There’s some great news for the Saab 9-4x this week. The new Saab crossover has not only enjoyed some fantastic reviews since being released earlier this year, it’s now been shortlisted for the 2012 North American Truck of the Year award.
Elegible vehicles are selected based on the fact that are either new, or substantially changed from the previous year’s model and have a reasonable expectation of selling 2,000 units per annum. Vehicles made both in North America and outside are eligible.
Seven vehicles have been shortlisted for the TOTY award and they are as follows:
BMW X3,
Honda CR-V,
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque,
Mercedes-Benz M-Class,
Mini Countryman,
Nissan Quest,
Saab 9-4X
The jury consists of 50 motoring journalists from the US press and the shortlisted vehicles will be pared down further to just three finalists.
The finalists will be announced in December and the winner will be announced at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The Saab 9-4x would be a worthy winner of this award as it’s a superb vehicle with wonderful driving characteristics, and it’s also a significant story in the life of the little-company-that-could. Jurors consider “value for the dollar, innovation, handling, performance, safety and driver satisfaction” and the Saab 9-4x delivers on all counts. I hope the jury get to spend some seat time in it again before they cast their final ballot.
The field is formidable, however, with the X3 significantly refreshed and the Evoque wowing all-comers at the LA Auto Show last year.
All respect to the winner. And he’s hoping we’ll be raising a glass to the Saab 9-4x in January!
After the success of the Viggen ‘by the numbers’ piece I thought it’d be fun to dig up another model of interest from the database and spill it’s global distribution beans here on the website.
The Saab 900 Convertible is an icon on its own, but the icon-within-the-icon is the Monte Carlo Yellow version of the car. It’s the most fun-looking color in the palette, but it still takes a certain strength of character to buy and own this most attention-grabbing and distinctive color.
So how were they distributed around the world?
The #1 market by volume won’t be a surprise, but the #2 market might be. MCY convertibles were sold in quite a few markets, though many of them had small numbers only.
If you’ve got one of these iconic Saab convertibles, then yours is one of just 893 that were ever made over the life of the model. Look after it.
If you don’t have one of these iconic convertibles but would like one, now you know where most of them were sold – which is a good tip as to where you could look to buy one!
Notes:
MCY = Monte Carlo Yellow
MY(date) = Model Year
Japan had two importers for these cars. I’ve combined the numbers in the table below.
My understanding is that MCY Convertibles were sold with different engine outputs in some markets. Yours could be a LPT or a HOT engine depending on where it was sold. I haven’t delved into those numbers here.
We visited Fjallbacka during the Swedish summer 2011. I’d heard about Fjallbacka only through some books that I’d read by a Swedish author named Camilla Lackberg. It was only an hour or so from Trollhattan, so it made for a nice afternoon trip.
Fjallbacka sounded nice in the books that I’d read, though you never know how that’s going to translate in reality. I didn’t really have any idea what to expect when we got there. As it turns out, the place was beautiful. I could live there, if only I could afford it.
West-coast villages in Sweden are going through the roof now, with a lot of interest coming from wealthy Norwegian oil-money types. The cars in the driveways were evidence enough, let alone all the Norwegian flags on the boats (you’ll see a few in the photos).
As you might guess, there are PLENTY of Saab owners in my address book. I’ve been in email contact with Clay M for a few years now and a few days ago, he sent me a link to an article he wrote outlining his purchase of a new Saab 9-4x Aero.
Actually, ‘outlining’ isn’t the right word for this one. ‘Detailing’ would be much more appropriate because he covers quite a lot of the purchase process, as well as detailed thoughts about the Saab 9-4x itself. As such, there’s something in it for everyone.
….several months ago, I decided to get the ball rolling on our 9-4X purchase and that’s where our dealership experiences begin. I’ll try not to name names, as everyone has a bad day at some point in time…but you can guess who I’m referring to, you know who you are, you can contact me directly for specifics, or you can take my experience as just a small sampling of what else is out there and what Saab Cars North America has to deal with.
