Saabs may become cool again

[Edd]

You know how Saab was distributing a re-badged Impreza for awhile? During the same time period I noticed another of their sedans/wagons was REALLY close in size and style to Legacy sedans/wagons. I never noticed the model name or looked into it. Anyone else notice this?

 

[mlctvt]

You know how Saab was distributing a re-badged Impreza for awhile? During the same time period I noticed another of their sedans/wagons was REALLY close in size and style to Legacy sedans/wagons. I never noticed the model name or looked into it. Anyone else notice this?

That was the now discontinued Saab 9-2X and 9-2X Aero versions. The 9-2X was a rebadged Subaru Impreza and the 9-2X Aero was a rebadged Subaru Impreza WRX wagon. They both had a different front end and slightly upgraded seats. You could get some things in the SAAB that weren't available in the WRX wagon, like a factory sunroof.
I tried to get my wife to buy one when I found out The 9-2X aero was selling for less than the WRX wagon but the CT dealers didn't have any. We ended up getting a WRX wagon in VT for $4K less than MSRP.
These were great cars since they were actually Subarus. Probably more reliable than the true Saabs.
A friend just bought a used 9-2X aero with less than 40K miles for $12K. Use WRX s were going for much more.

There were no other rebadged Subarus sold as Saabs but 9-7X SUV is a rebadged Chevy.

 

[deadheadskier]

i think the new Saab Turbo X is VERY cool.....turbo power, all-wheel drive.

I like the sedan, the wagon is kinda meh

What is it's competitors? 3 Series? A4? How's it drive in comparison.


The 900 I dug because it was Ugly. I think they should do a 20 year reissue of a 900 Turbo Comfortable only have it be awd.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

My cousin had one back in the late 60's, it was a great ski car. Seemed like they all were olive green. Had all these troll stickers on it, I think it was part of their marketing back then.

 

[ctenidae]

That was the now discontinued Saab 9-2X and 9-2X Aero versions. The 9-2X was a rebadged Subaru Impreza and the 9-2X Aero was a rebadged Subaru Impreza WRX wagon. They both had a different front end and slightly upgraded seats. You could get some things in the SAAB that weren't available in the WRX wagon, like a factory sunroof.
I tried to get my wife to buy one when I found out The 9-2X aero was selling for less than the WRX wagon but the CT dealers didn't have any. We ended up getting a WRX wagon in VT for $4K less than MSRP.
These were great cars since they were actually Subarus. Probably more reliable than the true Saabs.
A friend just bought a used 9-2X aero with less than 40K miles for $12K. Use WRX s were going for much more.

There were no other rebadged Subarus sold as Saabs but 9-7X SUV is a rebadged Chevy.

Yup. 100% made by Subaru in Japan. They were supposed to be a placeholder while Saab designed a crossover, but that plan failed, clearly.

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

If you think your quirkly 3rd cousin who wears courdory pants and a tweed jacket is cool, then yes. :lol:

for me, saab is kind of new england cool/chic, before saab got ruined by GM and subaru became the new "cool" (for new england), even though subaru is more "lesbian chic" than saab, which is a more masculine brand, imho.

enough pot stirring....what i guess i mean is that both are cool in their own ways, and i'm hopeful saab will recapture some of its past glory.

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

Yup. 100% made by Subaru in Japan. They were supposed to be a placeholder while Saab designed a crossover, but that plan failed, clearly.

the new crossover, the 9-4X, is, from what i can tell, still in the pipeline....

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

That was the now discontinued Saab 9-2X and 9-2X Aero versions. The 9-2X was a rebadged Subaru Impreza and the 9-2X Aero was a rebadged Subaru Impreza WRX wagon. They both had a different front end and slightly upgraded seats. You could get some things in the SAAB that weren't available in the WRX wagon, like a factory sunroof.
I tried to get my wife to buy one when I found out The 9-2X aero was selling for less than the WRX wagon but the CT dealers didn't have any. We ended up getting a WRX wagon in VT for $4K less than MSRP.
These were great cars since they were actually Subarus. Probably more reliable than the true Saabs.
A friend just bought a used 9-2X aero with less than 40K miles for $12K. Use WRX s were going for much more.

There were no other rebadged Subarus sold as Saabs but 9-7X SUV is a rebadged Chevy.

follow this link to a recent forum thread for pix of the subaru and saabaru....

