosted german components too : ZF gear box (just like BMW cars), etc. Talking about BMW cars here isn’t so improper then. However, comparing Saab to BMW is unfair since the two companies don’t offer the same quality level.
___
PSA = Peugeot Société Anonyme, french car company.
What about KIA?
“The former owner Spyker had some racing cars but they where in my opinion sort of kit cars with an Audi engine”
You truly are a joke Trued
I have driven the LM85 car it is crap! Homemade unskilled design by a self taught owner.
Of course, you’re entitled to have an opinion on your own (subjective) driving experience in the Spyker (in fact, I also drove that specific LM85), i.e. you think it drives crappy, but all above statements coming from you about how it’s supposedly been built or designed are just plain ignorance.
I really like the flames on the car!
It seems this is turning into a pro-BMW blog…, kinda sad actually..
In the 80s I used to ‘blow the doors out’ of BMW 323i and Golf GTi’s with my first Saab, a 99 Turbo (especially on wet pavement… 😉 )
Later on in the 90s I was amazed at the superiority of the 9000 compared to the 5-series BMW..
But the biggest difference was always the owners/drivers; almost the complete opposite, totally different kinda persons…
I always felt much more affinity with the friendly, intelligent drivers of Swedish cars than some of the ‘sporty’, snobby BMW people, thinking they are sooo superior….
Eagle63,
It is time to wake up from the fairytale dreams. BMW is today a superior brand. That is a fact. Saab would have most probably not been able to reach the heights of that brand.
My M4 serves great old Saab virtues. Drive abilities, smooth gliding around, great cargo hauler with foldable rear seat. Super competent racer car. It is pure power on demand, and low fuel consumption as the frosting of the cake. In engine technology BMW are leaders, remember that Saab was about to take the BMW engines to the Phoenix.
“BMW is today a superior brand. That is a fact.” – that is most certainly not fact. That is subjective opinion. Your subjective opinion. Which you’re expressing on a Saab site. What are you doing? And what’s with the dig at Spyker?!?!?
I am by NO means a BMW fan, but I will come to his defense. BMW is a superior brand today. You know why? Because, today, there is essentially no Saab. I love my Epsilon-chassis Saab 9-3. But anybody that tries to assert that an 11-year old car is superior to a contemporary BMW M3/M4 is living in a fairytale land. And not a very good fairytale land.
The lack of Saab news is depressing. But it’s nice to be able to come to SaabsUnited and read something new.
Trued, it sounds like you made a wonderful choice and are a true car fan!
I think what people are forgetting is that it is perfectly OKAY to love other cars besides Saab! Especially since there aren’t any new Saabs being made….
Luke is absolutely correct. BMW might not be for everyone, but his contention that it’s a “superior brand” is indeed, FACT. The BMW brand is incredibly strong right now.
Meant to say “TRUED” is correct—-Luke quoted him so in the quotes, Luke was correct too!
I saw the mistake – but I let it slide as I wanted to feel correct, even just for a short time. It felt good and I regret nothing.
Luke: When it comes to the product, “superior” is subjective. So if your point was that it’s false to claim that BMW cars are “superior” you are absolutely right. What’s superior to one person is crap to another. But when it comes to “the brand” I think it’s very clear that it’s a “superior” brand—-definitely near the top of the list as far as perception goes—a brand that many aspire to. Apple is a superior brand, even though some people might prefer other phones or computer products—-but the brand is strong.
I’m holding my tongue here and on my best behaviour: I shall simply say that maybe it’s time for Tim et al to pass on the SU torch. It’s fine that you guys are moving on, but there are still hundreds of thousands of Saab drivers all over the world. I bought 2 Saabs this month and am supporting my local ‘main dealer’ who still believes there might be some fairytale ending to all of this. Now that is a Saab guy.
Luke Mallory, hey hold Your horses….. I still have a jam packed garage with SAAB there is no moving on. FCONL I have just bought one hell of a ride. What is the matter with some of You?
We in SU crew has NO present insight in what is happening with SAAB it is radio-silence so to speak!
