Something utterly new on TS — an audio post by someone other than Swade. That’s right, nine minutes of my blathering on and on about things from my own little world. Aren’t you the lucky ones!!
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Seriously, I wanted to try the audio medium for future editions of TS, and I figure that you dear readers can help me out at the same time: to Saab or not to Saab? That is the question!
Click here to download my first audio post.
I’ve not got the time nor the software loaded to marry the audio with good pics lie Swade does, so I appologize in advance for that.
Now, if I could just quit the nasty habit of “ummmm…” I’d be happy!
Comments are open.
Huzzah! Mr Radio-voice!!
I’ll now finish listening and comment on what was actually said……..
OK, now that I’ve actually listened to it…..
I always get nervous about making recommendations to other people, primarily because my choices are usually pretty left-field. I’m happy to make those choices, though, because they’re mine.
Your appliance needs are noted, and if you were family I’d recommend you go the “safe” route. However, if the company is subsidising the purchase (and we are talking ‘new car’ here, right??) then I’d be very happy to recommend a 9-5 with no worries at all.
The car is now at a stage where it can be officially classified as bullet proof. The Dame Edna look is maturing very, very well. It’ll accommodate you and yours quite nicely and the seats in a 9-5 will carry you for those 250 mile drives in the pinnacle of comfort. (For those who don’t know, Eggs is a TALL guy and his kids are only a few years from a decent growth spurt, too, hence me not recommending a 9-3).
Good to hear you’ll be spending a bit more time on the ground.
So that is two of you with late night ‘across the waves’ radio voices then – smooth through the night with Eggsngrits…
Sounded great – but I heard the dreaded phrase “going forwards” in there- gotta stop that mate!
(log on to Lucy kellaway at The Financial Times to read her brilliant ‘Going Forwards’ two part missive on this infectious phrase condition. -posted earlier this year and featuring David becham as well…
I jest. Good to put a voice to the words.
Swades’s right about the run-out 95, totalyl sorted; a cheaper alternative might be to buy a Ford/Mazda and use it like you use a fridge or a washing machine -in true ‘appliance’ mode.
Oh and what about getting the spare air con/heater parts for your old 95 from a newer wreck- much cheaper surely?
Eggsngrits, when next you email Swade, can you ask himn if he got my latest emails? I did not not get a reply, and may have email issues at my end. I am in Oz next month so hope to meet up with SW.
Hey Eggs – thanks for the podcast. Lance is right, you’ve a great voice for radio.
But just imagine if you went for an ‘appliance’ car – you’d be spending all those days on the road thinking, “Should’ve got a Saab, should’ve got a Saab…”
Saabs are special, and the reasons why they’re special – the effortless turbo power, the seats you can spend all day in, the clear dash, all the space in the trunk – are the reasons they are great cars for a long drive like the ones you’re going to be taking.
And as Swade says, if this is a company car then you’re not taking any risks on servicing or on depreciation. If the Dame Edna thing hasn’t quite grown on you yet, take a light color or fit those very cool Hirsch satin steel headlight surrounds instead.
Wasn’t it GM’s own Harley Earl who said that getting in your car should be like a little vacation?
Appliances are for doing your chores. Why make your drive a chore when it could be a vacation?
EnG
My MAC downloaded your file automatically into itunes. Straight after your pod cast the very next song was ‘release me’. So that freaked me out a bit and I had to check to see whether you had cunningly added the song to the end of your cast… but you had not just pure coincidence my friend.
So to the question should you drive a Saab as an appliance vehicle.. Well let me give you a little insight into my life. In May this year I was made redundant.. I was previously a sales manager for a Saab dealership here in Germany. So although you can all complain about the poor residual values Saab’s hold, the downturn in sales and the lack of identity. I on the other hand have experienced the knock on effect of the situation Saab is in right now. I lost my job and the Saab demos I had the privilege to drive. That left me with a dilemma; I needed a car that was reliable and economical as finding a new job would require varying degrees of travelling that should I have found a new job, I would have the flexibility to commute.
Did I buy a bullet proof Toyota or a good old run of the mill 1.9TDi Volkswagen Golf? No; and as I’ve written in previous posts before, as far as I’m concerned, life is too short to travel in some distilled, completely characterless modern day horse cart, that has the soul purpose of getting one from A to B. I want to enjoy my journey to work, If I have an open road and feel like a quick blast I want feel that rush and if I’m need to make a 500 mile journey I want to make it in full comfort.
So what did I buy? That’s right a 1999 9-3 Viggen Coupe with 100k on the clock. Yes my heart does rule my head but despite the money I have spent on the car I still love it. I even go as far to say my car as more exclusivity than some of the most expensive exotic vehicles on the planet. Sometimes I think its cost me that much too but that’s a different story.
