Farewell to another motoring icon?

e668ecp · 23rd June 2011, 07:15

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13885267

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum

Intruder · 23rd June 2011, 07:26

Not been a saab for a while, their cars are based on the vectra

kissifer1972 · 23rd June 2011, 07:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intruder

Not been a saab for a while, their cars are based on the vectra

They were dumped by GM and there latest offerings were back to being designed and made in-house once more.

Will be a shame to see them go, they are one of the few manufacturers that have instantly recognisable cars these days.

e668ecp · 23rd June 2011, 07:58

Only dealer left around West Yorkshire is Bowetts in Leeds. Huddersfield/Bradford shut a while ago now

. hammer · 23rd June 2011, 09:08

As said, once GM-owned they were never the same. SWMBO runs an old 9-3 ragtop (a proper Scania-Saab) and when I work on it she always has a laugh. Apparently I keep banging on about the impressive build quality of the "real" Saabs! The engine's sweet, no rust anywhere, power hood only ever failed once (due to a shearpin breaking - pin was about £1.50 and less than an hour's work).
But will probably have to think about updating next year

and it won't be a later Saab!

Rolled1 · 23rd June 2011, 09:31

One of my first cars was an early 900 Turbo, a real SAAB, built like a tank and a fantastic car easily the match of any German car at the time, had one of the newer 9-3's for a short while and while not as well built as the earlier ones it wasnt bad either and still an improvement on the Vectra on which it was based, GM done exactly the same as MG/Rover, slowly starving the company until it eventually dies, a real shame because the very latest 9-5 that was only introduced a few months ago was the first real SAAB in a long time and once again it looked like a cracking car that could be a viable alternative to the Germans.

markyp · 23rd June 2011, 10:07

A lot of car brands are merging now and we keep saying they are not proper saabs, rovers, MG's etc

, i wonder if one today we will talking about Kia in the same way

. An icon in the making....

Banjo · 23rd June 2011, 10:08

In this weeks AutoExpress there is an article saying that SAAB is saved - again. It mentions a deal with Pang Da (car distributor) and Youngman(bus maker) to build and distribute SAAB cars in China, as well as a jointly owned new brand for China. A spokesman for SAAB has apperntly said thet ''the deal is done, subject to regulatory approval - and we are not anticipating any problems with that ''.
Not to be negative, but I think that they have been there before - and then the Chinese Government refused to allow the deal to go ahead.

ChineseRover · 23rd June 2011, 11:06

The midday news on Radio 4 rather contradicts Autoexpress.....

Stated that SAAB ceased production some weeks ago and now cannot pay employees and is seeking funding. Sounds like another Greek tragedy to me.

greendriver · 23rd June 2011, 11:22

China will starve us all economically eventually...

23rd June 2011, 07:15	#1
e668ecp I really should get out more....... Range Rover Evoque and ZT V8 SE Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 2,232 Thanks: 20 Thanked 37 Times in 34 Posts	Farewell to another motoring icon? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13885267 Sorry if this is in the wrong forum

23rd June 2011, 09:08	#5
. hammer Steve Rover 75 CDT Auto Conn Tourer Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Danbury, Essex Posts: 247 Thanks: 6 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	As said, once GM-owned they were never the same. SWMBO runs an old 9-3 ragtop (a proper Scania-Saab) and when I work on it she always has a laugh. Apparently I keep banging on about the impressive build quality of the "real" Saabs! The engine's sweet, no rust anywhere, power hood only ever failed once (due to a shearpin breaking - pin was about £1.50 and less than an hour's work). But will probably have to think about updating next year and it won't be a later Saab! __________________ Steve.

23rd June 2011, 10:07	#7
markyp Gets stuck in MG ZT CDTI+ X-power 135 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: lutton, Lincolnshire. Posts: 538 Thanks: 24 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts	A lot of car brands are merging now and we keep saying they are not proper saabs, rovers, MG's etc, i wonder if one today we will talking about Kia in the same way . An icon in the making.... __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Just when things are going well !!

23rd June 2011, 07:26	#2
Intruder Regular poster Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Bradford Posts: 52 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Not been a saab for a while, their cars are based on the vectra

23rd June 2011, 07:58	#4
e668ecp I really should get out more....... Range Rover Evoque and ZT V8 SE Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 2,232 Thanks: 20 Thanked 37 Times in 34 Posts	Only dealer left around West Yorkshire is Bowetts in Leeds. Huddersfield/Bradford shut a while ago now

23rd June 2011, 09:31	#6
Rolled1 Avid contributor MG ZT CDTi+ Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Donegal Posts: 206 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	One of my first cars was an early 900 Turbo, a real SAAB, built like a tank and a fantastic car easily the match of any German car at the time, had one of the newer 9-3's for a short while and while not as well built as the earlier ones it wasnt bad either and still an improvement on the Vectra on which it was based, GM done exactly the same as MG/Rover, slowly starving the company until it eventually dies, a real shame because the very latest 9-5 that was only introduced a few months ago was the first real SAAB in a long time and once again it looked like a cracking car that could be a viable alternative to the Germans.

23rd June 2011, 10:08	#8
Banjo Posted a thing or two MG6 Magnette 1.8 Tci SE Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Shrewsbury Posts: 1,300 Thanks: 19 Thanked 27 Times in 27 Posts	In this weeks AutoExpress there is an article saying that SAAB is saved - again. It mentions a deal with Pang Da (car distributor) and Youngman(bus maker) to build and distribute SAAB cars in China, as well as a jointly owned new brand for China. A spokesman for SAAB has apperntly said thet ''the deal is done, subject to regulatory approval - and we are not anticipating any problems with that ''. Not to be negative, but I think that they have been there before - and then the Chinese Government refused to allow the deal to go ahead.

23rd June 2011, 11:06	#9
ChineseRover Banned Rover 75 2.5 Conn automatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: London Posts: 152 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The midday news on Radio 4 rather contradicts Autoexpress..... Stated that SAAB ceased production some weeks ago and now cannot pay employees and is seeking funding. Sounds like another Greek tragedy to me.

23rd June 2011, 11:22	#10
greendriver This is my second home MG ZTT 180 in Poseidon Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Croydon Posts: 3,745 Thanks: 44 Thanked 86 Times in 75 Posts	China will starve us all economically eventually...