Saab gone bankrupt :(

ahal

As you probably know, there seems to be little hope that Saab will survive as a brand, according to various news reports this morning. I for one am pretty sad at hearing the news. On most of the forums it seems to have turned into a pro / anti GM rant ... personally I'm on the fence.

Had GM not bought Saab 11 years ago, there would have been no Saab at all by the beginning of the '90's. I can also imagine how doing a deal with the Chinese might not appeal to GM, given that sometimes they can be, shall we say, 'inventive' in their dealings (aka MG-Rover)

On the anti - GM side of things, I would have to say that the mid '90's '900' was bland ... I remember well when it came out ... the back reminded me of the Toyota Corolla coupe. They lost the strong Saab identity with that one imo, and by 1998 the 9-5 didn't improve things much. By 2003 it was so out of step it began to pong.

They then brought out a joke of a double cheeseburger on wheels called the 9-7x, which drove the final nail into the coffin. They should have made up their minds at GM: either go niche with the 'odd' / 'quirky' and handsome Saab look, or go fully generic. They couldn't make up their minds so they fell between the two, doing neither properly.

It's really sad to see a company which by tradition has one of the strongest brands / brand recognition out there going the way of the dodo. I for one will be missing the wonderful brand that Trollhatten Saabs can be There is hope apparently, but I can't see any real / sustainable rescue in the current GM / Youngman deadlock (GM parts account for the whole range) so unless the Swedish govt. step in it's not looking good. Another round of 'buyer with no real money' won't work either, as the negative press that keeps popping up through same kills sales.

These guys are keeping their finger on the pulse: http://www.saabsunited.com/

carchaeologist

Sad to hear, but Saabs haven't really been Saabs for many years.

Sabre Man

It will be a pity if they really disappear.

hi5

The brand name could be worth a lot of money to the right manufacturer,just like MINI was to BMW.

Pdfile

the best thing saab ever done was make sleepy looking ultra safe understeering deathtraps !


and they where good at it too.

but Really i love saabs, and its a sad sad day in motoring regardless of what anyone says.

thisiswar

My last job involved dealing with a lot of motorists.
People whom drive a Saab are usually assh0les in my experience.

Goodnight

dave3004

My friend and I drive Lexii

galwaytt

thisiswar wrote: »

My last job involved dealing with a lot of motorists.
People whom drive a Saab are usually assh0les in my experience.

Goodnight

...ffs 'dealing with a lot of motorists .....assholes '...am I allowed to deduce that this means, say,...that you're a Streetwalker ? :rolleyes: McDonalds Drive-Thru ?

With 2.2 million cars on the road in this country, your post means s.f.a.

dave3004 wrote: »

My friend and I drive Lexii

And ? Me Tarzan, you... ?:rolleyes:

thisiswar

galwaytt wrote: »

...ffs 'dealing with a lot of motorists .....assholes '...am I allowed to deduce that this means, say,...that you're a Streetwalker ? :rolleyes: McDonalds Drive-Thru ?

With 2.2 million cars on the road in this country, your post means s.f.a.



And ? Me Tarzan, you... ?:rolleyes:

It means excatly what I said.

The majority of people whom drive a Saab are assh0les in my opinion.

Would you like me to repeat it again?

Do you happen to drive a Saab by any chance?

alastair

thisiswar wrote: »

It means excatly what I said.

The majority of people whom drive a Saab are assh0les in my opinion.

Would you like me to repeat it again?

For extra assh0le credit?

Always liked the 900's. Sad to see another marque go.

carchaeologist

thisiswar wrote: »

People whom drive a Saab are usually assh0les in my experience.

Harsh man. No need for that generalisation!
I would say that Saab drivers are just that little bit different to normal drivers, but i wouldnt call them assholes. They are usually people who have a good idea of where they are in life and want to drive something that tiny little bit more exclusive.

Funfair

I would presume if you have a Saab that's still under warranty your warranty is now gone?

Can't see Saab main dealers fixing anything as they now won't be paid ?

Funfair

alastair wrote: »

For extra assh0le credit?

:D:D

jimmyw

thisiswar wrote: »

My last job involved dealing with a lot of motorists.
People whom drive a Saab are usually assh0les in my experience.

Goodnight

thisiswar wrote: »

It means excatly what I said.

The majority of people whom drive a Saab are assh0les in my opinion.

Would you like me to repeat it again?

Do you happen to drive a Saab by any chance?

A bit of a generalisation, had you a bad experience with them? I mean you could say BMW, merc, jag etc drivers are the same but it would be wrong, wayy wrong.Saab IMO are something other than the norm and personally I like them but others may not, just as I dont like the above, but I don't bad mouth them.pity about Saab though:(

jimmyw

alastair wrote: »

For extra assh0le credit?

Always liked the 900's. Sad to see another marque go.