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FOR SOME DEALERS OUT THERE:
I contacted approximately 20 Saab dealerships within a 1,000-mile radius from us and so begins my first rant. …. I initially contacted all of the dealerships online. My opinion is that if you’re going to have a way for the public to communicate with you online or by e-mail, make sure that the contact form works, goes to a real person, and a response can be expected in a timely manner. When I filled out the various information request/contact forms, a number of them were returned to me undeliverable due to a faulty e-mail address or other technical issue…unacceptable in my book. I also received a significant number of automated response e-mails, but never heard back from a real live person. I’m not sure how much more I need to wave my money around for people to take notice, but either of the above scenarios probably excluded that particular dealership from my list of potential contacts. If you aren’t going to monitor e-mails or online submissions, simply put your telephone number on your website and I will gladly call. Unfortunately, this is an issue that cost several dealerships my own personal business.
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FOR SOME OTHER DEALERS OUT THERE:
I will say that I made contact with a number of very nice dealers. Most of these individuals were very well-informed, courteous, and gave me a significant feeling of comfort in dealing with them. There were, however, several instances in which misinformation or lack of information adversely affected the potential of a sale.
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FOR ONE PARTICULAR DEALER OUT THERE:
Gebhardt Saab of Boulder in Colorado is probably one of the lesser-known Saab dealerships in Colorado. When I filled out their online contact form, I received a very prompt response from Gregg Sunfield. Gregg was knowledgeable, courteous, and I instantly got the impression that he would go above and beyond to make sure we were happy before, during, and after the sale…and that’s exactly what happened…..
……One thing that I will say about Bob and Gregg is that they were both highly optimistic about the future of Saab, they are clearly dedicated to the brand through thick and thin, and I failed to receive a single ounce of misinformation from them……… the information they provided and the confidence that they offered was not salesperson-speak…it was based on factual information and was very well-founded. Kudos to each of them and to the entire Gebhardt family for getting it right!
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FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN A SAAB 9-4X:
Clay’s starting point for this review……
I’m setting aside all Saab-bias that I may have for this particular review and hope that it may be viewed from a neutral standpoint. Quality of materials and fit-and-finish is extremely important to me, as I absolutely can’t stand something cheap that’s trying to look expensive, nor do I tolerate any misplaced rattle, groan, or squeak. I don’t want gimmicks and bling…there is definitely something to be said for clean functionality. Handling and performance are vital…not only do these attributes influence the overall experience, but they also affect various aspects of safety. I don’t want a vehicle that feels like a brick on wheels, but by the same token, I certainly don’t want to feel like I’m driving around a slinky atop a waterbed. My experience with Saab in the past has proven that a delicate balance of the aforementioned characteristics is a shared ideal.
And his conclusions……
I simply fail to find any compromises on this vehicle and Saab has undoubtedly created a machine that they can and should be proud of in the 9-4X. And for anyone that wants to argue against the value you receive in the 9-4X regarding the purchase price…I argue that your comments will be unfounded. To us, the 9-4X is worth every single penny that we spent on it and we would do it again in a heartbeat if given the opportunity. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Acura, Infiniti, Audi, Volkswagen…nothing could provide us with a better value and I am absolutely certain of that.
As much as I’ve reproduced here for your information, it really is just an introduction. Clay goes into an enormous amount of detail as to his research, purchase process and his first impressions on all aspects of the car.
If you’re a prospective Saab 9-4x purchaser, or just a person with an eye for detail, this review is going to make for very interesting reading.
From an internal perspective, it’s gratifying that we have people like Clay and Holly as customers and that we’re still making vehicles that satisfy their Saaby needs. If you look at Clay’s vehicle history, you’ll see that he’s owned a bunch of historic Saabs in the past.
It’s also a good reminder for us that we have to better support our distribution network and provide them with the materials and motivation to serve their customers well, every time.
The following is a query received here at Inside Saab. I tried to email a reply but it bounced, and I figured it’d be fun to place it here anyway to gather some thoughts from others.
I thought it might be useful to open it up to the masses for some feedback. It comes from Roberto A, in Mexico.
