Inside Saab Archives - Page 2 of 9

What the Swedish police really thought of the Saab 9-5

There were several articles online a few weeks ago about the Swedish police placing an order for 50 Volkswagens to be used as police cars. Several of them emphasised the fact that the police had not bought Saabs and used this as a judgement against Saab, as if the police didn’t find a current Saab suitable.

That’s some considerable distance from being accurate. The sad fact is that we weren’t able to fill an order for the Swedish police due to our production halt. We could not assure them of delivery by their required date and sadly, they had to shop elsewhere. It had nothing to do with any opinion they held about the car. In fact, they were very keen on the Saab 9-5, as you can see below.

The Swedish police evaluated the Saab 9-5 V6 for operational purposes in September 2010 and I’ve received the OK to share their findings here on Inside Saab. This is a public document and as such, can’t be altered from the original Swedish, but I have been allowed to provide a translation in text.

This is somewhat different to a regular road test. There’s no comments on who the car’s vehicular relatives might be, no whipcrack remarks about re-sale, interior materials or competitive placement. It’s all purely and simply about how the vehicle performs relative to the needs of the police force. The police have to be able to drive the pants off this car if necessary, and still feel confident that the car will be stable and dependable.

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Page 1 provides some details as to the test itself: location, who was present and the type of vehicle tested.

The car is a Saab 9-5 V6 and is noted as being a prototype (i.e. pre-production) vehicle with a chassis setup specifically for the police. The weather was 11 degrees C, with dry and sunny conditions. It also states in summary the tests performed and a pass or fail grade: Brakes, Konbana (slalom), Evasive Actions, Brakes with Evasive Actions, Emergency Driving on Public Roads.

At the bottom, you can see some green text with a check mark, stating that the vehicle is considered suitable as a police car.

Page 2 is concerned with the braking test, checking brake temperatures and braking distances over a session of 10 braking runs.

The tester notes the following:

The vehicle in question had an incorrect type of vacuum pump which affected the braking distance slightly. Overall, there was nothing to complain about, with no fading at all.

Page 3 – ‘Konbana’ is a slalom course (the fun stuff!). Note that the test course was driven without stability control up to 75km/h without incident or difficulty.

The drivers remarks translate as follows:

Fantastic handling, excellent response throughout the manoeuvre. The chassis is impressive. Even without the electronic stability control system there is no problem to run the course.

Page 4

Minimal notes on page 4.

Page 5 – This test was concerned with braking and evasive manoeuvres, conducted at increasing speeds.

The drivers notes from this test:

An extremely stable and flexible chassis. The car does exactly as the driver wants (with) a huge steering response. A really great car, very easy to drive with either under- or oversteer. It lets nothing on the outer wheel, the fact that you can travel at nearly 2.5 tonnes will not even notice. Power steering is very precise and easy to handle.

The chassis is so well prepared and adapted to the weight, to manoeuvre clear without a hitch. Even without a ESP system switched on, no problem taking the car through the course at 105 km/h – which must be considered a new record!

And the final page:

Final remarks:

There is nothing negative to say at all, a fantastic chassis.

Lateral movements at high speeds (~ 220 km / h) are very stable and safe.

Altogether it is estimated that this chassis is the best thing that has ever been tested and therefore awarded the highest rating class: full marks

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So there you see the results for yourself.

These vehicles would have been supplied in the Swedish market and I spoke briefly with Saab’s Director for the Nordic region, Magnus Hansson.

We received great feedback from the Swedish Police, who are as heartbroken as we are that we weren’t able to deliver cars to them this year. Based on their tests, the looks of the car, and word of mouth amongst the Swedish police etc, they would really love to get into our new 9-5s. We can’t wait to renew our relationship with them in the near future.

It’s to our detriment that we weren’t able to fill the order, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be doing our utmost to do so in the future. We’re very proud of our history in terms of supplying quality vehicles for emergency services in Sweden.

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Hirsch Performance Newsletter – Saab 9-4x upgrade

Hirsch Performance are Saab’s only factory-authorised performance partner and they’ve just released their November 2011 newsletter.

