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2008 Saab rumors thread


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So there are a few rumors floating around about some changes to two current models:

 

Current rumors and leaks from Trollhatten:

9-3: an AWD option, bump in power, and design refresh will be unveiled June '07

9-5: a full redesign should be available Fall '07 as '08 model

 

 

I have sat in a few Saabs and found their seats to be the most comfortable seats I have ever sat in. I don't know how they drive, but I'm sure I could maybe score a test drive if I wanted to :icon_wink Their dash layouts are a bit weird, and honestly, if they were "born of jets," I am not sure why GM wouldn't throw a heads up display like the Corvette has in it. That would be pretty cool - to hit the switch and all the interior lighting goes off except for the heads up display.

 

 

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volvo and saab do have great seats. It kinda makes sense, as scandanavian furniture is really well designed too.

 

If you are interested in a Scandinavian Chevy, sure the Saab will work for you. Every Saab owner that I have known has problems with there Saab. Its like a car from IKEA. It looks really good, but doesn't hold up.

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While shopping for a car for the wife a few months ago, I took a good look at them.

 

Even though I pulled up in my Legacy GT, (and I'm over 30) no salesman approached me. I went into the showroom and sat in both the 9-3 and 9-5 Sedans.

 

All I can really say is these cars are weird. Personally I like to be different, but some of the weirdness with these cars is just downright silly.

 

Why, for example, would ANYONE want their ignition key to go into the middle of the center console? There is a very good reason 99% of all ignition switches are located under the steering wheel or up high on the dash. Children, pets, loose objects all are more likely to bump the key when its sitting down there. That alone really turned me off on the interior. It was almost like a pratical joke, however, as I continued to observe that every button was purposely located in a different location than were it wouild be in any other vehicle. Were the power window buttons on the ceiling? I can't remember--maybe I never found them.

 

Additionally, the interior compartments were small and basically useless--not that the Legacy actually has big interior compartments either--but we ended up getting a Mazda6 for the wife, and those cars have excellent interior storage, particularly the 5-door hatch/sedan we ended up buying.

 

And finally, price. Why are these cars $5-10K more than their japanese counterparts? That turbocharged motor in the 9-5--as impressive as it was--was not enough reason to justify the markup when I have a pretty good turbocharged motor in my $25K Subaru.

 

I guess Saab considers itself a rival to the higher-end brands, like Lexus and Acura... but REALLY... how many people can even spot a Saab out on the road and say, "Golly, that guy's got a 'Saab,'" with any level of enthusiasm that approaches the appreciation most people have for a Lexus?

 

Sorry Saab, but your exterior designs are too boring to provoke any kind of enthusiast lust. At least in the 80's people could recognize a Saab coming down the road, but now they just blend in with all the other cars that are much more affordable and have better interior layouts.

 

I'm surprised they are still in business.

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While shopping for a car for the wife a few months ago, I took a good look at them.

 

Even though I pulled up in my Legacy GT, (and I'm over 30) no salesman approached me. I went into the showroom and sat in both the 9-3 and 9-5 Sedans.

 

All I can really say is these cars are weird. Personally I like to be different, but some of the weirdness with these cars is just downright silly.

 

Why, for example, would ANYONE want their ignition key to go into the middle of the center console? There is a very good reason 99% of all ignition switches are located under the steering wheel or up high on the dash. Children, pets, loose objects all are more likely to bump the key when its sitting down there. That alone really turned me off on the interior. It was almost like a pratical joke, however, as I continued to observe that every button was purposely located in a different location than were it wouild be in any other vehicle. Were the power window buttons on the ceiling? I can't remember--maybe I never found them.

 

Additionally, the interior compartments were small and basically useless--not that the Legacy actually has big interior compartments either--but we ended up getting a Mazda6 for the wife, and those cars have excellent interior storage, particularly the 5-door hatch/sedan we ended up buying.

 

And finally, price. Why are these cars $5-10K more than their japanese counterparts? That turbocharged motor in the 9-5--as impressive as it was--was not enough reason to justify the markup when I have a pretty good turbocharged motor in my $25K Subaru.

