Saab 9-3s that stand out

So far today there is no big news about the sale of Saab, and the employees are still waiting for their wages. So let's instead enjoy a rather positive review of the Saab 9-3X from English The Guardian. Here's a snippet of what they say about the 9-3X:

This one does stand out, though it's just a re-tweaking rather than a whole new car: a modified front bumper and lights, to bring it into line with its 9-5 big brother, and a range of more efficient engines. It may not be beautiful, but it is unmistakably a Saab, and it has presence – especially this XWD model, which has a slightly higher stance than the others. Rugged even, and outdoorsy, but without the stigma-as-standard you get with a large SUV.

Talking about Saabs that stand out. Check out this Saab 9-3 SportCombi drifting!

Saab 9-5 among the best in Swedish vehicle inspection

Most countries in the EU require that vehicles three (or four) years or older, every year or every second undergo a vehicle inspection to check that the vehicles conform to regulations governing safety, roadworthiness and exhaust emissions aspects.


In the UK this test is known as the MOT test (Ministry of Transport test), in Norway the PKK (periodisk kjøretøyskontroll), in Germany the HU (Hauptuntersuchung), in Sweden the besiktning, in the Netherlands the APK (Algemene Periodieke Keuring ) etc etc.


In Sweden the test authorities, AB Svensk Bilprovning, makes summaries of the results for all car models. The latest statistics are from 2010. And here we also find Saab. Below is the 10 car models with the least faults when looking at cars that were 5 years old (model year 2005 cars).

	Car model	Car related faults	Number of cars tested	Average km driven
1	Ford ,  Focus ,  Sedan ,  200401 - ,  Petrol	0,1%	104	64 980
2	Saab ,  9-5 ,  Sedan ,  199701 - 201005 ,  Petrol/Ethanol/E85	0,1%	93	106 100
3	Volkswagen ,  Jetta/Bora ,  Sedan ,  199801 - 200512 ,  Bensin	0,1%	86	65 120
4	Audi ,  A4 Avant ,  Kombi ,  200101 - 200712 ,  Diesel	0,1%	77	150 670
5	Porsche ,  911 ,  Kupé ,  200501 - ,  Petrol	0,1%	77	45 340
6	Toyota ,  Avensis ,  Sedan ,  200301 - 200812 ,  Petrol	0,6%	313	80 730
7	Toyota ,  Avensis ,  Kombi ,  200301 - 200812 ,  Petrol	0,8%	871	90 780
8	Seat ,  Leon ,  Halvkombi ,  200501 - ,  Petrol	0,9%	113	69 430
9	Audi ,  A4 ,  Sedan ,  200001 - 200712 ,  Petrol	0,9%	1 285	99 350
10	Lexus ,  RX ,  Flera ändamål ,  200401 - 200912 ,  Petrol/El	1,0%	103	109 430

The 2005 Saab 9-5 Sedan with petrol/E85-ethanol engine is among the absolute best cars. Only 0.1 percent of the Saab 9-5s with this engine failed due to car related faults. As a comparison, 26.9 percent of the Volvo V70 diesel failed.

If you look at the full list, the Saab 9-5 SportCombi with petrol/E85-ethanol engine also do well and is placed 31st with 2.1 percent fail.


Other Saab cars:

	Car model	Car related faults	Number of cars tested	Average km driven
2	Saab ,  9-5 ,  Sedan ,  199701 - 201005 ,  Petrol/Ethanol/E85	0,1%	93	10 610
29	Saab ,  9-5 ,  Sedan ,  199701 - 201005 ,  Petrol	2,0%	352	10 246
31	Saab ,  9-5 ,  Kombi ,  199701 - 201005 ,  Petrol/Ethanol/E85	2,1%	1 101	11 840
43	Saab ,  9-5 ,  Kombi ,  199701 - 201005 ,  Petrol	2,5%	3 023	11 296
128	Saab ,  9-5 ,  Kombi ,  199701 - 201005 ,  Diesel	7,8%	166	18 516
132	Saab ,  9-3 ,  Cabriolet ,  200208 - ,  Petrol	8,0%	113	6 290
152	Saab ,  9-3 ,  Kombi ,  200208 - ,  Petrol	10,0%	1 151	9 614
166	Saab ,  9-3 ,  Sedan ,  200208 - ,  Petrol	12,0%	1 739	9 605
177	Saab ,  9-3 ,  Kombi ,  200208 - ,  Diesel	15,0%	214	14 112
185	Saab ,  9-3 ,  Sedan ,  200208 - ,  Diesel	17,9%	251	14 304

How far the car has been driven and how well you service and care for your car will of course affect the result on this test. But it is always nice to Saab do well!

Fuel consumption on the Saab 9-5 Sedan 2.0TiD

4.85 liters diesel per 100 km, that is the latest and lowest fuel consumption I have recorded on my Saab 9-5 Sedan 2.0 TiD so far. And I can say that I am very satisfied with the figure!

It was recorded after driving about 750 km, of which 250 km where done on two long drives and the remaining 500 km where several trips of around 40 km. Almost all the driving was done on country roads without traffic queues, with the speed being from 80 to 90 km/h. Only a 20 km was on urban roads. On my car there are 17 inches unstudded winter tires.

