Saab 99 Reviews

Saab, which is being removed from the books of beleagured GM, filed in February for reorganisation with the Swedish government. This was the first step to begin as an independent company. Saab and privately-owned Koenigsegg Group AB have signed a memorandum of understanding to seal Saab's future. It could lead to a sale by September. The proposal includes an expected $770 million funding commitment from the European investment Bank (EIB) that will be guaranteed by the Swedish government. Further financial and structural support will come from GM and Koenigsegg to ensure Saab's operations and product programs. Saab plans to launch several new products that are in the final stages of development. As part of the proposed transaction, GM will continue to provide Saab with architecture and powertrain technology. Saab plans to produce its next generation 9-5 model at the company's Trollhattan factory. Koenigsegg Group AB is a consortium of private investors led by supercar manufacturer, Koenigsegg Automotive AB.

GM-Holden chairman and managing director, Mark Reuss, says Saab and Hummer, two of the poorest performing brands locally, says the company is keeping tabs on what's happening overseas regarding the future of the Swedish and American pair. "We'll wait and see on those brands," he says. "Those two brands are for sale right now and we'll work with whoever the buyer is of those brands here in Australia." However, Carsguide understands a consultant has been brought into GM-Holden specifically to see how Saab and Hummer fit into the company's overall "fit and mix" operations going forward. Local sales for both brands have slowed to a trickle this year on the back of the speculation over their fates and the woes of General Motors. GM is cleaning out more than half of its brands. Last week it signed a tentative deal to sell Hummer to a Chinese company, Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co and announced Magna as the preferred bidder for Opel/Vauxhall with the giant Italian car group Fiat also in the running. Pontiac will close down by the end of next year and Saab is on the blocks. IndyCar team owner and Detroit businessman Roger Penske reached agreement last Friday with GM to buy Saturn. The deal could be finalised within three months. GM established Saturn in 1985, aiming the brand at customers who would have chosen low-cost European or Japanese cars. Under the deal GM will continue to build the Saturn Aura, the Vue and the Outlook on a contract basis for Penske Automotive Group, the second-largest car retailer in the US. The agreement will save more than 350 car dealers and 13,000 jobs at Saturn, GM said. Although details have not been revealed GM is believed to sold off the brand for between $US100 and $US200 million. Penske also sells the Smart cars in North America. The two bidders for Saab are believed to be Swedish sportscar maker Koenigsegg and US investment group Renco. A decision on that deal is likely within two weeks. After the halcyon days of the 1990s, Saab sales have largely tanked because of a lack of new models and clear identity of how the Swedish carmaker fitted into the GM empire. Locally, Saab dealers sold just 1158 cars last year and in the first five months of this year they have sold just 186 cars, a massive 60 per cent slump over the same period last year. Hummer's local sales too have taken a battering because of the ongoing GM woes. Dealers have sold 271 Hummers this year, 54 per cent down on the same period last year. Many Saab and Hummer dealers are multi-franchised Holden dealers but industry analyst Tony Robinson, believes dealers will be nervous. "If I was GM-Holden I would be looking at focusing on the core strengths of the company," he says. Tengzhong is one of China's leading manufacturers of road, construction and energy industry equipment. With Hummer in its portfolio it plans to expand into the premium off-road vehicle segment globally and help develop the brand in North America.

The Swedish brand has sagged badly over the past five years, and more, as GM has failed to create a workable product plan to produce the vital new models to drive Saab forward.

Vehicles Move the shedding of Hummer, Saab and Saturn forward to the end of this year, with Pontiac gone by the end of 2010. Cut production by 190,000 in the second and third quarters. Dealership network Slash dealerships by 40 per cent to 3,605 from 6,246. Workforce Reduce the workforce from 61,000 to 40,000 – 7000 more than suggested in the viability plan put forward in February. Financial Execute a debt-swap and restructure that positions the US Government as a majority owner of about 50 per cent — in exchange for forgiving half the debt of the $US15.4 billion already loaned to GM, and adding another $US11.6 billion to it. The United Auto Workers union pension fund would own 40 per cent in exchange for half of the $US20 billion it’s owed. Holders of GM’s $US27 billion worth of bonds would end up owning 10 per cent, with the carmaker exchange 225 common shares for each $US1000 principal amount of outstanding notes. If the bondholder approval rate falls short of the required 90 per cent, GM will file for bankruptcy protection, with bondholders estimated to get just 5c in the dollar – a far cry from the 33c tipped earlier this year.