 

I guess Saab considers itself a rival to the higher-end brands, like Lexus and Acura... but REALLY... how many people can even spot a Saab out on the road and say, "Golly, that guy's got a 'Saab,'" with any level of enthusiasm that approaches the appreciation most people have for a Lexus?

 

Sorry Saab, but your exterior designs are too boring to provoke any kind of enthusiast lust. At least in the 80's people could recognize a Saab coming down the road, but now they just blend in with all the other cars that are much more affordable and have better interior layouts.

 

I'm surprised they are still in business.

 

All I know is that Subaru at least around here has the same amount of respect that Lexus or Acura has. (My friend that works at Lexus said his co workers sweat my car like crazy)

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I was down at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association meeting in Palm Springs last month and got to kick the tires on a 9-3 Sport Sedan. I guess they figure if you fly airplanes, you'd probably buy a car "born from jets" :rolleyes:

 

Mostly I wanted to chat with the hawt marketing gal :wub:

 

We had a good laugh that they sent her there with a BLACK on BLACK sedan to be parked in the desert for a show. It was 90+ degrees that day, and the car was covered with a fine coat of desert silicia. She rolled her big dark eyes and said "yeah corporate just doesn't understand sometimes"

 

I really wan't impressed, with the car that is. The interior of that car is illogical and ugly IMHO. The Legacy has a much cleaner interior layout.

 

My friend here at work drives an older Saab sedan, called "Mr. Toads Wild Ride". The car is a disaster, every time I ride in it something else is broken or falls off. He's given up. Exterior trim pieces are now zip-tied to the body.

 

He really loves the random - "limp home feature". The car at random will switch into "limp home" for no apparent reason. He pulls over, shuts the car off, then back on, and it's fine for a couple more weeks.

 

No CEL's are thrown, zip. His mechanic that works only on Saabs has no idea what the problem is. I keep telling him to turn the car into a metal block and buy a Subaru, so far no dice. I think he's a closet masochist.

-Zin

06 LGT LTD GRP 5MT

07 FXT LTD OBP 4EAT

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I always liked the look of the 9-3, but never any of their other cars. GM is taking away from the Saabishness of the vehicles. Yea, they're a little quirky but they're really not meant for everyone anyway. Just like not everyone appreciates an LGT when its parked next to a 325i, a lot of people would rather get a different car that probably does car chores better than a Saab. Some of their design concepts have really been good looking vehicles, and if they learn how to make their cars more reliable, then Saab will become a winner. For now, I'll pass.
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I always liked the look of the 9-3, but never any of their other cars. GM is taking away from the Saabishness of the vehicles. Yea, they're a little quirky but they're really not meant for everyone anyway.
Just like not everyone appreciates an LGT when its parked next to a 325i
People know the difference around here. A 325i is to BMW what the Accord LX model is to Honda. A 325i is the equivalent to a Legacy 2.5i. I knew that well before I owned a Legacy GT. I have liked the Legacy GT since the late 90s models.

 

a lot of people would rather get a different car that probably does car chores better than a Saab. Some of their design concepts have really been good looking vehicles, and if they learn how to make their cars more reliable, then Saab will become a winner. For now, I'll pass.

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I will always have a special place in my heart for SAAB.

 

My father owned a few of the two-cycle models, a model "99" and also a 900. I will always remember my mother handing a pint of 2-cycle oil to the guy at the gas station when buying gas.

 

SAAB was an innovator in front wheel drive, fuel injection, and turbocharging. In the old days, driving a SAAB was like owning a conversation piece as well as a motor vehicle.

 

Eventually SAAB became a "Yuppie" car and folks like my dad couldn't afford them anymore.

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While shopping for a car for the wife a few months ago, I took a good look at them.

 

Even though I pulled up in my Legacy GT, (and I'm over 30) no salesman approached me. I went into the showroom and sat in both the 9-3 and 9-5 Sedans.

 

All I can really say is these cars are weird. Personally I like to be different, but some of the weirdness with these cars is just downright silly. ///

 

Not really - compared to the pre-Opel SAAB's, they're mainstream!