Exactly. Gotta write about something, and posts about £99 batteries “installed by a Saab trained mechanic” don’t exactly move the masses.
Yes, there IS news! The news is that at the end of November, there might be news. See?
I don´t care about your BMW.
This is a Saab blog.
Would you rather stare at a blank page? There is no saab news…
“Those of you moaning are most probably not true car Entusiast.”
Well well.
What makes you being more “Entusiast”? With your ignorance expressed you shod not be on this site.
” Those of you moaning are most probably not true car Entusiast.”
Wow, now I am insulted.
Trued I agree,,, I find it interesting to look at new stuff and discuss it… Some just can’t face the reality, as of RIGHT NOW Saab is dead. Just the facts people.. Until something happens just the facts. The Spirit can live on but eventually overtime that fades too.
Thanks Dough R.
Well, I DO have that car and I resent your reduction of it to a hobby car. And a lot of us here do. God, this keeps getting worse.
Right behind you.
I think the owner’s of the SU blog ought to look at saabblog_dot_net to see how a Saab blog should be run. It’s worth using Google Translate to read it. They write a lot of speculative stuff, but it’s fun and it’s about Saab!
I’ll keep coming back here though — I’m a glutton for punishment.
I agree Dave, to many negative comments on here.
I own a 2007 95 aero . Good or bad news this site should be about saabs!!
I can fully understand Tims decision to buy another brand as he is doing high mileage.
However for people like me who are only doing about 10,000 a year it is not a problem to keep there saab , look after it and it will serve them well for years to come !
Tims comments about supply of parts worries me as it could scare many saab owners into getting rid of there cars.
I thought you had done that already Dave, you’ve certainly claimed to have been gone before but yet you keep on coming back? We’ve had 8 posts in total about other brands in the past 3 years, 8 posts out of 3692 posts in total… so yeah we are constantly pushing you guys towards BMW???… you are a joke Dave…!
At the front page of SU today You have 3 out 11 posts about BMW. It’s your blog. You do what You want with it but when readers react like this you should probably better be listening.
Speaking for myself I don’t give a damn about Trueds BMW’s. Good for him if he like it but I don’t go here to read about you selling your last Saab for a BMW or Trued’s new toy. If You don’t write about Saab, Saabs or anything else Saab related I’m gone. When I come here I expect Saab related posts…
Sorry, not going to be fooled into buying a Chinese made long wheelbase S60 Volvo will be exporting to the USA next year. You know the price won’t be reduced. Other automakers will be watching very, very closely. Personally, I think this is suicide for Volvo in the US (unless they think they can attract an entirely different clientele). We shall soon see.
The Chinese-built Volvo S60 L signals the beginning of the end of Swedish-manufactured Volvos, no doubt about that (though some people are too naive or starry-eyed to realize it or admit it to themselves, no doubt in part because the long lead times of the auto industry haven’t made it happen yet).
The question is whether this will kill the Volvo brand with it, or whether it will finally spur mainstream acceptance of Chinese-built cars. It could go either way.
Why would it be the end of Swedish-manufactured Volvos? Are you aware of how big investments Geely has made in Sweden, with 50% increased production capacity in Gothenburg for the coming years?
Lots of European and American car manufacturers build cars in China and it sure hasn’t stopped them from keep producing cars in their original country as well. Why would Volvo stop that?
But those other companies you point to aren’t owned by the Chinese.
Yes it is; when eventually the time comes to trade in my 9-3 (and Saab hasn’t brought back to life) I will buy a Volvo XC60.
I considered Audi (too Germanic), Subaru (great engines but too low grade interior), Porsche (the best but too expensive) and Ford (too mainstream).
Volvo is safe, Swedish, has interesting new engine technology, has a very nice and tastefull interior and no overly aggresive looks (like many BMWs have).
As a owner of 2010 9-3 I get people are looking elsewhere, but if I want to read up on a M4 (great car btw!) I go to a BMW site. Same with Volvo, Acura, Subaru, etc. That said, it isn’t my site and as a lover of cars I do enjoy the posts. Perhaps these write-ups on other makes/models go straight to the forums?
