Monthly Archives: February 2008

Short Saab

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15

I’m fascinated by this.

It was sent in by Viktor B, though I’m still waiing for some clarification as to what it’s actually used for. Viktor’s intiial advice is that it’s used in training to escape rollover accidents in Sweden.

I’ll post more as soon as I know more, but for now just enjoy the pics.

This first one is as it appears on the website the Viktor linked to. I’ve flipped the image over so you can see the vehicle right-way-up as well. It’s strange seeing a 9-3 as short as that.

Short Saab

And it here’s the photo flipped over so the car looks the right side up.

Short Saab

From the Ice Experience…..

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14

I’m not sure if they’re still up there, but I know a bunch of Australian journalists have been up at the Ice Hotel doing some ice driving in the Turbo X.

Nice work if you can get it.

Ice Hotel

Click here to go and watch a video from the Ice Hotel.

Below are some photos from the recent Ice Experience that the Aussies and many of the rest of the world’s media have been embarking on. ctm found the photos on a Swedish site called E24.

Excellent shots.

Turbo X

Turbo X

Turbo X

Turbo X

Turbo X

Turbo X

Turbo X

Some more Turbo X news – Australian Pricing

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19

Now that the Canadian price of the Turbo X seems to be settled….

Apparently the Australian pricing was distributed today as well. Just in case you Aussies haven’t seen it in comments, kdsaab left the following:

    Manual Turbo X Sedan from $88,800 Plus on roads.
    Manual Turbo X SportCombi from $91 300 Plus on roads.

I gotta say, that’s a little higher than I expected.

The 9-3 Aero sport sedan starts here at $70,600. So the Turbo X is a whopping $18,200 premium over that?

Wow.

Saab 9-5 Turbo Edition only special if you’re living in Switzerland

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Last night’s hopeful sneak peek at a possible special edition Saab 9-5 has turned out to be a model that’ll be available in the Swiss market only.

Trollhattan Saab has learned that the special edition will be a MY08.5 release available in both Vector and Aero trim.

Double Wing wheelThe 2.3t Vector model will feature a Hirsch upgrade to 220hp (from 185hp) as well as a Hirsch dual exhaust (very nice!), 17-inch ‘double wing’ wheels (pictured) and front grille treatment in a finish called Titanoptik.

The interior will get two packages called the Premium Top Package and the Business Package, but I’m not sure what they will comprise.

The Aero model is already at 260hp and will stay that way, but it also receives the same exterior and exhaust enhancements as the Vector. In addition to the interior enhancements already mentioned, the Aero also gets an Aluminium treatment on the center console.

Pricing will start at 58,800 Swiss Francs for the manual 2.3t Vector sedan and tops out at 72,040 Swiss Francs for the automatic Aero SportCombi version.

Thursday Snippets

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6

Aside from Cuba at Saab Central, I don’t think I’ve come across any prime time Saab nuts in New Zealand (I think you’re more of an interested party, Robin C, right?).

That’s changed.

Although the Poelsmas bought the building for its traditional architecture and its appeal was subsequently enhanced by the chiropractic connection, Mr Poelsma admitted there was another reason why he liked the building.

“I have a problem,” he confessed. “I’m a Saab (car) nut – I have nine of them.

“And the house has a 130 metre square shed out the back for me to store them. That’s very important.”

Nine Saabs? Nice problem to have.

——

Saab are the only company here in Australia to market an E85-capable vehicle.

It’s good to see that fact noted in a story about the V8 Supercars race series switching to E85 in 2009.

The V8 Supercars series is the biggest motor racing series in Australia. It’s our Nascar, except they drive left and right corners and stuff. The V8 Supercars are Holdens and Fords. The crowds are significant and most have been fighting for thir preferred brand since they first watched their Dads do the same many years ago.

That the V8′s are planning a switch to E85 will likely be lost on many of these hardnut supporters, but the V8 Supercar hierarchy recognise that E85 is likely to play a bigger part in Australia’s fuel future, so they’re getting on board.

In light of this, PT’s BioPower advertising discovery from Saab Australia seems all that more impressive.

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Here’s a quick question for the convertible owners out there…and everyone else too, I guess.

Do you see your vehicle as a performance vehicle or as a cruiser?

I came across a convertible review today. I don’t have time to cover it right now but it criticised the Saab 9-3 convertible for not having XWD and the 280hp engine. It sounded like the reviewer had caned the car through a mountain pass or something and was complaining about the handling as a result.

