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Viggens selling
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Viggens selling

January 7th, 2009 · 25 Comments



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I’m pleased to report the sales of two Saab 9-3 Viggens features recently here at Trollhattan Saab. Both of them were cars I was considering purchasing but I couldn’t combine the extra finance with sleeping well at night, despite how good these cars are.

I’m was chuffed to hear just last night that my good mate Richo’s Viggen has just passed into some very good hands. When I wrote a few weeks ago about it being for sale but out of my reach, a reader here contacted me seeking Richo’s details as his daughter was living in Sydney and loved the idea of getting hold of the car.

richovign

Last night, she did just that and I’m pleased as punch, both for her and for Richo.

She’s picked up what is most likely the best Viggen in Australia, sparkling clean and with only 3,000 kms on it’s brand new B235R engine. I drove it back in August and it certainly put some steam in my strides!

It’s sad to see it leave the garage of someone I know, but she’s got Saabs in the family and was very keen, so I’m sure the car’s passed into good hands.

Note: Richo is now completely Saabless, driving a BMW and consequently, is a tosser.

——

Whilst considering my purchase options, I also looked into a black 5-door Viggen in Sydney.

sydneyviggen

The owner was away on holidays but the car was being shown and sold by a guy named John K. At the time he mentioned that the price wasn’t too negotiable as he was considering buying the car himself.

Unlike a number of people selling cars, he wasn’t bluffing. He purchased the car last week and left a note in comments to say how pleased he was with it.

My interest in that car was quite genuine as it was priced at a level that I could have stretched to much easier than Richo’s car. Consequently, I’d like to offer my heartiest congratulations to John on picking up a very tidy looking Viggen and very tidy price.

——

So it looks like a few people are now starting out with new Viggen experiences – the more the merrier, I say!

My advice is to do what our Norwegian mate Olav does – take the long road home. :-)

Tags: Saab 9-3 Viggen · Saabology

25 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Paul HumpageNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 9:01 am

    I was really keen on getting Richos Viggen but i would have had to have got rid of the 6er and that’s a no no so i’m glad that it’s gone to a good home. A bigger garage and deeper pockets is all i ask, not much is it?:>)

  • 2 RichoNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 9:20 am

    Funny, after not much interest suddenly I had three definites wanting her in the same week.

    Before selling I had to make sure of the following:
    1. She went to a great home
    2. She was going to be driven by a madman
    3. The new owner had to be a Saab NUTCASE,
    4. The new owner had to allow for visiting rights
    5. The new owner to be inducted in to the Saab NUTCASE club here in Sydney
    6. I had first choice on buy-back

    tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick

    Congratulations Susanne!

    So now boys we have to organise another night at BBC to do all the introductions. Jose, I want you on your best behaviour!!!

    I’m very sad to let her go as she was my first dream car and still remains a big love of mine.

    So Paul, you and I can now sit in the parking lot together and raise our noses at them out the windows of our Bimmers!!

    note: Swade is a JERK!!!

  • 3 zippyNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 9:48 am

    As much as Im happy Richo’s Viggen went to a good home I still think Swade should organise a good horse whipping for his having ‘defected’ to …. um ….. THEM!

    Suzanne, I am sure you will enjoy your Viggen as Richo really looks to have taken excellent care of it!!

  • 4 sabNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 9:54 am

    Good to hear both went to a good home.

    Both new purchasers should join up with the Saab Club of Australia! It’s a great club (as ya know Swadey) with the best Club magazine this side of the black stump.