So what is it like using such a car as a daily driver?
first lets talk about insurance. 225hp on 3rd Party insurance doesn’t cost a fortune if you have built up a few years no-claims.
Then there’s the economy. With fuel prices in general hovering around the €1.45 per litre mark, one would think a diesel motor would have been a better choice. I average about 8.9Ltr/100km (31MPG imperial) that includes my odd heavy right foot moments. I can get the economy up to 7.5Ltr/100km which is almost knocking on 40mpg. Remember this a 8 year old 2.3 High output Turbo we’re talking about here. When you calculate mileage, Insurance, Fuel, and road tax… My option to buy a petrol car over an oil-burner is justified.
Reliability.. This is where things get a bit tricky. Generally the car is fine but I’ve spent a lot of hard earned cash to get it there. If you are concerned about sludge, then get your car into the dealer ASAP.
So far I have replaced the following items on my Viggen.
New sport suspension all round including damping springs
Replaced the clutch
Replaced the crank shaft
New Piston rings
New Connecting rod bearings
New throttle control unit
Refurbished all the alloys
Refurbished the front apron
Is the car reliable…? well yes and it should be as from what I can see, I only have the turbo and gearbox to replace. However I can tell you that is not going to happen as I have one huge problem with this car… It’s a UK Spec Right Hand Drive vehicle and I live in mainland Europe. I need a Left hand drive car. I’ve sent Swade an email to let him know that my baby needs a new home as I know how dear Viggens are to his heart.
Suffice to say if you love Saab’s then buy one. In my experience with the car industry as a whole. All cars can go wrong, even Toyotas. No manufacture really makes a bad car anymore and finally. In general our daily commute is darn right monotonous at best and the idea of spending another day at the grind can sometime leave ones stomach churning. Do you really want to sit an a soulless tin can to get you there, or do you want to be cheered up every time you get in your Saab as you know full well that what ever happens that day, you know you’re going to enjoy your drive.
To WooDz:
Amen!
Toyota is the ultimate appliance. Sadly their dealers have the worst reputation for service when it is needed. I rented one a couple of years ago and it was a bore. We drive a lot, including long distances (500 Km in a weekend and 7000 on a road trip over a few weeks). I buy cars for the seats first. Then a good feel of the road. Our 2007 Dame Edna 2.3T has not needed any serious service in 46000 km. We also have a distant cousin (also a Opel Vector relative) 2001 Saturn L200 (2.2 Ecotec) with over 200,000 km; the base seats were horrible but the leather power seats option was and is fantastic. The car makes several runs from Montreal to NYC, Boston, Toronto, and Ottawa, it has been all the way to Florida twice, plus it does the harder in-city driving every day in every season with 3 and sometimes 4 different drivers. It has much crisper handling than a Camry or Accord.
The 9-5 was our first SAAB in 45 years of driving (legally). Worth it, even with inflated Cnadian prices (relative to the SUA, not the rest of this group). And it does not bother me in the least that a great new model will be out in a year or so. This one, as Swade said, definitely has the bugs out, it chews up the highway, and it gets 7.6 l/100km on the highway, and it has tons of headrom even with the sun roof . . . all on REGULAR gas. At the worst, lease one for two years then get a new 9-5!
Enjoy.
B
Just a few points here as a fellow higher mileage 9-5 owner, I’m throwing in the more important (non car) issues first.
1. Its not healty in any car spend long periods driving, especially as people get older. Is this job one you want to be in say 5-10 years from now?
2. There’s a philosphy at stake here. Sometimes doing something mundane every day makes the special occasions even more enjoyable. Some people prefer that, others can’t get enough excitement on a daily basis and they need that endorphin release on the way home from work.
3. a new 9-5 has a few things going for it
-Great hwy gas mileage
-Supportive seating if you have back issues or the like
-Good stereo for long drives
-Most reliable saab ever
I think you should look around at your other options. There are many cars out there that have close to the same fun factor and economy as the saab even if they aren’t quite there. An acura TL or TSX would be a good place to start.
I 2nd that AMEN to WOODZ!
I can only chip in with everyone recommending old Dame Edna (I would get a light colour also). Now that’s a traveller’s car ! We did a 7 000 Km stint this summer in our aging 01 9-5 and I was sooo glad we did it in Saab. My back still thanks me. Deals must be so good right now that it won’t cost much more than one of those appliances.
Make that a lite colour !
Well, thanks for all of the input!
As it turns out, the point may be moot, because I believe that I’ll be getting a different company car than originally expected, and it’s one that I’ll actually enjoy driving, I think. My trip to HQ included a visit to fleet management, who have confirmed my potential selection.
Since it’s still a potential, I’ll keep it under wraps until the order is processed, but it should be a good drive, even though Swade will probably hate it.
I smell a Cadillac just over the horizon…… – SW