 

I had a 1969 SAAB 96. FWD when it was a rarity. Ford Taunus V4 with 4 speed on the tree. Free wheeling - back off the gas, engine went to idle. Floor was completely flat. Entire hood and grille was one assembly and tipped forward.

 

 

The big thing about the SAAB 96, though, was that it was the stylistic parent for the Tribeca's grille...:lol:

Who Dares Wins

スバル

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I went to the Acura dealer on Friday to see the TL type-S. The dealer said the the TL replacement will have the AWD-super handling. And that pretty much all of the new Acuras will have SH-AWD as an option. We will have to see.
Racer X FMIC for '05-'09 LGTs, '08+ WRX and '10+ LGT,'14+ FXT, and '15+ WRX TMIC Racerxengineering.com
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I went to the Acura dealer on Friday to see the TL type-S. The dealer said the the TL replacement will have the AWD-super handling. And that pretty much all of the new Acuras will have SH-AWD as an option. We will have to see.

 

And we all know how informed dealers are!

 

When I bought my Forester XT last month, I had to explain to her 1) what a turbo charger does :rolleyes:, and 2) what the cabin filter does and where it is located.

 

I'll believe the Acura SH-AWD ubiquity when I see it.

 

Be cool though, Acura makes some attractive vehicles. Too rich for my pocket book though.

-Zin

06 LGT LTD GRP 5MT

07 FXT LTD OBP 4EAT

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And we all know how informed dealers are!

 

When I bought my Forester XT last month, I had to explain to her 1) what a turbo charger does :rolleyes:, and 2) what the cabin filter does and where it is located.

 

I'll believe the Acura SH-AWD ubiquity when I see it.

 

Be cool though, Acura makes some attractive vehicles. Too rich for my pocket book though.

But if you think about it. Every thing that came out after the RL has SH-AWD. The MDX and RDX have the same SH-AWD. If all their cars have it will be cheaper to make plus, alot of manuf. are moving away from FWD because of the limits on power(the TL type S is 286 hp). It will do more to separate Acura from honda.

Racer X FMIC for '05-'09 LGTs, '08+ WRX and '10+ LGT,'14+ FXT, and '15+ WRX TMIC Racerxengineering.com
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It would be nice if manufacturers would go to RWD and have AWD as an option. I love the design of our Saab but would much prefer a RWD layout. Same goes for my Leggy.

 

To the sedan owner saying the Saab is bland...irony just arrived. We do get tons of compliments on the Saab...still haven't had one on the Legacy. I love that both the Saab and LGT wagon are unique and somewhat rare. Both have their annoyances but I like the combo. Fyi, the current 9-3 was designed in Sweden...it just shares some components with GM.

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I think GM is switching over to RWD - supposedly in the next few years the whole pontiac line is supposedly going to be RWD cars. I wouldn't be surprised to see Saab go RWD either. Although, I think the thread will continue being FWD, but with AWD optional on every Saab in the next few years.
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I could see Saab going with an AWD option, being scandanavian, and all (cold swedish winters above the arctic circle, and all)

 

but RWD on Saabs? I highly doubt it. They were proudly FWD before most companies even considered it.

 

Pontiac RWD makes sense. Even some Chevy, and maybe a Buick. Saab, not so much.

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Sadly I think you're right. Nearly every Saab in history has been FWD. They're really into it. Our 9-3 feels less like FWD than most but still has me wishing for the proper wheels to be putting down the power. RWD>AWD>FWD for my climate.
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  • 1 month later...

spy pics:

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2007/02/06/spied-saab-gives-9-3-an-aero-x-inspired-face/

 

Saab is working on a all-wheel-drive version with the help of specialist Haldex. Expected to be released in September at the Frankfurt Car show, the vehicle will target offerings from Volvo, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and Subaru.

 

Rumours are also circuiting about a special high performance model, called the "Black Turbo." Delivering 300 hp and four-wheel drive, this model aims to put Saab in league with other prestige brands like BMW and Mercedes.

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