Heres Why People Love Saab Cars
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Date: 2019-05-28
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Comments and reviews: 9
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I worked at a SAAB dealership for 9 years in 70s and 80s. SAAB buyers were generally people who saw themselves as the smartest guy in room, although more accurately they were probably victims of Dunning-Kruger effect. The key on the floor was always something that SAAB owners like to point out as evidence of their special specialness, but it was really a horrible idea. There was never really a good reason given for putting the ignition switch on the floor. Not hitting your knee on the key in a crash was usually given as the most popular answer for that, but if you think about it with the tall SAAB seating configuration that probably would have been impossible. The floor mounted ignition switches jammed because of spills and grit. Also in very cold climates, they would freeze and people would break the keys off trying to force them to turn. The reverse gear lock was not a design decision, but done as a way to satisfy the legal requirement that the steering column lock. The tumbler that locked the gear shift would frequently jam and then necessitate the car being towed in for repair. SAABs probably had more ignition key related problems than any car in history.
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I worked at a SAAB dealership for 9 years in 70s and 80s. SAAB buyers were generally people who saw themselves as the smartest guy in room, although more accurately they were probably victims of Dunning-Kruger effect. The key on the floor was always something that SAAB owners like to point out as evidence of their special specialness, but it was really a horrible idea. There was never really a good reason given for putting the ignition switch on the floor. Not hitting your knee on the key in a crash was usually given as the most popular answer for that, but if you think about it with the tall SAAB seating configuration that probably would have been impossible. The floor mounted ignition switches jammed because of spills and grit. Also in very cold climates, they would freeze and people would break the keys off trying to force them to turn. The reverse gear lock was not a design decision, but done as a way to satisfy the legal requirement that the steering column lock. The tumbler that locked the gear shift would frequently jam and then necessitate the car being towed in for repair. SAABs probably had more ignition key related problems than any car in history.
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Rodrigo Sagebin
My neighbor has a 1984 900 Turbo. Ive helped him with a few things on it. Its a really quirky cool car to drive, but there are some things that are a royal pain to do: 1. The started is located in a place thats almost impossible to get to and takes 3X the time to do vs a comparable car; 2. I had to swap out the ignition lock cylinder on it. The security fasteners and the brittle plastic made it much more difficult than a normal cylinder replacement; 3. The center controls for the automatic windows all had to be taken apart and refurbished because of the corrosion; 4. since the accessory belts are pressed up against the firewall, a simple belt change requires a lot of time and painstaking contortions to actually get the belts in and out and tightened. I know its an older car, but most cars of that era, be them Euro or Japanese, had easier to work on and more reliable systems. All that being said, theyre beautiful cars are very fun to drive. no torque steer on a front wheel drive turbo car. Cant say Ive ever seen that before.
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My neighbor has a 1984 900 Turbo. Ive helped him with a few things on it. Its a really quirky cool car to drive, but there are some things that are a royal pain to do: 1. The started is located in a place thats almost impossible to get to and takes 3X the time to do vs a comparable car; 2. I had to swap out the ignition lock cylinder on it. The security fasteners and the brittle plastic made it much more difficult than a normal cylinder replacement; 3. The center controls for the automatic windows all had to be taken apart and refurbished because of the corrosion; 4. since the accessory belts are pressed up against the firewall, a simple belt change requires a lot of time and painstaking contortions to actually get the belts in and out and tightened. I know its an older car, but most cars of that era, be them Euro or Japanese, had easier to work on and more reliable systems. All that being said, theyre beautiful cars are very fun to drive. no torque steer on a front wheel drive turbo car. Cant say Ive ever seen that before.
