Author Topic: SAAB cars wound up  (Read 9157 times)

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Chasfield

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on: December 19, 2009, 07:17:58 pm
I guess that SAAB never made much of an impression on the American car market but over in Europe, 30 odd years ago, they were turning out innovative, even quirky, vehicles and the company benefited from terrific levels of brand loyalty.

GM took them over a while back but seemed completely blind to the original qualities of SAAB products that made them great. Over time, the cars evolved into bland Euro-boxes. Now GM have pulled the plug and SAAB is to be wound up.

Dumb and sad. We have seen this negative Midas touch so many times. Just look what BMC did with Riley, Wolseley and MG.

Imagine if Honda took over RE and set about fixing up the company real nice.

Independence and creative control are worth more than gold, I think. Maybe Mr Buell would agree.





« Last Edit: December 19, 2009, 08:04:55 pm by Chasfield »
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1Blackwolf1

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Reply #1 on: December 19, 2009, 07:41:23 pm
  Saab was always a very nice car before GM..safe, relaiable and cost efficient.  Ford basically has done the same to Jaguar.. boring, unimaginative, and expensive.  A shell of their former company.  GM even killed it's one true recent offspring when they closed Saturn.  Don't make affordable reliable cars for the working class, keep producing what everyone must have.  A huge SUV that gulps gas and gets sub-rotten fuel mileage.  I'm standing in line to buy one right now....
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Chasfield

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Reply #2 on: December 19, 2009, 08:12:19 pm
Of course, poor old Jaguar was dumbed down by BMC, long before Ford got around to extracting the last of the flair and creativity from the company.
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exiledcarper

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Reply #3 on: December 20, 2009, 04:11:42 am
I remember only too well the reputation of the British Leyland (BMC) Jags.  The steel used for the body panels was so poor, you could just about stand and watch a Jag rust away if you had a half hour to spare!  That and the fact that they were notoriously unreliabel and of course hideously expensive to buy, run and fix.
  Can't see that Ford have made them any worse (how could they).  I imagine they are at least reasonably reliable these days.


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Reply #4 on: December 20, 2009, 06:54:25 am
  All Ford picked Jag up for was to steal styling ideas.  Look at Lincolns..what do they bear a strong resemblance to?  Volvo and Saab were probably picked up for the same ideas.  Styling, safety, performance.  Hopefully Jag and Volvo don't suffer the same fate as Saab.  Will.
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ScooterBob

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Reply #5 on: December 20, 2009, 04:11:10 pm
I am a fan of Saab, Volvo AND Jaguar cars for much the same reason that I'm an Enfield fan. They all speak volumes to me about hand craftsmanship, good design and uniqueness. It's a shame that Saab couldn't have found a buyer to return the company to its original, innovative glory. Quirky? Unusual? Slightly fussy - but always gets you there? I'll take it! It's a good thing that RE is quite healthy and has no intentions of making anything BUT the Royal Enfield in the way that it was intended to be.
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Chasfield

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Reply #6 on: December 20, 2009, 04:27:04 pm
Then think of Citroen. They made themselves dull and orthodox to save anybody else the trouble.

They used to make the fabulous Citroen DS, now they just make cars!
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luoma

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Reply #7 on: December 20, 2009, 05:20:34 pm
I think it's the desire to be all things to all people. Once you turn a niche vehicle into a one-size-fits-all car, you've killed it.

I once read a letter to the editor in a car mag in which a gentleman said, "I love the Miata as a classic roadster, but why don't they make it a bit longer and wider, add a back seat for those of us with families, four doors, and maybe a hardtop."

Funny as that sounds, I don't think the guy was joking. And, isn't that what car company execs have been doing for decades? Taking wonderful niche vehicles like sports cars, muscle cars, true off-roaders, and watering them down in an effort to widen the appeal? People abandon the brand when that happens, and the same execs are oblivious to what just happened, so they pick another niche vehicle and try the same thing.


ace.cafe

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Reply #8 on: December 20, 2009, 05:46:56 pm
I spent alot of time working on Jags, and have owned some too.
I think the old 3.8 and 4.2 litre straight six were excellent engines.
But, after I owned a 12 cylinder XJS, I was amazed at how good that engine was.
For a long time before I got one, I thought they were over-kill, and too complicated.
But after owning one for a while, and since i was already accustomed to what went wrong with them and how to fix them, I thought that 12-cyl was a magnificent engine.
I sadly lamented the end of that engine, and after that, Jag used all Ford engines in the Jags, and it was the end for Jaguar.

