RIP Saab end of another Motor Company.

zuludawn · 8 Sep 2011 at 14:53

Looks like its over, as many have guessed the Chinese have stalled on purpose. Looks like they will get the Mark nice and cheap now and move all production to China.

http://www.thelocal.se/36026/20110908/

zuludawn · 8 Sep 2011 at 15:13

You did post about this when i brought the car:

(That is an awful lot of money to spend on a reasonably new Saab - mainly because Saab is literally right on the edge of bankruptcy. Production has stopped several times in the last 2 months apparently due to them not being able to pay suppliers and numerous rescue deals have come to nothing.

It wont be around much longer and thus neither will the dealer network nor the warranty. Which is surely the point in spending £25k on a nearly new car...

This purchase reminds me very much of the idea of buying a 1 year old MG ZT in February 2005.... )

They have only sold about 100 2.8t Aero XWD in this country so now i have a very rare White Elephant. But Saab Uk remain adamant that they will remain and have about 3,500 Saab cars in there network for sale, just may mean very cheap Saabs for sale in the end, only time will tell.

zuludawn · 8 Sep 2011 at 23:37

Im ok 75% of my car is Vauxhall Insignia so parts shouldnt be that much of a problem if it goes **** up, I had A 9-3 Cab 2t Vector for 4 years and never had one problem with it, only the usual tyre replacment.
If the Chinese still make a deal, it will be still made just over there instead. They have a little time left to appeal etc, but it aint looking to rosy.

zuludawn · 8 Sep 2011 at 23:47

[TW]Fox;20027397 said:
75%? If thats true thats half of Saabs problem but to be honest it isn't going to help you if you need body parts etc.

Driving carfully and body filler, surely if its in an accient and they cannot get panels etc they will right it off and with Gap insurance on it should be ok.

zuludawn · 9 Sep 2011 at 13:55

You can change the road holding characteristic of any car by changing the suspension, Saab 9-5 may sit on a Insigna chassis but it has these mods

The chassis is a stretched version of the Vauxhall Insignia with a combination of suspension options based around the MacPherson strut front and multi-link independent rear.

More expensive versions get an extra link into the front strut, which improves suspension location and steering feel and they also get a more sophisticated H-arm rear suspension, which reduces vibration and noise reaching the cabin. Most models are front-wheel drive, but there is optional four-wheel-drive with the two-litre petrol and higher-powered diesel engines, and as standard with the 2.8 turbo.

zuludawn · 9 Sep 2011 at 19:07

[TW]Fox;20027397 said:
75%? If thats true thats half of Saabs problem but to be honest it isn't going to help you if you need body parts etc.

I got a harsh frown from Saab dealer today for saying that, they reckon 25% Insignia not 75% like i said mostly electrical oh and the engine,gearbox lol my bad.

zuludawn · 19 Dec 2011 at 16:45

Full story here its just a mix of political manoeuvring by General Motors not wanting China to have any of their technology, tragic as i love my Saab. Makes incredible reading of the demise of a motor company if you care to read it further and follow the story. The end of which as been drawn out by months.

http://www.lifewithsaab.com/

zuludawn · 19 Dec 2011 at 19:49

[TW]Fox;20833678 said:
Can you honestly blame them for not wanting China to get hold of tech?

GM have opened a big market in China for there own cars, if they were afraid of them giving (new tech) from Saab what stops them from just copying it. I just dont get the new tech on a 9-5 Saab is mostly the same as a Vauxhall Insignia with a XWD drive system and a big lump petrol engine and a few toys throw in not really state of the art is it (expensive mind).

I would have liked to see what the Cinese would have done with the Saab Phoenix architecture

zuludawn · 19 Dec 2011 at 19:58

Dr House said:
Why did you buy the car, did you not know this was round the corner?

You may still be able to sell it if your quick.

I purchased my car cause i liked it and it had £17,000 off list price at 10 months old, plus they have only sold about 100+ 2.8 models so it kind of very exclusive on the roads, i like that. Makes no odds on the deprecation to me neither, all big petrol engine cars lose their value at alarming rates i knew this when i brought it.

But 2 weeks after i brought it i heard the news Saab was in trouble but i still will stick with my decision. (crosses fingers no one hits it body panels are going to be a bitch, long live ISOPON like in the old days lol)

zuludawn · 19 Dec 2011 at 20:54

MarkDavis said:
Yep, I am admittedly gutted. Though its mostly to the extent that I can see the parts supply chain drying up within a couple of years if not sooner. Basic stuff like brakes, springs, filters will probably be okay since there are pattern parts for this sort of stuff, but its things like ECMs, keys, switches which I can forsee will be really problematic.

GM had a contract to supply parts for ten years to Saab for the new platforms, wether this also applied to Saab Uk who are a different company who knows. But Saab Uk also have applied for Bankrupcy protection. There are a lot of Saabs on the roads in the Uk so there is a good parts dealership online, as for Ecm etc just go to the Vauxhall dealer they will be the same on the newer 9-3