Hirsch Performance products are available in select markets around the world. Check with your local Saab dealer.

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Performance upgrade for the Saab 9-4x Aero

The performance upgrade to 330 hp that Hirsch Performance originally developed for the 9-5 Turbo6 is now also available in a version for installation on the 9-4x Aero. The maximum torque is increased to 430 Nm and is available over a wide rpm band, enchancing driving dynamics even further.

The upgrade is CARB-approved and comes with all nessesary documents. Of course, as with all Hirsch Performance engine upgrades, the Saab factory warranty is completely sustained. Just like with the original calibration for this car, and for all Hirsch Performance upgrades, premium high octane fuel is required to achieve full performance.

Vehicle shown also has Hirsch wheels

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Premium leather upgrade for the new Saab 9-5 dashboard

The high quality Hirsch Performance leather interior parts for the 9-3 have been a huge success among Saab drivers all around the globe. Building on this success, Hirsch Performance has developed a leather trim set for the instrument panel in the new 9-5.

Available in two different leather finishes, it gives a premium look and feel to the dashboard and the center stack. The version finished in black nappa leather offers an understated, luxurious look, while the embossed carbon leather version combines elegance and sportiness.

In addition to the premium appearance, the black leather used reduces distracting glare in sunny conditions and when driving at night.

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Sport pedals for the new Saab 9-5

The Hirsch Performance pedals are made from aircraft grade aluminum. The surface is brushed and non-slip rubber pads provide excellent grip.

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Sports exhaust for the Saab 9-3 Griffin

The new stainless steel exhaust from Hirsch Performance for the model year 2012 Saab 9-3 Griffin offers both aural pleasure and a sporty design.

As with the previous versions, the sound is defined by a smooth, sonorous idle, a relaxed partial load rumble and a gratifying roar at high rpm’s with wide-open throttle.

The cat-back exhaust system is made from stainless steel to ensure outstanding functionality and longevity. The tailpipes are polished, chromed and embossed with the Hirsch Performance logotype – providing a look that is at the same time sporty and elegant.

The new sports exhaust system is backward compatible with all four cylinder gasoline and BioPower engines from model year 03 on, and are available for both US/Canada specification cars as well as for all other markets.

All parts necessary for the installation are included in the package. Fits all trim levels, including Arc, Linear, Vector, Aero etc.

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Rear diffuser for 9-5 SportCombi and US/Canada 9-5 SportSedan

The Hirsch Performance rear diffuser for the Saab 9-5 is now also available in a version for cars with no rear fog lights integrated in the rear bumper. This includes the future 9-5 SportCombi for all markets, as well as the US/Canada version of the 9-5 SportSedan.

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Who’s got the oldest original-owner Saab?

I talked to a wonderful elderly lady here in Australia earlier today and the conversation got me thinking.

She has a 1975 Saab 99GL CombiCoupe that she picked up brand new in Gothenburg before eventually bringing the car here to Australia. It’s quite a fascinating story, one that I hope to bring in more detail in a few weeks from now.

The story did get me wondering, however….

Who’s got the oldest Saab purchased from new? Who’s got the longest term, one-owner Saab out there that’s still running?

There’s a lady in South Australia who can prove she’s the original owner of a car in wonderful condition, one that was first purchased by her 36 years ago.

Anyone got an advance on that? I’m sure you’re out there somewhere. It’d be fun to track down who’s got the record so please get in touch and let me know.

Djup Strupe on the Saab 9-1 that wasn’t

Fridays are never as good as Mondays for people seeing stuff, and this is one that I figured people might find particularly interesting, hence the re-post.

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Who knew that yesterday – 11/11/11 – was going to be dubbed “Nigel Tufnel Day”? Outstanding. Thanks Jim.

We celebrated the alignment of the ones on the calendar by taking a look at the car that could have become the Saab 9-1 if was built, which it wasn’t. That car was the Saab 9-X BioHybrid, a concept car from the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.

