Monday 11th December 2006

Saab offers birthday editions

Sixty years on for Swedish carmaker

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2006 Saab 9-3 anniversary edition 1947 Saab 92 prototype

Saab said it'll celebrate its 60th anniversary by launching special editions of its 9-5 and 9-3 model lines.

The Swedish company's tweaking exterior and interior detailing with no-cost options it said are worth up to £3,000. The anniversary editions will go on sale from January 2007.

Anniversary editions of the Saab 9-3 range will all feature DVD satnav and Bluetooth phone systems as standard -- valued at £2,580, according to Saab. Externally you can specify ice-blue metallic paint, colour-keyed door handles and special five-spoke, 17-inch alloy wheels. Internally, features will include black sports seats with grey inserts, contrast stitching and the word ‘Saab’ embossed on the front seat facings.

Saab 9-5 models come with a choice of six metallic colours including ice blue metallic and the 17-inch alloys. Estate models also include optional roof rails finished in matt chrome.

Inside, all anniversary edition 9-5s come with a DVD satnav, black sports leather front seats with a Saab logo embossed on the upper backrest. All seats include contrasting inserts in grey leather, together with grey contrast stitching, which is also adopted for the door armrests. The Saab 9-5 estate also features a chromed aircraft-shaped handle in the cargo floor and chromed air vent control knobs, similar to that on the 9-3.

Saab called the anniversary editions "the first step in a series of initiatives that Saab is planning in recognition of a rich heritage founded in aircraft design, Scandinavian culture and a tradition for independent, forward thinking."

Initially founded as a manufacturer of military aircraft, Saab (an acronym for Svenska Aeroplan Aktie(B)olaget) surprised the automotive world in June 1947 when it revealed the prototype for its first production car, the Saab 92. With streamlined bodywork, unitary construction and front wheel drive, it owed little to the conventional design wisdoms of the time.

Pity the new cars have been considerably "de-Saabed" since the company's acquisition by GM in 1990 -- although the Aero X concept shows that the company's not entirely lost its interest in innovative engineering.

• Related story: Saab Aero wins concept award

[Ozzie Dave]

Yes , but with SAAB Customer service and satisfaction since GM took over as it, is they wont last another 60 years.

6 SAABS and never another!

[Lord-Flasheart]

Any chance of it being built properly?

[bob1179]

Doesn't that Saab 92 look like Darth Vaders Helmet?

(the one he wears on his head)

Edited by bob1179 on Monday 11th December 12:10

[Phil Dicky]

Lord-Flasheart said:

Any chance of it being built properly?

Thought Saab has a good reputation for quality, mine was very good, materials not on a par with the BMW and Audi's I've had, but well screwed togather

[scoobiewrx]

A few years ago i hired a SAAB 9-3 rag top in black. I thought it was a nice looking car, well bolted together and it wasn't a bad cruiser.

However, scuttle shake was awful, handling over 90mph and stopping quickly from said speed on sweeping motorway curves was an altogether life concerning experience as the body twisted and sent the car in every direction other than the one i wanted to go in. It really wasn't the sort of car i would venture down twisties in at speed. Audi 4 ragtop is a much better car.

Anyway...there's no point having a birthday edition unless they are going to gift me one for my birthday, and then i'd sell it quicksmart!!

[Lord-Flasheart]

Lord-Flasheart said:

Any chance of it being built properly?

I always thought they were badly built but they came 14th (out of 36 manufactures) in the 2005 Top Gear satisfaction survey. Audi came 13th, BMW came 10th and Mercedes came 32nd


oops.

Edited by Lord-Flasheart on Monday 11th December 15:20

[aeropilot]

To be fair to Saab, I think they still are 'well screwed together', the problem lies with the ever increasing use of the cheap nasty GM sourced parts which they are having to use in building them, as dictated to by Detroit and GM-Europe.

Whereas Ford have been using the knowledge from it's premium division of Aston/Jag/Volvo to enhance the quality of it's mainstream brand, GM have been dragging down Saab to it's mainstream Vauxhall-Opel levels.....because it doesn't know how to do 'upmarket'.

[SS HSV]

bob1179 said:

Doesn't that Saab 92 look like Darth Vaders Helmet?

(the one he wears on his head)

Edited by bob1179 on Monday 11th December 12:10

I was just about to post it looking like a spaceship, but yours is a lot closer

[Jwb]

aeropilot said:

To be fair to Saab, I think they still are 'well screwed together', the problem lies with the ever increasing use of the cheap nasty GM sourced parts which they are having to use in building them, as dictated to by Detroit and GM-Europe.

True.....

[TUS 373]

Had a 1998 9-5 saloon for 3 years - loved it. So much so, I went out and bought a 9-3 Aero. Absolute crock. Only car I have ever bought and sold on under 3 years (had it 6 months). There would have to be an immense increase in the build quality to even make me contemplate walking into the showroom. GM has saved Saab, but at the same time mutated into a Vauxhall clone and killed the cars to save the brand.

Would have another 9-5 though, so long as it was not too new.

[k321]

i have a saab but a 900 cab an old one..i think it handles well round the corners after i specified it with abbott suspension and sports kit..however i think now that GM has owned it..the cars are becoming more mainstream, the cars are being bought by people not interested in cars that somehow fit into the marketing niche saab is trying to fill, my saab garage tells me the new saabs are very prone to breakdown especially the 9-5..
i think the new 9-3 cabriolet is very ugly!
my car though has 170,000 miles on it and is running amazing..i expect it to run to at least 250,000 miles i just had a hoon with lotus and ferrari on the weekend and my car was respected and still fast