You can take all your paper comparisons and your reviews based on a journo’s working day with Saab (three hours in the car and five at the smorgasboard) – I’ll take the thoughts of someone who’s forked out a barrow-load of their own hard-earned any day.
JC has recently picked up his Turbo X, another lucky customer from the UK, and shot through a very brief initial impression:
Just a quick update. The wait is finally over, at 3pm 22/4/08 I drove from my local dealer with the most gorgeous black beast imaginable. It seems I’ve waited a lifetime for this and we bonded straight away.
The 25 mile journey home was basic getting the feel of the changes from my 2002 93 to this. By the time we got home it was complete and while my wife put the kettle on, my eldest son and I embarked on a slightly more aggressive test………..Wow! The road holding is incredible, and once wound up a bit, the power and exhaust sound are quite awesome. The comfort and driving position is perfection.
It was truly Love at first sight and I think it will remain for a long time to come……. from one very happy, smiling old man
And here’s the black beast in question. My goodness, those wheels look better and better every time I see them.
If Saab have done all their due diligence and the XWD system turns out to be the mechanical success that it should be then this could possibly become the second-most collectible Saab ever made. And please don’t be alarmed by that seemingly alarmist “if” statement. There’s always an element of risk associated with a completely new technology like this.
But it’s true – the Turbo X could become the most desired Saab on the second-hand market in years to come and I’m sure with such limited numbers that it would stay that way for a long time.
I know I’ll be keeping an eye out for one in a few years from now.
Looks awesome! How’s about a pic of the carbon fiber key ring?
which is the most collectible? Sonnet?
…and grace be to god the steering wheel is on the correct side in this example.
Definitely the Sonett and I’d venture a guess to say either mk I or mk II would qualify.
Might make an interesting poll, actually.
Congrats on the Turbo X, much jealousy from this end.
I thought the Sonett I was an extremely limited hand-crafted run and the only ones left are owned by Saab and GM.
I will also be in the market for a second(or third) hand Turbo X…SO TAKE CARE OF THEM! Our dealership will be getting 2 Turbo X’s…one of them is spoken for, the other one I really hope to get at least a little seat time in. It surely won’t stick around for long.
<———–drools onto keyboard. I’m so jealous!! I can’t get this car on the GM scheme as it is a limited edition
I’m still going to try my darndest though 
My next order is due soon, but I’m holding off on it at the moment. I may be moving out of the UK which will put an end to my Saab rotation. May be moving to the UAE, which is where I am right now on holiday. I’ve already seen two Saabs on the road here, an ’08 model convertible and pre facelift 9-5 saloon.
Located a dealership too, will see what happens though, cars here are dirt cheap, but Saabs still command a high price in comparison. Heck, even fully loaded BMWs and Mercs are cheaper!! Perhaps I’m not using the right words when checking the prices
I NEED that Turbo X though! If only it came on the ‘vert!!
cool car, but, Swade, I really wish they’d find some nice wheels for it…
…the new Incas on the Turbo X look perfect on my
desktop! </a
JC, that is one GORGEOUS car ya lucky devil!
Has there been any delivery of Turbo-X combi so far ?
There has, Robert. I’m not sure if I’ve put a photo up yet, but one of the delivery stories we’ve been following for some time, tht of David R, was a SportCombi. He picked it up a few days ago and should be passing some thoughts through soon.
XWD New technology???? No such thing, we are talking 4 th generation Haldex. My previous 2 Haldex cars, the VW R32 and Volvo S60R handled impeccably, so much so that VW slapped the Haldex system even in the 1001hp Bugatti Veyron.
Short of Porsche’s C4 system the rest of the competition are light years behind, Audi and Subaru close, but look at Merc and BMW with their mechanical systems.
Once you go nuts on the twisties exploring the limits of physics with a decent AWD system you will not want anything else.
Oh, and BTW my Turbo X is a blast, Dart Vader was right to order one too