Topic: Saab buyer backs out leaving 3,000 jobs hanging

[articsteve]

Will SOMEONE please tell me why this thread, on page one, has become a Toyota-versus-Opel pissing match?  This thread is about SAAB and KOENIGSEGG, not Opel or Toyota.  Jesus H. Christ, people.  There are 10,000 other threads to have a Toyota-versus-Opel pissing match.  Why pollute this one?

Because, of course, ArticSteve had to weigh in with his usual bashing and then it all degenerated from there. It's all his fault, as usual.

Ppl who complain the most about others are the worst offenders.  It's like that in any thing. 

[articsteve]

How many ppl on this board lamenting the passage of Saab have actually owned one    How about some pics to back it up.     OK, TPL, you have talked about your older Saabs many times previously so no need.  But my god all you hear from ppl is what a great car it was and so on and it's just based on hot air. 

I took a 95 900s in on trade and what a total piece of crap MECHANICALLY.  Functionally it was brilliant and the ride and seats were good.  But it came with a one inch thick maintenance record from Town and Country Saab, Yonge and Steels, Thornhill, the largest Saab dealer in the country.  Part of the Roy Foss group.

The amount of money spent both in warranty and outside of warranty was the most I have ever seen on any vehicle.  Easily exceeded 12K.  Two timing belt failures covered by GM.  I got a third one free, but got zinged for $500 for a tensioner and 2 rollers (dealer cost apparently  ).

Just an absolutely horrendous car mechanically.  It had a odd brake pressure problem so I couldn't put it for resale.  Instead, I let my 16 year old have it which was actually turned out to be a good thing.  Eventually I saved it for a trip across Canada and wholesaled it to Swedish Auto Sport in Vancouver on Clark Rd or whatever it is.  If any Vancouver person needs a Saab only garage, heaven forbid, Bob the owner seems pretty decent.  His cheque cleared. 

Part of the deal was that I got a ride back downtown so during the trip Bob told me what I already knew, that they were getting much worse and that eventually he expected the brand to disappear.  He also talked about how he dreads "Ontario" cars because all the parts are "rust-welded" together.  The last thing you need on a Saab because they are rolling parts cars. 

Here is a pic of that 900S off the TransCanada in Brandon, Manitoba.  Apparently a flight school during WWII and that is one of the famous trainers in the back ground.

So gentlemen, start posting!

[tpl]

fwiw    MY '78 99   3dr non turbo no a/c was 100% reliable. My '81 turbo 3dr  less so. turbo failed as they did in those days before water jackets. Cyl head developed a tiny leak between input tract and coolant; this was a known prob on '81s   Both fixed under warranty.   Sold it in 87 with everything else still working, A/c and even the original battery.
The '81 had those fabulous bumpers that if you cruncked them they rebounded within a few hours in summer, few days in cold weather. No mfr has ever done a better one.

[toolatecrew]

I nearly boght a Saab twice and was lucky both times something intervened. My wife loved the things with their quirky interior and looks but I agree with AS. One look at the mainatanice records (warranty or not ) was just scary. Both had rubbery shifters too. I have a freidn who has owned 3 just really liked the Saab feel every one a mechanical nightmare.

Saab died along time ago. GM killed it. If it goes away now its 10 years too late. RIP

[safristi]

Erik Carlson is doin' the 2 stroke in his coffin...................................he forgot the key to release him...was in the floor

[Greg B.]

Ppl who complain the most about others are the worst offenders.  It's like that in any thing. 

With over 11000 posts, most of them bashing a non-Toyo company, you fit that characterization to a T. Go take up a hobby or something.

[ovr50]

Owned one briefly in 1983, a Turbo 900 IIRC. Had it in Denver, but left there a few months after buying the SAAB and so resold it there. Didn't really have it long enough to form any reliability opinions. One thing I did like, and why we bought the Turbo, was that at the high elevations around Denver, the car did not lose power like a NA car did at those heights. Part of the I90 going over the Rockies is over 12,000 feet. Definitely was a unique car tho.

I doubt SAAB will survive now, and I don't really care one way or the other. There are too many car companies and too much mfg capacity in the world today, thus some must die. SAAB can be one of those. Current SAABs are not quite the unique car they once were. SAAB sales in the US Jan to Oct 09 (10 mos) are less than 7500 units. Fail. Bye, bye.

[ktm525]

I test drove a 9-3 back in 2003 (ended up with a Passat wagon).  I don't recall the exact engine but it was a turbo. What I recall: early 90's interior, nice seats, rubbery shifter, horrible turbo lag and then whoa torque steer!

[safristi]

..BAAS awkwards.................does that mean they are FINNISH..........

[rrocket]

Instead, the brand that brought turbocharging to the general public is now likely going to go the way of the dodo.  Does nobody besides me care one whit about that?

I care.
.....

