2014 Saab 9-3 officially relaunched, reborn 2014 Saab 9-3

[krell]

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/12/05/2014 ... elaunched/

[SamirD]

Petty cool! You can't keep a good car down.

[KuroNekko]

Don't expect it to come to the US. What was left of Saab was bought up by a Chinese-Japanese company, mainly for the Chinese market which is the biggest in the world.
Swedish cars are safe and solid, but are now Chinese-owned (yes, Volvo too).

[Viber]

No XWD all-wheel-drive? That would be a deal breaker for me.

[WESHOOT2]

Ever notice every Saab has at least one headlamp out?

Ever notice that there's no room in the footwell for even normal-sized feet?

Ever notice that trade value on a Saab plummets faster and deeper than nuclear attack sub?

[KuroNekko]

Ever notice every Saab has at least one headlamp out?

Ever notice that there's no room in the footwell for even normal-sized feet?

Ever notice that trade value on a Saab plummets faster and deeper than nuclear attack sub?

Saabs were always quirky and that's what made them interesting. However, they were not bad cars. Saabs and Volvos pretty much introduced the idea of safety to the automotive industry. Cars were death traps before then. These Swedish cars even shamed reputable German luxury cars in structural rigidity and safety innovation.

Even the story of the 3 point seat belt is fascinating: Volvo invented it and when they saw how effective it was in saving lives, they realized that patenting it for themselves would cost human lives. They then decided to share the design with other automakers and this has contributed to millions of lives being saved since. The design is still in use today as we all know and use. These Swedes get my respect for that.

I wanted a 9-3 around the time I was shopping for my former Mazda3. The thing that stopped me was the fact that for the model year I could afford, they had pretty bad reliability with the electrical system. Rather a common theme with European cars, but their engine and mechanical components are rather robust.

While the auto industry is just now coming to the widespread usage of turbos, Saab was at it decades ago. In fact, they were known as the all-turbo brand, much like Subaru was all-AWD.

Also, as Suzuki owners, we are in no position to talk about dismal trade value. If Saab is a nuclear sub, then Suzuki is one with a hull breach. Suzuki had a dismal reputation even when they were still in the market. Now, most people see them as junk worse than what Korean cars used to be. Of course, this is not true but it's all about perception when it comes to things like trade in value.

[WESHOOT2]

My Kizashi = Saab

I mean, for trade value



(But I knew that going in.....)

[WESHOOT2]

I am (more than) aware of Saab's history, of two-stroke smokers and front-drive traction; of qurkiness beyond need, and that death key location.

Durable, not reliable.

I never liked any I ever drove.




To me, buying a car for only monetary reasons relegates the car to being simply an appliance.
Like a Prius.
I, on the other hand, want true joy when driving.

Joy joy joy......


AND, my Kizashi cost me (I think) under $21 grand.

[Firefly]

Saabs were always quirky and that's what made them interesting...

And add that Saab was front-drive way before it was mainstream.

If they are not offering AWD now, its not a takeback, it was the rebadged Imprezas and Trailblazers that supplied the AWD cars for Saab, and sadly too late.

[KuroNekko]

Saabs were always quirky and that's what made them interesting...

And add that Saab was front-drive way before it was mainstream.

If they are not offering AWD now, its not a takeback, it was the rebadged Imprezas and Trailblazers that supplied the AWD cars for Saab, and sadly too late.

No, they had the rare XWD Turbo X which used a Haldex AWD system (supplier to Volvo's AWD too). That was neither Subaru or GM sourced. Subaru only offered the 9-2X (which admin Moto drives) and GM sourced the 9-7X. Saab did offer AWD on their own in different models, but those were rare.