According to Saab's specifications the car is supposed to consume:

6.9 l/100km during city driving
4.3 l/100km during highway driving
5.3 l/100km during a combined driving cycle

All according to the 1999/10 EU directive.

I am just happy I came below 5.0 l/100km. I have no illusions about ever reaching 4.3 l/100km, which is just a laboratory figure.

And I am not the only one happy with the fuel consumption figure. Swedish car magazine Vi bilägare are doing long-term road tests of the Saab 9-5 2.0 Turbo4 and the following other cars: Dacia Duster 4X4 1,5 dCi, Ford C-Max 1,6D 115 hk, Opel Meriva 1,3 CDTI and Volvo V60 T4. They have concluded that when compared to the other cars they are testing, the Saab and the Volvo are the only cars where the deviation from the stated fuel consumption is acceptable.

The Ford consumed 34.8 percent more fuel than stated in the specifications, the Dacia 25 percent more, the Opel 22.2  percent more, the Volvo 9.2  percent more and finally the Saab 10.7 percent more.

Yet another reason to chose Saab?

Saab 9-3 SportCombi - a second hand test

The Swedish newspaper Göteborgs-Posten has done a test of a second hand Saab 9-3 SportCombi. From the test one can read that when buying a second hand Saab 9-3 you get a car that is fun to drive and very safe. Below is a translation of the test.


Nimble and safe Saab
The nimble Saab 9-3 Sport Combi tempts you to pressing down the accelerator. The car also has superb comfort and high safety. Not even the problems in Trollhättan casts any shadow over this second-hand Saab.
Saab has long been on everyone's lips. Will the brand survive? The crisis in the production of new cars makes current Saab owners and future buyers of used cars ponder. Many has certainly considered the issue of availability of spare parts.

In conjunction with this test, a Saab dealer said that availability of spare parts has been uncertain during the summer - among other things, it was difficult to get hold of spare keys - but that the situation has stabilized. The subsidiary Saab parts can reportedly produce spare parts no matter what happens with the main company. That is the current situation.

Soft and supple
As far as I can judge, the tested SportCombi from 2006 does not need any repairs. It has the 1.8t engine with 150 horsepower, has been driven over 97,000 km and behaves exactly as I expect, that is nimble and powerful when accelerating.

It has excellent road handling. It is soft and supple in steering and suspension. It is not too hard or bumpy and the car calls for active driving. In other words, it makes me want to press down on the accelerator, preferably through challenging bends. The balance of the car feels good and the cabin is well isolated from noise.

A bit fiddly
SportCombi came in 2005, a few years after the SportSedan, which for the first model years have caught note of the Motor Vehicle Inspection (Bilprovningen) for poor suspension springs. The Combi has done better. The three year old 9-3 got a better score than the average car in both 2009 (except for the diesel) and in 2010. After five years, both the petrol and diesel cars are slightly worse than average.
The comfort is excellent. The seats are good and are slightly curled to give side support and there is electronic adjustment in the driver's seat. Large instruments straight ahead showing speed, rpm and fuel level. The middle console has a maze of buttons, including for the climate control and audio. You don’t have to be a pilot to sort out all the functions, but before you get used to it, it feels a little fiddly.
At night you can turn off all the instrument lights except the speedometer with the so-called night panel fuction.

Easy to load

The space in the rear seat is limited, but headroom is good thanks to the sloping seat. The large rear door opens the entire rear end for an easy to load baggage compartment. Cars with the repair kit in stead of a spare wheel, has extra storage space.

The 9-3 got five stars in the safety test from Euro NCAP, with stability control as standard from 2005.

Facts
Saab 9-3 Sport Combi 2006

General
The Saab 9-3 was launched in 2002 and was at the time undoubtedly the most fun to drive model from Saab. The engines are essentially the same as in the Saab 9-5, the most common are gasoline turbo engines of 150 and 175 horsepower. In 2005 a 2.8 litre V6 engine and new diesel engines was introduced. In 2007 the ethanol Biopower engine was introduced. In 2004, the convertible was lanuced and in 2005 the 9-3 SportCombi. It has a sloping rear and relatively bulky hinges on the ceiling. It is not a huge loader. In 2009 a four-wheel drive 9-3 was launched.

Economy
Approx price: SEK 93,000 (test car's price: SEK 94,900)
Taxes: SEK 1,740 / year
Service cost / service interval: 90,000 km SEK 3,300, 120,000 km SEK 5,300 / 30,000 km or 2 years

Repar costs (workshop)
Timing belt / replacement interval: Timing chain, maintenance free
Front brake discs and pads: SEK 5,000
Rear brake pads: SEK 1,600
Spindle and ball joint: SEK 5,700 each side, Shock absorbers: SEK 3,400 front, SEK 2,900 rear
Headlights: SEK 3,900
　
Environment
Fuel: Petrol
Fuel consumption: 7,9 l / 100km
CO2 emissions: 189 g / km

Technical
Power: 150 hp
Displacement: 2 litre
Gearbox: Manual, 5 speed
Weight: 1,580 kg
Maximum load: 450 kg
Luggage capacity: 419 litres
Length / width / height: 467/180/147 cm

Safety
Three-point seat belt all over: Yes
Airbag driver / passenger: Yes / Yes
Side airbags: Yes
Anti-lock brakes: Yes
Headrests all places: Yes
Stability control: Yes
Euro NCAP crash test: Five stars out of five, Saab 9-3 2002.
Folksam’s accident statistics: Good Security

This is how the used car test is conducted
The car is tested on different road types and in city traffic. The quality of cars of the same the make and model year can vary based on factors such as driven distance and general maintenance.

