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Time for an update….
As of the time of updating, the top five are as follows:
Saab 99 Turbo – 2,800 votes
Lancia Delta Integrale – 2,320 votes
VW Golf GTi – 1,528 votes
Peugeot 205 GTI – 1,058 votes
Renault Clio Williams – 531 votes
Compare those with the tally below, written on January 14, and you’ll see a marked increase in the Saab vote. If you haven’t had a vote yet, then go over to CAR Magazine at the link below and have your say. The voting closes at the end of the month, so there’s still a long way to go.
——
Remember the poll at CAR magazine to see which was the best hot hatch in history?
We got a good little burst going in the intial stages of the poll, lifting the Saab 99 Turbo from oblivion to third place. The last time we checked, the 99Turbo was still in third place but I figured that the momentum would drop off somewhat. These Saabs can be an acquired taste, after all, and it never had the market penetration or exposure of some of the others.
To my surprise, though, it’s still hanging in there. Actually, it’s doing much more than that; it’s in a strong third position and is now only a relative handful of votes behind the VW Golf GTi for second place!
The current top 5 standings:
Lancia Delta Integrale – 1,577 votes
VW Golf GTi – 1,357 votes
Saab 99 Turbo – 1,244 votes
Pegeot 205 GTI – 926 votes
VW Golf R32 – 491 votes
Go you cracking little Saab!!
There’s only one vote per IP address, so if you’ve had your vote, then you’ve had your say. Of course, if you’ve got a workplace computer as well…….
If you haven’t had your vote yet and would like to help the 99T get a little respect from the boffins at CAR, then click though and cast your vote now.
Thanks ctm!
–
46 responses so far ↓
1 Per
// Jan 14, 2009 at 10:28 pm
1253
2 Tompa
// Jan 14, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Hopefully someone at GM sees this and recognize just HOW important and loved our little brand is. Hopefully B Lutz sees it and goes “Wow, why haven´t we been investing in products for Saab?”
Cheers/Tom
3 MickesSch
// Jan 15, 2009 at 3:48 am
Right now, it´s only 25 votes separating our beloved hot hatch from the Golf GTI Mk1, on spot number 2!
4 Dan Palka
// Jan 15, 2009 at 4:41 am
The 99 is in second place now, just ahead of the VW.
5 aeronaut
// Jan 15, 2009 at 6:01 am
1500 votes for the 99 vs 1638 votes for first place
6 Troll
// Jan 15, 2009 at 6:42 am
Being Belgian I gave it a push on the Dutch forum http://www.saabforum.nl... yesterday night…I guess it worked ! I just hope somebody at GM will notice…you don’t know what you have till….
7 Daniel
// Jan 15, 2009 at 7:43 am
1550 now, not far behind 1646 for the Lancia
8 Jörgen Trued
// Jan 15, 2009 at 8:58 am
Still in 2nd position, I did my job!
9 saabologist
// Jan 15, 2009 at 9:22 am
Only 52 votes behind top spot now.
Go you good thing
10 Karen
// Jan 15, 2009 at 10:27 am
Saab surge! Lancia at 1660 and Saab at 1623; Golf GTI at 1386; Peugeot 958; Golf R32 493.
we need Stephen Colbert to give our 99 hatch the Colbert bump…he could have a ball blasting the Lancia and boosting Saab
11 PGAero
// Jan 15, 2009 at 10:50 am
I posted to Saabnet.com about two hours ago. Go Saab go!
(I have to admit, the BMW 2002 Touring tii got a raised eyebrow from me. But, it didn’t start for BMW what the 99 did for Saab, so I went with the Saab… a better car.)
12 saabologist
// Jan 15, 2009 at 12:45 pm
22 behind now.
13 aeronaut
// Jan 15, 2009 at 2:19 pm
the 900 is now the hottest hatch leader. the SAAB now has 1668 votes one ahead of the Lancia.
14 saabologist
// Jan 15, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Yep, the little Swede has done it again.
37 votes in front
Sucked in Lancia
15 Swade
// Jan 15, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Did it burst too quickly, though?
Poll closes at the end of the month. Plenty of time for the VW forums to get on board.
16 Teddy
// Jan 15, 2009 at 9:26 pm
I voted for 99T this time.
