This in via email, from Robert S:

After reading “Another April Sale…” I just thought I’d let you know that you have another 9-2x driver who frequents the site. Now that ‘Nevitz’ has made the enviable leap to the 9-3SC, in fact, maybe I’m the only one.

Not so. Another 9-2x owner popped up in comments to that post and there’s possibly a few more reading silently right now.

I know how you feel about the 9-2x, and whilst I am inclined to agree with you, I have a case to make for it, at least in my circumstance. Basically, I can’t afford a REAL new Saab, but Saab is all my wife and I want to drive (she used to be a Honda girl before I converted her).

We wanted the reliability of a new car (too many bad experiences with used cars), and the 9-2x was our way of getting our foot in the door with a Saab. To me it’s basically a starter Saab to hold us over until the instant we can take delivery of a brand new 9-3 in Trollhattan with the European Delivery program one day (probably far away). Deep down every time I start the car I wish the ignition was between the seats and the dash wrapped around me, but that will have to wait.

The car looks beautiful on the outside (as you pointed out yourself), and the suspension and handling has been given a “Swedish massage.” In it’s defense, it’s actually a really good car, reliable, safe, fun to drive, and was dirt cheap. No, it’s not a genuine Saab, but it lets us say right now that we are at least, to borrow Nevitz’ term, a pseudo Saab family. And one day, like Nevitz, we, too, will join your ranks.

(Plus, there’s a beautiful 1991 gray 900 turbo convertible parked down the street from my house that I covet every time I leave the house. I’ve promised myself one day I will buy it off them. One day our Saab collection will make the 9-2x a fond memory of how desperately we wanted to drive a Saab. Plus, it will be sort of a unique piece of the collection itself).

Welcome Robert and ex-Honda girl!

The 9-2x was a very interesting experiment and I’d say the jury’s still out as to it’s success (or lack thereof). On the plus side, there’s people like Robert who have found a way to get into a Saab earlier than they otherwise expected. Some of these would have knowledge about Saabs beforehand and a bunch wouldn’t.

One thing’s for sure, the reliability and fun of the WRX base isn’t going to be the thing to hurt Saab’s reputation at all. These 9-2x buyers all seem to enjoy their cars a great deal, which is a positive for the brand. Some of them will go for another Saab after their 9-2x experience and that’s a good thing.

The side-effects of the experiement?

Well, some will chase after a Subaru as their replacement car, for starters.

Secondly, there’s the battering that Saab took in the press for this car. On many automotive forums they’re still mocked as the company that did the Saaburu and the Trollblazer, in spite of how good these cars might be.

But stories like Robert’s are heartening. The 9-2x has opened a gate for Saab ownership that would have been closed to some. If there’s one thing that we can glean from this story, it’s that a Saab 9-1 base level model can’t come soon enough. Such a car would allow young families like Robert and Mrs Robert to get into a Saab without losing some of the future sales to another brand.

Thanks for the email, Robert. You, your wife and your car would be more than welcome at any Saab function I ever put together.

As a service to those that might be interested, I spotted this on a forum called Slickdeals. This guy’s just snatched a 9-2x Linear 2.5 automatic for what seems to be a pretty sweet price. The word is that dealers are shifting heaven and earth to get them out the doors to make way for MY2007 vehicles – not 9-2x’s obviously.

Just picked up the Saab 9-2xi for $17,500 + tax, tag, and title. It’s an automatic with options (power sunroof & cold weather package). MSRP was $26,790. They’re clearing these cars out like hotcakes…..Since this car is no longer in production (only a limited number were produced in 2005 & 2006 only) and 2007 cars are starting to arrive on the lots, they need to get rid of these fast, so they dropped the price. Since GM is offering a $5000 rebate through 10/2, it gets another price drop. The one I purchased stickered for $26,790 then reduced to $24,990, then $19,990 after rebate. This is before I showed up and haggled.

There’s no Aeros left, but if you’re after a smallish reliable AWD wagon with a substandard interior (OK, I’m kidding – sort of) then this is your bargain opportunity.

Autoblog are reporting on a new phenomenon where people are getting injured walking past Saab dealerships in the US as dealers literally throw 9-2x’s at them!!

OK, I’m lying.

The post actually lists the top 10 clearance prices on outgoing 2006 models and the 9-2x, which is not going to be replaced, received spot #3 on the list with a whopping 21.75% reduction on it’s sticker price ($5,000).