Me too, classic 900,I think their cool:cool:

Ellis Dee

I suppose the aircraft operation will continue. After all, Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolag (Swedish Aeroplane Company) started as an aircraft manufacturer and only went into making cars after World War II.

benmad

thisiswar wrote: »

My last job involved dealing with a lot of motorists.
People whom drive a Saab are usually assh0les in my experience.

Goodnight

do saabs keep overtaking your micra

Saab Ed

Well what can I say only that its a very sad day. Its not nice to see any car company go under but for me Saab holds a special place.

I fell for Saabs when I was a child. Always wanted one after I saw a guy in a black, 900 Turbo 2 door just fade in to the distance after a full bore pelt from some traffic lights beside where I lived. It sounded good doing it, it looked bloody fantastic doing it and best of all they were'nt everywhere. Like when XR3i's or Golf GTi's took off they were all over the place. While they might be fine to drive again now, back in the 80s/90s , to drive one of these made you a proper unlikeable prick. For some this was the alure but for me, the fact that the Saab was just that little bit less obvious about how it went about its business is exactly what made it complete.

There's no point trying to say that the more modern GM stuff was up to scratch because it wasn't. That said, I have a 9-5 as a daily driver and its a superb car. Remember this is a car that would have scored 5 Euro NCAP stars before the fifth star was even created. But in fairness they did slowly lose their uniqueness, the part that made them different. GM tried to turn them in to some sort of Audi ( without the ability to do so and by using sh!te material, it was always gonna fail) and it didnt work. The irony being that A) Saab drivers didnt want to be drivers of run of the mill over priced, ordinary cars and part of what makes Audi a sucess today is in a way they've almost filled part of the gap left by Saab.

Anyway my addiction wont die soon. The current fleet consists of a 92 900 XS Coupe, a 98 9000 CSE Turbo and a 02 9-5 Vector. The 9000 will be gone in the next 6 months, the fun will be over soon and it just doesn't fit in with my needs at all. Very high on the list of wants is a 2 door 900 turbo and a 96 estate. Funds permitting, sometime over the next 24 months then that list will be complete.

To the Saab abusers on this thread, go easy a bit guys. This is'nt a mainstream maker of throw away sh!tboxes that just went out of business. This is a truly iconic, legendery marque that gave us some very unique, alternative (always good in the ever more bland motor industry) and innovative cars over a certain period in time and one that, unlike some marques that have gone before i.e Talbot/Saturn/Austin Rover, this one wont be forgotten in years to come. Infact my advice is buy a good pre GM Saab of any sort now before their true value is realised.

Great cars, great company , feels like a death to me and it'll be sadly missed.

Ed.

carchaeologist

I always had a liking for the 9000, a neighbour had one nearly new 20 years ago now and it was a fine machine. A kinda darkish green, possibly CD spec, would that be right?

unkel

thisiswar wrote: »

The majority of people whom drive a Saab are assh0les in my opinion.

You got that wrong, lad. Opinions are like arseholes

Saab Ed wrote: »

feels like a death to me and it'll be sadly missed.

Steady on. Saab is in Swedish bankruptcy (Saab owner Victor Muller filed for it in person in court), but that doesn't mean they are gone yet. GM do seem to be extremely obnoxious though about selling on its technology to the Chinese. WTF are they worried about? The '88 Vectra platform? Their sh1te petrol engines? :rolleyes:

M three

My favorite was the 96, and imo the last decent car they made

alastair

Saab Ed wrote: »

This is a truly iconic, legendery marque that gave us some very unique, alternative (always good in the ever more bland motor industry) and innovative cars over a certain period in time and one that, unlike some marques that have gone before i.e Talbot/Saturn/Austin Rover, this one wont be forgotten in years to come.

Talbot, Austin, and Rover all have a heritage that isn't likely to be forgotten any time soon!

mike65

The first car I ever drove

Xenophile

jimmyw wrote: »

Me too, classic 900,I think their cool:cool:

I agree, thirty years ago a very astute man told me my Saab would be a classic someday. I still have the car but sadly she needs a lot nurturing and tlc.

500man

Give me a black 99 turbo

Fishtits

Saab ceased to exist when GM bought them. So so chassis, noisy, clattery diesels,

RIP.

shawnee

Saab Ed wrote: »

Well what can I say only that its a very sad day. Its not nice to see any car company go under but for me Saab holds a special place.

I fell for Saabs when I was a child. Always wanted one after I saw a guy in a black, 900 Turbo 2 door just fade in to the distance after a full bore pelt from some traffic lights beside where I lived. It sounded good doing it, it looked bloody fantastic doing it and best of all they were'nt everywhere. Like when XR3i's or Golf GTi's took off they were all over the place. While they might be fine to drive again now, back in the 80s/90s , to drive one of these made you a proper unlikeable prick. For some this was the alure but for me, the fact that the Saab was just that little bit less obvious about how it went about its business is exactly what made it complete.

