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Best. Manufacturer name. Ever!đź‘Ť
Beats "Corn On The Saab."
Saab is Dead - Or is it?; Yes, yes it is
- Thread starter Famine
- 306 comments
- 32,819 views
Beats "Corn On The Saab."
Go HOLLAND!! 
- 24,043
- It/It
- GTP_TheCracker
I think I'm going to find a Spyker sticker and put it on our Saab, that's tasteful right?
There's nothing tasteful about Spyker. Siegfried & Roy would be embarrassed to be seen in one.
(See below)
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- 274
- 10,620
- gtp_jimprower
You kidding? There's less than 10% plastic in there! a real interior, if you ask me!
- 24,043
- It/It
- GTP_TheCracker
Plastic smashtic, it could made from unobtainium and virgin Na'vi hide but it's still horrifically styled.
- 274
Sure it doesn't have plastic. But would you rather have that over wood?
McLaren
Premium
- 45,685
- Texas
The steering wheel was optional, & I'm guessing that due to the number of folks who went for the sportier model, they made it standard on the new Aileron.
As for the leather, it is a bit strange, but I think picking the right color helps a lot. I know you've seen the C8 LM 85, but if you've caught the interior, it's entirely black which helps a lot.
Unfortunately, I think the aluminum in the dash is a standard feature unlike (what I am guessing) is alcantara in the LM.
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
I've always liked the interiors of the Spykers. The vintage watercraft/aircraft look is pretty awesome, mostly in a "look how much money I have" sort of way. Its like Spyker understands that they build sportscars, but not supercars... No need for outrageous amounts of carbon fiber and suede like the other guys do.
- 10,620
- gtp_jimprower
Fake suede: alcantara.
I agree...Perhaps getting a few of these cues into a Saab might reinforce the "Born from Jets" moniker.
I agree...Perhaps getting a few of these cues into a Saab might reinforce the "Born from Jets" moniker.
- 3,460
- Hollywood
- 10,620
- gtp_jimprower
As my friend from Sweden says: Sarcasm doesn't work on the Internet.
- 38,965
- Application hell
- MP-Omnis
- 6,584
- Kent, UK
- GTP_Jondot
Mmm, thought you'd seen the end of SAAB using ancient platforms? Nope. They've just announced that the new 9-3 will in fact be using GM's Epsilon 1 platform - y'know, the one that made the 2002 Vectra the exciting car it was.
While the new 9-5 is based on the new Epsilon 2 platform that underpins the slightly less terrible Insignia, the 9-3 will be based on a 'highly modified' version of the Vectra's old platform. Presumably they're gonna sprinkle some glitter on it or something.
So, good to see they're still behaving like GM control them even with a new owner đź‘Ť
- 10,620
- gtp_jimprower
To be fair, Spyker's made nothing but supercars up to this point. While it may not seem like it, designing a vehicle ground-up for production rates of upwards of 100,000 units per year is far, far more difficult, and much more expensive than designing a vehicle to be built in ten units per year.
- 6,584
- Kent, UK
- GTP_Jondot
Oh I'm not criticizing them for using a GM platform as such, more for using one that'll be 10 years out of date by the time the car hits the market. I'm just failing to understand why they didn't use Epsilon 2 for both cars and save themselves a bit of hassle in the process. Then again maybe GM wouldn't let them...
- 10,620
- gtp_jimprower
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
Generally speaking though, the Epsilon I chassis isn't that bad. I would think that if they can keep the W-Body going for 22 years, chances are, they can extend the life of the pretty okay Epsilon chassis for a little while longer. Really, they just need to stiffen it up a bit.
- 2,376
- Stockholm, Swe
- GTP_Anghammarad
So the 9-5 is reaching the showroom floors. There's one just a few hundred meters from my work. Might go and have a look.
Meanwhile, Autoblog seems to like it. http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/08/2010-saab-9-5-first-drive-review/
Edit: So I went over after work and took one for a 15 minute spin. It had the least expensive package and the smallest diesel (2.0, 160 HP). First impression: It is a big car, but it also looks better in real life than in pictures. There was something in the pics that didn't please my eye at least but when you actually see the car it is a sleek and very limousiney car. The first thing I thought when I saw the car directly from the back was: Saab 92, and I can't put my finger on why. Inside the dash is very much Saab albeit a bit too black for my taste, front seats are OK with a few electric adjustments even in this "cheapest" trim while space in the back is simply huge. If I adjust the drivers seat to suit me and get in the back there is a good 15 cm between my knees and front seat (mind you, I'm only 180 cm). Four person will travel in style in this car, while the fifth who will have to sit in the middle back seat is not so lucky. It's a bit bumpy and headroom is very limited. Even my head touched the roof.
Driving the car was a very surprising experience. Away from the parking lot you immediately forget that the car is 508 cm long, it feels like a much smaller car. Certainly no Mini Cooper but it feels no bigger than the Saab 9-3 which is almost half a meter shorter. Steering is very responsive, almost on the verge of being nervous but that is probably something you get used to quickly. Suspension is far from soft, gearbox feels good and the engine has a very Saabesque turbo lag. Gearing is extremely high, at 100 km/h engine revs were 1500 in sixth gear.
All in all, a very pleasant experience and if the estate model is as good looking it will almost certainly be on the shortlist when it's time for me to get a new family car. It is a very good thing that this car became a reality instead of just a might-have-been.
Meanwhile, Autoblog seems to like it. http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/08/2010-saab-9-5-first-drive-review/
Edit: So I went over after work and took one for a 15 minute spin. It had the least expensive package and the smallest diesel (2.0, 160 HP). First impression: It is a big car, but it also looks better in real life than in pictures. There was something in the pics that didn't please my eye at least but when you actually see the car it is a sleek and very limousiney car. The first thing I thought when I saw the car directly from the back was: Saab 92, and I can't put my finger on why. Inside the dash is very much Saab albeit a bit too black for my taste, front seats are OK with a few electric adjustments even in this "cheapest" trim while space in the back is simply huge. If I adjust the drivers seat to suit me and get in the back there is a good 15 cm between my knees and front seat (mind you, I'm only 180 cm). Four person will travel in style in this car, while the fifth who will have to sit in the middle back seat is not so lucky. It's a bit bumpy and headroom is very limited. Even my head touched the roof.
Driving the car was a very surprising experience. Away from the parking lot you immediately forget that the car is 508 cm long, it feels like a much smaller car. Certainly no Mini Cooper but it feels no bigger than the Saab 9-3 which is almost half a meter shorter. Steering is very responsive, almost on the verge of being nervous but that is probably something you get used to quickly. Suspension is far from soft, gearbox feels good and the engine has a very Saabesque turbo lag. Gearing is extremely high, at 100 km/h engine revs were 1500 in sixth gear.
All in all, a very pleasant experience and if the estate model is as good looking it will almost certainly be on the shortlist when it's time for me to get a new family car. It is a very good thing that this car became a reality instead of just a might-have-been.
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- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
Good to hear that the car is living up to expectations. They're playing some new, really interesting commercials for Saab here in the US during the World Cup that even had my Mom asking me about the cars. If you can get people like her asking about Saab, they're doing the right thing. Especially when they probably haven't thought about a Saab since 1998, and even then, it may have been a stretch.
- 5,303
- Riverside, Ca
- GTP_Leonidae_MFT
test by Top Gear magazine.
They like it, but it seems that from their point of view, there's too much GM in it.
They like it, but it seems that from their point of view, there's too much GM in it.
