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Dear CAR people,
As I write this, the Saab 99 Turbo still sits at the top of you Best Hot Hatch Ever poll, maintaining a narrow lead over the Lancia Delta Integrale and Volkswagen Golf GTI. As you’ve noted in your updated introductory paragraph to the poll, and as some of your commenters have taken issue with, this is perhaps a surprising result.
There’s still a week to go in the poll and it may be that the Saab holds on, or it may slip and make up part of the top 3, or top 5. However it ends up, I’d like you to consider this result on its merits. There’s a number of arguments that you, or regulars at your site, might make against the 99 Turbo’s inclusion in the results. Let’s have a look at them.
1. The vote has been rigged by the Saab community
Well, no. The Saab community has merely participated in the vote, which the Lancia and Volkswagen communities are free to participate in as well. It was an open vote. If it was supposed to be restricted to registered members of CAR Magazine (as some of your commenters alluded to) then it should have been set up that way.
2. The 99 Turbo? What’s that?
The 99 Turbo is often overlooked due to it only being around for a year or two in most markets before being replaced in many markets with the 900 Turbo. The 99 Turbo’s significance should not be underestimated, however. It was the first successful mass-market application of the turbocharged engine for a passenger car (BMW’s 2002 wasn’t really successful and Porsche’s 911 Turbo was pretty exclusive) and it was one heck of a good car to drive.
3. It’s not really a ‘hot hatch’
Well, why is it in the poll?
Saab’s hatch credentials should not be in doubt. I’ve got photos here on this site of Saab hatches carrying all sorts of large items. As a practical vehicle, it’s streets ahead of anything else on the list. And it was crazy fast for it’s time and could even corner pretty well.
The modern definition of a hot hatch means a small car with wheels in the corners and preferably a high revving engine. The 99 hatches preceded all of this, however, and I would even dare to suggest that it was one of the first vehicles of its kind to combine the characteristics of both a practical and a performance car.
Just because it’s not traditional doesn’t mean it’s not legitimate.
——
That’s just a few points for you to consider. The Saab community is a pretty active and loyal one. Many of the people who have been directed from this site have participated in your poll, and it should be noted that some of them voted for cars other than the 99 Turbo.
Points of pride like this are pretty important to us. Saabs are pretty much under appreciated as it is. In 2009 in particular, with Saab possibly about to re-discover their independence and their mojo, people are feeling particularly supportive – and not without reason.
The Saab 99 Turbo is a genuinely fantastic vehicle and one that stands proudly in the Saab museum in Trollhattan as the car that started Saab’s turbo tradition. And it should be noted that that car in the museum has a hatch.
31 responses so far ↓
1 Robin M
// Jan 24, 2009 at 11:04 am
Wow, the 99turbo does get a lot of comments. Gave up reading them but dont forget CAR said “Voting closes on 1 February 2009, so spread the word and get your mates to vote too”
2 zippy
// Jan 24, 2009 at 11:59 am
Swade, now thats what I call a back-handed b*tchslap to a bunch of whingeing CAR readers.
Well said!!!
3 saaboy
// Jan 24, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Amen Swade…
4 saabologist
// Jan 24, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Sandy vag the lot of them.
I would like to see if the most vocal opponents of the Saab will still whine if the Lancia wins.(It was rigged )
It’s been one of the most interesting reads all week, very funny indeed.
5 Karen
// Jan 24, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Thanks Swade. Actually, I wish the 1987 900 hatch had been included. I still miss that flat rear entry – best cargo room ever and so easy to slide heavy stuff in and out. I am not sure how many years the 900 hatch was designed like the 1987.
6 Kroum
// Jan 24, 2009 at 1:34 pm
You go, Swade!
7 saabologist
// Jan 24, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Oh, and since when was a Mini Cooper a Hatchback ??
8 bean of joy
// Jan 24, 2009 at 6:16 pm
well said.