This main page should be for uniting the Saab community hence SaabsUnited!
So U bought a Bus? Its the third most common bus in Swedish bus lanes, after Scania and Volvo buses.
😉
ROTFL
It’s a very sad day for the SaabsUnited (and global Saab) community when two of the site’s key figures talk, or brag, about their new BMWs.
Hey – you have been close to were I live. The Sachsenring Circuit is close to the city of Chemnitz. A historic place for all motor enthusiasts. Amongst lots of other keypoints in motorcar history, the Grandpa of the SAAB twostroke engine has been developed and manufactured here before WWII. I will stick to my two 9k and to my 900. Seems SAAB is getting to a youngtimer brand for the time now. Here in Saxony – we also have a strong SAAB community too. There is a meeting with roundtrip organized two times in a year.
Michael, at the Audi Museum in Ingolstadt I “met” with the AUTO-UNION DKW two strokers that Saab built on license for almost 20 years in 2 and 3 cylinder versions. Interesting how the european car industry is connected. Some of the laps at Sachsenring can be seen at my Youtube, Trued1 (where also a lot of my Saab movies can be enjoyed)
Yes, I’ve read that URSAAB was fitted with a DKW engine, but only URSAAB. Thanks for the info.
And, oh how I wish I could get locked in the SAAB museum. 🙂
You guys are most probably right. Unfortunately the museum vaults are hard to get into. I see no reason why?
What we are witnessing above, is a transition.
True SAAB fanatics will transition to a group of folks keeping their cars interesting by adding modifications, creating customized rides, in the absence of new vehicles coming from the factory.
Some folks, understandably, are showing anger and frustration over the reality that it is likely “over” for the brand, and are having difficulty in seeing SU leadership moving on in some ways. It is exemplary of an admission to the current status of the brand.
Thanks, papa Joe. Where would we be without you to categorize us?
Thanks for the complement, Chris! I did give much thought to my post. Glad you find it constructive.
It is not moving away from the brand it is just adding another branch to the tree. Two companies with aerospace history. I might write an article about the similarities of the two brands……. scary thought…..
I do make assumptions about BMW drivers here in the states. Perhaps they do about me as well. Maybe it’s different elsewhere.
The same in Hungary for the last 20 years now or so. (With the passage that with the beginning of the Bangle-era, the scene got a bit bursted/diversified but no big overall improvements, moral-wise at least.) But the worst news is that a lot of other brands’ drivers started to claim and copy the “BMW Fanatics” “pregorative” conduct for themselves and so everything got even worse. 🙂
“It is my first rear driven car ever and I really look forward to this new relationship”.
Be careful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnKE-f7y_Ao
BMW bikes seem to be going the way of their cars. Performance and the associated complexity seem to be dominating their new bike designs as evidenced by the introduction of limited water cooling on the opposed twins. I guess this is necessary to achieve more power, but BMW already has a line of fours with leading edge performance as well as water cooled vertical twins. Incidently, I also ride a BMW 1150 (R model) and have never owned one of their cars.
That substandardishness of the NG9-5 HUD is what made it so very Saab-like. Simple, green, and just the information that you need. New HUDs from BMW, Lexus, etc are a jumbled mess. The idea is great, but drivers don’t need even more distractions.
Yes, there was too much GM crap in the last Saabs, but for the price, no other vehicles out there have as great of a story behind them. Just seeing the NG9-5 in my drive each morning puts a smile on my face. A somewhat concerned smile, but still a smile.
I agree. Even the NG 9-5 cockpit looks way more aviation inspired than the latest BMW dasboards; they just look meaningless and too ‘upscale’ to have any aircraft feel at all. A true flightdeck doesn’t look glitzy..
I drive BMWs every day of my work week, and I have to say I HATE getting in and out of their coupes. Now I understand on a regular basis you won’t be getting in and out 50-100 times per day like me, but I enjoy getting in and out of the sedans much more. Would I buy a coupe over a sedan? Maybe, it’s hard to say, but since I do use them so much it’s a tough call at this point lol.
