Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

What a shame - although the post-GM takeover cars never did much for me, I'm still sorry to see it go down the pan

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/engineering/article6961723.ece

Anyone here have any good or bad recollections of owning or driving a SAAB?

RJ
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

[TonyBrooks]

Not sure if this link will work, but amongst several of my rallying shots are quite a few from my Saab driving days. Have owned many V4's ,
several two strokes (my first car was a bullnose) and imported a Sonett from the USA and restored it.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/13485764@N05/page2/

If you look here

http://www.hrcr.co.uk/Night_Rallies/News/

you will see this years reports fron the HRCR where a Saab won the Night championship (I was navigator!!).

So sorry to hear of Saab's departure, my claim to fame is that I once touched the rear wing of Stig's work's 96 at the end of a Clocaenog fortest on a 1970? RAC and also stood next to the great man himself in a urinal!!!

[carmarble]

That's a shame that GM couldn't come to terms with a buyer. You would think that giving another car company a great deal on Saab would be better money-wise than shutting down the company altogether. What's next for GM - shutting down Chevrolet?
_________________
first car

[wreckmaster]

Looks like there is still hope for SAAB! Spyker is back on track with a new offer.....Deadline for the offer was last night at 2300 but has now been delayed! The problem for GM was that they did not wanted to sell SAAB to Spyker which is owned by some russian investment group. But now Spyker is back with an all dutch investment plan / offer Lets cross our fingers for SAAB, so it dont become just a part of history

[Rick]

The only "modern" SAAB I've had was a mid-80s 900 turbo (3 door hatch). Although the power levels weren't epic compared to even a cooking hatch today, the decent amount of torque meant it was an entertaining thing to zip about in.

Only downside was a poor handbrake, and a worn gearbox which meant you didn't need to put it in reverse before removing the ignition key. Usually I left it in reverse anyway, but one day I didn't. A brand new Porsche 968 CS cushioned the SAAB's roll down the gently sloping car park nicely..

Someone broke into it one night, leaving the hatchback open all night. This wouldn't have been a major issue, had several mangy old cats not decided to take up residence for a few hours. The velour seats never smelt the same again...

I'd definitely have another though if I had the undercover space, maybe a mid 80s Turbo 16S. Or even better a 2dr 99 turbo, one of the few 70s cars I'd seriously think about buying.

RJ
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

[oldzody]

I have a saab 9-5 run it for the last 9 years with only two minor breakdowns ,at 190000 miles that what I call reliabity.my son runs the g.m. equivelent (vectra) .not in the same league . build quality of the saab is far superior.g.m.bought saab for their tech.and remove a threat to their own cars.even now they do not wish to sell a going concern which would take the sales away from their products

[PAUL BEAUMONT]

As Wreckmaster points out, the future of Saab seems to be nearly as confused as that of Vauxhall/Opel. Now I understand that Bernie Ecclestone is trying to make a bid too. I reckon that this one has a bit to run yet!!!

PAUL