9 ctm
// Jan 24, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Well said. If something has been rigged it’s the votes for the Lancia. 25% of them came during only 24 hours several weeks into the voting. And for the hot hatch thing… Yes, As a Saab fan I really never thought of the 99T as a hot hatch, but it sure is! So what is a car worthy to be called the “Best Hot Hatch Ever?” Well, for me it is 1) a hatch, 2) something that made a splash at its time, and 3) something that stood the test of time. The Saab 99 Turbo, Lancia Delta, Peugeot 205, VW Golf GTI Mk1 are in a league of their own. Everybody knows about them, they had a huge impact on the market, and still today (up to three decades later) they stand out. IMHO, all of them deserves a win. The rest of the cars on the list are not worthy the title and they will not be even 20 years down the road.
10 Tompa
// Jan 24, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Great read Swade
11 Dippen
// Jan 24, 2009 at 9:48 pm
well said Swade!
12 Jacco
// Jan 24, 2009 at 11:18 pm
But keep voting
13 Jacco
// Jan 24, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Oh who can read and write russian
To open an topic
http://www.saab-club.su/
14 Martin N
// Jan 25, 2009 at 1:23 am
Well, most brands have more buyers – more fans – than Saab, and should get more votes. So the fan-votes are a moot point.
It’s not like it’s a internet nerd community thingy against computer illiterate thingy. It’s not Star Wars against The Bridges of Madison County.
The result indicates that some people who buy other cars, and are fans of other brands, voted for Saab.
15 aeronaut
// Jan 25, 2009 at 2:32 am
the Lancia has just surged ahead of the 99T with 3693 votes and climbing vs 3684 for the 99T.
edit, 5 minutes later – Lancia 3709, 99T 3686
16 North Toronto Punter
// Jan 25, 2009 at 4:19 am
Elves: To the Ramparts. Dwarves: Hold steady.
Await my signal . Not ’til they’re within range [Discipline, please]
O.K. 1,2, 3… Sound the Trumpets!
Release the Dogs!
CHARGE!
17 Karen
// Jan 25, 2009 at 4:26 am
@North Toronto Punter – love the metaphor.
thanks for the laugh. though Lancia fans are probably not Orcs (Lutz may be), we do need a few thousand Rohirrim with URLs to ride in before dawn and vote for the 99 hatch.
18 North Toronto Punter
// Jan 25, 2009 at 4:30 am
Lutz = Lurtz
19 riku1100s
// Jan 25, 2009 at 5:39 am
Well, if the Lancia wins, it’s only because its Saab-Lancia 600 roots…
20 Troll
// Jan 25, 2009 at 10:51 am
Swade,
great , but we are losing …
maybe jou should contact these guys. Your english is better than mine so give it a try, it might help…
http://www.saabgroup.com/en/_functions/MailForm?office=139
21 aeronaut
// Jan 25, 2009 at 2:04 pm
winning again. the SAAB vote has stiffened and now stands at 4022 for the 99T vs 3963 for the Lancia
22 ELBOBO
// Jan 25, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Most of the people who comment on the voting page have no sense of humor and feel like they must belittle SAAB.
SAAD…..
I am sorry your favorite Peugeot isn’t winning!
23 Ruben NL
// Jan 25, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Please make the 99 win! Our most favourite make of cars needs all the support it can get.
Thank you all.
24 Simon A
// Jan 26, 2009 at 7:16 am
I like the new verb that’s appeared in the CAR comments – “Saabjacking”
Maybe a new internet meme?
25 Adrian
// Jan 26, 2009 at 8:05 am
Since when was the Mini Cooper a hatchback?
Since 2001…
26 saabologist
// Jan 26, 2009 at 9:49 am
Adrian. I know that the new Mini is a hatch,but they also have the original Mini on their vote, and that wasn’t a hatch.
27 ctm
// Jan 26, 2009 at 6:16 pm
The original Mini must have one of the smallest hatches ever made…
Saab in the lead now with over 300 votes.
28 Jacco
// Jan 27, 2009 at 2:13 am
The lancia-ettes are closing in
BDW is saabnet.com aboard in the votenig?
29 Jacco
// Jan 28, 2009 at 12:10 am
Swade, 3 more days, can you update this topic,please, I want to win.
30 Troll
// Jan 28, 2009 at 8:01 am
The Lancia gained 500 votes in the last 24 hours…still losing from the grale is not a bad thing
31 aeronaut
// Jan 28, 2009 at 9:23 am
the Lancia is way ahead! 5508 vs 5183 for the 99T. Four hundred votes are needed asap.