Aussie Saab reviews
There’s been two worthwhile writeups here in Australia in the last few days.
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The first Saab “review” - it’s not really a vehicle review but you’ll get what I mean, comes from CarsGuide.
Unfortunately I can’t see it on their website yet, so a link to an easy-to-read article isn’t possible. Turbin has scanned the article, however, so I’ve got this image file that you can download and read if you’re so inclined. It’s 710kb in size as I’ve tried to keep it legible.
The article is a writeup of the recent journey taken by a group of Australian journalists to participate in The Ice Experience, driving Turbo X’s and XWD Aero’s on the ice in northern Sweden.
The big news here for Australian coverage is that the writer, Paul Gover, is a big Holden fan and generally treats other marques with a touch of disdain. Here, though, he seems to be genuinely impressed by the Turbo X and with Saab’s XWD technology in particular.
It’s just a little more evidence, to me, that XWD could be a real game-changer for Saab if it’s handled correctly.
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Australian Car Advice recently drove the Saab 9-3 TiD Convertible in Linear form and have written it up pretty well. It was a little noisy for their liking, which I can understand, but impressed them nonetheless.
….the 9-3 stands out like a beautiful girl holding your arm at a pretentious dinner party, it fits in perfectly. That’s not to say the car is pretentious, far from it, only that it can play the part, what ever that may be.
They also have an aero Convertible review coming up.
I can’t wait until the TTiD comes out here. If the TiD has made an impression, the TTiD will blow them out of the water!
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I should also note that the Australian Car Advice recently had the good fortune to travel to France and drive the Bugatti Veyron.
Their review of that experience is one of those “kids in a candy shop” writeups that shouldn’t be missed.
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In the Australian Car Advice review the picture showed an integrated navigation system in the 9-3. I didn’t think navigation systems were available in Australian SAABs. (I shouldn’t complain though, at least we don’t have onstar)
As the picture looked like a real one taken during the test drive I wonder whether this is a test vehicle which is specified differently to production cars that will be for sale.
Thats a good point cdp88
I too (author of CarAdvice review) was confused as when I was writing it i looked at the photos and realised it has sat nav, which saab au says it can’t have. But I do instinctively remember that it DID!
For your info, the Sat Nav was brilliant. Albeit a tad slow.
So the system worked, ok, Alborz?
That’s beautiful. Saab Oz don’t offer satnav, presumably becuase the Euro system won’t work here, and it works in the press fleet!
If I make it to Brisbane one day soon we’ll have to sit down and discuss how you managed that Bugatti drive. Mama!
Hah, that Bugatti drive is our best kept secret
But by all means mate, let me know when and we can catch up, I am always interested in meeting fellow car bloggers.
Hi Alborz
It’s great that they had a functioning version of the nav available for you to test. I use a portable device in mine and good as it is it doesn’t beat a properly integrated system.
I can’t imagine that many people would want to take up the sat nav option as it usually costs around $AUD 6K. But it is one of those things people reasonably expect to be available in premium cars.
Actually the write ups are three as the Melbourne Age Saturday motoring section ran a three page SAAB ICE XWD experience and review starting from the front page of the motoring section then a double page spread.