During 8 years of owning a Saab, I have learned that living right on the border to Sweden is a great advantage. Why? Because in Sweden you find the world's biggest market for both new and used original Saab parts and tuning parts for Saab. For my first Saab I bought a set of 17" Aero rims, an Aero trunk spoiler, a complete Viggen package including front spoiler, rear spoiler and side skirts, Viggen leather seats and a JR air filter. The objective: To turn an ordinary Saab 9-3 into my own special Saab 9-3.
For my second Saab 9-3 I drove over the border to get some 17" Aero rims and an original Saab sport spoiler package including front lip, rear spoiler, side skirts, trunk spoiler and sports exhaust. I also got some replacement parts: brake pads, brake discs and brake calipers.
So by driving one hour and crossing a border, I have saved thousands of kroner.
After I hit a big bird with my new Saab 9-5 earlier this week, my hopes were high when I checked the parts market in Sweden for a new grille. But it turns out that slightly used parts won't be available until spring next year. Okay, that's maybe not so surprising since the car was just launched. I then called the nearest Swedish Saab dealer, but for some reason he couldn't find the part in the original parts catalog either! So now I'm getting a bit worried, remembering the unlucky guy in Belgium who crashed his new Saab 9-5 and his dealer couldn't get spare parts.
Next week I will go to the Swedish dealer to pick up my new 19 inch Turbine rims, and I hope that together we can find a new grille in the parts catalog. Fingers crossed!
A blog fueled by enthusiasm about Saab, the greatest car company between the North and the South Pole. And their cars, which probably is the only cars that would start on a cold and crispy South Pole morning.