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We don’t have many Saabs here in Mexico, and most of them are from GM’s time, so try growing up explaining your friends that SAAB’s are your favorites cars with no classic examples.
I remember one time traveling abroad, I picked up a magazine and seeing a SAAB ad, the one of Saab vs Saab featuring both Viggens – that was the moment I came to love the idea, the company, the philosophy, the brand.
Now I’m in my mid-twenties and already have paid for my first car (a 2008 Nissan Sentra, a perfect fit for my everyday work commute in Mexico City, but not by any means an emotional car) and I’m looking a weekend car. As you could imagine I want a Saab, and here is my question: 900 turbo convertible vs Viggen?
Remember, it’s only for the weekends but there aren’t many spare parts in Mexico, and doubtfully mechanics, so it would be really painful to keep the car in shape but i’m willing to do it. Which would be easier to mantain given the spare parts in US market?
Just quickly, as much as I absolutely adore the Viggen, if you were looking for an absolute classic to keep for a long time, then I’d look for a good late model 900 Convertible. They’re just so very beautiful and still very rewarding to drive.
But if you don’t like the sun beating down on you all the time, then you should easily fall in love with a Viggen, too. (Just make sure it’s a Lightning Blue 3-door)
I went to the Saab Museum this morning to take a look at some recent additions. The recent additions are not vehicles, but little stickers applied to the vehicles that were already there.
Click to enlarge
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Utmätt Gods translates to ‘goods sequestered for debt’ and the little stickers were applied to the collection by Kronofogden, the debt enforcement agency here in Sweden. As you can see above, the Aero-X has one. The Sonett and Saab 9-X Air both have one, too. Even UrSaab has one.
The labels were applied earlier this week, no doubt timed to precede our reorganisation decision. It’s Kronofogden’s way of claiming these vehicles as part of a group of assets earmarked for sale in order to pay debts that some of our creditors have asked Kronofogden to collect. I know that’s a shocking statement if you’re a Saab fan, but please relax and keep reading.
The decision yesterday to grant us reorganisation status means that no further action can be taken by Kronofogden right now, in respect of these vehicles. However, should our reorganisation fail, then the vehicles resume their place amongst the assets that Kronofogden would seek to liquidate in order to collect amounts owing to some creditors.
So, the vehicles are protected at the moment and of course, Saab will seek to repay all outstanding amounts (including those submitted to Kronofogden) and when that happens, the little stickers will be removed and so will any lien hanging over the vehicles.
It’s not a nice part of our current story, but it’s a part of it nonetheless and one that we will do everything to ensure is wound up with a happy ending, as soon as possible.
Bookmark this page. You’re going to want to come back to it, trust me.
The following video series was posted on Youtube a few days ago. Whilst it’s called “Saab History 1946-2006” it seems to cover the earliest days, then skip forward directly to the development of the Saab 900.
I’m pretty sure that this is a production sponsored by Saab a few years ago. In fact, I’m sure I have a copy of it on VHS tape and purchased from the Saab Museum back in 2007. So if you feel like you’ve seen it before, you might have this tape gathering dust somewhere in your living room, too.
Regardless, it’s a good series to watch. There is a lot of footage that you most likely haven’t seen before, as well as photographs and illustrations that are quite rare.
There are 12 episodes, between 5 and 10 minutes in length, which is why you should bookmark the page. Episode 9 appears to be missing at the moment, but that shouldn’t detract from your enjoyment. Watch one, then come back and watch another. The development of the Saab 9000 is quite comprehensive, for example, and will warrant a few viewings simply so you can appreciate all that goes into vehicle development.
Enjoy.
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Part 1 – Saab’s beginnings as an automotive manufacturer.
Last week I brought you a series of photos from Markus, whose family has some seriously cool Saabs. In fact, they were exactly the cars I’d have for a modern Saab collection of my own.
At the time, I remarked that a Sonett would make that collection absolutely perfect in my eyes. Markus saw the comments, and in poker terms, he’s seen my Sonett and raised me a 96 and a 9000!!!
