Swade

Ryan and Caroline's cross-US journey in a Saab 900 Convertible continues…

Last week I shared a fantastic story from a couple of Saab fans, Ryan and Caroline F. Right now, they’re driving across the United States from LA to their home in Boston, in their new-to-them 1994 Saab 900 Convertible. I guess you could say they’re ticking off two dreams in the one trip: ownership of a classic Saab convertible and driving it from sea to shining sea.

I got an update from Ryan last night. They had a great time picking up the car in LA. Going on a trip like this in a car you’re unfamiliar with is a little daunting, so they had Walter Wong from Right Solution Inc – the most prominent independent Saab technician in California – go over the car with a fine-toothed comb.

Ryan in Right Solution’s racing Saab 9000 – the Saabrero. That’s Walter Wong on the right – a great guy who I had the pleasure of meeting back in 2008.

Here is Ryan’s update on the first half of the journey, and there’s a wonderful collection of photos below……

——

I couldn’t imagine a better car in which to see these amazing views through the country. We’ve gone through a lot of miles, through open or winding roads, and the entire way this car puts a smile on your face. Having the top down just makes you feel so connected with the landscape and lets you soak in the views surrounding you. The car’s been running smooth all the way and having the ability to put the top down also makes unloading/loading at camp sites even easier!

We certainly got a lot of looks in traffic on the way out of LA, and I’m sure the Massachusetts license plates also drummed up some curiosity as we saw people peering over as they passed by.

Our first stop was in Zion National Park and we ended up in a campsite immediately next to a 9-3 Sportcombi. Caroline and I ran into one of the campers from the group and then met the other two shortly afterwards. Christine, Katie and Lindsay are three friends who are driving around the country for a month! Their chariot is a Saab 9-3 Sportcombi (a parental loaner) outfitted with a Thule roof box for extra carrying capacity. It sounded like they’re having quite the trip and have been making a large loop around the country’s National Parks and are now making their way back to New Jersey. And, of course, they’re enjoying the Saab! They were also quite the troopers to wake up at the crack of dawn for the photo op before we both went our separate ways.

We’re looking forward to hitting the road again tomorrow: off to St. Louis, Columbus and Niagara Falls over the next few days before finally arriving back in Boston on Saturday. We look forward to seeing other Saabs on the road- we’ve seen a lot of friendly waves from other Saabers along the way – keep an eye out for the Massachusetts license plates headed east! We already have a lunch stop planned to meet a fellow Turbo X owner around the Cleveland area on the 22nd 🙂

Thanks to all in the community for all the kind words in the comments. We couldn’t have shared this trip without the resources made available by Swade and the encouragement of the rest of the Saab community, so the least I can do in return is provide these pretty pictures, right?

Click the photos to enlarge…..

Our Saab friends at Zion National Park (Christine, Katie and Lindsay)

Leaving Zion National Park

By the Grand Canyon

Caroline + Saab at the Grand Canyon

Ryan + Saab at the Grand Canyon

Before entering Monument Valley

After a storm in Monument Valley (the first time on the trip with the top up, we stopped after the storm to put it back down and saw that behind us)

View from on top of Mesa Verde

Leaving Mesa Verde

Entering the Great Sand Dunes

After setting up the tent at the Great Sand Dunes, tallest sand dunes in North America

—

My time in the Saab 9-4x – Part 2

Read part 1 of this review – Saab 9-4x Intro, styling and interior

——

Performance and Handling

The Saab 9-4x Aero with its 2.8 Turbo engine produces 300hp (221kW) of power and 295 ft lb (400Nm) of torque. Believe me when I tell you that that’s more than enough to make this big momma get up and dance. This car goes and when pressed, it goes quick.

Saab’s Drivesense system is standard on the Aero and Premium models. This offers a two-stage map, the options being comfort and sport. Sport mode tightens up the suspension, steering and throttle response and offers quicker gear changes. Comfort mode, as the name suggests, provides a more comfortable drive.

2012 models will get a third option – ‘Intelligent’ mode – which will read your driving style in any given situation and change the parameters on the fly when it is safe to do so. If you’re wondering whether the lack of an intelligent mode in the 2011 model is a detraction, then fear not. I found that I enjoyed making the decision for myself and switching modes manually rather than leaving it on the ‘Intelligent’ setting as I might have otherwise done. In fact, switching manually is most likely how I’d personally treat a Drivesense-equipped car with all three modes (like the Saab 9-5) anyway.

