Swade, you have been laboring in the Saab vineyards for so many years now, and it is sad to see that the fruit they bear is a bitter one.

I have to agree with you about Saab’s missed moment — I can’t help but think what an abject waste it is to spend money on things like the Escalade Hybrid instead of a new small Saab, since the 900 is one of the earliest eco-friendly cars around.

I waver in my feelings about the length of Saab’s production cycle; the 900 (the REAL 900) was around for 15 years, and I don’t think too many people complained about that. A solid product will hold up indefinitely, won’t it? But then, I’m not so sure. If we go toe-to-toe with Audi and BMW and Infiniti, do we have the money and the brand cachet to play the game and update our models every three years? We have to do something — I don’t know what — but SOMETHING fundamentally different from everybody else. I like showing my friends the cupholder and the night panel on my 9-5, but if this is all the car is to be about, it’s nicer deck chairs on the Titanic. We’ve let other companies define the segments and the game; whoever decided 20 years ago that Saab would be the Swedish BMW instead of the Swedish oddball began our long decline.

Every time I see something new from Saab — the latest 9-5 redesign, or the 9-2X — my reaction is mild pleasure. I haven’t seen a knockout in forever. I’m holding my breath for the new 9-5 and hoping it’s over the moon. But I’m bracing to be brought back to earth. I do take heart, though, in the fact that I’d still buy a new 9-5 today. Maybe it’s an irrational love of the brand, or maybe it’s the car’s gritty, spangled grin that seems to say, “Hey there! It’s not so bad.”

We bought a new 9-5 in 1999 and again in 2002, and we wanted to buy a new car this year as well. But who wants to buy the same car for the third time (well, every time a bit facelifted, but basically exactely the same) ?

Luckily for SAAB, the 9-3 got a pretty well done facelift and is not much smaller than the 9-5, so this spring we ordered a new 9-3 and are happy with it. Before this 2008-facelift, the 9-3 was not a car I wanted to spend that much money on. Without this facelift, I would now drive a new Volvo V70.

It’s good to be a SAAB enthusiast, but don’t spend too much on SAAB. It might prove not to be worth….

Andreas

Despite that perfection other problems irritate: too much road noise, low quality interior materials, high priced service and non existent resale value. GM could fix if not so lazy and cheap. A little more insight and they would create a magnificent car. Instead they settle for barely outstanding. Somehow GM got the idea that saab owners were dumb traditionalists and couldn’t see through the theft of quality and the cost of owning a car with a confused marketing plan.

Most of the true saab loyalists (like me) have gone lexus or bmw…so counting on the old guys to keep the brand moving is foolish. Their appeal to new guys is too limited—(even the turbo x is sitting on the lot while BMW sells). So I see the demise in a few years…GM just can’t find the quirky ambiance they lost early on and make a profit on a line they obviously destroyed on purpose.
ssj. Reno.

I’m sure you will have a great time on vacation .And I’m also sure that you will check out what happens here . You’re TS and TS is you .
And whatever happens with Saab , you’ll be there to chat about it with us .
I think GM has respected the spirit of the marque .And made it still existing .
Thanks to GM , Saab is now always more and more popular .
Adam , I do agree with you : some mistakes have been made .
But we all have the conviction that Saab can’t disappear .

Here’s my Top 5 disappointments since 2000, ranked by long-term impact:
1. Early 9-3SS reliability/quality problems damage brand image
2. Repeated delays of new 9-5
3. AWD for 9-3 arrives 5 years late
4. Failure to produce a small, fun car with real Saab personality (partial credit for the 9-2X)
5. Dissolution of Subaru relationship leaves only other GM products to develop from, hurting uniqueness

I fully appreciate your enthusiasm and the thrill of driving the X. No question that when compared to the other cars in Saab’s stable it is exciting. The question “who out there would rather be driving a Mcbmw?” Is answered by the post from Mike C “My son and I counted 9 in a row just in our immediate driving zone the other day.”. Someone is driving those cars, no? Maybe not anyone posting here but there are warm bodies who paid good money to drive a bimmer. We can either attribute the interest to herd mentality or BMW just doing a great job of building good cars and telling people about them in an effective way.

I love the brand and it saddens me to see their current state of irrelevance.

Sounds like the misery that has been Saab here in the US is spreading your way. Your efforts are and have been beyond valiant; Your skills as a writer / blogger, in my opinion, given the subject matter and material (or lack thereof) are outstanding. Imagine what you might be able to do with subject matter that actually matters in the grand scheme of things.

I understand the passion and commitment. As you say though, “I’ve noticed that there’s other stuff out there. And it’s got merit.“. Run with it mate.

We are near the end of a 5000-km drive (with bits of work at the ends!) from Montreal to New Orleans and back with a Massachusetts stop now for a model RR meeting. I saw one SAAB in New Orleans, none until Pennsylvania, and bunches here in New England, including other 9-5s gliding along effortlessly. My personal opinion is that GM has the best looking full lines of cars on the road (others have sharp models, but not across the line). Euro GMs are also very competitive in styling and mechanicals. This is a very promising base for future SAABs that will HAVE to be variations on base themes or they will not exist. Every Audi up to the A6 is a premium VW and the same 2.0T is in nearly every model sold in NA; what’s wrong with GM doing the same?

We are trying to have our cake and eat it too–premium new SAABs and cheap recent used models. That’s bad. A SAABized Insignia would be great, SAABized Astra or similar would be great; and a uniquely bodied SAABized Corsa or similar (yes, a hatch) would be fantastic and would enable new buyers to get a new SAAB with a warranty. Any other models are gravy and create showroom traffic. Unique models? Even Bentleys (what a sharp looking coupé) are reskinned large Audis, i.e., stretched VWs.

My parting shot (for today): If GM wants to do some lobbying with the US and Cdn governments to clear a quick path to reduced energy consumption, get early agreement to allow EU diesels (lower CO2, higher NOX) to be sold over here. Then we SAAB fans could have the TTiD! From Fiat!!! And I would not object if the same engine appeared in the Malibu or anything else. When is the last time an Audi buyer complained that the Golf/Rabbit/Jetta/Bora 2.0T from across the showroom floor was also in her or his A3 or A4? I suggest we should stop hoping for a sale and hope that GM thrives.

Cheers all. Happy holiday Swade!

B