That story aroused the interest of an old friend of mine, someone simply known as Djup Strupe, which is Swedish for “Deep Throat”. Dust was blown off the Djup Strupe filing cabinet and the image below was sent via carrier pigeon with a simple note saying how Saab saw their new cars in 2001.

Click to enlarge.

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Back in 2001, of course, the 9-3 Sport Sedan range was still in the final stages of its development. The 9-5 was only a few years old and isn’t referenced in this image, which seems to reflect only cars that were in development at that time.

It features four 9-3 models that we did get to see (eventually) and one that we didn’t.

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How did you end up buying your first Saab, Pierre?

This submission is a response to me sharing my story as to how I acquired my first Saab. It comes from Pierre B, who is not only a guy I consider to be a good friend, but is also the second hardest-working guy I know in the extended Saab family (after VM himself). Pierre is the Service Manager at Charles River Saab in Boston. If you know him, then you’ll know that what I say about his work ethic is true.

Many of you submitted your own stories in comments. If you’d like to share it here on the front page, please email me (insidesaabofficial-at-gmail.com) and send me your story, along with a few photos.

My thanks to Pierre for sending in the following….

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My wife, Sue, and I had worked at a Saab dealer since 1984, but didn’t purchase our first Saab until 1990. We had been content driving our Chevy’s and Hondas. At the time our first son was born in 1988 we had two Hondas, my wife’s CRX and my Civic Wagon. We swapped cars, and the wagon became the baby hauler. We had both worked with Saabs and liked them a lot, but they were always out of reach for us, and we were happy with our simple, fun and cheap Hondas.

By the time our second son was born a year later, safety became more or a priority than motoring on the cheap and easy, and much as I adored those Hondas they were cracker-boxes. A trade-in finally came our way which seemed a good Saab that we could afford. It was a 1984 900T 4-door 5-speed in Slate Blue, a tan cloth interior and 100,000 miles. It had a very dented door, which we had repaired, and required a bit of work to get it up to snuff (brakes, belts, ball joints, tires…) and other wise was really clean, solid and (in its day) fast.

Though today a six-year 100,000 mile Saab seems barely broken in to me, I was so concerned about damaging the car, especially the pinion bearing in the transmission, that I drove that car very gingerly in the early years. It was Sue’s car, though, so I only drove it on occasion. I do recall being in the car, as a passenger as we drove through Connecticut on I84, a road notorious for its speed traps, and noting that Sue was driving briskly, perhaps too much so. I glanced over and saw the speedometer at 80 mph. I commented that perhaps she was driving with excessive alacrity. “Saabs just don’t like to go 60 mph,” she replied.

Once we had that car, we were hooked. Our next Saab came in 1993, a 9000T, and I inherited the 900. Having realized that the 900 did not have to be treated like a China doll, it put in great service for me through ten years and 125,000 miles of ownership, at which point I sold it to another cellist who drove it another 20,000 miles or so. That was the only 4-door 900 I ever had, and the only 8-valve. It really did change the way we looked at cars. What started as a quest for safety became a passion, not only for me but also for Sue, and ultimately our kids.

I don’t have any digital images of the complete car at hand, but I did find this photo of the rear quarter, taken in 1990 with son Pascal playing in the trunk.

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A Saab goes to 11, three times, on "Tufnel Day"

Just when you thought the numeric stories for Nigel Tufnel Day were over, another one pops up.

This one is courtesy of the Saab Turbo Club of Sweden.

One of the members at the STCS forum noted a wonderful coincidence back on Friday, which of course, happened to be 11/11/11. I don’t know if he saw his odometer creeping up to this number in the lead-up to Friday and managed his mileage to get this to happen, or if he just had wonderful presence of mind as the magic moment took place, but this is a very good image capture with great timing.

My thanks to Michael for letting me post that serendipitous coincidence here on Inside Saab and also to Mioh for the tip 🙂

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How did you end up buying your first Saab?

Something to pass the time……

A story from earlier in the week prompted a few Saab purchase stories from the pre-internet days. Forgetting the internet for a moment, it’s always interesting to hear how people first get into Saabs.

