32 responses so far ↓

• 1 SG // Feb 21, 2007 at 10:20 am

  The Hatchback as we all refer to began with the 99 Combi Coupe in 1974 and ended in 2002 with the OG 9-3.

  28 Year Run of the Hatchback.

  There is no reason why this model could not compliment the existing model lineup.

  The 9-1 is supposed to embody this characteristic as the continuation of the hatchback from 2002.

• 2 1985 Gripen // Feb 21, 2007 at 10:36 am

  Just an unimportant correction, I think you either meant “NG900″ or “OG9-3″ in reference to the go-cart photo. Did I ever mention my OCD? How about the fact that I’m not a journalist and can’t drink worth a damn?

  I forgot about the fact that you can’t even get the cargo floor completely flat in the NG900/OG9-3 like you could in the C900 comfortably (unless you’re a 6′5″ giant…). ;-P

• 3 Nevitz // Feb 21, 2007 at 10:41 am

  Ok, so I’m a long time listener, first time caller. I must ask, reluctantly mind you, where’s the 9-2x? I would think it fair, with 61.6 cubic feet, to include it in the stats also. *holds hands over face to block the stoning*

  Bet you can’t tell what I drive! May I make up for it by telling you I also have a MY03 9-5? (Ok, it’s wifey’s.)

• 4 cj // Feb 21, 2007 at 10:43 am

  Just a quick comment… No matter what, but I think that the 9-3 SC looks great, much better than OG9-3. I think that it has the sportyness and versatility saab needs.

  Sure, a hatch would be good, but if I had to pick between a XC version of the 9-3 withsomeextra plastic etc or a hatch (which probably would be more expensive) I would not have to think long…. If you can not afford do to more than 1 version of a car the hatch works, but in today’s world you have to do more than that.

• 5 SG // Feb 21, 2007 at 10:47 am

  Correct, the 9-2x was voted #1 as a load carrying Saab model according to the visitors.

  http://www.saabhistory.com/2007/01/30/saab-ikea/

  Take a look.

• 6 SG // Feb 21, 2007 at 10:48 am

  Additionally, the Hatchback as we all refer to began with the 99 Combi Coupe in 1974 and ended in 2002 with the OG 9-3.

  28 Year Run of the Hatchback.

  There is no reason why this model could not compliment the existing model lineup.

  The 9-1 is supposed to embody this characteristic as the continuation of the hatchback from 2002.

• 7 SG // Feb 21, 2007 at 10:54 am

  Correction:

  The 9-2x was voted as #2, the 9-5 SportCombi was voted as #1.

  Typo.

• 8 Swade // Feb 21, 2007 at 10:59 am

  Nevitz, my personal distaste for the way they handled the 9-2x thing is well documented here, so I won’t expand on that.

  But a wholehearted welcome. There are actually two people out there in the world with TS 9-2x T-shirts that I produced around 18 months ago, believe it or not.

  How’s the 9-2x going? Which model did you end up getting?

• 9 93Aero // Feb 21, 2007 at 11:00 am

  Just curious … I realize that the “loading potential” isn’t the same, but … why no data for the 9-3SS with the seats flat?

• 10 eggsngrits // Feb 21, 2007 at 11:06 am

  Well, for me the question isn’t one of cubic feet, it’s one of real-world utility. The hatch has that over any notch in spades simply because the hatch opening is huge by comparison. Try putting a motorcycle into the notch and you’ll see that not all cubic feet are equal. Ditto the mower, the bed from Ikea, etc.

• 11 Swade // Feb 21, 2007 at 11:07 am

  93Aero – Those are the figures Gripen sent me. I had a look at the Saab USA site as well as Saab Sweden, even the GM Media archives for when the model was first released and I couldn’t any data for the 9-3 or 9-5 sedans with the seats down.

  If youve got it then please let me know as I’ll be happy to plug it in and update the graph. Would love to know.

• 12 SG // Feb 21, 2007 at 11:10 am

  Swade,

  Hello! Did you get my e-mail today yet?

• 13 eggsngrits // Feb 21, 2007 at 11:11 am

  93aero: Do the seats fold down in a 9-3SS? I think that they have only the pass-through for skis, etc.

• 14 eggsngrits // Feb 21, 2007 at 11:13 am

  Well, I’m obviously wrong. Carry on.

• 15 Kroum // Feb 21, 2007 at 11:13 am

  Eggs, the back-seats fold completely on 9-3SS.

• 16 SG // Feb 21, 2007 at 11:13 am

  The seats fold down in the 9-3 SS, yes.

  The seats fold onto themselves, unlike the 9-5 where the seat bottoms open out, and the seat tops fold into where the seat bottoms were and lay completely flat (like the 9000 did).

• 17 Jules90604 // Feb 21, 2007 at 11:40 am

  As much as I like the hatch, I think the spotcombi is definitely an adequate successor. Besides, at one point saab used to compare itself with the 7 series. But do you really think saab want people lugging around their cement mixers? 7 series owners wouldn’t do so. Doing so in a saab probably isn’t anything to brag about. I think it hurts the brand image.