Footnote
The price for a single car can vary depending on mileage, equipment, condition and place of purchase. Deviations of plus or minus 10 percent from the stated retail price is common.

Det finns inga älgar i Japan

It is a well known fact that the Swedish car manufacturers Saab and Volvo have been the only manufacturers to have carried out crash tests with elk/moose. Reason being that the woods of the Nordic countries are crowded with elk. A report from 2005 suggested that there were 100,000 elk in Norway, 250,000-300,000 in Sweden and 113,000- 125,000 in Finland.

Nordic elk, weighs from 300 kg to 700 kg and can be more than two meters tall

In Sweden alone there are more than 7,000 collisions each year between car and elk and a number of these end up with human injury. Since the elk has a big and heavy body and long legs, it can be very dangerous to hit one. When hitting the elk with the front of the car at a high speed, the elk's legs will fold and the body will hit the windshield and the front of the roof construction. Just imagine how much damage 700 kg can do when hitting the windshield at 80 km/h!

Now the Swedish insurance company Folksam has examined collisons between elk and car and written a report.

The Folksam examination has looked at all collisons between elk and car which have been reported to the company between 1995 and 2010. In addition to this material, the company has looked at in depth studies carried out by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) on fatal accidents, as well as carried out 5 crash tests with a crash test dummy elk on different car models.


Folksam found that when the speed exceeds 80 km/h, cars have trouble withstanding a collison with an elk. Even though the forces of the crash is relatively minor, the body of the elk will often deform the cars windshield and roof severely and lead to human injury. The car manufacturers therefore needs to work hard on reducing the speed of the vehicles by developing good auto brake systems and improve the construction of the roof of the car.


The most critical situation is when the roof is teared open or pushed down or when the elk enters the cabin of the car. 90 per cent of the people who were severely injured or killed were driving on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or higher. The share of people injuries was 14 per cent higher for people travelling in small cars compared to those travelling in large cars.

But now finally let's get to the point of all this: In cars from Volvo and Saab the injured people had less risk of severe injury compared to people in other car brands and comparable sized models. The risk of getting severely injured was actually 25 lower in a Volvo or Saab than in other brands and comparable sized cars.

Percentage of people with injury, who have a high * risk of medical disability

Saab and Volvo	57 %
Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz and Opel	69 %
Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Honda and Mazda	75 %
Other brands	71 %
All not Swedish made	72 %

 * At least 8% risk of disability


From the table above we can read that Saab is noticeable better than the German cars and a lot better than the Japanese cars.

Folksam also examined if there were any coherence between a high score in the Euro NCAP test (4 or 5 stars) and the car's ability to protects its passengers when hitting an elk. No coherence could be found. But there was a difference between Swedish made cars and other cars of similar size. A find that indicates that Saab and Volvo have developed a roof construction that reduce the risk of deformation.

Saab performing elk crash test on a Saab 900

Conclusion: The myth lives on. If you worry about crashing with large animals, then buy Swedish!


Or to say it like an old Swedish slogan: Det finns inga älgar i Japan!  (There are no elks in Japan).

Saab among cheapest to repair

The Swedish insurance company Länsförsäkring has just released a report with statistics over breakdown of machinery covered by insurances taken out at Länsförsäkring. The survey is done on the basis of 10,328 reported breakdowns. For anyone interested in statistics and cars, the report is very interesting!


Let's first look at the overall view.

Saab is better than the average car and better than the premium brands and competitors Jaguar, Audi, BMW, Alfa Romeo and Cadillac. Only two European brands, Mercedes and Volvo, are better than Saab, in addition to many Asian brands.


Let's go deeper into the numbers.

Here we can see that Saab's breakdowns are mostly connected to engine and electrics/electronics and to some degree the heat and ventilation system. And if we dig even deeper into Saab's electrics/electronics breakdown, the report says that a repeated problem for the Saab 9-3 with a diesel engine has been the generator (alternator, dynamo), which according to the report can indicate a problem with the construction. Furhermore, many of the engine breakdowns are due to the Saab 9-5 having a repeated problem with the turbo. The risk of getting a problem with the turbo is five times bigger in a Saab 9-5 than the average car with a turbo.

Then let's look at the average cost of repairing the breakdown.

The graph shows that in Sweden Saab is among the absolute cheapest cars to repair if it breaks down. The average cost of repairing a breakdown on a Saab costs only approx. SEK 11,000, while repairing Volvo costs approx SEK 12,500, a Mercedes or a BMW approx SEK 18,000 and an Audi approx SEK 20,000.

And finally, I am happy to report that no Saab is among the 20 car models with the highest breakdown frequency. But on the list we can find models from Alfa Romeo, BMW, Landrover, Volkswagen and Porsche among others.