Well you're too late.

It is to become an independent business after starting court proceedings in Sweden.Saab plans to bring all its business back to Sweden and has announced it will launch three new models over the next 18 months.It will seek funds for its break from General Motors after it has successfully created a new legal entity.The surprise move comes after GM's strategic review of its global empire.Saab said from its headquarters in Trollhattan, Sweden, that its reorganisation would be “a self-managed, Swedish legal process headed by an independent administrator appointed by the court who will work closely with the Saab management team”.“As part of the process, Saab will formulate its proposal for reorganisation, which will include the concentration of design, engineering and manufacturing in Sweden.”“This proposal will be presented to creditors within three weeks of the filing. Pending court approval, the reorganisation will be executed over a three-month period and will require independent funding to succeed.”Saab said it had explored — and would continue to explore — all available options for funding and/or selling Saab.“It was determined a formal reorganisation would be the best way to create a truly independent entity that is ready for investment,” said Jan Ake Jonsson, managing director for Saab Automobile.“With an all new 9-5, 9-3X and 9-4X all ready for launch over the next year and a half, Saab has an excellent foundation for strong growth, assuming we can get the funding to complete engineering, tooling and manage launch costs.“Reorganisation will give us the time and means that help get these products to market while minimising the liquidity impact of Saab on GM.”He said that funding for the restructured company would come from public and private sources.“Saab will continue to operate as usual and in accordance with the formal reorganisation process,” he said.“The (Swedish) Government will provide some support during this period.“The reorganisation should have no impact on other GM operations.” 

Then, early Saturday our time, a Swedish court gave it three months to find a means of keeping the company afloat while an administrator negotiates with creditors.Saab's managing director, Jan Ake Jonsson, says Saab is seeking to create a fully independent business."What would happen during the reorganisation phase is more preservation of cash and making sure we have the financials to go through it. Exactly what that means is too early to say."How very confidence inspiring …One feels for the workers, dealers and thousands of various job descriptions whose livelihoods will exist no longer when the Trollhattan marque eventually succumbs to the inevitable.Honestly, though, does anyone believe Saab deserves to survive?Can anyone – except perhaps the ever diminishing number of clueless and chronically dizzy types who mysteriously continue buy them – say with sincerity that they care a Viking’s frozen digit for Saab?The 9-5 is so hopelessly obsolete, so thoroughly behind the times, driving it is the equivalent of wearing spats. To the beach. The numerical designation might as well indicate its year of origin; the 9-5 belongs firmly to the previous century.Next to that the 9-3, with its near-decade old Vectra underpinnings, is positively effervescent. But with at least a half dozen sounder and more desirable alternatives for every one of the barely numerable variants in the line-up, the 9-3 is also very possibly the most futile car on earth.And as for charging $90K for the top model, on what planet – or more to the point – in which era do these people dwell?The only possible thing Saab could do to justify its continued existence is to make an entirely new car. A proper new car, that is, as opposed to minor embellishments of two decomposing model lines.That’s not going to happen, at least not in a hurry. Saab is wedded to a decaying US former auto giant, whose embattled execs want nothing more than a quick divorce. And Saab can’t afford to live on its own.The contrast with compatriot Volvo is glaring. But while Ford remains attached to life support, its Swedish subsidiary has at least continued to produce new, competitive and even – in terms of its fusty image – exciting new models, a la the C30 T5 and XC60. So Ford will eventually find a buyer for Volvo, because it’s making cars that you’d cheerfully spend your money on.Whereas Saab … well, the best thing it could do is to stop making them altogether. Please. 