Markus’ family run a dealership in Germany, so they’ve got some pretty good contacts when it comes to restoring and keeping automobiles. And haven’t they used those resources well? It’s a beautiful collection and as you’ll read below, we still haven’t seen all of it yet!
I’ll let Markus take it from here…..
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…..there are indeed stories to tell about the cars.
Let’s start with the oldest
The Sonett is from 1971 and was originally delivered to the States. To be a little more accurate the car was delivered to Los Angeles. My father was in LA 1984 with some colleagues to watch the Olympic Games and in LA, he had seen some Sonetts. Back in Germany he decided to call a guy he knew for importing cars from the US. There the story starts.
Together they looked for the perfect match and the found a red Sonett from 71. The car was shipped to Germany and the condition of the car was really bad. The car was undergoing restoration for over 5 years but it was never completed because of missing parts. In 2005 we found some missing parts that we needed (brake cylinder and some other parts). So the car went from 70 percent done to 90 percent done. Two things we still could not to find. The front and rear bumper EU style. In late 2006 we contacted a guy in France who heard that some guys near Stockholm would start to do a series again with the old part presses from Saab.
So for now the car is ready to roll again, in nearly 100 percent condition. We have to install the original emblems in front and rear and then the lady is completely done. To the color. The original base color was red. But my dad decided that the Burnt Orange original paint would fit the car a lot better. So it is one of the original colors and I must say it suits the car very well.
The 96 is from 1978, it was first delivered to a Swedish customer in the Smaland area. There the car was more like the third or fourth car that you own. It has an original mileage of 49,886 KM. We bought the car in early 1994 so we are now the second owner. The car is in absolute brilliant condition. It was allways kept inside and has never seen a lot of rain or salt on the road. It’s now registered on Historical German plates and if one of us has the time to move it we only drive it around a little.
The 900 Turbo S is from 1991, the car was first delivered through our dealership so we know the car from the very first day. It’s first owner got the Independence Edition 022/366 last week. 😉
The second owner was an older teacher who died one and a half years ago and one of his last wishes was that we will get the car back and restore it. The condition of this car wasn’t that nice. But as you can see on the pictures the car is back to it’s former glory after 9 months of restoration. So for this car we are the third owner. The car was delivered on 15 Inch Three Spoke wheels. But i like the 16 Inch Super Aeros much more and there were 4 left in Nyköping so I ordered them. 😉 The mileage of this car is 147,130 KM and we are the third owner.
The black 1993 Convertible that I sent you the pics from, a couple of weeks back, is interesting also. This car is first hand. We have had it since its first day. The car is in absolutely stunning condition. It was one of the last delivered cars here in Germany from a series called ‘top edition’ and it’s equipped with an airflow kit and the grey wheels. And it has the LPT Turbo. The was never driven in the winter. It’s a summer only car and the mileage is 61,560 KM. First hand as we say here in Germany.
The 9000 CD Griffin is a MY1996 but still has the 2.3Turbo. In Germany you couldn’t order the 4 Banger anymore for the griffin model in 96 but we had a customer who really wanted the old engine and not the V6. So we did a lot of calls to the offices in Trollhättan and in the end we were able to deliver a MY96 9000 Griffin with the 2.3Turbo Engine. This car later became my first car. I got it for my 18th birthday. I am the third owner. Mileage is now 175,670 KM. And this car is also in perfect condition.
The ’99 Viggen is also a car that my dad delivered himself to one of his customers. The car was kept by our customer until the end of 2009. He had cancer and died one day, quite suddenly. He often asked me before he died if I wanted the car back, should he ever decide to sell it. I replied with a clear yes and his wife knew this. So we started negotiating a price that she should get for the car but in the end she decided to keep the car. I was very unhappy but I understood why she would keep the car.
I decided to look for another Viggen but could not fine a suitable one. Then nearly 14 months later in early 2011 she called me again. She asked me if I was still interested in the car. I replied yes again. So we negotiated again and this time I got the car. It was very well looked after for all the time it was driven. But the 14 months of standing around were not that perfect. But a little work done here and there and it looks absolutely brilliant again. I am the second owner here and the mileage is 233.890 KM with its second engine and gearbox.
