I know we have some Saab fans in Canada as I’ve met a few of them in my travels. There’s a small but hardcore group out in the Pacific Northwest and I can well remember the large group from Toronto that got together for a support convoy there last year, even getting some significant news coverage at the time.
I don’t know much about the Saab presence in some of the less prominent provinces, however.
I got this email from Newfoundland over the weekend, and it showed me that there’s definitely some dedicated Saab support there. It’s always great to hear from people for the first time, and especially when they’re from places where you didn’t know there were pockets of support for Saab. The support that we get from you folks, even in these hardest of times, is outstanding, and much appreciated.
The writer is Robert B:
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Hi Steven,
I thought it was about time I took pen in hand and express what Saab has meant to me.
I too am from a land down under, the island of Newfoundland, off the east coast of Canada. I have driven my Saab since it rolled out of the box in 2003. It’s been through searing heat, arctic blasts and everything mother nature can dish out. And it still looks like new out there in the full moon tonight, and it still puts a smile on my face 8 years into my Saab life.
Over the past few years, I’ve watched the drama, the endings and near endings, and the new beginnings. At the end of the day, I want everyone there to know that there are many people cheering on the efforts to get that production line rolling again, getting the dedicated, ultra-loyal workers back doing what they do best, and in getting that new 9-3 out and other new models back onto the streets of Trollhattan and Newfoundland.
So thanks to the people who built my Saab and my sincere thanks to the people who are trying to breathe new life into the sails. From where I sit tonight, there seems to be a ray of light on my bonnet.
I am waiting for the griffin to take flight again, and I want to simply say thanks to the wonderful craftsmen and women who shared their talents and passion, so I could smile through every mile I’ve driven in my Saab. So thank you to Steven, to SU, and to VM and all the others, who have done so much to keep the dream alive. Believe me, it’s worth every minute of work. There are many people standing behind you.
This hurts, but it also puts a smile on your face.
One of our dealers in Holland, Jaap T, sent this to me earlier today. He has a wonderful repeat client, one who even extended his lease in the hope of acquiring a new Saab 9-5 SportCombi. It hurts us to know that we haven’t been able to build it for him.
With his lease already extended once, he recently bit the bullet and acquired a vehicle from another brand, though his wife was still missing the Saab quite a lot and decided to take some small cosmetic matters into her own hands as a reminder of what mattered most…..
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We have the best customers!
I can’t say how much it hurts that we’re keeping them waiting.
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)
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.
I’ve known Markus L in an email sense for a few years now. He’s one of the regulars from my SU days.
I’ve seen some of his cars in photos from time to time, but there are usually long intervals in between viewings. When you meet a lot of people and see a lot of cars (in a virtual sense) it’s easy to forget just who’s got what.
I got these photos from Markus in my inbox today. I was quite familiar with his fully Hirsched Turbo X and the black 900, but not so familiar with the Viggen. All I could say was “Wow!”
Look at them. They’re in absolutely mint condition and all three of them are notable classics in the Saab family tree.
When I wrote back to Markus, I told him of my profound jealousy – that if I could have any collection of Saabs I liked, there’s a good chance it would be exactly what he’s got in that photo, with the likely addition of a Saab Sonett III.
He wrote back…… and promised to send me pictures of his Sonett! There’s a 99Turbo in the collection, too, but that’s not ready for photos yet as it’s still undergoing a restoration.
My final reply included an enquiry as to whether or not his father would be interested in adopting a 41-year-old man as an additional son. I’m not sure how well that will be received.
Click to enlarge, and if you’re like me, dream on……
Whilst the newspapers and web columnists have been talking us down, you’ve been hearing plenty from me about the reasons I believe Saab will survive it’s current difficult times – brand, factory, product and people. Perhaps it’s time to hear from someone else.
The following was written in comments to this website by Derek M, who attended the Saab Owners Convention in New Jersey last weekend. I’ll present it here without any further introduction or context as I think it speaks for itself. We have some of the best fans ever.
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Just a quick (although not brief) note of appreciation. When SAAB was announced for sale by GM, I hungered for news and stumbled upon Saabsunited. It’s my wife who has always been enamored by the brand, but I’ve since come to develop a passion for the brand. I still receive a smile each day as I pilot my convertible to work. Your post of the 9-5 combi at SOC was all the incentive needed for Denise and I to take a day trip to New Jersey. It was nice to be surrounded in an environment that was all about product instead of the media’s constant barrage of finances.