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Mark Teague
Boy do I have a sob story to tell about my Saab. LOL 2003 - 04 trannies in the 9-3 models were subject to massive numbers of failures due to some sort of quick coupling that would allow engine coolant to bleed over in the tranny cooling jacket of the radiator. GM did one of those dont ask, dont tell recalls (since it wasnt a safety issue) and whether or not yours failed just depended on how long it went without the recall being performed. (i. e. How much coolant actually wound up getting into your transmission fluid. I actually wrote to GM since mine failed at 52, 000 miles (2, 000 miles out of warranty) to see if they might be willing to share any of those billions of dollars they were receiving from my tax contributions for a replacement transmission or rebuild. Nope No way, no how. The official response: We can find no business justification to offer any after warranty assistance. So, I can find no reason to recommend any GM vehicle to anyone. Best to steer clear of those bozos and anything they produce or sell.
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Boy do I have a sob story to tell about my Saab. LOL 2003 - 04 trannies in the 9-3 models were subject to massive numbers of failures due to some sort of quick coupling that would allow engine coolant to bleed over in the tranny cooling jacket of the radiator. GM did one of those dont ask, dont tell recalls (since it wasnt a safety issue) and whether or not yours failed just depended on how long it went without the recall being performed. (i. e. How much coolant actually wound up getting into your transmission fluid. I actually wrote to GM since mine failed at 52, 000 miles (2, 000 miles out of warranty) to see if they might be willing to share any of those billions of dollars they were receiving from my tax contributions for a replacement transmission or rebuild. Nope No way, no how. The official response: We can find no business justification to offer any after warranty assistance. So, I can find no reason to recommend any GM vehicle to anyone. Best to steer clear of those bozos and anything they produce or sell.
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Pogo
Transported 4 drawer cabinets in our old 900 SAAB, also the washer, the dryer and the gas stove/oven. My dad was so in love with his old 900, he found an SPG that had been sitting for over 10 years and hes now got it running, replaced the clutch and brake master and slave cylinders, the fuel pump, retuned the engine and is in the process of working out the bugs in the fuel delivery system. Hes actually replaced the original electronic fuel pressure regulator with an analog version with a manually adjustable valve and visible pressure gauge. The shifter need to be turned a bit as it feels like its tilted, but frankly its in pretty good shape mechanically. As for the cracked dash, hes opted to just repair the crack and reskin it in leather.
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Transported 4 drawer cabinets in our old 900 SAAB, also the washer, the dryer and the gas stove/oven. My dad was so in love with his old 900, he found an SPG that had been sitting for over 10 years and hes now got it running, replaced the clutch and brake master and slave cylinders, the fuel pump, retuned the engine and is in the process of working out the bugs in the fuel delivery system. Hes actually replaced the original electronic fuel pressure regulator with an analog version with a manually adjustable valve and visible pressure gauge. The shifter need to be turned a bit as it feels like its tilted, but frankly its in pretty good shape mechanically. As for the cracked dash, hes opted to just repair the crack and reskin it in leather.
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gerald springs
Had a 1990, 900S and a 1988, 9000 turbo, loved those cars, purchased both cars used, the 900 S i got in 1995, it was totaled in 1998 when a lady turned in front of me, the1988 9000 turbo i purchased around 2000, had to get rid of it because i was out of work and had to park it because the turbo was leaking oil, it was in my fathers back yard, he started complaining about it, so i sold it to a scrap yard, my brother had put a new head gasket on it a few months before i got rid of it, shame saab with out of business, sure i would have bought another at some point, i see used ones out there for sale, but would be scared to buy one now that saab is dead
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Had a 1990, 900S and a 1988, 9000 turbo, loved those cars, purchased both cars used, the 900 S i got in 1995, it was totaled in 1998 when a lady turned in front of me, the1988 9000 turbo i purchased around 2000, had to get rid of it because i was out of work and had to park it because the turbo was leaking oil, it was in my fathers back yard, he started complaining about it, so i sold it to a scrap yard, my brother had put a new head gasket on it a few months before i got rid of it, shame saab with out of business, sure i would have bought another at some point, i see used ones out there for sale, but would be scared to buy one now that saab is dead
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Jan Stromback