I received one such story via email but I haven’t sought permission to share it here as yet. I’ll do that shortly. In the meantime, I thought I’d reminisce a little……

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The archives of my first Saab website, Trollhattan Saab, are out of action at the moment. If they were operating, you’d be able to read about my first Saab experience in a mid-1980’s Saab 9000 at 200kph. I’ll re-write it one day.

That experience, in the very early 1990s, got me thinking about Saab. I was in no position to buy one, but rather than lampooning them as I did with many European cars during my misguided youth, I started to look for them.

I finished my university studies at the end of 1997 and got married (first time) the year after. Let’s just say that my first wife was not exactly a car person and it took a reasonable amount of arm twisting and good behaviour before we had a consensus that it would be reasonable to start looking for a ‘fun car’ for me. She had a Toyota Corolla at the time and I had a rotating garage door that saw several different Fords and Holdens from my employer of the day – hardly inspiring stuff.

This was the late 1990s and there were quite a few Saabs advertised back then. Tasmania actually had one of the best per-capita Saab dealerships in Australia during the 1980s and early 1990s, so the local stocks were pretty good. I can remember testing a magnificent blue Saab 900 Turbo, with a blue velour interior. It was a very early model, perhaps 1980 or 1981 and I was stunned by how much fun it was to drive (it had been around six years since my first experience in the 9000 – a long time between drinks).

I also tested a Saab 9000 Turbo in Rose Quartz metallic, with a dark red interior. It was like being in a mobile gentlemans club. I loved it, but it was well out of my very shallow price range.

That consensus opinion led to me having an allocation of only a few thousand dollars, but I wasn’t discouraged. I ended up perusing the newspapers on Saturday mornings, when the local rags had their classified listings. One particular Saturday, a dismantler had an ad for a Saab 99 in the paper – a complete running car that he wanted to sell rather than break up.

The car turned out to be a red Saab 99E from around 1972. It had the blue badge on the silver grille and given that it was being sold by what we call a “wrecker” here in Australia, you can imagine that it wasn’t presented in pristine condition. In fact, it was filthy.

The dismantler did some mechanical work on the side and the owner of the car was an elderly lady who was a client of his. He’d worked on the car for a few years and assured us that it was in sound condition. Time for a test drive, then….

A little bit more context is needed at this point. Please remember that I’m talking about Tasmania in the late 1990s. The closest thing to a computer in my possession at that time was a first generation Playstation. I had no point of reference for an early Saab and scant knowledge of the company’s history. To me, based on the Saab 900 and 9000 Turbos I’d driven, all Saab were wonderfully well equipped and quite fast.

As it turned out, a 1972 Saab 99E with a single-carb, 1.85L engine and an automatic transmission is nothing like a turbocharged Saab 900 or 9000. The car was as slow as a wet week and I refer you to my earlier comments about its presentation. There wasn’t a lot to get excited about, to be honest.

BUT….. it had oodles of character and despite the problems getting it started, it did get down the road OK (eventually). I wasn’t getting the Saab experience that I’d counted on, but I was definitely getting a Saab experience. And after so many months of wanting a car to play around with, a car with character, I decided to negotiate a price and we eventually took the car home.

My first wife and I didn’t get along that well in the end, but the demise of our marriage had nothing to do with sub-standard cleaning skills. We got the little 99E home and proceeded to pull apart the interior and she worked absolute wonders in stripping the insides and cleaning up every little nook and cranny. I felt a little bit ashamed at how much more thorough she was, compared to what I would have been. I took care of the exterior and I have to say, the car shone like some sort of miniature Swedish fire engine by the time we were done with it. The transformation was absolutely amazing.

As mentioned earlier, this was right at the beginning of my professional career, post university, and well before the digital age that we enjoy now. Thus, there are no wonderful digital images for me to post here. Somewhere there are a couple of blurry images from my old 35mm camera, but I couldn’t find them for this piece.

It looked quite a bit like the one to the right, except it was the first year of the black-bumper models and had square headlamps instead of the round ones shown here. The car had a red velour interior and the headrests shown in that image (the funkiest headrests EVER!). There was no center console under the dashboard, which was great for spreading your feet out over longer distances.

