Trollhattan Saab has changed!
The site you're viewing now is the original Trollhattan Saab weblog, though it's now an archive only and no new material is posted here. As of February 2009, all new material is posted at our new site - Saabs United.
Please join us at Saabs United and get your daily Saab fix from Saab sources all around the world.
It’s a long weekend! Woohoo!
Automotive jobs here at TS include the removal exchange of my Monte Carlo’s woodgrain dashboard for the plain dash in one of Drew B’s cars. I’ll then be able to fit my new carbon fibre dash kit.
Website jobs here at TS include the changeover to the new website, which will take place some time tomorrow. I’ll redirect the TS homepage automatically so you’ll go straight there, but if you’d like a quick look around now, go and visit Saabs United.
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The drums of war are beating softly in the Swedish press.
Some of you may know that a GM board member named Percy Barnevik retired during the week. It was rather sudden and unexpected. Barnevik is Swedish and ctm tells me that the sudden nature of Barnevik’s departure has the Swedish motoring press wondering if Saab’s negotiations with the government are failing and Barnevik’s quit to avoid blame.
I don’t think this is true. The reason why is because this very train of through was posted on The Truth About Cars during the week as a “Wild Ass Rumour of the Day”. Those rumours have around a 2% success rate.
And aside from that, I think Saab’s doing OK with the government. It’s the market that’s kicking their backside.
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Swedish tuning company, BSR, recently announced a price reduction on it’s PPC tuning products. Not they’re going the next step and reducing the prices of their chip-tuned products as well.
PPC products plug-in to your car and download the new tuning information. Chip-tuned products require a new chip to be installed in your ECU. The Saab products affected by this price reduction include the Saab 900, 9000 and Trionic5 Saabs.
Hit the BSR website for more info.
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Another dealership selling Saabs closes, in Beaverton, Oregon.
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Look at what Dippen found:
MONTE CARLO, MONACO – FEBRUARY 01: Salvador Albinana and Jose Diaz-Tejeiro of Spain drive a Saab 96 V4 (1973) on the first stage from Monaco to Revest les Roches during the 12th Monte Carlo Historical Rally on February 1, 2009 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Over three hundred cars are entered in four different age categories, all having competed in at least one of the Monte Carlo rallies. The cars compete in sixteen stages over four days in the south-east region of France.
What a way to spend a week, huh?
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I’m going to be pretty tied up with driving lessons in the young fella’s new Subaru and putting the final polish on the new site.
Things may be slow around here as a result.
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18 responses so far ↓
1 Dan9-1
// Feb 7, 2009 at 9:02 am
Bookmarked and its looks great Swade, well done!
Saabs United sounds like a football team too, which we are all supporting
Advice for a Dad when teaching your son to drive, try not to be too nervous, my Dad spent half the time reaching for the door, which is a bit unnerving when your trying to perfect the clutch!
Is there an Rss feed for the site?
Dan9-1
2 ctm
// Feb 7, 2009 at 9:04 am
My father used to held on the door handle with one hand and the parking brake handle with the other…
3 Robin M
// Feb 7, 2009 at 9:04 am
New site looking good Swade. I like it a lot, well done. Have a good weekend and take your time sticking the dash. It took me over an hour to do mine but it as worth it and it is still where it should be. You may have already thought of this, (maybe) put the steering wheel back on after, might make it easier.
4 eggsngrits
// Feb 7, 2009 at 9:04 am
Percy Barnevik was CEO at ABB when I was there, and he is.a man that doesn’t sit and bide his time in a bad situation, that’s for sure.
However, Mr. Barnevik was ostensibly the Wahlenburg family representative on the GM board, and his departure may indicate that they have reliquished somw control of the company in advance of Swedish support, they may be bought out by the government, etc. I’ll bet that if you follow that thread of thought that you’d find some change like that.
5 Beren Erchamion
// Feb 7, 2009 at 9:26 am
Well I can say here in the US you can get a sweet deal on a Sabb. $16K off sticker on a 9-3 Aero that is loaded. Willow Grove PA Saab is advertising that. Holy smokes – that is just amazing! I was driving to work today and passed an entire truck full of 9-3 sedans.
If the market is kicking people – you sure can’t blame the dealers in the US.
6 ctm
// Feb 7, 2009 at 9:41 am
Looking at the GM Board of Directors, Barnevik seems to have been the only foreigner there. Maybe the US government bailout demands an all US board to prevent any “dangerous” ideas?
7 eggsngrits
// Feb 7, 2009 at 11:58 am
Ctm: actually the bail out is predicated on gathering oversight that doesn’t come from the inbred automotive community. I think that Mr. Barnevik had a specific reason to go.
8 Karen
// Feb 7, 2009 at 12:46 pm
@ctm: this snippet from thetruthaboutcars blog seems to connect a few dots that have more to do with removing taints of corruption from GM’s board rather than taints of foreign ideas.
( leaving it to our European friends to comment, or not, about Barnevik’s book-cooking experiences):
“Reuters reports that GM Board of Directors member Percy Barnevik resigned his position today “for personal reasons.” Barnevik is one of GM’s longest serving BOD members; he’s watched the epic erosion of shareholder value and the breathtaking destruction of the automaker’s assets, market share and credibility. And yet, on his way out the door, Barnevik gave GM CEO Rick Wagoner and his team an unqualified thumbs-up. ”I remain a strong supporter of management and the Board of GM, and of the direction the company is taking.” This from the ex-ABB CEO who had to repay half of an undisclosed $78m (i.e. hidden) severance package, part of an enormous book cooking scandal (called “Europe’s Enron”). The same company (that Barnevik founded) which was deeply embroiled in a global bribery scandal, eventually paying out $16.4m to the Justice Department to settle their criminal investigation. With Board members with this kind of background, who needs enemies?”