For any Jag enthusiast, the XJS is a superb car, and a bargain on the used market.
They do take alot of maintenance, and will cost alot for parts, but once you get into them and know how they tick, they are not hard to work on, and are remarkably good engines.
I loved mine,which was a 1988 roadster, converted from a hardtop by some company  in FL, before Jag began making the convertible in 1989.
You'll never drive anything smoother than that car. It's awesome. And the power delivery is really nice. Has a GM auto trans, so tranny work is no problem, but mine never needed any. The rear suspension is exactly the same as the old E-type, and the front uses coil springs and does away with that old torsion bar setup that the E-type had. It handled great.
Loved it.
I had it until a giant tree fell onto it in the yard, and crushed it like an egg. That was a sad day.

Regarding the SAAB, I worked on them during the late 1970s, when the 99E was just beginning.
That 99E engine was a piece of shit.
The Triumph TR7 had the same engine in it. POS.
My favorite SAAB was the Sonnet III sports coupe.
« Last Edit: December 20, 2009, 05:51:58 pm by ace.cafe »
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ScooterBob

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Reply #9 on: December 20, 2009, 07:12:11 pm
Then think of Citroen. They made themselves dull and orthodox to save anybody else the trouble.

They used to make the fabulous Citroen DS, now they just make cars!

I had a Deux Chaveau (2CV) and absolutely LOVED that little car ..... it got a kabillion miles to the gallon, was easier than a lawn mower to fix and you could the eyes out of it with impunity ...... and those sling seats were remarkably comfy. What more could a fellow want? Two farmers, forty kilos of potatoes, forty kilometers per hour - off road .... the perfect design parameters for a perfect little car, I say .....  ;)
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Anon

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Reply #10 on: December 20, 2009, 07:22:01 pm
I had a Deux Chaveau (2CV) and absolutely LOVED that little car ..... it got a kabillion miles to the gallon, was easier than a lawn mower to fix and you could the eyes out of it with impunity ...... and those sling seats were remarkably comfy. What more could a fellow want? Two farmers, forty kilos of potatoes, forty kilometers per hour - off road .... the perfect design parameters for a perfect little car, I say .....  ;)

Man, I've always wanted one of those!

Eamon
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Reply #11 on: December 20, 2009, 07:58:27 pm
  When I left Germany in '92 for the last time tried to get a "Duck" imported here.  Quirky and fun, alas couldn't have one imported.  really loved the push-pull shifter in it and the roll back top.  They cost a 4K at the time.  And fuel mileage was unreal.  Will.
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Sam Simons

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Reply #12 on: December 21, 2009, 04:20:23 am
"Quirky"? "Unusual"? How dare you....


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Reply #13 on: December 21, 2009, 04:35:24 am
  All Ford picked Jag up for was to steal styling ideas.  Look at Lincolns..what do they bear a strong resemblance to?  Volvo and Saab were probably picked up for the same ideas.  Styling, safety, performance.  Hopefully Jag and Volvo don't suffer the same fate as Saab.  Will.

Too funny, I say that ALL the time, my 99 Lincoln Continental is a Towncar up front and a jag in the back. 
"Counted his friends in burned-out spark plugs
and prays that he always will.

But he's the last of the blue blood greaser boys all of his mates are doing time:

Married with three kids up by the ring road
sold their souls straight down the line.


1Blackwolf1

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Reply #14 on: December 21, 2009, 04:37:36 am
"Quirky"? "Unusual"? How dare you....

  Is that a running 2 stroker?  Very nice.  Will.
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Reply #15 on: December 21, 2009, 07:12:25 am
"Quirky"? "Unusual"? How dare you....
Loved the photo, thanks.  Mine was red, V4 Ford motor.  Wish I still had that car!
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Chasfield

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Reply #16 on: December 21, 2009, 08:46:25 am
That old SAAB is just great. It oozes that Citroenesque, more-than-just-a-car quality that so intrigued me when I was a kid.

Citroen 2CV - a genuine 600 kg car, hence the frugal fuel consumption. Our vehicle manufacturers should have the humility to look back over their shoulders once in a while so that they can see some some good ideas, instead of goofing around in their CAD software.