Sport mode reveals the real Jekyll and Hyde nature of the Saab 9-4x Aero. Even in comfort mode, the car will easily overtake another vehicle at highway speeds. In sport mode, it’ll do it before the other car even realises you’re not there any more. The acceleration and responsiveness of the Aero in sport mode reminded me of what it was like to drive a Saab Turbo for the first time, but without the lag or torque steer.

The art of designing and engineering vehicles really has come a long way in the last 20 years. Just the difference in engine refinement between my 1991 Saab 900 and any Saab thereafter is amazing. The fact that Saab (and others) can get a vehicle with the height and weight of an SUV to handle like a car is downright astounding.

The Saab 9-4x can’t completely hide its size, but it does a darn good job of it. Here in Sweden, we have a lot of highway exits that involve very tight 270-degree loops to change to a different highway. The 9-4x handled these with aplomb, even if you could notice the weight transfer a little by the time you got to the final 90-degrees of the turn. It’s not a Mazda MX-5 in the cornering department, but for the amenity it delivers as a larger vehicle, it’s damn good (the MX-5 is no 9-4x in the load-lugging or comfort department – it’s all about suitability for purpose, which I’ll talk about more, below).

We spent the vast majority of our drive on the highway, but there was also a good portion of time on what you might call ‘B-roads’ heading to a rally stage outside of Västerås. The 9-4x showed its worth on this drive, covering the 200km+ drive that included some winding backroads with ease.

Fuel Economy

It should be understood that anyone buying a Saab 9-4x is someone who most likely doesn’t consider themselves to be a hardcore treehugger. The 9-4x is a larger-than-average vehicle here in Sweden and amongst all the regular sedans and wagons here, it certainly did feel like a big vehicle. Depending on specification, the 9-4x weighs in between 4,200 and 4,700 pounds. Whilst it behaves with extraordinary manners on the road, it’s still a hefty beast and requires a deft touch to eek out some good fuel economy for its size.

My journey involved a lot of highway mileage and I drove (generally) to the posted speed limits, which varied between 90 and 120 km/h. I wasn’t kicking it. It also involved a bit of ‘city’ driving in Västerås as well as some city cruising around the streets of Stockholm looking for photo opportunities.

Over the course of those 1,140kms, I averaged what I thought was a quite reasonable 10.5 litres of fuel per 100kms. That’s 22.4mpg in the US and 26.9mpg in the UK. The US is the only country with stated consumption figures for the 2011 model and those official figures state 22mpg highway, so getting 22.4mpg on combined driving (city/hwy) was pretty impressive for a vehicle of this size and power.

A word for the wise, though……. If you sink the boots in and make use of the ample acceleration and higher speeds that the Aero is capable of, you will notice it at the pump. Other 9-4x’s being driven by staffers here in Trollhattan – driven with a little more gusto, that is – are reporting consumption around 12l/100km (that’s 19.6mpg (US) or 23.5mpg (UK)). The good news is that you’ll cover the distance to the pump a lot quicker. The bad news is that you’ll need to.

It’s all about suitability for purpose. People looking for a 9-4x are looking for a bigger vehicle with a bigger engine and the driving experience that such a car delivers. People looking at the price point of the 9-4x should take into account the running costs and their driving style and do the math. Driving this car sensibly will deliver good fuel economy for the size of the vehicle. Driving this vehicle close to the limits of its capability will require a bigger fuel budget (and remember to use premium fuel, as recommended, and factor that cost in. Don’t spend the money on getting the right car and then skimp by using the wrong fuel).

—

My time in the Saab 9-4x (part 1)

This is a tough one. How do you go about writing a review of car made by the company that employs you to write? I’ve said it here before: enthusiast first, employee second – but I understand that some may (and probably should) take this article with a grain of salt. Still, I hope you find it informative and enjoyable.

Last weekend I had the good fortune to pilot a Saab 9-4x for three days, covering 1,140kms from Trollhattan to Västerås for the Midnight Sun Rally, and then on to Stockholm for one night before returning to home base in Trollywood.