The new 9-3X all-wheel drive wagon follows the proven path pioneered by the Subaru Outback and joins a legion of new Euro softer-roaders battling in the recreational lifestyle market.The jacked up, chunky Swede debuts at next month's Geneva Motor Show and could hit local Saab showrooms next year.For the downtrodden Saab brand locally, GM Premium brands director, Parveen Batish, says the 9-3X is not too little too late."I don't think so, I think the brand is moving forward and we've been talking about other cars and they will come," he says."Things have been tough but we can see some light."The cues we've seen from some of the concept cars are a real eye-opening in terms of where the brand is going."Last year Saab sold just 1158 vehicles locally, mostly 9-3s.The 9-3X and its bigger, still secret 9-4X off-roader, could be a sales savior.Batish says the 9-3X does not go into production until towards the end of the year "so that gives us plenty of time to investigate where it would fit and how it would fit"."Regardless of the brand, we've got to make sure it's the right thing for Australia," he says.In Europe the 9-3X will be available with both front and all-wheel drive.GM Premium Brands will investigate both options, Batish says."But being a small market we can't take everything," he says.Using the 9-3 SportCombi as its base, the 9-3X gets a 35mm higher ground clearance and Saab's cross-wheel drive (XWD) system, as well as some stirdy plastic trim.For the first time, Saab's E85-capable BioPower engine technology is mated to its XWD system.In Europe buyers will have a choice of the 155kW/300Nm 2.0-litre BioPower four-cylinder as well as petrol 2.0-litre four cylinder.The 2.0-litre petrol turbo has a similar output to the BioPower unit.A front-wheel drive 132kW/400Nm 1.9-litre TTiD two-stage turbo diesel will also be available.There is little difference between the all-wheel drive and front drive.The front drive gets the same styling but its suspension is only raised by an extra 20mm.Visually the soft-road wagon uses a proven formula of grey plastic body trim, wheel arches and sill panels and beefier bumpers.This treatment is complemented by matt aluminium skid panels.Black roof rails are standard, along with multi-spoke 17-inch alloys and dual exhausts.The XWD system is an active, intelligent system that continuously distributes engine drive torque between the front and rear axles.The hardware includes an electronically-controlled torque transfer system that varies power delivery between the axles.

When winter becomes a fast fading memory convertible owners drop their tops and let the sun shine in. There are few things more enjoyable in life than driving a rag-top like the Saab 9-3 on a sunny summer day.For a country covered in snow and ice for much of the years it’s surprising that Sweden is a maker of convertibles, but Saab has been one of the main players in the rag-top market for many years.There is now a wide choice of soft tops from many manufacturers, but it wasn’t so long ago that the Saab convertible was one of the few choices we had. Early Saab convertibles were about the only affordable choice just a few years ago and there are still plenty out there today.The 9-3 arrived in local showrooms in 1998, replacing the 900S, which had been a popular model.The range was made up of three-door and five-door hatches and a convertible, which is the model we’re focussing on here.Saab had a long history of building affordable convertibles and the 9-3 continued that tradition. By the time it was launched there were a number of convertibles available from other carmakers so the pressure was well and truly on the small Swedish car maker to hold its place in an increasingly competitive market.From the outset it has to be said that Saab convertibles have always been a little loose in terms of body stiffness and shake was a constant annoyance when driving one. Saab wasn’t alone in suffering from body shake, which was mostly in the dash and scuttle area, but they seemed to suffer more than most.In the late 1980s with the competition never more intensive the Saab was trailing its closest rivals in the body stiffness stakes, it was something most other car makers had been able to get on top of. Saab seemed