I’ll look it up and cover it soon enough.

I’ve always considered convertibles as cruisier vehicles. The lack of roof structure and added weight of the roof mechanism generally means that performance is always going to be somewhat short of tin-tip standards.

Sure, you can have some fun in them, but I generally view them as relax-mobiles.

Am I the only one?

——

A few weeks ago I covered a 2008 Saab 9-3 review by an Aussie website called CarAdvice.com.au. The writer of that review was gracious enough to join us in comments and listen to the feedback we gave. A rarity these days.

I’d just like to give all the Car Advice guys a shout out, my congratulations, and let them know that I’m extremely jealous.

They’ve just finished test driving the Bugatti Veyron, which I believe is a pretty difficult gig to get. Here’s a teaser:

Canadian Turbo X Pricing – tbc (if I can)

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17

We received a comment from a dealer in Canada advising Saab Turbo X prices for the Canadian market, which have apparently been available since January.

They are as follows:

    TURBO X sedan – $54,995

    TURBO X sport combi – $56,305

The only options available are automatic transmission and navigation.

There’s also a freight charge of $1400

Purhasers may be able to get a SAAB loyalty bonus, which right now is $1000

——

I tried to look up Saab Canada to see if there’s a press release on the Turbo X with Canada-specific information, but I had problems.

It might just the PC I’m using at the moment, but when I select Canada from the drop-down list, it just keeps returning me to the GM Europe site. I assume that Saab still exist in Canada…

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I’m very pleased to pass on that the Turbo X pricing has come from a rep from Budds’ Saab in Oakville, Ontario.

It sounds like they may be the place to go…..

Saab Canada counterpoint

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5

I posted a story last night that had a fair crack at Saab Canada. I stated at the time that it’s not my intention to embarrass the organisation, which it isn’t. I just want good service for Saab customers and it’s quite obvious that Kroum didn’t receive good service.

There have been two notable consequences as a result.

Firstly, we may have actually received some Turbo X pricing for the Canadian market, via a guy in comments named Lee Andrews. I’ve written to Lee just to clear up one minor point of confusion and I’ll post the results when received. I’ll also write to Saab Canada today to see what we can get from them. Hopefully they’ll answer.

Secondly, we also received a good service story about a Canadian dealership, from Richard. I’m quite happy to reproduce it here. As I said, all we’re after here is some good service so that the people who want to buy the cars, can buy the cars.

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In the hopes of counterbalancing the general gloom and doom of Kroum’s and others dealer experiences, I’d like to relay my experience this past weekend at my local Saab dealer in Edmonton (Canada).

For a few months I’ve been meaning to drop by the dealer for a look at the new ’08s that had arrived, but with road conditions snowy and slippery in the past couple months, I decided to wait until the roads dried up to get a better feel for the car. I know – you say “a Saab should be driven in the snow!”. But without snow tires on the testers, this isn’t an option for me. Snow tires, or no driving.

On Saturday I dropped by my dealer unannounced and expressed my interest in seeing and experiencing the new ‘08 SportCombi and asked if they had some on the lot (there was only an ‘07 SportCombi in the showroom). They had dozens on the lot – mostly blocked in by banks of snow. But there was a very sweet Aero back there and the saleswoman volunteered to dig it out and allow me to take it for a test drive. This was a stock inventory unit with the white protective plastic still on it. Brand new. They scooped out the snow around the car, we pushed it over a hump of snow and it was ready to go for a spin. Only 21 km on the clock. Very nice.

The test drive was amazing. This car is brilliant. I’ll post some more details another time because I also want to mention the followup conversation I had with the saleswoman and another salesman. I had asked about the TurboX and if this dealership would even see one. There are apparently a couple on order and already paid for, and they expect to see them in about April. We talked for a bit more about the XWD on the upcoming ’08s, the ELSD on the TurboX and on the following ‘09 models and that I would be interested in seeing the Turbo X when it arrives – even if it is not available for driving. I just want to see the thing. They said the TurboX may be at the Edmonton Auto Show this weekend. But they didn’t know for sure as they aren’t told until the day before. So I”ll be going this weekend to check it out – hopefully.

All in all, they spent a good amount of time with me talking up the brand, the availability time frames for new ’08s and of course the TurboX.

All in all it was a very pleasant experience and I felt welcomed but not pressured. I believe they were good salespeople, although perhaps not Saab fans.

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Saturn Saab of Edmonton West is the place and apparently, Keith is the man to see there.