• 18 turbin // Feb 21, 2007 at 11:46 am

  The hatch is dead, long live the Sportcombi.

  Premium compact hatches is where it is so bring on the 9-1. Practical all-swallowing hatches are over.

  Now back to the classifieds to buy a 9000CS for the missus to replace the one we should never have sold.

• 19 SG // Feb 21, 2007 at 11:52 am

  Turbin,

  Your sentence that begins with

  “Premium” along with the second sentence that starts with “Now” seem to contradict one another.

  Why can’t the hatch be brought back? I don’t see the logic here.

• 20 turbin // Feb 21, 2007 at 12:03 pm

  SG,

  I think the sentence that begins with “The” sums it up. We would likely have 2 Sportcombis if money was no object. A 9000CS Turbo is a good affordable second choice.

• 21 SG // Feb 21, 2007 at 12:08 pm

  Turbin,

  Understood. The 9000 is a great car, as is the SportCombi.

  I don’t see anything wrong with a 9000 Hatchback though.

• 22 Saaboy // Feb 21, 2007 at 1:04 pm

  An ‘08 9000 Aero would be a godly car. I-dont-care-what-color on black interior… I’ll start selling paper airplanes as funds, will you guys help as you help swade?

• 23 logan // Feb 21, 2007 at 1:54 pm

  if you take out the headrests with the seats folded down, legroom isn’t as big of an issue for the driver.

  I used to drive a ng900. Being in a band, i was able to fit a full drum kit (kick, snare, floor tom, rack tom, symbols and hardware), 5 guitars (1 bass guitar) and a guitar amplifier head in the trunk with the seats folded down. i wish i had a picture of that. it was glorious.

• 24 Swade // Feb 21, 2007 at 2:37 pm

  Ryan, yes I did.

• 25 Nevitz // Feb 21, 2007 at 2:41 pm

  Swade, I understand what you mean on the 9-2x. Thanks for the greetings!

  I have a 2005 Saabaru 9-2x 2.5i Linear (Deep Blue Metallic w/Cold Weather Package and Moon roof). I have put on 37,000 miles in 22 months, and it’s solid! My only complaint, aside from the “public de-nouncement” saying the 9-2x was a mistake, is that I can only get $11k for it on trade in now. *slaps self in forehead* This is the only thing in the way of getting my dream car, the 9-3 SportCombi, but of course!

  Let me briefly state my story (sorry if not the right forum). I actually stumbled upon the Saab 9-2x – and Saab altogether – in June ‘05! I am an employee of a GM subsidiary. In considering my choices in which I could utilize a discount. In my personal experience, I’ve had great luck owning foreign [read Japanese] cars, Honda’s in particular. I found out the 9-2x was a more refined Impreza. You surely remember the target demographics, right? The 9-2x was supposed to capture new blood. The young-yet-mature male professional, otherwise looking for something that carries more cachet than an Accord or Camry. That was me. I am/was new blood, and tell you what, I am now in love with Saab (other models too, mind you).

  Sorry, now back on track…

  And so, LONG LIVE HATCHBACKS!

  I surely hope I am still welcome here!

• 26 Mag-X // Feb 21, 2007 at 2:46 pm

  “But do you really think saab want people lugging around their cement mixers? 7 series owners wouldn’t do so. Doing so in a saab probably isn’t anything to brag about. I think it hurts the brand image.”

  I don’t see how that hurts the Saab image when it IS the Saab image. Saabs aren’t BMWs, and they shouldn’t try to be.

• 27 1985 Gripen // Feb 21, 2007 at 2:48 pm

  Of COURSE you’re welcome here, Nevitz. We don’t discriminate against anyone, not even Ovlov owners! ;-0

  Seriously, the Subaru WRX is a really great little car so one with a SAAB front end on it is even better! I have no hard feelings against 9-2X owners and think you shouldn’t be sorry, you should be proud for making a good purchasing decision.

• 28 Nevitz // Feb 21, 2007 at 3:05 pm

  Thanks Gripen!

  I do love my car, but yearn for just a bit more. I’ve been obsessing for a Combi for 6 months. Is that not horrible?!

• 29 Swade // Feb 21, 2007 at 3:45 pm

  Nevitz, great story, and you’re right on about being the target demographic and it looks like it’s worked in this instance.

  You’re absolutely welcome.

• 30 Saaboy // Feb 21, 2007 at 4:38 pm

  Nevitz, welcome!

  …at least you’re not obsessing over a dying breed of Saab ( sniff Viggen sniff).

  Logan, might your last name be Jordan?

• 31 saab9x // Feb 22, 2007 at 6:10 am

  peace to all the combi lovers, but if they put the top combi specs into a 9-3x, which is a “hatch,” i’d much rather have the 9-3x. my point being a hatch can still look cool; even cooler than a combi stationwagon.

• 32 Jon // Feb 22, 2007 at 6:49 am

  saab9x, I thought ALL SAABs were cool! – I mean anyone ever seen an ugly SAAB?