to believe theirs was acceptable, but one drive of another convertible was enough to know that they were wrong.What made the lack of body stiffness more annoying was that the Saab made a pretence of its convertible being a sports or performance model. The shake was one thing, but the body flexing dulled the handling and made the 9-3 less precise than it should have been.Front-wheel drive didn’t help the 9-3’s precision either, and couple all of that to a powerful turbo engine and the soft-top Saab could be a bit of a handful.As a cruiser though these problems aren’t so obvious, the 9-3 makes a most pleasant car when the sun is shining and the coast road beckoning.The convertible was available in two models, with a choice of 2.3-litre double overhead camshaft four-cylinder engine or a 2.0-litre double overhead camshaft four-cylinder force fed by a turbocharger.The 2.3-litre engine would make 110 kW at 5700 revs, which gave the 1368 kg soft-top good performance without ever threatening to make your nose bleed, the 2.0-turbo engine made 136 kW at 5500 revs, which gave it a little more zip.While the 2.3-litre was smooth and perhaps the better choice, the turbo lag associated with the 2.0-litre engine was a real downer.Transmission choices were a rather wooden shifting five-speed manual gearbox and a four-speed auto with final drive going through the front wheels.9-3 owners weren’t left without when their cars came packed with most of the comfort, convenience and safety items that were sought at the time.The 2.3 rag-top came complete with power steering, power antenna, windows and central locking, it had leather trim, cruise control, trip computer, CD sound, air-conditioning, front and rear fog lamps and an immobiliser.The 2.0-litre turbo had all of that plus six-speaker sound, CD stacker, woodgrain dash and auto climate control air.In 2000 Saab released the Aero model which had the 151 kW boost of an uprated 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine and came fitted with just about every feature on the Saab option list including ABS and traction control.The 2.3-litre engine is a rugged unit that doesn’t give much trouble, and with a chain driving the camshafts there isn’t the need to service it as there is with belt driven engines. Likewise the 2.0-litre turbo gives little trouble and also has a chain driving the camshafts.When shopping for a convertible there are a few things that need to be checked. For starters the interior trim often comes in for a battering from the sun when left exposed for long periods so look for cracking of the leather trim, the dash panel and other plastic parts that will harden and crack or break in time when exposed to the sun’s rays.Leather can get very hot in the sun and be uncomfortable to sit on. Some owners would happily forego leather for cloth for more comfort in the summer months.If you stick with the leather it’s worth treating it regularly with a leather cleaner and conditioner to keep it soft and supple. That way it won’t so readily dry out and crack.Check floor carpets for dampness or staining that might indicate previous dampness from being left in the rain with the roof down.Also check the operation of the soft top, making sure it goes up and down smoothly without any hesitation or jerkiness.Dual front airbags and side airbags provide all round protection for front seat passengers, add to that side head airbags in the Aero and the secondary crash protection is quite extensive.Alex Giansiracusa owns a 2001 9-3 Aero manual convertible and loves it! He was looking specifically for a manual Aero, which at the time was very difficult to find so he went to Sydney to buy his. Now with 32,000 km on the odometer he says it has been very reliable and is very therapeutic to drive. His only criticism is the noticeable turbo lag. Other than that, he reckons he has bought an almost brand new luxury sports car for at a very reasonable second hand price.• body flexing causes squeaks and rattles• solid performance of non-turbo engine• annoying turbo lag on force fed models• interior damage from sun exposure• hot leather in summer months• smooth operation of power roofAn affordable convertible that is generally reliable if you can put up with the body shakes.