Saab 9-4X perfect for a small family

Over at Boston Herald there is a nice review of the  new Saab 9-4X. And according to the writer this car might be perfect for a small family:

For the well-to-do small family, this new luxury compact SUV might just be the ticket. Besides being stylish, comfortable and smooth riding, you probably won't hear a peep out of your backseat passengers thanks to the impressive entertainment center option that is available for this top-of-the-line model.

For the whole review visit Boston Herald. Below is their video review.  






Thanks to Curt for the link!

Some weekend reading

Weekend is here once again. Two days with more or less a time out for us Saab enthusiasts. So what's better than sinking our teeth into a Saab 9-5 review and an article that gives a good summary of the past 20 years.


First we have a nice review of the new 9-5:

The 2011 9-5 could be Saab's saving grace; it's a classy, comfortable, and well-designed flagship, with a lot more character than most luxury sport sedans 

Check it out over at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette /  The Car Connection.


And secondly, the summary of the past 20 years of Saab: 

...the company wowed auto-show audiences with a succession of intriguing concept cars, a couple of which might have helped turned things around had GM had the nerve to produce them. First was the 2001 9-X, a Kamm-tailed hatchback that appeared sexy, unusual and very Saab, followed by the 9-3X crossover coupe a year later that was even more desirable.

That is so true! Just imagine if Saab would be allowed to produce the Saab 9-3X crossover concept!

This car would have been a great success back in the early 2000. BMW and Audi had nothing like this. Saab would have gotten a great head start. The only down side is that Saab would probably be still owned by GM...

Check out the 20 year summary at edmunds AutoObserver.

Thanks to Curt for both the links! 

Curt's review of the Saab 9-5

This weekend I give you a review of the Saab 9-5 written by Curt. Curt is one of my regular readers and you have probably seen his name in the comment section. Now he has written a  review of his own Saab 9-5 on a trip he did from Denver to San Francisco and he has been kind enough to share it with us all. And it seems like he did the trip in much more comfort than Jack Kerouac did On the Road!

So without further ado, here is Curt's review.




Curt's review: Trip to San Francisco 

In July, I had the pleasure to drive my NG 9-5 Aero from Denver, Colorado to San Francisco, California - a round trip of nearly 3000 miles/4800 kilometers. The car was a joy to drive and was my favorite part of the entire trip. Like any car, the 9-5 does some things very well and others not so well. Here are a few impressions of the car:

 Illustration photos "loaned" from Motortrend

Highlights


Handling – the NG 9-5 Aero handles very well at high speed (80MPH/128KPH) driving through mountains, deserts and high plains. This car really hugs the roads and throws itself around sharp corners. I had no problems keeping my speed up at night when the roads got particularly twisty in the mountains of Wyoming. The car simply drives smaller than what it really is which is an excellent attribute. Even city driving in busy downtown San Francisco was no problems for the car and I was able to find parking for it without problem.


Visibility – the adaptive Xenon lighting system works great. The system is so effective in low beam that it was difficult to tell when the high beams were on. The lighting system changes with input from the steering wheel. So, when I would turn the steering wheel either right or left, the headlights would also move to the left or right making it easier to see around corners. The Xenon bulbs are very bright which can be blinding to oncoming traffic. There were a few occasions when another driver would flash their head lights at to as if I were driving with high beams on.


Performance – the 9-5 accelerates much better than reported in the press. The 9-5 easily passed cars and trucks that were travelling at highway speeds. The car is so smooth and so quiet that it doesn’t feel as if it is accelerating quickly. But when I looked at the speedometer and saw that I was over 100MPH/160KPH in just a few seconds, I realized how fast the car really is. The car accelerated well in the mountains above 10,000 feet/3350meters carrying a trunk full of luggage and one other passenger. I really was amazed by how quick the car is.


Comfort – the seats are my favorite feature of the car. They are simply the best I’ve seen. I was able to drive the entire route with no back pain at all. I drove the entire return trip from San Francisco without sleeping (nearly 20 hours) and without back pain. Normally, I get low back pain within a couple of hours behind the wheel but not in the 9-5. My passenger also loved the seats and was very comfortable for the entire trip.





Trunk space – the car has 18.5 cubic feet of trunk space and I used nearly every inch of it for the trip. I was able to fit multiple suitcases, coolers, various coats and accessories into the trunk which left the back seat open for when my passenger wanted to rest. The trunk is very well laid out with little wheel arch intruding on it.


Issues


My complaints are very minor and the issues did not affect my driving experience. Like any car, the 9-5 is not perfect and I want to highlight what I think are a few issues with the car.


Lack of spare tire – I’m not sure who at Saab decided to leave out a spare tire from the car, but it was a bad decision. A repair kit is included but it’s not guaranteed to fill the tire or that the repair would hold. I decided to purchase a spare tire from Saab USA Parts before the trip and I was able to drive with a peace of mind that I would not have had without a spare.