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We had a pretty good, albeit short time with the little red 99. My now ex-wife took it to work one night and on the way home, she did some damage that seemed uneconomical to repair (this was not the reason for the separation and divorce, I might add).

In hindsight, I think we could have fixed it, but it would have meant pouring quite a bit of money that we didn’t have into a car that we didn’t really appreciate the true value of. If only I’d known then what I know now.

The demise of the Saab 99E saw my buy an Alfasud Sprint – another short-lived ownership story thanks to a terrible cooling system – and then my turbo journey began with my first Saab 99 Turbo.

But that’s a story for another time……

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If you’ve got a first-Saab purchase story to tell, please do get in touch. It’d be great to share a few more of these.

And pictures would be wonderful if you’ve got them 🙂

The autoextremist on winners in the car industry

I’m a regular reader of many automotive columnists and this week’s Rants entry from the AutoExtremist caught my eye. The article is actually about Toyota and the troubles they’ve suffered in the last few years – some of which were self-inflicted and some of which stemmed from natural disasters.

In talking about the focus needed for success, he mentions the following:

…..there are two ways to arrive at that profitability. The right way, and the wrong way.

The wrong way is to lose your focus, churn out products that lack integrity and aren’t true to your mission, and push for short-term profits above everything else. The companies that choose that path ….. suffer deep consequences for their shortsightedness and loss of focus.

The right way is to build outstanding machines, first and foremost. Vehicles that bristle with leading-edge design and exceptional, innovative engineering that are built with integrity and just the right amount of connectivity. Vehicles attuned to customers’ needs and wants yet imbued with the manufacturer’s personality and above all else are flat-out fun to drive.

Much has been made of our desire to build Saab Saabs once again and it’s something we’re very much on the road to doing. We’re extremely proud of the vehicles that we developed after our former owners renewed their attention on us back in 2005 (when the Aero-X was developed, the revealed in 2006).

But were very excited indeed about the opportunity to show off what we’ve been able to do on our own, with the replacement for the Saab 9-3. Reading the AutoExtremist column earlier today got me thinking more about that. Everything he mentions in that final paragraph above has been a focus in the development of this car and I guess you could say our current circumstances tend to focus your attention on what could be – if things go the way we think they should.

We don’t want to be Toyota sized, or anyone-else-sized for that matter. We just want to build the best damn Saabs we can and sell them to happy customers.

To quote another favourite AutoExtremist saying of mine: the car industry is, has always been, and always will be about one thing – the product.

Waiting…..

I apologise if the lack of writing here today has been a cause for concern. Simply put, there was nothing I could say. I had my own thoughts, of course, but they were best left unpublished, especially on an official site.

For those who haven’t caught up with the news…..

Back when our Chinese partners made a low offer to purchase 100% of our operations, Victor Muller suggested that it would trigger a change of control clause that GM and other partners would have difficulty with. The more recent, higher offer, did actually trigger that clause, meaning that GM had to give their blessing to the deal. As of yesterday, GM declared that they do indeed have difficulty with it.

“Although General Motors is open to the continued supply of powertrains and other components to Saab under appropriate terms and conditions, GM will not agree to the continuation of the existing technology licenses or the continued supply of 9-4X vehicles to Saab following the proposed change in ownership as it would not be in the best interests of GM shareholders,”

So that’s where we’re at right now.

Various parties sit at tables and try to find a solution that everyone can live with. Again, there’s no more that can be said about it right now because it’s still in progress.

The ramifications are quite significant, of course, so we hope that the parties to the discussions take part in good faith and with a long-term view.

There’s no reason why Saab Automobile has to succumb to the circumstances that have plagued it this year. As I mentioned a few days ago, Ford managed to get a similar deal done to give Volvo a future. I think it can be done here, too. We still have a lot of very good reasons to be here in this industry. If there is goodwill in the room, there will be a way to work this out with an agreement that will work for all concerned.

Until then, we stay tuned.