GTP Cool Wall: 1966-1969 Saab Sonett

[GranTurismo916]

1966-1969 Saab Sonett nominated by @AlvaroF

Engines: 0.8L I3 (Saab two-stroke), 1.5L V4 (Ford Taunus V4)
Power: 0.8: 60 hp; 1.5: 65 hp
Torque: 0.8: 69 lb-ft.; 1.5: 86 lb-ft.
Weight: 660 kg
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Drivetrain: Front engine, front wheel drive
Body Styles: 2-door coupe​

Spoiler: Additional Pics

Curator's Comments: Sorry for posting this set of polls late. I was busy during the day and just not in the mood once I got home.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Cool, because obscure Saab sports coupe with a two-stroke.

 

[Jahgee]

Don't worry, I'd only consider them "late" when I did it if they were posted during the next daylight cycle

 

[Slash]

I like it kinda, but itspobably underwhelming slow and it's a Saab. Saab's aren't cool.

 

[SomePlayaDude]

V4?

Wow, that's really the genuine first time I've heard of such!

 

[Jahgee]

4WD in any car pre Quattro is almost guaranteed Sub Zero

 

[Jet Badger]

4WD in any car pre Quattro is almost guaranteed Sub Zero

Except it isn't..?

 

[Jahgee]

Except it isn't..?

Holy ****, I can't read

 

[Legro]

1966-1969 Saab

Automatic sub zero.

 

[TexRex]

Solid Cool because V4, but I prefer the 96.

 

[Slash]

V4?

Wow, that's really the genuine first time I've heard of such!

I'm pretty sure it was sourced from the first Mustang built as a MR in 1962 with the V4.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Nope. Ford Taunus.. which really doesn't make it any better.

 

[edawg456]

It's Sweedish which means sub zero.

 

[Imari]

It's...beautiful.

I mean, I'm sure it's a hunk of junk to drive but that's a lovely looking little car, and more so for being something that most people will probably never have seen before.

 

[homeforsummer]

Small, interesting sports car from a country whose cars have always let their abilities do the talking rather than their shoutiness. Cool.

Misses out on SZ because it's not instantly recognisable to non car-guys, and because some people might think you cobbled it together yourself in your shed.

 

[niky]

Could imagine Emma Peel driving one. Cool.

Let's forget the rather nerdish fact that it's a two-stroke V4 front-wheel drive fiberglass sports car (I can imagine the apoplectic reaction from the RWD Roolz crowd...), because, let's face it... nerds aren't cool.

Unless they're Swedish.

Sub-zero.

 

[Adamgp]

Kind of dorky looking, and Saab's aren't cool.

Uncool it is.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Ah yes, the Sonnett, another weird chapter in Saab history. The 2nd gen car has an interesting side note in Portugal, as football legend Eusébio actually owned one for a while. Of course, that's the not the car being polled here, but I felt like pointing that out.

As for the 1st gen, it's a cool car. Sure, it is a bit underpowered and it is a FF, but it's an unique car in the way that it's the closest thing Saab ever got to making a sports car. And I'm sure it can fun in certain circunstances. Of course, you'll have to put up with the "hardcore sporty crowd", and their stupid thoughs such as "Man, what is that hunk of junk? Mah Nitrous-fed ultra Turbocharged Vauxhall Nova/Chevrolet Cobalt would destroy that thing" and so on, but hey, they know pretty much squat about cars such as this one.

All in all, the quirkiness and the simplicity of the design (which is pretty good, by the way) serve this car well. I think I'll risk it for this car as well and give it a Sub-Zero, simply because it's that type of car that marks you in a good way.

 

[Wiegert]

It's hard for me not to love a quirky Swede, and these fit the bill almost perfectly.

Then I look back and all that crosses my mind is "Quantum Sports Car prototype". Or something that required more than a little self-assembly.


Great little thing, but it's almost as uncool as IKEA.

 

[TexRex]

a two-stroke V4

If I'm not mistaken, the V4 was 4-stoke and the I3 burned oil.

 

[Roger the Horse]

Actual Saab.

Incredibly easy sub zero.

 

[Dennisch]

Could imagine Emma Peel driving one. Cool.

Let's forget the rather nerdish fact that it's a two-stroke V4 front-wheel drive fiberglass sports car (I can imagine the apoplectic reaction from the RWD Roolz crowd...), because, let's face it... nerds aren't cool.

Unless they're Swedish.

Sub-zero.

V4 is four stroke:

I3 is 2 Stroke:

Anyhow.

The 2 stroke sounds like a Trabant. And a Trabant is East German obscure cool.
This Saab is no different. So cool.

 

[niky]

If I'm not mistaken, the V4 was 4-stoke and the I3 burned oil.

To be honest, that just makes it cooler.

 

[Legro]

Saab's aren't cool.

Saab's aren't cool.

Can someone explain this to me? Is it something like the American bias against all French cars (horrible generalisation, I know) or because GM owned the company?

 

[Dennisch]

Can someone explain this to me? Is it something like the American bias against all French cars or because GM owned the company?

First off. Saab is Swedish.

And in my experience Le Americains like the Frenchie cars.

 

[Legro]

First off. Saab is Swedish.

I know, Saab is Swedish. I'm just asking why they think that Saab is uncool brand.

And in my experience Le Americains like the Frenchie cars.

As I edited, that was horrible generalisation. And I'm sorry, if anyone felt insulted after reading it.

 

[Dennisch]

As I edited, that was horrible generalisation. And I'm sorry, if anyone felt insulted after reading it.

Indeed, it was horrible. You're better off saying that they're all fatties.

 

[Wiegert]

@Legro I don't think it's any different from people calling Volvo uncool. They're both divisive brands in terms of automotive taste. And in all honestly, I don't consider Saab to be an especially cool brand beyond some of their more streamlined models from yesteryear. I suppose it doesn't help that their final lineup was little more than a rebaged Impreza, heavily disguised Vectras and the "Trollblazer" either. The US also bore the brunt of those badge-engineered Saabs.

They did at least provide other reasons for voting uncool. Hell, Slash even said he liked the Sonett to an extent. The only thing I fail to understand here is his classic "it's too slow/underpowered" remark.


Also, @GranTurismo916, It's Sonnett.

 

[AlvaroF]

An oddball, a very swedish oddball and it's a SAAB! They look good and it's a tiny car that you can actually look cool in whoever you are.

Sub-Zero

 

[Stotty]

I don't care how rare/obscure it is... it's monumentally ugly

Uncool.