Fuel economy – I only averaged 25.3MPG/9.30L-100KM while highway driving. I had expected better but I guess the weight of the car does have an impact on fuel economy. I must admit though that I was driving at 80MPH/128KPH and my passenger needed the air conditioning as it was quite hot driving through Utah and Nevada. This could explain some of the poor gas mileage. My lowest highway fuel mileage was 23.73MPG/9.91L-100KM and my highest fuel mileage was 27.17MPG/8.66L-100KM


Trip computer – the trip computer that calculates the car’s overall fuel mileage overestimated the fuel economy by nearly 11% and was off by 14% on one leg of the trip. This was disappointing as the trip computer on my other Saabs have been accurate to 1% - 2%. As an example, on one leg of the trip, the trip computer calculated that I had gotten 27.7MPG/8.49L-100KM when I only had managed to get 23.8MPG/9.88L – 100KM. This was off by over 14% and is fairly normal each time I fill up the tank. I’m not sure why the system is so inaccurate. Someone from Saab needs to investigate this issue as I’m sure my car is not the only one with an inaccurate trip computer.


IPOD connection – the IPOD connection works normally for 2 – 3 hours and then the connection between the IPOD and the car stereo gets interrupted and an error message is flashed on the stereo display. The stereo then no longer recognizes that the IPOD is connected. The stereo will not recognize the IPOD until the car is turned off and then back on again. This happened on both legs of my journey and was a minor nuisance as there were very few radio stations in the Western US.

Summary


In my mind, the car is quite stunning. From beautiful lines to sharp handling to excellent performance, the NG 9-5 is a winner. I enjoyed nearly every mile of my trip across country and I’d like to take another one very soon. Yes, the car has a few niggles but none that affect performance. The issues were quite minor and hopefully, Saab can work them out in future versions. Overall, I’d recommend the 9-5 to anyone interested in a great touring car. It looks much better than the MB and BMW and is also less expensive. The 9-5 is a great value and worth every penny.

Two Saabs 50 years apart

Today two interesting test drives have popped up. First we have one from Octane. Writer John Simister has swapped his two-stroke Saab 96 with no other than Erik Carlsson's two-stroker and they go for a drive and talk about Erik's rally career and the great Saab rally cars. It's a very entertaining read.



Second one is from Motortrend. They have taken the new Saab 9-4X on a test drive and like so many test driver before them, they seem to like the car:

"Feels much more like a sedan than most other crossover SUVs."


"Great post-modernist Swedish styling is, and here, the 9-4x excels."

"...the 9-4x is possibly the best-looking vehicle extant to wear the sport/utility descriptor. It looks sleek and sporty, low to the ground for a CUV."

Check it out at Motortrend.

The 9-5 offers a big car that perfectly suits the prestige segment

"Forgetting for a moment the mist surrounding its future, the 9-5 offers a big car that perfectly suits the prestige segment. It is very well equipped and I'm delighted to note it retains the indelible Saab character that classes it - and its owner - as something special."

That's how Neil Dowling of Australian The Sunday Times describes Saab's latest offering in Australia, the Saab 9-5 Aero. If that tickles your curiosity, then head over to CarsGuide to read the whole review.

Consumer Reports first look video of the Saab 9-4X

Saab 9-3 and Saab 9-5 live on

Here's a bunch of Saab 9-5 and 9-3 reviews that have popped up the last two days. And it is nice to see that despite all turmoil and uncertainty these cars still get great reviews.

First American Faimly car guide checks out the Saab 9-3:

An all-new 9-3 is in the works [...] but in the meantime the 9-3 actually remains a decent family choice... The 9-3 isn't for sport-sedan enthusiasts, but it still has a lot of appeal for families looking for a comfortable, manageably sized, European-flavored sedan—and something different than staid German rivals.

We like the size of the 9-3 and think many small families will, too; it lands between compact and mid-size by U.S. standards, and feels small and maneuverable enough in the city yet has an interior that feels notably roomier than the likes of compact sport sedans like the Audi A4 or Volvo S40.

British Fleet news has taken the Saab 89-3 SportCombi for a spin and will soon come with a test:

Hidden among the 2012 model year upgrades for the 9-3 Sportwagon is the news that the CO2 emissions of the car have been reduced to below 120g/km.[...] This is equivalent to fuel consumption of 62.8mpg on the combined cycle. 

I last drove a 9-3 after its mid-life facelift in 2007, so it was good to reacquaint myself with the car and discover the performance of the 180bhp twin-turbo diesel. First impressions suggest it’s surprisingly refined and marred only by a laborious gearshift.

Irish Herald says that the 9-5 lives on:

BioPower is one of those concepts that doesn't ram the whole Green agenda down your throat, but it does give you a choice (ethanol or petrol).More importantly than that though, the 9-5 is one of the fastest improved cars on the planet - a thrill to drive, with great poke and performance which makes it the Darren Clarke of motors - a heavyweight performer which many thought was long past its best, only to make a sensational comeback.

Australian Car Guide likes most aspects about the Saab 9-5 Aero:

It's an impressive car to look at particularly around the three quarter rear section and from straight on. The interior is awash with electronics and plenty of luxury kit including lashings of leather and woodgrain fascia and an impressive audio system. 

The engine is a sweet sounding Holden 2.8-litre, petrol, twin cam V6 with a twin-scroll turbo fitted.

Due to its abundant equipment, the Aero is a weighty beast tipping the scales at close to 2.0 tonnes but the way it goes and handles belie this.