That Beaverton, OR dealer was also a Cadillac dealer. I still cannot open Saabusa website with my dial-up, but in 2000, there were two excellent SAAB only dealers, one in downtown Portland, and Gary Small Saab in SW Portland.
Guess all the Nike and Intel Saabistas in Beaverton realized they should go for real Saab dealer service even if it meant driving a few extra miles.
Thanks for Saabsunited! hope the follow-up email comment system transitions smoothly.
Bythe way, I have been following the ’stimulus’ bill debate in the US Senate all week – major differences to be reconciled with House, and bill due for Obama’s desk on Feb. 17.
Something tells me the auto plans will get a reprieve past Feb. 17. SecCommerce was the designated lead on auto bailout, and we had quite a delay filling that spot until Judd Gregg got nominated on Feb 2. still needs to be confirmed.
For what it is worth, Judd Gregg’s family has been in New Hampshire since before the American Revolution in 1776. I kind of think he must have driven a Saab at some point, or at very least appreciates the need for Saab to survive and thrive.
From Gary Blake Saab’s website: “One winter in the early 1970’s, a district representative of Saab-Scania of America was looking for a new distributor. He came upon a small garage on Portsmouth Avenue in Exeter, New Hampshire where a young man was just closing up shop for the evening. He asked the young mechanic if he was interested in buying a Saab franchise. Full of skepticism, the young man graciously declined the offer and went home for the evening. The next night, the representative showed up again and tossed the keys to a 1972 Saab 99 SSE to the young mechanic… “Take this to the mountains for the weekend, Gary… you’ll love it!” The young mechanic was used to the cumbersome rear-wheel drive configuration of Volkswagen Beetles, so the front-wheel drive Saab was simply amazing in comparison. It wasn’t long until a young Gary Blake opened what we know today as Gary Blake Saab, the finest New Hampshire Saab Dealer.”
apologies to other NH Saab dealers, but point was to let people know, NH is Saab country!
Would you rather have someone in charge of US auto bail-out from Detroit?
9 tom
// Feb 7, 2009 at 1:57 pm
wow
Karen im impressed
10 Troll96
// Feb 7, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Farewell to TS. Long live Saabs United. (Yeah, it really does sound like a soccer/football cub……which is fine with me since it reinforces Saab’s global appeal and sporting character.)
11 Mag-X
// Feb 7, 2009 at 5:12 pm
I’ve never seen any Saabs in Portland with the Kuni Cadillac (oh, and some Saabs too) licence plate frame. It seems like all of them already came from Gary Small Saab anyway.
Gary Small sells Saabs, and only Saabs, and I’m actually rather surprised to see the Cadillac dealer go down first. With Saab sales down so much, I don’t understand how a Saab only dealership is still hanging on.
12 Kroum
// Feb 7, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Mag-X, a lot of it must have to do with servicing the cars. Dealers typically make a good chunk of change on that and Saabs are not your typical “Midas touch”.
13 Dippen
// Feb 7, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I am impressed with the new layout!:)
I think Barnevik leaving GM is for another reason. When Barnevik left ABB, ABB had to go trough alot of downsizing to be what it is today.
14 ctm
// Feb 7, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Not that I really care, there has been an open season on Barnevik in Sweden the last seven years…
15 Eduard(Edusaab)
// Feb 7, 2009 at 9:46 pm
About the 96 V4, its from a Saab Club of Spain member. All we are following its progress in the rally.
There are other 96, frome Portugal.
Salvador had some issues with the car, but finally could finish the rally.
Here you have more pictures….
http://www.forum-auto.com/automobiles-mythiques-exception/section5/sujet382783-700.htm
and pictures from the begining of the rally in Spain,
http://www.clubsaabespana.com/secciones/foro/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17483&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15
regards
16 eggsngrits
// Feb 7, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Karen: I was unaware of Mr. Barnevik’s legacy, but it certainly computes. After I left ABB, there was/continues to be a huge sell-off of business units. ABB is now probably 25% of their former size. They simply were not financially healthy.
The business unit that I was with is now owned by Alstom (French) which coincidentally has some of the same issues.
17 Karen
// Feb 8, 2009 at 3:31 am
@Mag-X. I bought my 9-3 at Gary Small in SW Portland, OR. still impressed by the level of customer service during my one year in Portland. The Stand-alone Saab dealers can hopefully hang on with service for at least another year. They are the future for Saab in the US.
After Beck Chevrolet/Saab screwed me for two years, I started driving 50 miles back to Reinersten in Denville, NJ. Now I go to Pioneer Saab in South Deerfield, MA because I am here more than NYC these days.
Next time I move, my criteria shall be 1) within 45 minute drive to Trader Joe’s, and 2) even closer to a dedicated Saab dealer like Pioneer or Reinertsen. No plans to ever try Portland again!
Time to drive to New Hampshire! give me a winding New England road…
18 max
// Feb 8, 2009 at 5:26 am
New site looks great!