    We also have a national meet coming up in Canberra at Easter with members attending from all over Australia! Think of it as a mini Saab Festival or SOC OZ!

    http:www.saabclub.org.au for more info!

    cheers
    steve

  • 5 Paul HumpageNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 9:54 am

    But mine’s a classic Beemer Richo, the wanker factor has long since worn off and has mellowed into uber cool:>)

  • 6 RichNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:38 am

    Should i sell my Viggen? ??
    it’s tempting to go shopping for a 2008 Vector or Aero but I’ve put so much work and $$$ into the Viggen and a trade-in price would never be anywhere near what I’ve spent over the last 3 years – however I’m sure i could get a great deal on a 2008 Aero right now so it’s swings and round-abouts I guess.
    I love the viggen’s engine and the unique appearance but the new 9-3 has way better ride and handling – and less chance of grounding the front spoiler – hard (impossible almost) to find a manual 2008 convertible though..
    Not too sure about that V6 – it’s really crammed in there and I hear there is a bit of turbo lag – and the Vector engine is less of a Saab engine than the Viggen
    any advice, extreme opinions from Saab nut… ahem, enthusiasts? welcome

  • 7 Joe LoboNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:57 am

    Well, what a surprise to learn too that the Blue Vigg Coupé has gone to another female driver !!! Maybe this is a new phase or fashion since the final owner of my old 9-3 Coupe Aero was also destined to the wife of the buyer. I was stunned when I handed the keys and wish him good luck and good joy in driving when he responded, “it will be my wife’s car as she had to have an Aero Coupé and a manual. She loves driving these especially in the curves”. I wonder who’ll buy the Turbo X ???

  • 8 HawkeyeNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 11:16 am

    Congrats mate, you will have to marry your girlfriend to have a Saab in your family now!

    Ha Ha!

  • 9 RichoNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    Or my boyfriend Jose….

  • 10 Andy RupertNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 12:53 pm

    Beware Richo! It’s all fun and games until a tree falls on your Bimmer. You might think about getting another Saab. Just saying…

  • 11 PTNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 1:26 pm

    RIch – keep the Vig as a 2nd car. You can’t really replace it with anything equivalent. Save up and buy newer saab to run around with and keep the Vig as a collector. The V6Aero is a brilliant car & engine but a completely different proposition. Have two. You know you want to.

  • 12 RichNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    PT- hmmmmm; I am financially irresponsible so that does make sense in a way but I can only afford, and have garaging for, one Saab at a time. I’ll go and kick some tyres soon…

  • 13 Joe LoboNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    On the one hand you want me on my best behaviour for the introductions and now you are implying that I took your propensity ??? Stick to your Greek mates, they love you but not me !!!

  • 14 ctmNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 3:49 pm

    Swade, you know anything about the fate of your old Viggen? Maybe I missed some posting about that…

  • 15 SwadeNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 5:37 pm

    No idea, ctm. I wish whoever bought it would go online and land here. I have a file of info I can send them would like to see what they do with it.

  • 16 SusanneNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 7:40 pm

    Well, I don’t think I’ve ever purchased a SAAB before and had it announced so quickly!

    Guys, I couldn’t take the stupid grin off my face when Richo drove it down my road… the car is gorgeous and I’ve already fallen for it.

    I still have a soft spot for my 9-3 (2001) back in the UK that is sitting comfortably at Abbott Racing for now but after a brief trip back to see the family, I got the chance to drive my dad’s 9-5 Aero estate and realised what I had been lacking in my life!

    So, I promise to look after it and Richo’s always welcome to come and visit.

    I may even bump into a few of you along the way?

  • 17 swadeNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 7:51 pm

    Welcome to the family, Susanne! You’ve got a seriously good car there, but then with your 9-3 sitting at Abbotts back in the motherland I suspect you know that already.

    Trollhattan Saab – matches made in heaven since 2005 :-)

  • 18 SusanneNo Gravatar // Jan 7, 2009 at 7:56 pm

    Thanks Swade – I think me and the Viggen are going to do just fine… :)

  • 19 michael900No Gravatar // Jan 8, 2009 at 8:54 am

    Hi All,

    My name’s Mike, I’m from Melbourne, but you can all refer to me as “runner-up-in-the-soul-destroying-not-quite-purchase-of-Richos-Viggen-these-past-few-days”.

