Viggen update - it’s official

Posted by swade on May 30th, 2008 16 Comments Printer-Friendly

I finally heard the Viggen decision today.

I spoke to the insurance assessor around lunchtime and he confirmed what I suspected when he looked over the car last Friday - it’s going to be written off. He has to send his report on to the insurer, who’ll then send their letters on to me. The whole process will take way too long, but eventually I’ll get paid out and move on.

It’s definitely sad to realise that Viggen won’t grace my driveway again. I feel quite sure that there’ll be another Viggen somewhere in my future.

For the time being I’ll still have the 900, though, and plan on doing a few things that need doing. There’s some small finger dents that need to be massaged, it needs a new driver’s seat, some new door trims (plaid, Andy?) and I think I’ll restore the use of the APC system, which was bypassed by the previous owner.

I’ll also be heading over to Melbourne to pick up an Alfa 33, series 3 with the 16V boxer engine. I’ve got a couple of things planned that should get it up around 150hp, which should be fun in a 1,000kg car.

So, the decision is in. Time to see what it fetches at auction, I guess.

Farewell old friend.

April 500.jpg

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Comments

WooDz said:

Sorry to hear the news Swade.

Good luck with the Alfa…

-May 30th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
ctm said:

I think it is criminal to write of a Viggen. And should be banned by law to scrap a Viggen that is like 90% OK.

-May 30th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Richo said:

That sux! I’ve got fond memories of seeing it tear around those mountain bends… and trying to keep up!

Well you can come up and drive mine any time you feel like it.

-May 30th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Olav said:

I am really sorry to hear these sad news, Swade. My thoughts to you!

And I agree with ctm; should be banned by law to scrap a Viggen that is like 90% OK

Live and fly well, all!

-May 30th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Ivan(MuzX) said:

Swade, I feel with you. I can’t imagine that I can say goodbye to my Viggen.

I don’t really understand it… the damages did not look so serious…
It was not a frontal crash…
A Viggen is much more then just metal and structure, it’s a kind of symbol too.

-May 30th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
eggsngrits (Author) said:

If it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be. Too bad.

Not having driven one, I don’t understand the allure of that particular Alfa model, but to each his own.

-May 30th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Andy Rupert said:

Plaid inserts will make you forget your troubles.

-May 30th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
J said:

Best of luck on securing the next Viggen. The question is, will it be:

Black
Monte Carlo Yellow
Silver
Lightning Blue
Laser Red
or
Steel gray?

-May 30th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Ivan(MuzX) said:

And:
3 doors?
5 doors?
Convertibel?

-May 30th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
eggsngrits (Author) said:

Andy: You’re blind to all sorts of things if you like those plaid inserts, my friend.

-May 30th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
James said:

Sad to hear it, swade. When you get your 33 16v you need to take a nice video of the exhaust revving up and post it for us. Those of us in the US are completely unfamiliar with these cars and I want to get a listen. If it’s a mixture of Subaru warble and Alfa yowl, then I think i’m going to like it!

-May 31st, 2008 at 1:50 am
PGAero said:

Swade,
Being from the US, the Alfa 33 is unfamiliar to me, but it looks like a sweet little package once I googled it.

It’s tough to lose a car that has so much personality and such as the Viggen, but at the end of the day, it’s a car… It’s not a person or anything. I lost my first car to a stop-sign runner. Bent the heck out of the unibody on my trusty (and super clean) 1985 325e. I bought it back from the insurer and used many of the nicer parts on it’s replacement (a 1989 325i).

I’m an Alfa fan too. When I bought my 9000 Aero, I looked into getting a 164S… but the Aero came along first. (I also looked at late-model C900s… specifically the SPG)

I pretty much learned to steer (on my dad’s lap) in his ‘72 GTV. (Then I did it again in his ‘69 GTV, then again in his ‘74 GTV. I saw one just the other day while I was out on my (two-wheeled) BMW. I snapped a couple of shots. I think those early GTVs are my favorite Alfas.

Best of luck with the new ride.

BTW, I haven’t chimed in on the “making TS better” thread, but I think this site is fantastic. I go to Saabnet for advice on how to diagnose my car, but I come here just as often for Saab news and great stories.

Cheers,
Peter
‘93 9000 Aero. 94K miles

-May 31st, 2008 at 3:29 am
Joe Lobo said:

Well, a sad end no doubt as loosing something that you appreciate so much hurts. But you will have to promise us all that the Alfa is not going to swing you in another direction as loosing the Vig is one thing but the prospect of loosing your enthusiasm, devotion and passion is not on !!! I’ll go personally and punch the lights of Shannon’s even harder as they will be the culpable party after all.!!!

-May 31st, 2008 at 6:56 am
Markac said:

Sorry about the Viggen. But I’m sure you’ll eventually own another one. I hope some caring person buys yours and re-builds it.
If you buy another, it’s a pity we had such a limited range of colours in Oz. Got a feeling you’ll buy another blue coupe? Good Viggens are getting harder to find, this one’s very expensive, but it’s probably the best example I’ve seen advertised.

As to Alfas, they once used to say that you needed to be a “ballet dancing gorilla” to fit properly in an Italian car. Long arms, short legs and small feet. I owned a Fiat 128 when I was a teen and didn’t find it that bad, only the damned thing was so unreliable!

-May 31st, 2008 at 11:52 am
Robin Capper said:

That’s sad

All the best with the Alfa, I just picked up a 155hp Italian and, so far,loving it

http://rcd.typepad.com/personal/2008/06/a-queens-birthday-present-for-me.html

-June 2nd, 2008 at 7:40 am
J said:

Sorry Swade, but i couldn’t help but to share this find:

An Abbot Racing improved LB Viggen in Ireland for sale….which means the steering wheel would be on the proper side for you, correct?

http://saabcentral.com/classifieds/detail.php?siteid=9409

-June 3rd, 2008 at 2:22 am