This is from my work computer.
17 ctm
// Jan 16, 2009 at 12:11 am
A nice lead of about 100 votes at the moment.
18 ctm
// Jan 16, 2009 at 7:54 am
Wow, almost 250 votes ahead of the Lancia now!
19 Troll
// Jan 16, 2009 at 8:50 am
Swade, keep it alive… German and French forums have joined…
Mail your dealerships people ! This could be a great commercial for Saab!
20 swade
// Jan 16, 2009 at 9:04 am
If the 99T finishes anywhere near the top 5 it will be a great commercial for Saab. I don’t mind the Lancia topping the poll, as long as the 99T gets a good consideration.
I wonder if the poll has been publicised at the Saab Turbo Club Sweden pages, and other such forums. I think it’s been shown at Saab Central, a Dutch club site and at Saabnet, but am unsure about Swedish sites.
21 Troll
// Jan 16, 2009 at 9:31 am
Swade,
as far as I know: I saw it on your site first, gave it a kick on the Dutch CLub Forum (that gave us a big turbo boost!), I contacted the French ‘Saab Sport CLub de France’ forum. Somebody on the Dutch forum gave the Germans a kick and so on….
Keep it going and updated !
Best regards from Belgium !
22 aeronaut
// Jan 16, 2009 at 9:40 am
the 99T has past 2000 votes and now leads the Lancia by 219 and the VW by 601
23 Karen
// Jan 18, 2009 at 7:03 am
Saab 99T: 2176
Lancia: 2030
Golf GTI Mk1: 1449
Peugeot 205GTI: 997
Golf R32: 498
Renault Clio Williams: 494
seems like a surge from France…someone call in the Finns!
24 ctm
// Jan 20, 2009 at 7:37 am
Looking fine. It was down to a lead of about 140 votes yesterday, but now it has jumped to about 240 votes.
25 swade
// Jan 20, 2009 at 8:28 am
And CAR magazine have re-written the introduction with the phrase “spread the word and get your mates to vote, too” – exactly what we’ve been doing!
They also call the 99 Turbos lead “curious”
26 ctm
// Jan 20, 2009 at 8:48 am
Well, since they do limit the voting to one per IP number it is a lot more fair than other surveys. Guess Saab nuts are just more Internet savvy and stick together…
27 Dippen
// Jan 20, 2009 at 8:53 am
i guess this is what we call turbo-voting?;)
28 72Sonett3
// Jan 20, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Portugal; http://saabtuningclube.16.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=1256
Spain; http://www.clubsaabespana.com/secciones/foro/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=238785
29 ctm
// Jan 22, 2009 at 6:27 am
Saab in a comfortable lead now with 2747 votes against Lancia’s 2305 votes.
30 Troll
// Jan 22, 2009 at 9:10 am
Swade,
Give it a kick !
@ 72sonett3, …thanks !
31 Jacco
// Jan 23, 2009 at 12:35 am
Thank you, for the update
32 Dan Palka
// Jan 23, 2009 at 2:56 am
Has anyone read the comments on the CAR website? Everyone is all pissed that the Saab is winning. Glorious!
33 Tompa
// Jan 23, 2009 at 3:49 am
Well it deserves it´s position. Even though the turbo didn´t last that long in the early days when driven hard and the gearbox was… well not that good in the long run. But at taking corners it was splendid and comfort wise and overtaking was eons ahead of it´s competition. And it looked like nothing else.. A breath of fresh air.. Compressed air! Realy.. The 99 turbo was the first of it´s kind. And it´s got plenty of room for four adults or a family of five with children.
It´s less powerfull sybling the 99 EMS has to get some attention. That is one heck of a car. 118 hp of fun. Wish Saab would use the EMS name again.
The Lancia is a clear number 2 for me even though my dad owned a Saab Lancia 600 GLE and it was.. well crap. But only at holding together. Otherwise it was a quite roomy and a real nimble car with a high rev engine the italian way.
I´ve driven the Delta Integrale once. It´s a blast to drive and packs enormous power. But.. Long distances? The seats stink and reliability according to the owner (Back in 96) was not a strong side. Plus… Owning one in Sweden sets you back a “few” bucks when something breakes.