Saab, the quirky Swede, has always been in Volvo’s shadow, which was perhaps a good thing when Volvo was the laughing stock of the road. Saab being stuck behind Volvo's shadow meant that few car buyers took a serious look at the cars from Trollhatten when it would have been worth their while to consider one alongside other prestige cars from BMW, Audi, Honda and the like.Saabs are still relatively invisible to most motorists even though the company builds cars with sporty performance, comfort aplenty and commendable reliability.The 900 is just such a car. Built from 1993 to 1998 it was a well built, smartly styled car with enviable reliability that is worth a look if you’re in the market for a used prestige car that will give solid reliable service for many years to come. It’s also a safe, solid car worth considering as a first car for the rookie driver in the family.MODEL WATCHThe 900 was initially offered only as a sleek five-door hatch, with two different versions, the S and SE. The five-door configuration was popular as it doubled as a stylish sedan and a useful part-time wagon when the extra carrying space was needed. A few months later a three-door hatch, a two-door coupe, and a convertible joined the five-door.There were plenty of choices when it came to engines. The most popular engine was the 110 kW 2.3-litre fuel-injected DOHC four, but there was also a 98 kW 2.0-litre version offered which wasn’t terribly popular, and a 125 kW 2.5-litre DOHC 240-valve V6 which was a product of General Motor’s involvement in the company.For a real blast Saab also offered a 2.0-litre turbocharged four, which boasted 136 kW. It could only be described as brutal in the days before Subaru redefined the term with its WRX, but it also suffered from chronic torque steer when you nailed your right foot, which made it much less appealing.The narrow-vee V6 was the first six-cylinder engine ever fitted to a Saab, and was the same engine that was more familiar under the bonnet of the Calibra sports coupe Holden briefly sold here.There was a choice of transmissions, a five-speed manual or a four-speed Asian-Warner electronic auto, and drive was through the front wheels. A clutchless manual gearbox, called Sensonic, was offered as an option on the Turbo in 1995.Novel at the time the Sensonic gearbox simply did away with the clutch pedal, the clutch was actuated by a mechanical system triggered by electronics. To shift you lifted off the throttle, shifted the lever to the gear you wanted, and stepped on the gas again. Quirky yes; necessary, no!The suspension was MacPherson Strut at the front and a semi-rigid axle at the rear, with gas shocks front and back, and an anti-roll bar at the front. Steering was power-assisted rack and pinion.Brakes were disc front and rear with ABS standard on all models.Facelifts in 1996 and 1997 brought more refinement. In 1996 there was Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), alarm, immobiliser, lumbar adjustment for the driver’s seat, and some minor cosmetics, while 1997 brought a smoother gear shift, and the V6 was only available as an auto. There were also special ‘Talladega’ models in honour of the successful record breaking blitz of a 900 Turbo in the US.All 900s were well equipped, even in base form. A long list of features included driver’s airbag, air-conditioning, central locking, fog lights, heated front seats, power mirrors, power windows, and four-speaker sound. A passenger’s airbag was also standard from September 1995.IN THE SHOPMechanically the 900 is pretty well bullet proof, particularly the 2.3-litre engine that is good for many hundreds of thousands of kilometres providing it’s well serviced. The good thing is that the camshafts are chain driven which means there isn’t a belt that regularly requires changing. The same can’t be said for the V6, which does have a cam drive belt and Saab specifies it should be changed at every major service, which come up every 40,000 km.Brakes tend to be a high cost maintenance item with pads and rotors needing replacement at intervals of 50,000 km or less. Heavy front brake wear can be seen from the build-up of brake dust on the front wheels, it’s a consequence of the brake set-up used on most modern cars which use the front brakes quite heavily.Check convertibles carefully. Saab changed from hydraulics to electrics for the roof on the new 900 and then switched back to hydraulics for the next model. Get the message. Make sure the hood operates, up and down, smoothly as it can be expensive to fix a problem roof.While you’re at it check the roof for tears, or areas of high wear which can occur because of the movement in the hood as it goes up and down. Tears can mean water leaks and high wear areas can mean a replacement hood will be needed.Convertible interiors are usually subjected to high sun exposure, which can lead to cracking of trim components. They can fade and become brittle with time if left in the sun too much. It’s also a fact of life that convertible interiors can get wet if you’re caught in a sudden downpour, it’s not a huge problem if the trim and carpets are allowed to dry properly before being left in a garage. If it smells mouldy, walk away!Convertible side window seals can leak if they’re not adjusted properlyOWNERS SAYStuart Stone commends the performance, ride, comfort and roominess of his 1995 V6 five-door. He rates the build quality as excellent, but says the cost of Saab servicing and spare parts is too high.David Batrouney has owned his 1996 Saab 900 SE V6 since new and says it’s been a pleasure to own. It is comfortable and economical on long trips and has never broken down, although he says he would like more powerful headlamps, and the suspension is harsh on road imperfections.Alan Mackew bought his 1994 Saab 900 S 2.3-litre five-door two years ago. It had done 70,000 km, came with a full service history, and cost about the same as a base Corolla at the time. Alan wanted something different which was economical, built to last and good for long distance driving, and bought the Saab after looking at similarly priced Mercedes-Benz and BMWs. The Saab stood out with its high level of standard equipment, useful five-door body configuration, and implications of durability and safety associated with Swedish cars. He’s found it to be a very relaxing and reassuring long distance car that returns very good fuel economy, and would look at a new Saab next time he buys.Accountant Evan Evangelou bought his 1995 900 convertible two years ago with just 30,000 km on the odo. Overall he’s happy, and would buy another Saab, but says the steering is vague and the convertible body shakes. He also says Saab servicing is expensive and has taken it to a non-factory specialist.Walter de Gregorio reckons that if his 1993 900 convertible had a little more punch on take off, and a smoother gearshift, it would be perfect.LOOK FOR• Forget the 2.0-litre engine, the high maintenance V6, and the turbo; go for the reliable and economical 2.3-litre engine.• Gearboxes are generally reliable, although the manual shift is notchy. Forget the Sensonic clutchless manual, it’s a gimmick.• Build quality is high, and there is little problem with rust although one owner reported a less than satisfactory experience with Saab over rust in his car.• Convertible is an affordable and pleasant driving soft top, but beware of cars that have been left exposed in the sun and rain with the top down. Also know that Saab convertibles shake like crazy.• Brake wear is high so be prepared for regular replacement of pads and rotors.• Front-wheel drive 900s suffer from torque steer on takeoff, the Turbo is chronic.