Some markets can get access to Hirsch Performance gear and some can’t. There’s one place where we can all get access to a limited range of the good stuff – Elkparts.

Elkparts has finally taken delivery of a much awaited Hirsch Performance accessory – a genuine Hirsch keyring. This will not make your car accelerate quicker or handle better, but it does look the part and will motivate you to aim for more out of your car every time you pick up your keys.

It’s a smart little piece shaped like the new Hirsch ‘deer’ logo.

This was first advertised in a Saab Expressions catalogue last year and spurred a lot of interest. It’s taken a little while for the accessory to come through, but Elkparts now have a good stock of them and they’re available for immediate delivery.

Click here for the Hirsch Performance keyring product page at Elkparts.

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Firstly, to the real stuff….

MobilForum are Saab dealers in Lower Saxony, in Germany. They market the other GM Premium brands as well, but are most experienced with Saabs.

They do some aftermarket stuff as well, and they’ve just released an all-in-one communication, media and navigation solution that fits in the double-DIN slot in the dashboard of the 2007-onwards Saab 9-3 or Saab 9-5.

All in one, you say?

How about the following for decent list?

- Navigation (via Garmin maps)
- USB input
- Tuner
- DVD player
- Video input
- iPod interface
- Bluetooth
- Compatibility with DVB tuner (digital TV)

If my translation is correct then you can hook it up to a reversing camera to assist when you’re going backwards, too, though that might be rendered slightly moot by the unreal gadget, below.

If you want to check out the all-in-one nav system, the Mobilforum Dresden page on the item is here.

Thanks Tobais!

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Now, for the unreal gadgetry…..

Some university students have put together a new system to make parallel parking easier.

I’m not sure about the reliability of the device, or if it’s worthwhile to dumb people down just a little more, but it makes for some interesting viewing. Congratulations to all those involved.

The video is here.

I think they deliberately slowed down the first park to accentuate the device, but it’s good work all the same.

Thanks Magnus!

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Just a quickie to let you know about a discovery I just made at Elkparts. I was heading over there to check out some bits for the Monte Carlo and noticed that there’s now a Haynes service manual available for the 2003-2007 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan, SportCombi and Convertible.

Please note that this manual covers vehicles in this range manufactured up to September 2007 only and therefore doesn’t cover the 2008 versions. It also skips the V6 Aero model from 2006 and 2007 and the early 2.2 litre diesel models in Europe.

What it DOES cover, therefore, are the 1998cc petrol models and the 1.9 litre diesels, which should be of assistance to the vast majority of 9-3 owners out there.

If you like to turn the occasional wrench on your cars, then the Haynes manual could be of valuable assistance and it’s the first manual I’m aware of for the 2003-onwards range for the Saab 9-3.

Haynes manuals are typically based around a complete rebuild of the car and are full of pictures to help you identify what it is you’re messing with. These books can help anyone out with their basic maintenance and are especially useful for the technically inept (like me). I’ll be using my Haynes 9-3 manual for the 1998-2002 range on the Monte in the next few weeks to save a few bucks that can then be spent on more enjoyable things.

Related link: the Elkparts product page for the Saab 9-3 SS range manual from Haynes.

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You know I love wheels, especially Saab wheels. They maketh the car.

I received an enquiry via email the other day about Saab’s new double blade wheels and that sent me scrambling for Saab’s accessory pages. The collection is actually much bigger than I thought it was. I knew Saab made a lot of wheels, but this is rediculous!

How does 51 different wheels coving the 9-5 and 9-3 ranges going back to 1998 sound?

So here they are. These are the ones available here in Australia and whilst there might be a few not available here, we traditionally get just about everything on the list so this should be pretty comprehensive.

If you see something you like, you can download the image. The long number in the filename is actually the Saab part number your dealer would need to look up to quote on price and availability. E.g. for the image with the filename “5531363_95_s.jpg” the 5531363 is the part number.

Saab dealers also use an “ALU” code for wheels but I haven’t tracked these down as yet, but will add them later where possible. They can be hard to find, so if you know some of the ALU codes then please add them in comments (I’ve included a generic number with each wheel so that you can reference it e.g. wheel #15 is ALU##).

The cars shown in the pictures are the ones that I’ve used to look the wheel up, but some are available for both the 9-5 and the 9-3.

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#1 – 16-inch 9-spoke double

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#2 – 17-inch 7 spoke Twin

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[Read the rest of this entry →]

I know Turbin was cheering for a Prodrive takeover of Saab to restore some racing pedigree and bring some pride back to the brand.

Unfortunately it looks like Prodrive may have their hands full taking over Honda’s Formula One team.

Strike another (remote) candidate off the Saab ownership list!

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Factoid #457234 that show how little GM like to do for Saab compared to other brands:

If you’re a Saab owner, you can’t even get a set of genuine, factory backed driving pedals from Hirsch in the United States (or Australia). However, if you’re a Camaro enthusiast you can already order your own body-in-white from GM Performance parts for just $7,000 and build your race machine exactly the way you want it.

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Jalopnik do a list as only Jalopnik can – Ten Cars and the type of girls they attract. The late-model Euro tuner’s the one of interest and the jacked up off-roader is a crackup.

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A quick flick through the Christmas presents post will tell you that Rogan received a Garmin GPS unit off the fat bloke in the red suit.

He’s been plugging away, creating some groovy flash screens for it, which he invites you to use if you have the know-how.

They’re in this folder at Flickr.

Well, it’s at least a month late, but never late than never, right? For some time I’ve had the notion to create a mug. This is a design that we would all chuckle at, something that is authentic, something that is truly Saab.

It’s finally online at my Carepress shop, the proceeds of which will go to this site just as anything else that Swade or I do. Click through to find out what I’ve come up with!

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In addition to some of the Saab technology advances that never saw production, Jorgen T has sent through some images of some Saab marketing that we never got to see.

You might know that the Saab 900 SPG is commonly referred to as a Saab 900 Aero outside of the United States. As far as I know, however, it was never officially sold or marketed with that name. I’ve never seen one badged as an Aero, in any case. Before the 900, there was the 99 Turbo, again not sold or marketed with any reference to Aero.

Apparently Saab did have plans to use the Aero name, but there was some dispute about their right to use it that wasn’t resolved in their favour.

Before the use of the name was denied, Saab had some goodies made up, presumably as giveaways to new customers. I’m not sure how many of these are out and about in private hands, but it appears that Jorgen has a set.

It looks like there’s a kit made up of keyring, tie clip, cuff links and money clip.

I’m sure that’d fetch a handy price on Ebay if it ever came up.

I’m not so sure I like the colour scheme, but what a fantastic bit of retro Saabness!

Thanks Jorgen!!

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I guess this guy must have seen the last one of these models that went up for sale on Ebay, a few weeks ago.

There’s another Saab 98 scale model up for sale. This one’s the somewhat racier orange model and again, is one of only 150 that were made.

Again, it’s on Ebay, but if you want to add this rarity to your collection then you better (1) be quick, and (2) be cashed up.

As at the time of writing it’s only got around 4 hours or so until the auction finishes. It’s currently priced at US$242

Fire away at Ebay.

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