The Golf GTi Gen I … Nah. Can´t say that I think it´s a hoot to drive. It´s ok but not a fun car like the Lancia Delta when it comes to mindblowing power and absolutly not as comfy as a 99 turbo. It holds up good (Other than rust.. All over), but it´s unlike the 99 a total disaster when it comes to safety and comfort.
Peugeot GTi.. A GoCart made for 5.. or 4 rather. But that´s just when it comes to cornering. Otherwise it´s just dull. Were is the power? Volvo used the 1,9 PSA GTi engine in it´s DAF, oh sorry the Volvo 440 GLT, and that was an ok car if you considered it to be a Volvo and not a Hot Hatch. And hey.. If you get the strange idea of owning a Peugeot 205 GTi with the 1,6 litre or the CTi Convertible… DON´T!!!
That´s it.. Saab is a winner cause…
…The 99 turbo had it´s own style. Saab did not try to make it look like anything else. And whatever people say about it.. all the car interested people have Something to say. It evokes something and you can´t let it pass without saying Something.
The 99 turbo had for it´s day 1978 enormous power for a family car. 145hp was like nothing else. The “Ketchup effect” did something to the owners that a big block V8 could not doo.. Make a family father (Or mom) grow horns with the whole family in the car.
The comfort in that car was only beated by the freggin Merc SL in 1978.
The chassie was tuned for both family trips and small fun to drive roads.
The engine was just staggering.
The 99 turbo IS the soul of Saab…. Responsible Performance. And just plain fun!!!
34 MarkS
// Jan 23, 2009 at 4:10 am
BOB LUTZ EAT YOUR HEART OUT!!!!!!
GO SAAB!!!!!!!!!!!
35 Troll
// Jan 23, 2009 at 8:47 am
Only 6 more votes and we’re at 3000!
Kinda strange,..the amount of Clio fans in the Uk…
Where the hell do they meet for the Renault festival? In France ? Don’t think so…
36 Joe
// Jan 23, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Just cast in my vote, 99 seems way ahead of all the competition.
Is it me or is the poll website infested with SAAB adverts
37 saabologist
// Jan 23, 2009 at 10:48 pm
I think it may be Semantic Advertising on CAR website , coz I get it too Joe
The web is watching
Clear your cookies
38 CBD
// Jan 23, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Ha ha ha there are some very unhappy people in the comments!
Reminds me of the Rick Astley, 2008 MTV Europe Awards fiasco.
39 ctm
// Jan 23, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Wow, didn’t the Lancia go from 2300 to 2600 votes in just 12 hours or something? Saab lost half its lead.
40 ctm
// Jan 24, 2009 at 2:17 am
Saabs lead down to 175 votes. Obviously some orchestrated effort the last 24 hours for the Lancia.
41 Jacco
// Jan 24, 2009 at 3:55 am
Tell your parents, children, neighbours, family, friends, and the postman to vote for the 99T, we are under attack from those Italian
42 ToerPa'er
// Jan 24, 2009 at 5:23 am
I threw my vote a minute ago..
//Status as of 23rd of January:
Saab 99 Turbo 21% (3277 votes)
Lancia Delta Integrale 20% (3089 votes)
VW Golf GTi Mk1 10% (1562 votes)
Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6 & 1.9 7% (1078 votes)
Renault Clio Williams 4% (574 votes)
VW Golf R32 3% (519 votes)
Ford Focus RS Mk1 3% (410 votes)
Alfa Sud Ti 2% (382 votes)
Total Votes: 15578//
++
/ThorPa’er
43 aeronaut
// Jan 24, 2009 at 6:26 am
the saab lead has collapsed but is stabilizing. currently the 99T has 3285 votes and the lancia has 3113 votes. 172 vote lead.
44 Jacco
// Jan 28, 2009 at 3:49 am
Oh Sh#t We are behind.
45 CBD
// Jan 28, 2009 at 7:26 am
Quick! Everyone vote!!!
46 marco berard
// Feb 15, 2009 at 11:38 am
the lancia delta has earned its martinistripes. and is the most succesfull and most loved hatchback and rally car ever. its success will probably never be repeated unless lancia or fiat return to rallying.your poll is great and the lancia appears to be the benchmarkof which all others are judged.