My thanks to Richard for posting this. As others have mentioned, there’s good and bad dealers with every brand and in every city.

Kroum’s story, however, was quite an eye-opener and deserved to be told and it’s clear that he’s not alone.

I sincerely hope that Saab Canada can lift their game.

Another sad service story – how do Saab Canada expect to sell any cars?

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If you’ve been hanging around here a while you might be familiar with a commenter here named Kroum.

Kroum lives in Canada and for quite a while now he’s been interested in a Turbo X. Whilst he didn’t coin the phrase Official Car of The Sith (I think that honour actually goes to Autoblog), he did make the video :-) . I’ve been corresponding with Kroum for a little while now on some site redevelopment stuff, and it was with no small amount of sadness that I read the following story earlier today.

As I have in-laws in Canada, I used to joke on this site that I’d love to move there and run Saab in Canada. Maybe I should?

Kroum’s story:

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I would like to share some disappointment with you. As you know, I expressed interest in a six speed manual Turbo X sedan as early as November of last year, even after an initial let down by the sub-300 hp numbers. I spoke to both the general manager and two of the sales reps at my Saab dealership (Saab Saturn Hummer on the Queensway) as far back as October, and my name is supposedly on the list. Yet, after 5 full months, I know nothing further about the car.

I have made regular stops to the dealership on weekends, asking for updates, news… Nothing. I have not received a single call from the dealership, even if just out of courtesy to keep me updated, and even if the update is simply “no update yet, but we are on the ball”; I have to walk there myself and proactively seek news. Who is the client here?

At the same time, I keep reading about people in the U.S. receiving packages, people in Norway being told they are number X on the local waiting lists, etc. Yet Saab Canada does not even know how much the car is going to cost!

Imagine, I am prepared to spend $55-60K Canadian on a car I have not driven, and only saw in the flesh last month in Detroit. What are the options on the car? What is the lease rate? Anything, for god’s sake!

So having been completely ignored by my dealer, I am really starting to get the feeling my business is not really that important to them. After all, they do have all those Hummers and Opels, ahem, Saturns to move right? And yes, I am pissed off. Am I not supposed to be the very incarnation of Saab’s target group? Young, independent, successful, I make good money, yet I friggin’ have to beg for any information?

I really love Saab, Steve. But I work hard for my money. So I have started looking at my options for the kind of money I will be spending on the Turbo X, and have narrowed them down to BMW 335xi and Audi S4 or S5.

I filled an online form at bmw.ca last night and got a call from my nearest dealer….. this morning.

“Hello sir, thank you for your interest in the 335xi coupe. What would be a good time for you to come, talk about the car and take it for a test drive? Saturday noon? Most certainly, I will see you then.”

The car will costs a little more than the Turbo X when properly optioned, but you get a little more hp and torque, direct injection twin turbo, an AWD system that surely is not as good as XWD, but is good nonetheless, and you get free maintenance for your entire lease – which could easily even out the pricing. Similar story with the Audi S4 or S5. Both cars are fairly handsome (the 335xi in question is the coupe, not the butt-ugly sedan).

The Turbo X is still my number one option… But it has now become an option. Just a few months ago, it was a certain sale. I have to be rational, I only spend my money where it’s wanted. And to be absolutely blunt, a big part of me favouring the Saab over the BMW and the Audi is my desire to be different and separate myself from the pack. I would feel like a sheep driving the Bimmer, but I would feel like an idiot if I blindly buy the Saab after having waited for months on end to at least know what my lease payment will look like. And this comes from a hardcore Saab nut – imagine what an average buyer would do.

Anyhow, I am really bummed about this whole thing. It’s almost March now and I am no further than I was in October. You are a first-hand witness to my sincere excitement of the Turbo X, doing the Darth Vader flick et al. I was talking to people at work, spreading the Saab love.

I hope to have an idea what is going to happen within a few weeks. If Saab Canada doesn’t at least have pricing by mid-March, for a car they expect to move in April, then why do they even bother staying in business?

I will keep you posted.

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I know Zippy has mentioned a lack of Turbo X pricing in Canada in recent comments here. I guess the full extent of that fact didn’t really hit home until I read Kroum’s story in full.

Seriously, if they can’t sell a Turbo X to an enthusiast who’s been on the wire since October last year, if they can’t even give him a call, then who are they going to sell them to?

GM folks reading this might think that I’m hurting the brand by publishing stories like this, that I’m trying to embarrass Saab Canada. But how could the brand hurt any more in Canada than what it already is with service like this?