 

[Warp Daddy]

for me, saab is kind of new england cool/chic, before saab got ruined by GM and subaru became the new "cool" (for new england), even though subaru is more "lesbian chic" than saab, which is a more masculine brand, imho.

enough pot stirring....what i guess i mean is that both are cool in their own ways, and i'm hopeful saab will recapture some of its past glory.

Now that's what i'm talkin Bout

Yep add to that "professor tweed types" or other eggheads, who are the ultimate non conformists ( ahem could use a mirror here ) who want to differant from the herd and relish the thought of actually FINDING THEIR car easily in crowed parking lots full of cookie cutters

 

[campgottagopee]

I've always thought Saab's were cool---I had an old 900 turbo that rocked--Saab owners like Subie owners are very loyal, damn near cult like following. Long live Saab

 

[Warp Daddy]

Subies are awesome !! My best ski buddy bought a used Outback with 84,000 on it 3 yrs ago as a winter rat . WE're still using that puppy now has 142K and runs like top , quiet , quick and looks great

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/16/news/companies/gm_saab.reut/index.htm?postversion=2009061608

GM sold Saab to Koenigsegg, who makes these beauts:

i'm pretty excited about the potential here, and i hope saab gets back on its feet (as i've said in a couple posts in this thread), but two things worry me:

1. Koenigsegg is a micro high-end sports manufacturer....what do they know about mass marketing cars (even if, at 95K sold a year, saab is a niche player)?
2. at 95K units a year, saab is way too small to survive alone in today's car world, where economies of scale are so important....so, this transaction doesn't make a lot of sense to me. is it doomed to fail, or is it a temporary stop-gap until a future sale?

 

[ctenidae]

i'm pretty excited about the potential here, and i hope saab gets back on its feet (as i've said in a couple posts in this thread), but two things worry me:

1. Koenigsegg is a micro high-end sports manufacturer....what do they know about mass marketing cars (even if, at 95K sold a year, saab is a niche player)?
2. at 95K units a year, saab is way too small to survive alone in today's car world, where economies of scale are so important....so, this transaction doesn't make a lot of sense to me. is it doomed to fail, or is it a temporary stop-gap until a future sale?

Hopefully Koenigsegg maintains design control, and Saab maintains marketing and production control. This could be a great way for Koenigsegg to grab some scale that would allow it to access the public markets for capital.

 

[Geoff]

Hopefully Koenigsegg maintains design control, and Saab maintains marketing and production control. This could be a great way for Koenigsegg to grab some scale that would allow it to access the public markets for capital.

The Swedish government is also pretty good about making capital available. They also provide all kinds of incentives to buy local... at least as much as is possible in the EU.

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

The Swedish government is also pretty good about making capital available. They also provide all kinds of incentives to buy local... at least as much as is possible in the EU.

i dunno...it was the swedish government's reluctance to pitch in earlier this year that eventually lead to GM's disposal of the brand. maybe the gov't did it on purpose, though, thinking that the fate of saab should be tied with another company/management team.

 

[Glenn]

This was in yesterday's daily AutoWeek e-mail: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090616/CARNEWS/906169985

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I've dated two different girls who drove Saabs...I looked at the 9-3 about 3.5 years ago when I bought my Subie..because they were offering GM employee pricing..it was still about $75 a month more to lease a 9-3 than a base model Impreza..

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I like the sedan, the wagon is kinda meh

What is it's competitors? 3 Series? A4? How's it drive in comparison.


The 900 I dug because it was Ugly. I think they should do a 20 year reissue of a 900 Turbo Comfortable only have it be awd.

So many old 900 in the peoples republic of Vermont..

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

the new crossover, the 9-4X, is, from what i can tell, still in the pipeline....

hmmm, looks a lot like my wife's subaru tribecca... I've had 3 saabs and then switched to Suby...they'd have to give me a saab now to get me back...despite my having swedish blood.

 

[ctenidae]

i dunno...it was the swedish government's reluctance to pitch in earlier this year that eventually lead to GM's disposal of the brand. maybe the gov't did it on purpose, though, thinking that the fate of saab should be tied with another company/management team.

You may be on to something- let a Swedish company (probably with gov't backing) buy it in a fire sale, rather than prop up GM. Makes sense to me.