This was my first time driving a Saab 9-4x. I’m not what you’d call an SUV traditionalist. In fact, I’m the exact opposite, preferring smaller cars with efficient use of space and some sort of fun factor – that the 1999 Saab 9-3, a Mazda MX-5 and an Alfa Romeo 33 have all made appearances in my garage in the past should bear this out.

Still, this is a vehicle designed from the ground up as a Saab by a team led by Swedish engineer, Peter Dörrich. This is a vehicle we’ve been anticipating since we first saw the concept car in early 2008. To say I was excited about the opportunity would be an understatement of considerable proportions.

Continue reading My time in the Saab 9-4x (part 1)

In the carpark – part 3 – Saab 9-5 SportCombi

Mmmmmm.

Click.

—

Saabosphere – links we like this week (big weekend edition)

Forgive the lack of postings here over the weekend but it was a BIG three days on the road, travelling 1,140kms in a Saab 9-4x between Friday and Sunday afternoon.

I’ll be writing about it all in the coming days, but we took in the Midnight Sun Rally in Västerås on Saturday and then some time in Stockholm on Sunday. I tried to call in on a few friends to give them a test drive but they seemed to be on vacation and wouldn’t answer the door:

Note to editors: That is what’s referred to as subtle humour. Please ensure that you’re knickers don’t get in a twist.

I’ll have all the action from Saturday morning’s rallying and some great Saab pics from both Västerås and Stockholm coming later on.

——

Must Read – I think I’ll do a “must read” every week from now on. if you’re only going to hit one link on this entry for further reading, the must read is the one.

Today’s Must Read is from Autoweek. Their editors have recently noted their thoughts on the Saab 9-5 Aero they have in their long-term test fleet and they make for some good reading. There are six editors thoughts recorded. Here’s a sample from just one of them:

I find the car’s styling is attractive in a classic sense. I suspect it will still look good once the last payment is made. Inside, the car is functional and offers just the right Saab-style appointments and extras, such as the Saab-centric center-mounted ignition button and mandatory turbo boost gauge, the clean center stack, the huge sunroof covered by a linen sunshade, the well-bolstered leather seats, and flat-bottomed thick leather-wrapped steering wheel. I still miss the artistic Transformer like pop-out cupholders, but I can forgo that stuff for this overall better car.

If you only read one article here, make it this one.

——

Speaking of long term test vehicles, CAR Magazine have just picked up a Saab 9-5 TTiD in Laser Red. Because fire engines are cool, OK?

There are no long-term test drive thoughts, yet, just the specifications (and boy, did they ever have a good time with the options list!)

——

A reader of the Globe and Mail writes in to them and asks “Can Saab Survive? Should I buy one?” Many jokes follow (it’s part of the columnist’s schtik) before they conclude that No, the reader shouldn’t buy a Saab, or a Volvo, for that matter.

My advice – check out the cars for yourself. You wouldn’t go to a butcher to get your shoes repaired so why go to a newspaper to get a definitive answer on what car you should buy? Newspapers are to there to provide opinions, but your own opinion is just as valid as theirs and the only way to make your mind up is to check the car out for yourself.

——

The Motor Report recently tested the Saab 9-5 Vector in Australia. They complained about the price of the vehicle but found it to be a good driver, over all.

What got me confused was their comparison at the end, comparing the 9-5 Vector to a BMW 325i (amongst others). They concede that the BMW feels asthmatic and cramped compared to the 9-5, but feels more ‘planted’ on the road. The last comment is fair enough because that is BMW’s forte, but it just seemed like a strange comparison to make given the different emphasis each vehicle has.

As I said, check them out for yourselves, according to your own priorities and tastes.

——

The last few years have taken their toll and we have some work to do in Australia when it comes to customer satisfaction levels.

——

It was nice to see our batch of Saab 9-6 images got picked up by a few motoring websites. There are a lot of interesting stories to tell here at Saab and I’m looking forward to sharing more of them – especially from the Saab Museum.

——

And finally, for those with an interest in advertising…… Business Insider has a study into which parts of an advertisement get the most viewing time from both men and women.

There are three ads used in the study – a woman in a bikini, a woman in a pair of sneakers (yes, just sneakers) and an ad for the Saab 9-5.

