Over the last few days, I’ve been showing you some adhesive badges that Ivan’s been developing.

Here’s the latest versions….

The Griffin badge has been finished off with the tongue receiving the metallic treatment. The badge has been mirrored so that it can be applied to both sides of a vehicle and still be facing the front.

These are 35mm x 48.5mm in their standard form but can be made bigger on request. The price will be 5 Euro each plus postage.

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The Elk badges have also been mirrored so the can both face the same direction when applied. These are 51mm x 45mm in standard form and are also 5 Euro each, plus postage.

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For the cheekier ones amongst you, those with Saab 9000s and earlier, there’s the 100% GM Free badge, which I’m certain just pertains to your diet. We wouldn’t want to annoy the corporate parent now, would we?

Again, it’s 5 Euro plus postage.

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All of these are available in larger sizes at 6 Euro each. Just let Ivan know what size you’d like and he can make it up for you.

Fully customised badges, where Ivan will turn an idea from your brain into reality, will cost up to around 20 Euro to cover design and production.

Please direct all enquiries to Ivan at saabdesignshop@gmail.com

Ivan’s still working hard on the custom badges I mentioned on the site yesterday.

The latest piece of handiwork is a griffin prototype, though he and I both agree that the tongue needs to be metallised rather than black as it’ll get lost on a darker colored car.

Remember, if you’ve got any ideas for customised badges, and the sky really is the limit here, then email Ivan at saabdesignshop@gmail.com to discuss your design.

Badges of this size (see the elk below with hand for reference) will most likely work out to be only around 5 or 6 Euro each plus shipping, which is quite inexpensive.

We have a slight problem with the European version of the Saab Design T-shirt shop at the moment, but we’re hoping that it’ll sort itself out with a little diplomacy. The US shop is still OK.

In the meantime, you might want to take a look at this badge. This is a prototype that Ivan’s designed just to see how well it works. He’s also done a design for one of the noted Saab tuning companies, but I’ll keep that quiet for the moment.

I’ve suggested a prancing moose version but the good news is that the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. Ivan can make up just about anything for your Saab if you’re in the mood to badge it. He’s working on a Griffin version at the moment.

The badges are made from a “sandwich” like substrate with a brushed metal surface on black plastic base, engraved and cut via laser. The badge is self-adhesive, you just need to clean the surface where you want to place it and remove the protective layer from the adhesive and place it firmly into position.

Ivan’s used one on his Viggen for around a month now and has tested it in a high-pressure carwash and it keeps it’s place firmly. The only tests that haven’t been done are extreme heat tests, which are difficult during the European winter, but it’s expected to hold. If not then the adhesive will be upgraded.

If you’ve got a design idea, feel free to get in touch with Ivan at saabdesignshop@gmail.com

Yesterday I queried whether or not there was a bulletproof iPod solution for Saabs yet. The possible solution for OG9-3 and 98-05 Saab 9-5 drivers is the AudioTroll, however I didn’t announce it as being that bulletproof solution because I know there’s been various issues throughout its development and I was unclear on its current status.

I haven’t had any direct communication from Carl at GES, but from information over at the GES website and through several people in comments, it seems that those issues are largely overcome. The supply issue seems to be non-existent right now. It seems you can order now and get your shipping notice very quickly. The technical problems seem to be contingent on what type of iPod you’ve got so it may pay to check that out over at GES, but the latest revision of the technology seems to have addressed any early complaints.

You can check out the AudioTroll here. As I mentioned yesterday, fitted up and working it’s definitely the best iPod solution out there for OG9-3 and 9-5 owners.

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What if you still have a tape deck? My car’s a 1999 model and it’s got a tape deck, so there’s a lot of what could be considered recent model vehicles that may still have one.

Jalopnik featured this mix of old and new technologies today.

It’s a tape adaptor that takes a flash card. You plug in your card, switch it on then insert it into your tape player. It runs on a battery, so you can also use it outside the car as a regular mp3 player, hence the headphones in the picture.

Old school cool….

Given that my Viggen’s a fair chance for getting fixed now, I can seriously start turning my thoughts towards questions like what wheels to put on it. The stock wheels are too soft and at least two of them got bent up in the accident, so a new set of rollers is in order.

I’m considering any one of three options.

1) The 17-inch version of Hirsch’s six spoke wheel, available through Elkparts. There’s a lightning blue Viggen with these on here.

2) The 17-inch Saab 9-3 Aero wheel as seen below

3) Some 18-inch Turbo X wheels if I could ever get someone to smuggle a set out of Sweden (and if they’d fit, which I think they would)

I don’t really think #3 is a realistic option, though I might try anyway. I worried about #2 mainly because I’m a confessed badge snob and I didn’t really want to use wheels on the Viggen that were found on any other Saab that wasn’t a limited edition like the Viggen was.

But, having a look at these fitted on a Viggen, they really do look pretty darn good…..

There’s nothing shabby-looking about them at all! Very classy, actually. Jeff K, you may start gloating now

I guess it will all depend on what price I can get them for and how the repairer will want to go about it, but this photo has definitely given me food for thought.

Anyone want to photoshop some Turbo X wheels onto a Viggen ?

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The photo above is another in the series taken on the weekend by Richo. I showcased a number of the photos here yesterday.

Below is a beautiful profile shot of Joe Lobo’s 9-3 Aero from the same photo shoot. It’s been lowered, BSR’d and Joe slapped huge 19 oops 18-inch wheels on it. I drove it last year and it goes like stink!

If any Aussies are interested in it, drop me a line. There’s a good chance it’s going to have to make way for a Black Turbo, so you might be able to snatch up a gem of a car that’s been beautifully set up and maintained.

I don’t own a car with satnav. I live in a small city on an island and I own a street directory, so I’m ok. I’ve had the satnav discussion here before and now, after much deliberation and contemplation I’m quite set on the idea that factory satnav vs aftermarket satnav is a total no-brainer.

Aftermarket wins every time. It’s waaaaaaay less expensive, is easier to upgrade, and you can take it from car to car as you change your ride. Makes total sense.

If you’ve chosen integrated satnav then you’ve got the bonus of having it look very nice and blended with your interior. But the cost is rather prohibitive and it’s not just the cost of purchasing it, as Joe M let me know via email:

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Swade,

This is more than slightly annoying. I paid an additional $2,795 for my Saab’s navigation system (’07 9-5 Aero SportCombi) pushing the MSRP to almost $45K. This is one of GM’s highest priced passenger cars and by far the most expensive of all the navigation systems that GM offer (it’s the same exact Denso-sourced unit found in the Corvette, Cadillac STS, and the Cadillac XLR). The ’06 – ’08 9-3s and 9-7s share the same Delphi unit with one another and almost all other GM units.

For some reason, ALL run-of-the-mill Chevy, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Corvette et al driver gets two free disks, one on their first anniversary of ownership, the second disk on their second anniversary. Saab is not included in this complimentary upgrade program even though the ’06-’08 units are the EXACT same GM units, utilizing the exact same discs found in their lesser GM siblings’ dashes.

Is their any way to get GM to explain their alienation of some of their most discerning customers? Why do we have to shell out $200 per disc? Here are the FAQs:

https://www.gmnavdisc.com/faq-browse.do?category=SUB

Here’s the part number they want me to shell out $199.00 when my STS, Corvette, GP counterparts receive it free of charge in the mail. Click to enlarge.

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Like I said, this whole things seems to need directions of its own.

I know some people like the integrated thing and I can see why. It’s not as practical but it is a touch more premium.

If my dealer were throwing in a Navman I’d be quite happy to spend my several-thousand-dollars on some other optioins. Everybody wins and I still get to find my way home.