I’m on record here as being a non-fan of the 9-2x. It’s a great car in the same way than the Impreza’s a great car, it’s just poorly executed as a Saab. Those with a nose for a bargain and a penchant for exclusivity will most likely snap these up in a jiffy.

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I shouldn’t laugh, but couldn’t help it. Comment #5 on the Autoblog post:

I bought one last summer, and had it only 8 months. Fortunately I didn’t take a bath on the trade-in. Full disclosure, I had the non-turbo Linear, not the turbo Aero version. If you really badly want a WRX, it might be a buy. It’s not as ugly as a WRX, but [commenter] #4 is right, the Saab dealers don’t know what they’re doing, and you’re the ugly step-child of the brand, they’re not going to go out of their way to treat you right. Other Saab drivers will give you dirty looks on the road. Someone once put a note on my windshield “Get a real Saab”.

I’d welcome any 9-2x owner to a Saab Car Club of Australia event, but……..well……..it’s still a little funny.

I’ve just spotted my first write-up of the Saab 9-2x in ages.  It comes from Auto and Trucks Review and it notes the demise of the Saaburu in it’s very first paragraph:

This is basically a WRX with a nicer warranty. It’s gonna’ be discontinued in ’07, and the production has stopped. Snap one up now if you can find one (Jun 06). These are rare, fast, and very fun to drive. WIth the Subie drivetrain, upgrades are a breeze, and parts supply will never dwindle.

4.5 stars out of 5.

If only Saab had been so honest when the model began, we mightn’t have ever descended into the debacle that the 9-2x became as time went on. 

For anyone that interested in a 9-2x, now is the time to get one.  They’ll be discontinued at the end of this model year and from what I hear there’s some decent incentives still available from US Saab dealers to help them out the door.

I’ve given the 9-2x a fair beating on this site in more recent times, but let me say this: there was little wrong with this car except for the execution.

ATR correctly notes the following:

Pros

Acceleration, reliability based on subaru counterpart, ride, styling, handling, fuel economy (been avg. 27 – 30 mpg), awd, longer warranty, dealership experience, and saab enhancements to the interior and exterior as well as mechanical.

Cons

No options for MP3 Player or NAVIGATION. Also, no option for six shifts and paddle shifting.

You’ll get no arguments from me there. 

Fundamentally, the 9-2x is a sound car.  I’ve not driven one myself as they’re not available here in Australia, but the WRX on which it’s based is the stuff of legend here and as far as I can tell, it’s well reputed everywhere else too.

So what went wrong with the 9-2x?

Here’s the Saab press release from 2003.  Do you see what I see?

Continue reading →

Must resist…….snark……..must……..resist……

Interestingly, whilst the Impreza also achieved the Top Safety Pick status (and wouldn’t it have been funny if it didn’t?!?), it achieved this for the non-WRX models only. Maybe Suuby didn’t submit a WRX for testing, but there’s nothing in the release on the IIHS website to say that Saab’s Top Safety Pick is for the non-Aero model of the 9-2x only. Puzzling.

Anyway, here’s hoping they flog this bit of news ’til it bleeds and manage to sell a few more of these cars.

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Detroit, Mich. — With the 9-2X premium compact joining the 9-3 Sport Sedan, Saab is the first luxury carmaker to receive a pair of ‘Top Safety Pick – Gold Award’ designations from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The Gold Award is a best-of-the-best distinction that recognizes car designs that provide the best occupant protection in front, side and rear crashes based on Institute testing.

“We commend Saab for making the 9-2X the second Saab vehicle to earn our demanding Top Safety Pick award”, said Adrian Lund, President of the IIHS.

The IIHS frontal impact test is carried out at 40 mph against a deformable fixed barrier, with a 40 percent driver’s side offset. In the IIHS side impact test a deformable barrier constructed to resemble a full-size sport utility vehicle, is propelled at 31 mph against the driver’s side of the car to measure side impact protection. The rear-end test simulates a 20-mph rear impact into a stationary car, during which the front seat/head restraint performance is assessed.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a non-profit research and communications organization in the United States funded by auto insurers. It investigates the crashworthiness of vehicles. More information at www.IIHS.org

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I thought Saab had 2 Top Safety Picks already. Why isn’t the 9-5 a Top Safety Pick? I thought it was. Maybe the new model hasn’t been tested yet. Something for the to-do list, Jay.

Of course, the really good news is that if you see a 9-2x you can ram it knowing the occupants will be quite safe.

OK, I’m kidding……