Comments on: Saab 9-X Air on show in LA

By: Boon94

Boon94 — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:13:02 +0000

I think they were referring to the new Holden Astra Hardtop no the older soft top… If you check this video, you will see it is MUCH more complex than any soft top saab has been…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvkta9qMPsQ

By: Saabseller

Saabseller — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:50:29 +0000

Saab soft top is of the highest quality and takes a long time to fade, only wears out after about 10 years where it folds. Upside is it gives you a usable boot and a back seat. Greatest advantage is it is reliable, unlike metal tops that often fail. And yes, the metal tops DO fail…. Check out the ungainly profile of the Volvo cabriolet compared to the neat Saab 9-3 profile.

By: rpg (boston, mass usa)

rpg (boston, mass usa) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:49:56 +0000

I won’t be surprised one bit if we see the lights/grille/front end design of the 9-X BioHybrid/Air on the new 9-5.

By: Mike C.

Mike C. — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:18:16 +0000

The Soft top is the only way to go. Who needs less storage, squeeks and noises and the added weight of the hard top panels. The cut lines make them look cheap. Mag-X, well said and you are correct. As a convertible owner, yes the car does show others what they don’t have. That said, I love everthing about the Saab convertible.

By: NineTwoX

NineTwoX — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:57:15 +0000

I disagree that modern soft-tops offer insulation that is on par to hard-tops but they definitly have improved. Some of things I dislike about soft-tops are that they stretch, fade, and crease over time to the point of it appearing unsightly.

By: Wulf (NW Michigan, USA)

Wulf (NW Michigan, USA) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:54:54 +0000

I thought I read that the 9-X Air was canceled for the LA Auto Show. Did I miss something? Autoblog is reporting on the special edition convertible but nothing yet on the 9-X Air.

By: van god los

van god los — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:53:23 +0000

@joe : “In my country at least, the difference between having a hard top and a soft top convertible is around €1000 in insurance difference.”

What kind of country is that ? Countries like that should be declared illegal.

and 150l of space with the roof down .. that’s peanuts, the saab 9-3 conv has – from the top of my head – 250l of space with the top down.

Just for the record : canvas of course

more elegant, lighter, less complicated, lower gravity point for the car, …

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:18:47 +0000

In my country at least, the difference between having a hard top and a soft top convertible is around €1000 in insurance difference. Hard tops get cheaper insurance as they are less likely to be broken into according to insurers. to add insult to injury, the insurance will go sky high if it’s a soft top and you don’t have a garage to sleep it in.

I used to sell the Astra convertible, and i do agree, at some point or another you expect some kind rocket launcher to pop out of some panel as it is a very complex piece of engeneering. The amazing thing though about the astra is the leg room on the back seats. The other selling point for it was the fact that it had a loading button for the rear boot. Once you press this button the folded roofs goes up enough to be able to acces it, with the roof open it has around 150lt of space

By: Tompa

Tompa — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:04:55 +0000

Canvas is the way to go. Could you imagine a say Aston Martin with anything other than canvas? Anything else on a Saab is as wrong.

Tompa

By: Mag-X

Mag-X — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:38:18 +0000

I don’t understand hard top convertibles. Isn’t part of owning a convertible being able to show everyone else what they don’t have?