There's no point trying to say that the more modern GM stuff was up to scratch because it wasn't. That said, I have a 9-5 as a daily driver and its a superb car. Remember this is a car that would have scored 5 Euro NCAP stars before the fifth star was even created. But in fairness they did slowly lose their uniqueness, the part that made them different. GM tried to turn them in to some sort of Audi ( without the ability to do so and by using sh!te material, it was always gonna fail) and it didnt work. The irony being that A) Saab drivers didnt want to be drivers of run of the mill over priced, ordinary cars and part of what makes Audi a sucess today is in a way they've almost filled part of the gap left by Saab.

Anyway my addiction wont die soon. The current fleet consists of a 92 900 XS Coupe, a 98 9000 CSE Turbo and a 02 9-5 Vector. The 9000 will be gone in the next 6 months, the fun will be over soon and it just doesn't fit in with my needs at all. Very high on the list of wants is a 2 door 900 turbo and a 96 estate. Funds permitting, sometime over the next 24 months then that list will be complete.

To the Saab abusers on this thread, go easy a bit guys. This is'nt a mainstream maker of throw away sh!tboxes that just went out of business. This is a truly iconic, legendery marque that gave us some very unique, alternative (always good in the ever more bland motor industry) and innovative cars over a certain period in time and one that, unlike some marques that have gone before i.e Talbot/Saturn/Austin Rover, this one wont be forgotten in years to come. Infact my advice is buy a good pre GM Saab of any sort now before their true value is realised.

Great cars, great company , feels like a death to me and it'll be sadly missed.

Ed.

Nice epitaph for the Saabs. I have always been intrigued by them. I have driven a few and almost bought one on at least two occassions. I will buy a cheap one soon just to cross it off my list.. They are unique which is something one can't say about many of the present day motors that all look the same. However when I do buy one be it a GM Saab or whatever I wont be waiting for their value to be realised because being a Saab their value generally only goes one way

galwaytt

thisiswar wrote: »

Do you happen to drive a Saab by any chance?

Yes I do, much to the annoyance of my Passat-wielding colleagues.
There again, I also have a couple of old Porsches, and commute by motorbike...

Your point being....?

Hermy

A lot of people who don't drive Saabs are ass-holes too.
My Uncle drove a silver Saab 900 like this one some years ago.
A very nice man and a very nice car.

Arthur Daley

It's sad to see. Hopefully there is some hope, as the car world could do with a little bit of quirkiness and while Saab was no Citroen in those terms, they had a unique design in the past and a unique brand.

Eventually we will see some kind of backlash if old brands disappear like this and we only have a choice between half a dozen anonymous euro boxes made in collaboration with Detroit in some factory in Korea or China.

Anan1

A friend of our family bought a new SAAB 900CD in 1985 or so, I wish i'd been old & sensible enough to take a picture at the time - it's still the only one i've ever heard of in this country.

r1_2010

To be honest, I really like the current 93 and the new 95 is a very different and stunning looking motor on Irish roads.
Saab popularized the turbo and the GM Saabs are very much Saabs. Yes a lot of the parts are these days from the GM bin, but turbos , injectors, suspension setup are very much Saab. I always loved the way the interior was quirky and arranged around the driver with the green dials!
They will be sorely missed. Looking on car zone, they really do plummet in value. Make a great second hand buy too.

shawnee

r1_2010 wrote: »

To be honest, I really like the current 93 and the new 95 is a very different and stunning looking motor on Irish roads.
Saab popularized the turbo and the GM Saabs are very much Saabs. Yes a lot of the parts are these days from the GM bin, but turbos , injectors, suspension setup are very much Saab. I always loved the way the interior was quirky and arranged around the driver with the green dials!
They will be sorely missed. Looking on car zone, they really do plummet in value. Make a great second hand buy too.

Yeah I like them myself and they are really good value at present. If I got one with low mileage and service history , I would probably buy it , drive it and walk away from it in a few years...:) They are unique , which is more than can be said for many of today's motors.:P

Bridger12

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Forwarded message =

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From: Elli Wilson <elli.wilson@virgin.net>
Date: 30 December 2011 15:52
Subject: We Are Saabs Meeting



Hi All
the SOC has a support meeting on the 15th January 2012 see here for =ore details http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=3D87640 or of course on www.saabclub.co.uk it is a static meet not a =oving convoy or anything, Saab Drivers from around the world will be =eeting in their own locality worldwide, hopefully to send a clear =essage to those who have Saab (sweden) in their hands, to do the best =hey cah to keep the brand alive
I hope you can make it, obviously i have not got everyones email =ddress but please forward this email on to all that you know who is =nterested in Saab. i would rather get this email a million more times =han not get it at all, i really hope that outside Sweden we have the =iggest turnout !!

Also see www.outsidesaab.com

Very best regards
and have a fantastic NEW YEAR

elli



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Ellie Wilson
UK Local Branches CoOrdinator