It is the details of the 9-4x which are certain to create or reinforce the brand loyalty in the CUV segment. Ex: The collapsable u-rail system locks into place under the floor if not needed. (Gee, can you see what Jason and the design team can do about emulating that concept with the wind diffuser for the next generation of convertibles???)
Perrine SAAB brought a 9-5 turbo4 sedan for test drives. (Java with the cashmere leather, wood trim and cocoa brown dash is particularly luxurious looking.) I must confess to having scoffed at your praise of the turbo4. My bred-in-the-US mentality is that bigger is better – so while I appreciate the size of the new 9-5, after driving the turbo6 last year why would I even think about a test drive of the turbo4?
Was I mistaken in my assumption? Absolutely. The power band and torque for the turbo4 was smooth and readily available, no lag- no feeling under powered.
After drooling over the 9-5combi in person, who cares what is under the hood. it will sell on looks alone. I do think the turbo4 is the right choice for the US market as this trim distinguishes it from the 9-4x trim levels. (Although, it would be nice if aero trim included the Hirsch upgrade in horse power to distinguish trim levels, but I’m no product planner.)
The most enjoyable part of the day was the interactions. During our test drive of the 9-4x aero, we had the opportunity to converse with John (Libbos, from Saab Cars NA). What great tenure and expertise. Where I work, we refer to employees of twenty-five plus years of service as Legacy employees. If my memory and math skills are adequate, John will reach that milestone next year. They’ve helped define our brand and create our culture, leading to our legacy. It is that passion and determination that distinguishes companies from their competitive set. Passion is inherent, you are either impassioned by your work or you are not. As a Human Resources guy- Human Talent is my area of expertise. I truly believe that it is the power of the individual , the human asset, that makes an organization unique. The competition can’t copy synergy, mettle nor fortitude.
So regardless of one year of service or twenty-five years, my thanks to both you and John for the impact and passion you’ve ignited in me. I look forward to the day when conversations and media can focus on product. I have every confidence that similarly impassioned individuals are working towards the financial solutions needed for such a realization.
Yesterday, I published an editorial where I spoke about my belief in, and passion for this industry and in particular, for Saab.
The following morning, I got this in the mail. Sam had written to me a few days before, seeking some purchase advice. He lives in the US and the 900 he was looking at will be his first car. I’m sure those of you who, like me, now have a few miles under your belts, can remember a time when you would have written something like this…..
I HAVE BOUGHT THE SAAB!
I haven’t seen it yet due to the fact that I’m in Florida but my Dad is still in Massachusetts.
He went and saw it tonight. At precisely 9:25 on Wednesday, August 3rd my Dad struck a deal with the seller. 2500 dollars. The previous owner was a SAAB mechanic, so it’s in great condition.
I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of my very own SAAB. Where I come from, most kids get cars from their parents. My parents don’t spoil me so after years of saving up it feels great to be able to get my OWN car.
I can’t believe that my first car is one of the cars I dreamed of as a 10 year old. I am a complete car nut and I have an especially soft spot for SAAB’s. I’m still getting over it. It’s going to be a long wait because I don’t get back to MA until the 21st.
Best day of my life, BY FAR.
HAPPY SAABING!
I hope you enjoy your 900 as much as I intend on enjoying mine.
Sincerely Sam
P.S I just bought a SAAB, holy ****!
Welcome to the family, Sam. It’s a bit like Hotel California, if you know what I mean…..
Sincerely, congratulations on your purchase and thankyou for reminding us all of the excitement that we’ve all felt at different times.
The journey that I wrote about yesterday – the journey that I’ve had with Saab that I appreciate so much – started just like Sam’s journey. It’s taken me to some great places and brought me some incredible experiences.
You’ve all most likely seen this image before. It’s one of the better known images of the Saab 900 Turbo.
The photo was taken for Saab’s 50th Anniversary marketing campaign, back in 1997. A calendar was made featuring this image and a number of others like it. Remember the Saab 99 EMS in motion, or the Saab 92? All of those shots were taken around the same time and all were used in the calendar.