BMW as a superior car? Maybe in a humble opinion. .I would rather drive a 14 year old SAAB with rust.The whole reason for joining this site (community) was to read, see SAAB products.and articles. I really could care less about reading about how awesome a BMW, Mercedes, Porsche etc…is.
Besides, my opinion is that any Audi RS is better than any run of the mill BMW.
Aero1,
I took the time to drive all the BIG brands top-of-the-line sports/performance oriented vehicles, without any preconceptions or biases. Did a proper “research” so to say. Have You done the same? My decision was based on driving kinematics and technology advancements. When my Saab ex. chassis manager friend agreed on my decision I knew I had made a wise choice. The M4 chassis is state-of-the art. hard bolted rear axle subframe that tells my body exactly what the car is doing. Saab and BMW are cars for engineers and technology people. Just read this technology book. http://www.google.se/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Ff80.bimmerpost.com%2Fforums%2Fattachment.php%3Fattachmentid%3D1066695%26d%3D1406475520&ei=7G1HVJ7EE8W_ywP6lIDQBQ&usg=AFQjCNFWdkoO0kBaj5F3NqyV4QFRrxAcMw&sig2=MsWe3rQyyp_HiRTE23l-Yw&bvm=bv.77880786,d.bGQ
I still love my NG 9-5 Aero. After reading posts on here over the past month, I have become very worried about future parts availability. Unfortunately, I am not in a very good position to part with my car. If I were to find a buyer, I would have to trade way down..to a rolling appliance. I just can’t bring myself to do that…yet. I wish I had the resources to keep my Saab and buy a 4 or 5 series for my daily driver, but I don’t. Real life sucks sometimes.
I can’t find better opposite to Saab than a BMW. And I’ll rather find spare/tuning parts info or look in the history here than a BMW photos. It hurts my eyes on this blog. No matter how I acclaim BMW’s for their technical superiority. Just my cent.
Whatever happened to all those BMW engines that disappeared in the Saab factory? Strange to think that latter Saabs could have been powered by BMW engines.
I don’t have a problem with BMW technology; the engines are among the best. What I don’t like are their way too aggresive looks and the glitzy interiors nowadays (that attracts all those maniacs we see driving around like they own the road).
Some time ago (10 years or so?), BMWs still had professional looking dashboards with lots of small black pushbuttons, similar to many Saabs and aircraft flightdecks.
That is it, I have now deleted my saabsunited link. Have a good time here…
No need to go psycho over this Dave.
I drove a superior BMW recently. A classic 635CSI with a Corvette engine / manual transmission conversion.
Why is this car here, isn´t this a site for saabers any more? If you have lost faith in SAAB already why not leave the community as well?
One can have two different cars!
Thought it was better telling you guys straight up what has happened to say it before the grapevine would get it.
I am ready to hear confessions from anybody who has or have had a non-Saab. I forgive all sinners,
As you might have read in this post I STILL have 6 Saab cars. So I feel that I do not need to seek a father.
The Saab driver without sin please throw the first stone! 😉
So why not write about those six Saabs instead…?
I am working on a big post on the 99 turbo 4 door test car and the progress of the restoration….. Be patient it is coming.
Bless me, Trued, for I have sinned. I drove my wife’s Chevy Equinox 3 times this week… and I may have coveted a coworker’s Jaguar F-Type. 🙂
I agree 100; its all kinda absurd really….
The above reply is directed at Tim more than Trued. Trued still has 6 Saabs and Tim has 0.
Meant to say that NEVS has fixed it so that there is nothing to report about NEW Saabs. Speaking of fixing things, how about fixing that “edit post” function!
I was wondering if anyone has a small oil leak that drips on the exhaust and has a burning smell in their cabin from it. On a 2007 saab 9-5 aero. These are the kinds of questions and forums we need. Help each other out to keep our cars on the road. Also, does anyone know where to get a door handle pull for the same model year. It’s been on backorder forever. Any ideas?
These are the things we do on the Mustang forums.