Keep that ignitionkeyhole free of fluids, manyer Saabs has surprised their owners by running away, some even out of garages, when the starter has engaged by a short in the ignitionswitch under the key And as you have to have the reverse selected youd know where to look for it Some has found them in their neigbours hedges, some has played destruction derby in a parkinglot. There is a reason Saab didnt put a cupholder above that keyhole. This runaway feature has been happening as long as they had the ignitionkey between the seats. Ive heard of at least two events in my own town. :-) But a sturdy car with great traction. Greeting from Sweden: -)
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Keep that ignitionkeyhole free of fluids, manyer Saabs has surprised their owners by running away, some even out of garages, when the starter has engaged by a short in the ignitionswitch under the key And as you have to have the reverse selected youd know where to look for it Some has found them in their neigbours hedges, some has played destruction derby in a parkinglot. There is a reason Saab didnt put a cupholder above that keyhole. This runaway feature has been happening as long as they had the ignitionkey between the seats. Ive heard of at least two events in my own town. :-) But a sturdy car with great traction. Greeting from Sweden: -)
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cornelis willig
Reverse engaged to get key out: Sweden winter: front park, engage 220V (10 Amp) Engine heater, battery charger. When drive away: Reverse. Now a gearbox at -40F may not be easy to engage gear: so it is ready to reverse, and with few but sufficient rotations: 1st can be engaged. I drove SAAB quite some years, 900 FPT (Full Pressure Turbo, 93 diesel. 95 Tdci diesel: no DOT in USA. Had to leave it in Europe. Now Volvo XC70 Stationwagon. Lovely car. But still prefer Saab, miss my 95. Driving in winter, ice, snow: so easy. Driver gets feedback via seat: it really works very well. Done may winter driving.
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Reverse engaged to get key out: Sweden winter: front park, engage 220V (10 Amp) Engine heater, battery charger. When drive away: Reverse. Now a gearbox at -40F may not be easy to engage gear: so it is ready to reverse, and with few but sufficient rotations: 1st can be engaged. I drove SAAB quite some years, 900 FPT (Full Pressure Turbo, 93 diesel. 95 Tdci diesel: no DOT in USA. Had to leave it in Europe. Now Volvo XC70 Stationwagon. Lovely car. But still prefer Saab, miss my 95. Driving in winter, ice, snow: so easy. Driver gets feedback via seat: it really works very well. Done may winter driving.
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Barry Ervin
I owned a 1971 Saab 99 and then a 1978 900 EMS. They were fun, useful and interesting cars. And the older ones werent really complicated or hard to work on, they were just different. When you drove one for a while you began to see the logic behind all the weird features. Then Saab apparently decided they wanted to be luxury sport sedans for an upscale customer base and compete with BMW and Audi etc, got overly complex and priced themselves out of my affordability range. Then of course the merger with GM ruined them. I still look back fondly on my oddball Saabs.
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I owned a 1971 Saab 99 and then a 1978 900 EMS. They were fun, useful and interesting cars. And the older ones werent really complicated or hard to work on, they were just different. When you drove one for a while you began to see the logic behind all the weird features. Then Saab apparently decided they wanted to be luxury sport sedans for an upscale customer base and compete with BMW and Audi etc, got overly complex and priced themselves out of my affordability range. Then of course the merger with GM ruined them. I still look back fondly on my oddball Saabs.
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Nova Kat
I have a 2005 Saab 9-3 fully modded. Really loud and pushing 360HP which is just where I want It. The GM virus is evident throughout the car, but theres still some Saab soul in it which i fell in love with. I have a 328i also for practical driving, but the Saab cockpit, feel, and driving experience cannot be explained unless you to own one. I can only wish that Koeniggsegg went ahead and made the deal with Government Motors to resurrect Saab. No other car like it, driving other cars even my BMW and putting the key in the normal place will never seem right to me.
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I have a 2005 Saab 9-3 fully modded. Really loud and pushing 360HP which is just where I want It. The GM virus is evident throughout the car, but theres still some Saab soul in it which i fell in love with. I have a 328i also for practical driving, but the Saab cockpit, feel, and driving experience cannot be explained unless you to own one. I can only wish that Koeniggsegg went ahead and made the deal with Government Motors to resurrect Saab. No other car like it, driving other cars even my BMW and putting the key in the normal place will never seem right to me.
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