Today I had the pleasure of meeting Nicklas A at the Saab Museum here in Trollhattan. Whilst the majority of vehicles used in the calendar were owned by Saab itself, Nicklas has the rare privilege of being one of the few private owners whose vehicle was used in the photoshoot – his 1980 Saab 900 Turbo in black. The same car as in the image, above.
The car was purchased new by Nicklas’ father back in February 1980, from a dealer in Gothenburg. Nicklas was just five years old at the time and his kindergarten teachers were worried that he was telling lies at school when he told the other kids his Dad was buying a Saab Turbo (this was quite a boast for a 5yo in 1980 as the Saab was the hottest car in Sweden (and elsewhere)). Dad picked him up from school in the new car the day it was delivered and Nicklas’ integrity was restored 🙂
Mr A kept the car for 10 years and returned to his dealer in 1990 to trade it in on a Saab 9000. The trade-in figure offered to him was too low for his liking, and with a teenage Nicklas now only a few years away from getting his license, the car was stored until Nicklas took possession in 1993.
Nicklas used the car as his daily driver for the next four years and it was during this time that Saab came calling. Back in 1990, Nicklas’ father had bought his Saab 9000 from ANA, the big Saab dealership near Trollhattan. The salesman he dealt with back in 1990, a true Saabnut named Claes Robertsson, remembered the black 900 (from 16 years earlier!) when he heard that Saab were looking for a suitable car for the photoshoot. Claes put the company and the customer in contact, and before you can say “Spirit of Saab” there was a man with a camera knocking on Nicklas’ door. The photographer took the car and gave Nicklas a Saab 9000 Aero to play with for the day (which must have been a massive treat when it was brand new!). The result of that exchange is the calendar shot, above.
In 1997, Nicklas moved into central Gothenburg. The car was beginning to age and parking it securely was a more difficult proposition in the city. A decision was taken to move it to a friend’s property in southern Sweden, where it could be stored and eventually, renovated.
That renovation didn’t start for some time, though. Life moved on. Nicklas met a girl, got steady employment, had some kids, did the “growing up” thing that many of us do. Around 2007, though, he got the 900 itch once again and the restoration of the car began in earnest.
There was a little bit of rust to repair before the body was repainted. There was a fair bit of dedication involved in this, too. This early 900 hood, for example, features twin vents (most 900 owners would be used to seeing vents on one side only). The condition of the hood should have seen it condemned to the scrapheap but it was restored in order to preserve the ‘two-vent’ originality of the car.
The job was finally finished in 2010 and Nicklas has been enjoying his weekend warrior ever since. The turbo was replaced a few years ago, but everything else is original and aside from routine maintenance, nothing more substantial than a head gasket has needed to be done over the years.
I had the distinct pleasure of driving the car back to the Saab Museum after we’d taken it out for a few photos. This early 900 Turbo is very much like a Saab 99 Turbo. The engine is the same, but it’s mated to a 5-speed gearbox instead of the 99’s 4-speed. The interior of the car is the same as in the 99 Turbo except, of course, for the 900 dashboard. Seats, door trim, gearshift, steering wheel – all from the 99T. The bonus with the 900 is the addition of power steering, which makes it much more pleasurable to drive at slower speeds than the 99.
And driving it really was a blast. The car was rock solid. We had it idling or moving slowly for some time during the photo shoot, in 28-degree weather, and the temperature gauge didn’t move (a phenomenon uncommon to 99T owners like myself). The car is a credit to Nicklas and his father for the way it’s been preserved.
As I tend to do whenever I see a highly desireable car, I enquired as to whether Nicklas was open to receiving offers for it. He graciously declined, but offered to place me third-in-line after his two sons in his will. I won’t hold my breath 🙂 . It seems this 900 Turbo that was purchased brand new by his dad is destined to pass on to the third generation in the family, along with the calendar that made it famous.
I’ll have to take some personal consolation from the fact that I have his contact details for the 75th anniversary calendar in 2022.
Click any of the photos in this story to enlarge.
Notes for the gallery –
(1) the drivers seat has a different pattern, but was chosen this way deliberately by Nicklas’ father (anyone who’s owned a 99T with the ‘lederhosen’ seats will understand why) and the seats have been like this since new.
(2) The rear seat loudspeakers are original equipment. Very 1980.