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jdrouin

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Reply #17 on: December 21, 2009, 02:00:31 pm
  When I left Germany in '92 for the last time tried to get a "Duck" imported here.  Quirky and fun, alas couldn't have one imported.  really loved the push-pull shifter in it and the roll back top.  They cost a 4K at the time.  And fuel mileage was unreal.  Will.

Hey Will, what do you mean by "Duck"? A Trabant?

Jeff


PhilJ

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Reply #18 on: December 21, 2009, 02:27:54 pm
That old SAAB is just great. It oozes that Citroenesque, more-than-just-a-car quality that so intrigued me when I was a kid.

Citroen 2CV - a genuine 600 kg car, hence the frugal fuel consumption. Our vehicle manufacturers should have the humility to look back over their shoulders once in a while so that they can see some some good ideas, instead of goofing around in their CAD software.


Maybe they did. Every wreck I saw involving a Citroen produced car for the three years in Europe had the Citroen quartered and body parts strewn about the highway.
No thanks, I would never touch a French car.


ScooterBob

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Reply #19 on: December 21, 2009, 03:07:53 pm
Maybe they did. Every wreck I saw involving a Citroen produced car for the three years in Europe had the Citroen quartered and body parts strewn about the highway.
No thanks, I would never touch a French car.

The idea is NOT to wreck one ..... That idea has served me pretty well for 30 years of driving .....
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Sam Simons

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Reply #20 on: December 21, 2009, 06:37:54 pm
 " Is that a running 2 stroker?  Very nice.  Will."

 Yes,she is....840cc...46 ponies....85+MPH top speed(compared to the VW's
leisurely 62 MPH max of the same year((1962)).

 If it's an interesting 'stroker',I have to say that I have either: 1) owned it
 2) presently own it OR  3) Plan to own it

 Next on the 'list' is a DKW Munga...."Deek"  Haven't found one yet in private ownership
for sale that's worth buying here in the States. Best of the very few good examples are across the pond...


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Reply #21 on: December 21, 2009, 07:23:28 pm
Hey Will, what do you mean by "Duck"? A Trabant?

Jeff

  Trabants are cool until the treated cardboard and fiber catch fire or get hit by a bus.  No in Germany the Germans called the 2CV Citroen a duck..many people even had duck decals on there's.  Hence the nickname the duck.  Will.
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Reply #22 on: December 21, 2009, 07:53:36 pm
When I first met my wife she was driving a Citroen Truckette
That was a cool little rig, they both got my attention!


single

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Reply #23 on: December 21, 2009, 08:26:06 pm
I once had a DS 21.I restored the interior and a lot of the hydraulics.It was just a fantastic car.I sold it because I had to.I miss it.I would get another one the minute I could.But no rust is a must.This is a car one must drive to appreciate,perhaps,but not far.I also had a SAAB 96 3cyl.Great little car.Did 60 mph on gravel,felt safe.


Chasfield

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Reply #24 on: December 21, 2009, 09:17:43 pm
The thing about the Citroen DS is that it wasn't just styled on the outside, it was DS right down to the bone and a thing of engineering wonder.

Modern cars are so often built around a generic floor pan with exterior styling panels of choice bolted on.

Check out the second sentence of this Wikipedia write-up on the Fiat 500 retro car.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Nuova_500

They actually took the soul out of the thing on the drawing board.
« Last Edit: December 21, 2009, 09:19:59 pm by Chasfield »
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PhilJ

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Reply #25 on: December 21, 2009, 11:17:21 pm
Well Scooter B, of course the idea isn't to wreck. Quite the opposite. But the other drivers are your problem most of the time. Good luck to you.


ScooterBob

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Reply #26 on: December 22, 2009, 01:09:15 am
Well Scooter B, of course the idea isn't to wreck. Quite the opposite. But the other drivers are your problem most of the time. Good luck to you.

As I've said, the program has worked pretty well for 30 years. Oh, yeah - I've had a few "offs" on the bike - but none in the car, I don't consider THAT an accident. All the "offs" on the bikes, save for two - were MY fault. I'll admit that. When you are driving, you have to be aware of the fools around you and how they behave. I've found that it helps not blabbing on a cell phone, not fiddling with the radio and having a hundred OTHER distractions like the common idiot who ends up, upside down in the ditch, bleeding and can't figure out WHY? Driving little sh1t-box cars will tune you in to all those Chevrolet SubDivisions out there with the phone-yakking soccer moms driving them. Luck has little to do with it .... paying attention to the other drivers who you KNOW are idiots does ......
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PhilJ

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Reply #27 on: December 22, 2009, 12:17:49 pm
I hear what your saying SB. Just like riding your bike. Those Chevy 'Sub-Divisions' can double up on you though.