The early days of Saab

Lately I have found myself more and more interested in the early days of Saab. The two-stroke engine, the tear drop design and the whole early history of Saab.


So lately I have been searching for reviews of the early cars and other interesting and enjoyable writings about the early years. Last week I came across a little summary on how Saab came to the US. It's short, but very enjoyable for someone who is starved of information  like me. You should check it out at morningsun.net.

As mentioned, I have also searched for read tests of the early Saab. And I've found a few. Reproduced below is a 1962 British road test of the Saab 96. There is not doubt that the early Saabs were very unique back in the 1950s and 1960s with its aerodynamic design, two-stroke engine, freewheel, front wheel drive and coil spring and telescopic dampers on all four wheels.

ROAD TESTING THE SAAB 96 1962 (found on flickr)

BY JOHN B. BALL – ILLUSTRATED BRISTOL NEWS 1962.

THE SAAB 96 is a car which has been proved and is being sold almost as a result of the car’s tremendous rally successes over the past two years. Any car that can win the Monte Carlo Rally must be a very fine performer, but when a car with an engine capacity of something less than a British Mini can do this and outstrip cars of four or five times its capacity, then it must be a phenomenal vehicle.

It is very difficult to liken the Saab 96 to any other car on the road. To be brief, it is a three cylinder two-stroke engine, with a front wheel drive. It is manufactured in Sweden by the Saab Company, who, of course, are world famous aircraft manufacturers. When studying the overall design of the Saab, it is not difficult to see that much of the company’s experience in the aircraft field has been successfully introduced into the design of this car. The line has to grow on one, but after a very short time it invariably does, and whether one likes it or not one has to admit that it is extremely aerodynamically styled, rising in a gentle sweep from the front, and falling to a gentle curve from the roof line directly down to the rear bumper.

Upon further study, one cannot help but be impressed by the sturdiness of the body of the Saab. The thickness of the metal is greater than any car made in Great Britain at the present time, and the vehicle has an aura of being built to last.

This is,of course, no doubt on account of the fact that if a car can stand up to Swedish road and weather conditions, it is pretty well equipped for use in all parts of the world. It is easy to get into the Saab. The large doors open to a maximum width, giving complete accessibility. Once seated one studies the interior of the car. The trim and seating is adequate, sturdy and certainly not ostentatious.

The dashboard facia is simple but completely functional. The main instruments are grouped together immediately in front of the driver, with the ancillary controls immediately by his left hand. Whilst on the subject of controls, I would like to pay tribute to the car’s heating and ventilating system, this is extremely good, even if the booster motor is exceptionally noisy.

The Saab tested was fitted with a three-speed gearbox, and I must say, to my mind, this is certainly the worst thing about the car. The column change cannot be faulted to any large extent, for it is quick and decisive in its control. My main criticism with the Saab box is in its gear ratios. The first gear is only capable of moving the car up to approximately 14 m.p.h. This could be fair enough if you had four gears, but, to my mind, it is certainly not enough with a three-speed gearbox. A more serious point, however, I would say is the fact that the second gear can only take you up to 46 m.p.h., before the engine begins to scream.

This means that even at this very modest speed one has to put the car into top gear, which must obviously adversely affect its acceleration and general performance figures. For all this, however, I must say that quite reasonable acceleration times can be achieved and on the test 0-50 m.p.h. was obtained in as little as 16 seconds.

The top speed on the test was 83 m.p.h. The car took some considerable time to build up to this speed, but is at its happiest when moving along at a good pace in top gear. Cruising speed in the Saab could be said to be from 65-75 m.p.h., and the car could certainly maintain this type of average for long periods without any strain or effort, as has been well proved.

Petrol consumption on the Saab could vary tremendously according to the driver. However, a rough estimate would be between 28 and 34 m.p.g., although this can be greatly affected by a small and unusual gadget known as the free wheel. I found that the car was rather easier to drive with this applied rather than in the normal fashion, for when lifting one’s toe from the accelerator, a three cylinder engine is rather inclined to pull the car down quicker than is comfortable.

However, there is a snag to the free wheel, and that is, of course, that one has little control over the engine when stopping, and the whole mechanics of pulling up the car must be placed firmly on the shoulders of the brakes.

One of the most likeable assets the Saab possesses is its stability on the road and ability to go round corners at high speeds. This is no doubt entirely due to the suspension which is of the coil type on all four wheels. Being a front wheel drive, a certain technique must most certainly be developed when cornering quickly, but Carlsson, the driver of the Saab that won this year’s Monte Carlo Rally, has more than proved that this is possible.

To sum up the Saab, it is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. It comes in a class completely of its own, and is a four or five seater family saloon. It will possibly appeal to the man who wants comfort for his family and who can still get pleasure from the car’s performance. It is a car that will need very little maintenance, and should last for a long time, being very well finished indeed.

Specification Engine: 3 cylinder, 2 stroke Capacity: 841 c.c. Body: Length 13’ 2” Width: 5’ 1” Price: £826 including tax.

EDP: Saab’s new soft-roader option

This is something I never expected. A British review of the Saab 9-4X that is actually very positive. And that's despite the fact that the car doesn't come with a diesel engine and a star, four rings or a blue and white propeller in the grille.

