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Puny Bird
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Port Hope (near Toronto) On, Canada
Posts: 4,566
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Saab filed for bankruptcy
Swedish carmaker's Chinese investors fail to take over former GM company.
Too bad, nice car at one time (Saab 99), but they couldn't compete. Sign of the times. Saab files for bankruptcy - World - CBC News
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'74 Porsche 914, 3.0/6 '72 Porsche 914, 1.7, wife's summer DD '67 Bug, 2600cc T4,'67 Bus, 2.0 T1 Not putting miles on your car is like not having sex with your girlfriend, so she'll be more desirable to her next boyfriend. |
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12-19-2011, 08:45 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
Posts: 48,564
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It's a sad thing...I'll miss Saab...The original Sonnett was quirky yet cool back in the day.
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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12-19-2011, 09:01 AM
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Checked out
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: On a beach
Posts: 10,127
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It's been a zombie brand that has really been dead for at least 10 year now.
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12-19-2011, 09:02 AM
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B58/732
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Hot as Hell, AZ
Posts: 12,313
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Quote:
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ I don't always talk to vegetarians--but when I do, it's with a mouthful of bacon. |
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12-19-2011, 09:08 AM
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Gon fix it with me hammer
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Stijn Vandamme EX911STARGA73EX92477EX94484EX944S8890MPHPINBALLMACHINEAKAEX987C2007 BIMDIESELBMW116D2019 |
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12-19-2011, 09:10 AM
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Checked out
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: On a beach
Posts: 10,127
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Yeah.
They would have been bankrupt back then if not for GM dumping a bunch of money into it and keeping the "badge" alive. They haven't been a viable brand for a long, long time. |
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12-19-2011, 09:11 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 44,422
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Interestingly, GM squashed the deal because they didn't want the Chinese to get the IP.
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Tru6 Restoration & Design |
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12-19-2011, 09:24 AM
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Almost Banned Once
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Adelaide South Australia
Posts: 38,447
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That's a shame. They always made an interesting car.
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- Peter |
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12-19-2011, 09:31 AM
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Zink Racer
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Spokane WA
Posts: 4,007
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Sad. I'd never been a Saab guy but picked up a 92 9000s for a cheap dd from a buddy. The car is in amazing shape for its age. Pushing 120,000 on the odo. I had to replace the drivers side mirror this weekend with a used one I found. Taking the door panel apart revealed how well built it is and all of the tools to do it were in the kit in the back including every size torx bit on the car. My son just commented last night after driving it home from college what a nice car it is. I'd own another in a heartbeat but will hesitate now that the company is dead worrying about parts for what would inevitably be an older car that needs care and feeding.
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Jerry 983 911 SC/Carrera Franken car, 1974 914 Bumblebee, 1970 914-4 |
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12-19-2011, 09:45 AM
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Non Compos Mentis
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Off the grid- Almost
Posts: 10,598
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I would sob if I had to drive a Saab. I've driven them before, and hope I never have to again. |
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12-19-2011, 09:51 AM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 32,562
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Too bad, they made cool cars. I had a 9000 Aero and a 900SE, both were very well built cars with well over 200 turbocharged HP, 30+ MPG and a blast to drive. The hatchback bodystyle was insanely practical, there are many pictures on Saab forums with them hauling couches, refrigerators, etc in the back. Also very well built with some of the comfiest seats I've ever rode in. I sold my 9000 Aero with 235k on it, the engine and transmission had never been opened and it didn't leak or burn a thing, it still hauled ass.
GM was the kiss of death, they took a line of quirky practical hatchbacks and turned them into badge engineered Opels. They weren't unique anymore, and weren't good enough to compete with other luxury makers. It was only a matter of time.....
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‘07 Mazda RX8-8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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12-19-2011, 10:12 AM
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Still Doin Time
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nokesville, Va.
Posts: 8,225
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I have worked on them on and off for the past 25 years. All I have to say is if that brand was "Born from Jets"..................I'd make d*mn sure I'd never board an aircraft of their engineering.
It was a 'quirky' brand whose owners were dead loyal to them............but when GM bought a controling interest - they ended up looking like a malibu. May have actually even used that platform or Saturns for all we know. The brand was 'diluted' and Saab (GM) lost it's core buyers
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'15 Dodge - 'Dango R/T Hauls groceries and Kinda Hauls *ss '07 Jeep SRT-8 - Hauls groceries and Hauls *ss Sold '85 Guards Red Targa - Almost finished after 17 years '95 Road King w/117ci - No time to ride, see above '77 Sportster Pro-Street Drag Bike w/93ci - Sold |
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12-19-2011, 10:29 AM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,957
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Owned an older one and it was just plain different... not bad but different. Like having the ignition switch between the seats by the handbrake and other things.
Sad to see them go, they had a rich rally history and were reasonable cars...
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2021 Subaru Legacy, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
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12-19-2011, 10:34 AM
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Still Doin Time
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nokesville, Va.
Posts: 8,225
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There was a small independant dealership local to me that sold/serviced/parts for Saab and Volvo. It was started by a technician @20 years ago. Did pretty well until 2009. They recently closed their door and sold out to a Chevy dealer
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'15 Dodge - 'Dango R/T Hauls groceries and Kinda Hauls *ss '07 Jeep SRT-8 - Hauls groceries and Hauls *ss Sold '85 Guards Red Targa - Almost finished after 17 years '95 Road King w/117ci - No time to ride, see above '77 Sportster Pro-Street Drag Bike w/93ci - Sold |
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12-19-2011, 10:41 AM
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Sultan of Sawzall
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Louisiana "Take me to 'da bridge"
Posts: 4,806
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I really liked the 99Ems in the late 70's. Was a fun car.
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Gruppe B #319 2 '86 911 Carrera coupes (red & white) '66 Corsa convertible 140/4(red) '66 Monza coupe 110/PG(white) '95 993 cabriolet (wife's) |
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12-19-2011, 10:42 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,003
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Good riddance -- what an awful car maker.
If I'm not mistaken, the Ford Explorer had independent rear suspension before the 9-3. Jackson |
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12-19-2011, 11:39 AM
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B58/732
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Hot as Hell, AZ
Posts: 12,313
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Quote:
Who did they think they were fooling with the 9-2X?  We visited a Caddy/Saab dealer at one point and the moron salesdrone tried to get me to test drive a 9-2X. I was stepping out of my WRX wagon while he was talking to me!
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ I don't always talk to vegetarians--but when I do, it's with a mouthful of bacon. |
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12-19-2011, 11:42 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 7,482
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It's not really about making good cars or bad cars, it's about selling enough of them to stand alone. Saab just wasn't really relevant. BMW and Porsche grew enough to stand alone. Saab didn't. The rest was just business. And lack thereof....
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I love you guys outside this forum  -Eric |
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12-19-2011, 11:47 AM
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Cars & Coffee Killer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: State of Failure
Posts: 32,246
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I thought Spyker was buying Saab with boatloads of money from the Swedish government?
I think I speak for everyone when I say: 
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Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." |
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12-19-2011, 11:58 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 7,482
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Quote:
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I love you guys outside this forum -Eric |
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12-19-2011, 12:32 PM
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BimForce the Third, Esquire