Check it out and see some of the finer details that ad people have to think about. (link is to the 9-5 pages only, if you want to look at ladies in bikinis and sneakers then you’ll have to do so consciously 🙂 )

——

The end of the weekend saw my wife and I attend the conclusion of Fallens Dagar here in Trollhattan. The fireworks were something to behold as they go off right above your head. There’s also the release of water from the Göta älv, which is quite picturesque at 11pm.

Video by zaibase, on Youtube.

If you want suggestions for a good time to visit Trollhattan, either during the Saab Festival or during Fallens Dagar are pretty good, and occasionally those two events are on at the same time.

The Saab 9-4x Rocks

—

Congratulations to The Wynns for 'wynning' Best of the Road

I’d like to pass on some Inside Saab congratulations to “Gone with the Wynns” for winning the Best of the Road event that we’ve been covering over the last three weeks.

The Best of the Road was a trip across the USA. Five teams participated, driving their Saabs and looking for the best food, the most patriotic town, the most beautiful town, the friendliest town and the most fun town in America. The Wynns were covering the friendliest town and they did it with style, great videos, great photography and a wonderful sense of humour.

Here’s a little video they posted just prior to the announcement…..

Thank you towns! from Gone With the Wynns on Vimeo.

All five teams had the trip of a lifetime, but only one could take the prize. The Wynns were judged to have provided the best content and gathered the biggest following and for that, they won $10,000 cash as well as a Saab 9-4x.

Congratulations, Wynns!

And well done to the other four teams. Thanks for entertaining us and showing us the United States through your eyes. It’s been a blast.

—

A very personal "Best of the Road" journey

This is the sort of stuff that makes all the hours of writing worthwhile for a Saabnut like me. Today, I’m employed by Saab to write about their affairs and help connect with you, their customers. For six years, however, I did it in my own free time and it’s meeting people like Ryan and getting to share their stories that makes it all so fascinating and worthwhile.

This is the passion that inspires the Saab community, whether it be long-term owners or new Saabers alike.

Ryan credits me with some of the inspiration for his purchase, which is very kind of him. It’s people like Ryan and his wife, Caroline, however, who inspire me. Whether you’re purchasing your dream convertible from yesteryear or a brand new 9-4x or 9-5, your stories are always worth the telling.

I’d like to thank Ryan for sharing his story. This was received by email yesterday (Thursday)……

——

Hi Swade,

We (my wife Caroline and myself) are really enjoying reading Inside Saab! Great work and what a dream come true to land a job with Saab!

As I’m sitting on a plane en route to LA from Boston, I just wanted to share with you the reason I’m on this flight in the first place (your work with TrollhattanSaab and SaabsUnited…and now Inside Saab are all major contributing factors for this little vacation).

Over the winter in Boston, as we started to wish for warmer days we decided to begin a search for a classic 900 convertible. After seeing pictures upon pictures online during the snow days, I started talking about the idea to Pierre, Peter Maitland and Seth at Charles River Saab. Their advice was to expand the search outside of New England, to lands where rust is a lesser known issue. So, after a few months of searching into the spring, Caroline had the suggestion to make a bigger trip out of it- “let’s get something out West and spend a week camping and driving it back to Boston.”

I got to search and used the google chrome/craigslist extension that was featured on SaabsUnited to dig through many cities at once, targeting everywhere west of Colorado. I finally came across a 1994 900 S owned by a lady from Switzerland who lives in the Hollywood area. 133,000 miles, manual transmission, black.

After explaining our idea to her over the phone, she thought it sounded like an exciting trip and we began working out the details of getting this done. First thing on the list was to have a Saab mechanic look at the car – enter Walter Wong & Drew Price over at Right Solution in LA. The shop went through the car and give me their inspection report over the phone. Everything checked out, and next thing I knew I was sending the Massachusetts license plates out to LA to finish the transfer of ownership and prepare for a trip back!

Walter has been working on the car over the past few weeks to prep it for the long journey through the desert, from brake pads to thermostats/cooling fan switches. Talk about dedication here- I received a call from Walter around 10pm Boston time (7pm LA time) on the Friday before July 4th weekend. Walter was just calling to chat about a few options/recommendation for the alternator work and to talk me through what he was doing that day. I don’t know anyone else who would have stayed a minute after 5pm to continue work on a holiday weekend. Needless to say, we’re excited to meet him in person today.