The Turbo X is also a car that we have owned from its very first day. It’s one of the 90 cars that were delivered here in Germany. The car is equipped with all you can get from the factory, except for the sunroof. Over the last 2 years I got everything for the car that you can get from Hirsch. The car now has only 23,450 KM on the clock because I don’t really drive that much.
To the Colors of the Cars.
The Sonett: Was Red, now Burnt Orange, Interior leather Black
The 96: Dorado Brown, Beige velours
The 900 Turbo S: Scarabee Green, Leather Black
The 900 Convertible: Black Metallic, Leather Black
The 9000 Griffin: Scarabee Green, Leather Beige
The 9-3 Viggen: Lightning Blue, Leather Black with blue accents
The 9-3 Turbo X: Jetblack, Premium Leather Black
So I hope that’s enough info about these particular cars. We still have some more that are not listed here. 😉
And for the Octoberfest I think I will take the Turbo X and show him where he was born. 😉
It’s been a bunch of months now where the focus seems to have been on the business of Saab rather than on the cars. It’s a pity, too, because the cars are better than ever.
It was really pleasing, therefore, to receive an email a few days ago from a guy in North America named Glen M. It’s always great to hear customers’ stories about their new vehicles, what they’re doing and how much they’re enjoying them.
I’ll let Glen tell the story:
My family recently purchased a 2011 Saab 9-5 2.0t with 6 speed transmission to replace our 1999 Saab 9-5 wagon. We had been waiting for the new 9-5 SportCombi, but we had plans to head across the country to Canada for the summer and needed to update our automotive machinery.
We picked up the Saab roof racks and a Thule cargo carrier and made our way across the country in triple digit heat with punishing humidity. The new 9-5 was an absolute joy to drive, tracking straight and solid. Flawless performance after 15,000 miles and would gladly take it on the road again. That thing practically drives itself.
I am looking at snapping up an Aero version, but would like to get the wagon.
This is my third SAAB now. I still miss my Edwardian Grey 1989 900 SPG. The new 9-5 has been an absolute revolution and advancement in the state of the art for SAAB. I’ve attached a few snaps of our cross-country adventure. I did not go to any great lengths to pose her, but I had noticed the light playing off the sheet metal when we had stopped at Jocelyn Park at sunset, and I couldn’t resist.
Also, for the record … my absolutely favourite view of this car is the rear three quarter. Sublime. Hunkered down. Biomorphic. Unlike anything out there on the market today in this class and far better in my humble opinion.
UPDATE: This entry has been re-written. You can find the production numbers for the Saab 9-3 Viggen here.
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The Saab 9-3 Viggen is one of those iconic, flawed Saabs that’s loved by everyone who’s ever owned one. The car was absolutely bonkers and quite capable of killing its owner under the right wrong circumstances. But it was so beautifully made inside and out, and it was so out there, that it still draws plenty of oohs and aahs whenever it’s seen.
I’ve owned a Viggen (that’s my old one, above) and over the years I’ve had a lot of email from other Viggen owners asking if I knew how many of them were made and imported into their particular market.
I’m pleased to be able to pass on the following, which should satisfy most of you detail-oriented statisticians. The only thing we haven’t been able to get are the distinct numbers for 3-door and 5-door models.
Note: these are production numbers and there may be some difference between when a car was produced and when it was sold. Your car might have been first sold in 2002, but been produced as a 2001 model and sat on a dealership forecourt for some time.
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UNITED STATES
Colour
1999 Hard
1999 Conv
2000 Hard
2000 Conv
Black
16
10
6
20
LB
95
50
24
55
MCY
11
9
2
9
Silver
30
18
7
32
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GREAT BRITAIN
Colour
1999 Hard
1999 Conv
2000 Hard
2000 Conv
Black
1
58
13
35
LB
51
2
14
9
MCY
2
2
1
Silver
2
6
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Lots more markets below: Germany, Canada, Vehicles used internally (press, etc), Sweden, Australia, and many many more……
