Comments on: The Saab Aero Academy is bust

By: turbin

turbin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:31:24 +0000

That’s right I remember the curtain thing now. Good to hear the dealer looked after you.

By: MitchbSC

MitchbSC — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:04:12 +0000

Curtains. The damn thing decided it needed curtains. The side airbags deployed for no reason. While being driven. With my wife in the drivers seat.

I don’t know the whole story from a technical standpoint. So, I will not speculate further.

The car hit the 30 day out-of-service South Carolina Lemon Law by the time all the wheels in GM started turning. The was a phone-based grilling done by GM to my wife. There was a teardown of the vehicle at the dealership by an independent investigator. GM told the dealership to repair the vehicle. Since the 9-7x Aero is a limited run, they still can’t find stupid things like seatbelts. Yes. Seatbelts.

Time expired on the Lemon Law clock. GM exchanged the vehicles under the same lease with a bit of money back due to differences in vehicle cost. GM treated us “OK”. Jim Hudson GMC-Pontiac-Buick-Saab in Columbia, SC. OUT-FRIGGING-STANDING service through the entire mess. I’d buy a damn Yugo from them if that’s all they offer in Dec. 2009 when my 2007 9-5 Aero Sedan lease comes up.

By: turbin

turbin — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:20:51 +0000

“replace our Lemon Law-ed 9-7x Aero”

That’s a shame MitchbSC, are you at liberty to share what happened there? Good to see Mrs. is still interested in the 9-4.

By: MitchbSC

MitchbSC — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:18:14 +0000

My continued interest in Aero models was predicated on some form of Aero Academy being around. Alas, I might lose (some) interest. Yes, a very low percentage (single digits?) of owners ever took advantage of Aero Academy.

Ying, check out the BMW Performance Driving School in Greer SC.

I was at the dealership today. They hadn’t received the news about Aero Academy. This was the Sales Manager too. He was handling the paperwork to replace our Lemon Law-ed 9-7x Aero with a GMC Acadia. I’m finally out of that mess, eagerly awaiting the 9-4 to get the Mrs. MitchbSC back into a Saab.

Oh yeah, the Mrs. went to Aero Academy in June. She wants to come back to Saab when Saab has a crossover sized vehicle.

By: KWK

KWK — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:29:43 +0000

I am lucky that I attended just before Labor Day – it was a fantastic and memorable two days in which drivers learned substantively how to handle cars in panic situations to avoid disaster. The instructors were all as professional and encouraging as one could find – a true joy. I wonder where this leaves the Turbo X Academy?
Although we are seeing a bump in the road for now, I think that Saab is in a unique position at GM to come out smelling like a rose with its turbocharging technology – as for those stupid “jet inspired” ads in the US, instead of that B.S. which has absolutely no substance, the ad men should be pushing Saab’s long held responsibility in performance with gas sipping technology in a luxury brand. They could show old footage of 99 and 900 Ts or have them running along side of the Turbo X or even a 9-5 for that matter and have that pull away (why is that car so forgotten? I think mine is terrific). I believe that kind of campaign would bring customers in the door now with existing product until the new product comes along.

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:49:19 +0000

So does anyone know what percentage of Saab Aero purchasers actually go to Aero Academy?

By: Ying

Ying — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:40:12 +0000

Damn! I was saving up to pay for myself to go to that! As a 2nd hand buyer I didn’t qualify for the cheap price, but I still wanted to go.

Now it looks like it’s an impossible dream.

Can anyone recommend a similar program to develop advanced driving technique for safety driving on public roads?

By: GWC

GWC — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:42:02 +0000

I attended the Aero Academy and I can say it being offered had nothing to do with my decision to purchase a SAAB.

That being said, I imagine many a SAAB have been “sold” by Aero Academy visitors telling telling their stories to friends and family (or anyone else that would listen).

By: Racing Ready - Dan S.

Racing Ready - Dan S. — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:10:09 +0000

Damn, that’s about the last straw! When I started reading this blog pretty much daily over a year ago, having the European Delivery Program & the Aero Academy were awesome incentives to save up for a 9-3 purchase. Although the car is still great, those HUGE incentive are now gone & my purchase desire greatly diminished!

Do you hear that big sucking sound?
That’s the sound of the continuing negative spiral of future Saab sales here in the US…

Boo-hiss, GM ! ! !

I still like the vehicle, but I am now working on alternative methods to become ‘Racing Ready’ with my blog. Road Atlanta is one of many excellent road racing schools here is the US; there are other good alternatives to aspire attendance to & participate in.

[Sorry about the broken blog image links - it broke & I'm restoring the database - more administrative fixin' fun...]

By: David Tortora

David Tortora — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:26:37 +0000

This is very unfortunate. I have been to the Academy and it was an exciting expierence. The instructors were very professional and didn’t even laugh at some of the crazy driving they observed made by the students. By taking the course, I found out many defensive driving tactics and by the time the course was over, I felt that I was a (much) improved driver. Lastly, the Academy was a heck of a lot of fun. I, for one, am sad to see it go.