Here's some of what they say about the 9-4X: 


First a few words about Saab:

Saab is a combination of Swedish origins and a reluctance to follow the crowd – products that don’t slavishly follow the fickle finger of fashion hold a certain appeal.

And some about how the brand DNA is evident in the design:

Unlike some rivals the 9-4X successfully transplants the family DNA on to the sport utility vehicle template.

And the well designed cabin:

A modest climb into the cabin reveals a layout that follows a sound mix of prac`icality and style.

Performance as expected: 

The V6 turbo gives the kind of performance expected of a 300bhp powerplant.

And it's a nice ride:

There’s a good balance between comfort and handling, helped by the Drive Sense system which electronically adjusts damper settings to the driver’s needs.

So if you have a few spare minutes this Sunday, then check out the Eastern Daily Press' review of the Saa 9-4X.

 

Writers of AutoWeek give their opinion of the new Saab 9-5 Aero

AutoWeek has an article where six of their editors give their opinion of the Saab 9-5 Aero. And most of them seem to like the car. Here's one quote from each of them:

EDITOR WES RAYNAL:  The car is roomy and tight, the turbocharged six-cylinder has more than enough power and the ride is smooth.

INTERACTIVE ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: The Harmon-Kardon stereo system booms and the iPod input worked great.

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: Saab seats are, hands down, the best in the business.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR--AUTOWEEK.COM BOB GRITZINGER: I find the car's styling is attractive in a classic sense. I suspect it will still look good once the last payment is made.

MOTORSPORTS EDITOR MAC MORRISON: The ride is comfortable, the handling not watered down to benign characteristics and quite surefooted, and I found the steering gave me enough feel and feedback to guide the Saab along smoothly and quickly with little effort.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: This is the best Saab I've driven.

Time to test drive the Saab 9-4X?

The Saab 9-4Xs are arriving at the dealer. The car has been awarded the Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. And this weekend there was even reports that the first buyers got their brand new 9-4Xs!

So what's better than checking out two more great 9-4X reviews?


First one's from Msn Autos Canada:

It's definitely a sportier package than, say, Lexus's RX, and it'll hold its own just fine against German rivals.

Second one's from Swedish car magazine Vi Bilägare:

Is the 9-4X a real Saab? Yes, there's no doubt that it feels like a Saab to drive. The driving position provides clear Saab vibes, with easy to read instruments and - of course, start button near the gear lever. Saab has a reputation of making good seats and the 9-4X is no exception. The driver sits comfortably and it's easy to find a good driving position.

The steering is precise and the road handling secure.

So if you are living in the US, maybe it's time to visit your locale dealer? If not for buy a car, at least to test drive a 9-4X. And of course let us know how you liked it :) 

JoeR's Saab 9-5 Aero review

JoeR from Australia posted the following Saab 9-5 Aero review in the comments section earlier this week. In this driver focused review JoeR manages to put his impressions of the car into words in a very enjoyable way. And to me, a review done by an "ordinary" guy is ten times more interesting than the reviews in car magazines.

 So here it is, JoeR's review. Have a great Saab Saturday!

JoeR's review

Day 1 driving the Aero, a real Dr Jekyll, Mr Hyde car and everything in-between. My Toy is a Tarmac VK Commodore that’s makes 230kw and only weights 1275kg. The 9-5 Aero drives like a limo going to a funeral, the outside is like watching the TV in your lounge but flip the gear shift over to tiptronic and use the paddle shifters with the heads up display (that shows the gear position) and the Aero turns into a rocket. The 4 wheel drive allows you to pick a gear lower than you think you need and suddenly that 30km round about in 1st makes the car sling shot out (meanwhile pedestrians continue to not notice you) the car tyres do not squeal and there is no loud exhaust. Best still I can give the car to my wife who will happily pot away with the Grand parents in the back. Better still my 186cm 15 year can fit into the back.

Did I mention the electric hand brake, so easy to use and no lever to clutter the centre console? The heads up display is adjustable so if you lower the seat you can lower the display, cool. Great for school zones, eyes never having to leave the screen. Aero seats are great, firm but when things get busy you are held comfortable in place. The torque of the GM V6 twin-scroll turbo is good, feels like an Ls2. They should put one of these into the VE Commodore. The leather in the car is superb, every time I got back into the car and put my hand on the wheel I would stop and appreciate how it felt.

Saab 9-5 Aero bathing in the Australian winter sun

Day 2 driving the Aero. Trip up the M4 to Penrith, right to Richmond, Kurrajong, Bells Line Rd to Bell, took Darling Causeway to Mount Victoria, Wentworth Falls (short stop) back to Sydney via M4. The M4 the Aero cruised at 1650rpm @ 110kmh. Very comfortable the sun roof open at 7c with seat warmers on and temp set to 24c. All the BMW drivers would have a sticky beak at the Aero as I edged pass. The sun visor can pivot to the side window and extend to completely block out the low rising winter sun, very handy.