Except when pick-ups were needed my all time favorite was the Volvo 240 Wagon. It would work like a truck and get 33 mpg doing it.


ScooterBob

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Reply #28 on: December 22, 2009, 02:12:43 pm
Yeah - The old 240 Volvo Wagon was a JEWEL!! I put a turbo motor in one that I had and lowered it and used the wheels from the Coupe' ..... it was a rocket (for a WAGON ...) and could still haul eight-foot lumber with the gate shut!! Hahahaha!!  I also made one with a tired diesel into a "Volvrolet" with a luke-warm small block and an auto trans - plus A/C, power steering, cruise control and all the goodies! It was an absolute HOOT as the diesel diffy was like a 4.56:1 ratio ..... I left all the "DIESEL" badges on it, too .... It was the very definition of "Stoplight Surprise" ..... Heeheehee!!!
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1Blackwolf1

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Reply #29 on: December 22, 2009, 03:38:09 pm
  Actually her's something I like that reall isn't a car but incoporates two of my faves.  Vespa and Vanagon..from an old picture file from Germany.  Will.
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ace.cafe

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Reply #30 on: December 22, 2009, 03:51:21 pm
Back when I used to work on Volvo, we had nicknames for the 3 models that used to come into the shop.

The Blimp, the Baloney, and the Box.

The Blimp was the 544
The Baloney as the 122.
And the Box was the 144.
 :D
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ScooterBob

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Reply #31 on: December 22, 2009, 04:00:38 pm
Back when I used to work on Volvo, we had nicknames for the 3 models that used to come into the shop.

The Blimp, the Baloney, and the Box.

The Blimp was the 544
The Baloney as the 122.
And the Box was the 144.
 :D

Brilliant!! I haven't heard the term "Blimpie" used to describe a PV544 in YEARS!! Hahahaha!!
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PhilJ

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Reply #32 on: December 22, 2009, 08:36:07 pm
My wife called her 240 Wagon ( I think also called 245 ) her tank. She hit a deer (south \Tx. deer) doing 70mph, on the right front fender. Somehow didn't break the headlight on when the head flopped around put a small dent in the quarter panel just in front of the door. Amazing car that '87 wagon.


single

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Reply #33 on: December 22, 2009, 09:29:10 pm
Kill ALL deer.What good are they.Course,out here,mite step on a Cotton Mouth or young Rattler once in awhile.Still looking for the one that lives in my barn.Cotton Mouth,I mean.Seen him a coupla times,out of reach.Sumbitch.Gotta keep watching for it al the time in good weather.Gives me something else to think about when I hafta crawl under a car.He is getting pretty big now,judging by the skin he shed last summer,left it by the front door,inside.4 ft.long.


The Garbone

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Reply #34 on: December 22, 2009, 09:41:15 pm
Kill ALL deer.What good are they.Course,out here,mite step on a Cotton Mouth or young Rattler once in awhile.Still looking for the one that lives in my barn.Cotton Mouth,I mean.Seen him a coupla times,out of reach.Sumbitch.Gotta keep watching for it al the time in good weather.Gives me something else to think about when I hafta crawl under a car.He is getting pretty big now,judging by the skin he shed last summer,left it by the front door,inside.4 ft.long.

Get a 410 and the cotton mouth won't be out of reach next time you see him..
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ScooterBob

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Reply #35 on: January 28, 2010, 02:16:30 pm
There may be hope for SAAB yet! - The Stryker Company has agreed to buy the company from GM .... Stryker understands QUALITY manufacturing and performance. If all goes well, we should have REAL SAAB cars in a year or two again .... I'm keeping my fingers crossed and putting pennies in a jar!
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Reply #37 on: January 31, 2010, 06:15:46 pm
Man! I almost got a tear in my eye listening to the popcorn pooping and howling of the old Saab dwei-zwacker! How absolutely ROWDY those little cars are ..... Gotta love 'em!
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Sam Simons

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Reply #38 on: February 02, 2010, 03:43:20 pm

 The cars are raced very seriously still.....which has consumed a lot of original parts,but also spawned the manufacturing of better  replacements internals(pistons,rods,etc).
 90+ BHP w/ reliability is obtainable.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QE-OEUQjCE&feature=related

haulin' ass:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaLoPvKdOAI&feature=related