    Congratulations Suzanne…. I hate you in the most respectful way possible. I hope get much enjoyment out of your lovely new speed machine. If you should ever return to the UK, I claim second choice in buyback rights after Richo.

    Me and ol’ Saabie (my trusty 1988 900 Aero) will just have to get by a little longer before she retires.

    I guess if one good thing had to come of my missed opportunity, it’s the discovery of this wonderful site.

    See y’all around.

    Mike

    PS: So tell me more a bout this Viggen of yours Rich….. For sale soon perhaps?

  • 20 swadeNo Gravatar // Jan 8, 2009 at 9:22 am

    Commiserations, Mike. At least you have the consolation of living in Melbourne, where they play real football, and having a very nice looking 900 Aero to drive.

  • 21 michael900No Gravatar // Jan 8, 2009 at 10:37 am

    Thanks Swade. I do love ol’ Saabie…. and my AFL too.

    Go Magpies!!!!

    (I feel I may have just made enemies with all of the other Victorians on the site)

  • 22 RichNo Gravatar // Jan 8, 2009 at 9:48 pm

    Hi michael900,
    probably not for sale soon but I’ve been thinking about it, a 6 speed manual aero convertible would be nice even if they don’t go as hard as a Viggen –

    It’s a long viggen story – I bought my 99 convertible Viggen in 2006 up on the gold coast – it was original with 72,000km – body & interior perfect; but it had sloppy suspension. I took it to Swedish Prestige in Melbourne and had abbott suspension, VRK, Quaife diff, abbott ECU upgrade, air intake, recirc pipe, recirc v/v and abbott exhaust fitted. Saabtech in Mona Vale have been servicing it for the last couple of years – replaced the engine and gearbox mounts with talliaferro saab poly mounts and I’ve fitted an elipse AVN6000 in place of the radio CD unit – (not an easy job) – repainted the windscreen frame electric blue to blend in with the body colour and replaced the windscreen and roof seal – ditched the bent and leaking Viggen wheels for BBS 17 x 7.5 with Pirrelli pzeros..It’s done 103,000km as of last week and it’s still in good shape with the usual scratched & dinged front spoiler. Planning on repairing the roof storage compartment bag soon (split seams) which involves removing the roof and it is due for a new roof soon – it is a very “tight’ handling car and the modified engine mount/gear box mount make everything very firm – there’s a lot of breathing noises from the abbott racing air-intake and it has too much power but I get an exciting ride just going out to pickup noodles – a long trip on a nice (hopefully not bumpy) road is a real thrill.
    Basically I’ve spend waaaaaay too much on this car – but it’s been fun. Looking for a good photo opportunity on a clean car day so I can send some decent photos in for the POO section – I think Swade rejected my last selection on account of extremely bad photography and poor car cleanliness.

  • 23 michael900No Gravatar // Jan 9, 2009 at 9:48 am

    No worries Rich.

    I can understand the reluctance to sell….. I’ve actually advertised my car for sale previously, and then lied to the enquiring parties about it being sold just because I’d decided at the last minute to keep her…..

    ….Twice.

    Love the work you’ve done to your Viggen though….. attention to detail. Sounds like a beauty.

  • 24 PTNo Gravatar // Jan 9, 2009 at 10:36 am

    Welcome Susanne. Your shout at the Belgian Beer Cafe!

  • 25 RichNo Gravatar // Jan 9, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    michael900,

    thanks mate, if I do decide to sell I’ll post here first – I know it’s not a sales site but I think a Viggen for sale is always of interest to Saab enthusiasts- it’s hard to let go of a car that you’ve put a lot of effort into (i’m sure your 900 is a beauty too ) , particularly when they are not likely to sell for much anyway – i’ve found that being a Saab enthusiast is good when you’re buying but not when you’re selling – I guess the answer is get a bigger garage and keep buying!

    cheers