The suspension was set to intelligent mode. The road to Penrith had a mixed road surface, the ride was always controlled and you were always aware that the Aero was in control of any bumps or broken road surface. Into Richmond was selecting gears by the gear shifter (+ or -) and using the normal speedo as your hands were more busy and your eyes glancing at sat nav, signs and controls. You could select 6th gear any time over 80kmh. Up the Bells Line Rd following slower than the speed limit traffic as the road narrowed, the other cars ahead seemed to have trouble holding their lane, and often crossing the inside marked lines or travelling over the cat eyes. Strange as the wide 2 ton Saab Aero start to drive like a small car as it was so precise and cut through the road like a knife through butter with no effort at all and always within the lane.

The twin-scroll turbo six was quiet and you were never aware of it, was driving with the paddles and using the heads up display now as the focus was purely on the road and traffic. It was great to have the choice in speedo. On the overtaking lanes, especially the ones on hills, the torque easily kept the car at the speed limit and would easily dispatch the slower traffic. The AWD always presented a neutral attitude into corners even if you happen to go faster then the recommended corner speed because you were scanning another radio station eg 50km into 25km bend, no drama no tyre squeal, just smooth cornering.

 At Wentworth Falls stop for a drink and continued the journey, now following the wife in the V70 2.4T. Set the suspension to comfort and listen to Elton John, Bruce Springsteen. The car rode softer but still you had the reassuring connection to the road. Cruised at 100kmh with 1550rpm, the middle gauge now set to instant fuel consumption. On the flats was slipping into the 6l per 100km. For a 2.8l and car weighting 2 tonne was quiet good, the V70 with a 2.4l was doing better but with only 1500kg weight. As the traffic built on the M4 the speed dropped to 90kmh and now the fuel consumption on the flats was into the 5's.

The seats were still comfortable after spending 4 hours in the car. Back in Sydney, BMW drivers still having a peek at the Aero, even the Porsche drivers gave the car a glance. Off course other SAAB drivers paid attention as well but the award for car envy (never though I see this) when to the Audi driver who stuck his head out the window to get a better look. The car had dropped the fuel consumption from delivered 12.2l per 100 to 11.5 (distance travelled 3500km) so the average for the trip would of been under 10. Maybe not diesel type fuel consumption but very good for a large car with AWD and power of 220kw.

Later that night, picked up 3 adults, two over 182cm, and everybody was commenting on the comfort and leg room, even my Wife (a Volvo tragic) liked the ride but not as cushy as her V70 (is anything?). Unfortunately, I needed to drop of the Aero and transferred to a 2003 9-3 SS. We all fitted (just and it was a short trip) and the willing 2l turbo impressed with its eager turbo but we all missed the comfort of the Aero.

Now would I give the Aero to my teenage daughter (19) to drive, even though it has easily enough performance to get you into an accident if you drove crazy? I would let her drive it as the car is so accomplished in everything it does I know it would protect her, passively and physically! Best of all I could take it on trips, my wife would steal it for the city work, and all of us would fit and perhaps for that odd track day....

Gay carboys excited by the new Saab 9-5 Aero

We knew from earlier that the new Saab 9-5 is well liked. But the review from the blog Gay carboys must be one of the most positive reviews I've read. As far as I know, the meaning of the word "gay" was originally "lively", "happy" and/or "excited". And this review is all that!

A few quotes from the review:

Is the new car any good? In a word, it’s a cracker. For a start there are the looks. As I said a few days ago, it looks like the love child of Al Capone and Boeing. It’s just scrumptious and the test car had the lowered Aero sports suspension polished off with a set of huge 19’ wheels. It comes from the factory looking fully pimped.

The ride was firm but supple, the steering was truly fabulous and the performance amazing from such a tiny engine. It felt luxurious with tasteful, elegantly designed finishes for a top drawer, up-market look. Quite simply, it’s a sensation.

The SAAB made me feel special and I looked for every excuse to take her out for a turn round the neighbourhood.

So visit Gay carboys for an excellent review!

Saab 9-4X earns IIHS' Top Safety Pick

The Saab 9-4X has earned a top score in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's crash test. The Saab 9-5 earned the same score last month.

To earn a Top Safety Pick rating the vehicle is required to get top marks in all crash tests (side, frontal, and rear-end, plus roof-crush and mandatory inclusion of stability control). The 9-4X made top scores in all tests.

The press release from Saab: 


Trollhättan, Sweden: The new Saab 9-4X crossover has earned ‘Top Safety Pick’, the highest rating for crashworthiness awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States. Only three weeks ago, the Saab 9-5 Sedan received the same accolade.

“To achieve two Top Safety Picks in three weeks is, of course, extremely gratifying,” says Per Lenhoff, Head of Safety Development at Saab Automobile. “Our main priority is always the protection of real people in real accidents, but the IIHS tests are a valuable guide for consumers and it is important for us to achieve good results.”

IIHS is a research and communications organization funded by auto insurers in the US. The test procedures include front impact (offset) and side impact crashes. Seat/head restraints are also tested in a simulated rear-end impact to assess protection against whiplash injuries and the roof structure is tested to assess vehicle rollover protection.

Performance is rated as ’Good’, ’Acceptable’, ’Marginal’ or ’Poor’ in each of the tests and to achieve the ’Top Safety Pick’ award, cars must achieve the highest rating in all four procedures and should also be fitted with ESP®.