Our route takes us from LA into Costa Mesa, on to Zion Nation Park via Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, Durango, the Great Sand Dunes, Kansas, St. Louis, Columbus, Niagara Falls, and finally home to Boston. After we had planned our trip, we were excited to see the coverage of the Rand McNally Best of the Road journey – perhaps we might run into them in LA today!

We plan to take plenty of photos, and will upload a few onto facebook/google+ along the way.

Here’s a rough map of our route:

We’re looking forward to having this back in Boston and at the upcoming Swedish Car Day, among other events. Coggs gave me a “Black Saabs Rule, So Long Jackass” – Jerry Seinfeld sticker to end up somewhere on/in the car.

Keep up the great work on Inside Saab and beyond, we’ll keep Saabin on and I can’t wait to purchase our next Saab (hopefully a brand new one this time, in any color as long as it’s black, to match the 9000, the TurboX and now the c900 cv).

Thanks,

Ryan

——

And here’s a first image, received today, of Ryan and Caroline with their new 900 Convertible. We’ll catch up with them a bit more and track some of their journey from LA back home to Boston.

—

In the Inside Saab garage parking lot – Saab 9-4x

I just wanted to post a quick note on the new wheels in the parking lot tonight.

This is my chariot for the next few days……. click

It’s a Saab 9-4x Aero – 2.8T V6 with XWD – and I’ll be taking it up to Västerås tomorrow for a few days of action at the Midnight Sun rally.

I’ll be arriving in the afternoon and taking in all the final day’s action, checking out all the Saabs in play and of course, sharing plenty of photos and maybe some video here in Inside Saab.

——

Mrs Swade and I took the 9-4x out for a nice leisurely drive this evening, taking one of the back roads out of Trollhattan towards Lilla Edet. It’s a winding, uneven surface and in the rain, there’s plenty of reason to be cautious (which I was). The 9-4x was totally planted, however, and didn’t miss a beat. It was an incredibly encouraging first run, even if just a short one.

The difference between Sport and Comfort modes is a marked one, as it should be. Comfort soaked up all the road’s uneven surfaces quite nicely and Sport turned it (surprisingly) aggressive. A real Jeckyl and Hyde, this one – in a good way. Those two modes should be different, otherwise why have them?

Can’t wait to get it out on the open road tomorrow. I’ve got my wife here, an iPod, a Saab 9-4x and 300+km of roads to travel. What more could you ask for?

Press Release: Saab 9-4X Crossover Arrives in the US

A press release we’re very happy to see, from our US offices……

——

ROYAL OAK, Mich., July 13, 2011 — Saab’s all-new 9-4X crossover has landed in US dealer showrooms. The greatly anticipated vehicle is Saab’s newest addition to the Saab product family.

“Our first vehicles are just hitting retailers and our first customer sale took place last weekend at Saab North Olmstead in Cleveland, Ohio,” said Tim Colbeck, President and COO SCNA. “This is an exciting product, with a true Saab crossover that gives us entry into a new segment.”

Saab’s first 9-4X sale went to Martin Reuben of Ohio. “Before even driving it off the lot, I put my butt into the seat, looked around and bought it on the spot,” replied Martin. “So far everything I’ve discovered on this car is pure Saab – purposeful & well designed.”

The 9-4X which was recently awarded “Top Safety Pick” by IIHS, brings car-like handling and ride qualities to the crossover segment. Key to its dynamic performance is a unique body structure, purpose-designed for a crossover application and free from compromises through adapting an existing sedan or wagon format. The Saab 9-4X’s advanced chassis offers car-like handling characteristics with sporty and responsive driving qualities. Available technologies include Saab’s DriveSense adaptive chassis, with real-time damping control, and Saab XWD, a cutting edge all wheel-drive system with an electronically-controlled rear limited-slip differential (eLSD).

Comfort and convenience standard features range from a start/stop button and adaptable cargo storage. As well as options including: passive entry and exit, a powered tailgate, tri-zone air conditioning and rear seat entertainment packages. Satellite-navigation with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bose surround sound system and hard disc ‘jukebox’ music storage are among the infotainment options.

The 9-4X crossover entry level price is $34,205 MSRP for front-wheel-drive and $48,835 MSRP for the 9-4X Aero XWD model.

For more information on the Saab 9-4X, please refer to SaabUSA.com