Me too...but then again, I'm into the while aircraft thing.  I also respect companies that take different approaches to things, and I consider the flaws that approach sometimes creates as making the cars more endearing.

More endearing obviously not equaling sales success.

I got to sit in, poke around and admire the only privately owned Saab Draken in the USA.  What a freakin sweet jet!  Didn't get a ride in it though....

[TopGun]

I got to sit in, poke around and admire the only privately owned Saab Draken in the USA.  What a freakin sweet jet!  Didn't get a ride in it though....

Mmmmmm...delta wings...soooo sexy!!!   

[rrocket]

^^Indeed it was!!  Do you think you could fly it with your experience?  Or would it be impossible?

I was told the plane was used in a beer commercial.  I don't recall which one though...

[gta_driver]

I currently own a Saab 9-5 wagon. Other than window rollers going on the two front windows (which are common-since its a rubber part that detiorates over time-was replaced under warranty), one power window motor going(replaced under warranty) and a turbo replacement that I expected between 140k-150k km's, and coolant bypass valve(which I also expected to replace-the part is a approximatly $100 and takes 10 minutes to do even for someone with no mechanical aptitude) and batteries for the alarm siren/immobilizer backup (Also an expected replacement at $37)the car has been solid and reliable. This car has been the most trouble free and reliable European made car I've owned (I've owned a few) and also quite enjoyable. It currently has 160k+ km's and is still going strong. The interior and body still look like new. I plan to run it for as long as I can. I'm not mechanically familiar with the 900 or 9-3, but I know with my 9-5, working on it is easy. There is a lot of room and everything is logically laid out. I have done a lot of the recommended/required servicing myself with little frustration. I don't know about other Saab models and factory manuals, but my Saab manual has detailled instructions and diagrams for basically all recommended service for the DIYer (i.e. replacing the serpentine belt and idler pulley at 100k km's, etc), that's unheard off. If you do a search, I think I posted pics in the "show and shine" section awhile ago.

[TopGun]

^^Indeed it was!!  Do you think you could fly it with your experience?  Or would it be impossible?

Might be able to do the take-off and keep it relatively straight and level when compared to someone that hasn't flown before...but that's about it.

The problem most guys have with fast aircraft is that their mind isn't used to speed...and they're always trying to catch up to the plane.  Especially the case on landing, where my mind might be on getting lined up with the runway...but the airplane has already sailed way past the touch-down point.

[Railton]

^^Indeed it was!!  Do you think you could fly it with your experience?  Or would it be impossible?

Might be able to do the take-off and keep it relatively straight and level when compared to someone that hasn't flown before...but that's about it.

I'd pay 5 bucks to see that!
Rocket "Go ahead Top Gun, give'r a whirl"
Top Gun "Sure I can fly that Baby, why it's just a 150 on steroids I say!"
Railton

[tpl]

Is it not that flying a jet powered aircraft very different from prop power in the way the power delivery can be raised and lowered in a far different fashion... and in the case of the Draken everything is happening pretty fast.

I managed to take off and level flight in   VC10, F4K, Harrier and C130 SIMULATORS  when I worked in that field. ( real zillion $$ simulators not Microsoft!)  But IIRC my best landing was hitting the ground at less than Mach 1.

[Railton]

...But IIRC my best landing was hitting the ground at less than Mach 1.

  "Nice hole in the ground there Tex!"
Railton

[Mitlov]

All hope is not lost:

Two new potential buyers for Saab have already emerged just days after the collapse of the sale of the troubled car maker to the Koenigsegg group.

According to reports in the Swedish press, both Beijing Automotive (BAIC) and Wyoming-based merchant bank Merbanco are now seriously investigating buying up the ailing Swedish brand.

Both companies have previously shown interest in Saab; Merbanco was among the last three bidders this summer, when GM chose Koenigsegg.

Beijing Auto was a minority partner in the Koenigsegg bid and, as Autocar reported, it was keen to restart production of the outgoing 9-5 in China.

Christopher Johnson, owner of Merbanco, is self-confessed Saab enthusiast and his father, a partner in Merbanco, founded AGCO, which was involved in a number of company turnarounds, including Massey Ferguson.

Any BAIC bid could run into significant hurdles, according to other reports in the Swedish press.

The Götbergs Posten is claiming that the Koenigsegg bid collapsed partly because of worries about BAIC getting hold of GM’s technology. Saab’s revival centers on the launch of the new 9-5 range, which is based on GM’s latest Epsilon 2 platform.

It seems unlikely that GM would be willing to let BAIC take over Saab, particularly as it was concerns about technology transfer that helped scupper the deal to sell Vauxhall/Opel to Magna, which was backed by a Russian state bank.

But one positive for Saab appears to have come for the European Investment Bank, from which Saab is receiving a loan. The EIB has reportedly said any loan previously agreed with Saab can be transferred to its new owner.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Saab-9-5/245347/