A Swedish bit on the Side - Saab 9-3 Cabrio

[ALFAitalia]

Saab name won't be revived under Chinese owners - Saab Performance

www.saabperformance.com

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Saab name won't be revived under Chinese owners - Saab Performance

www.saabperformance.com

So SAAB AB own the name. Doesn't preclude SAAB AB from selling the right to the name at some point in the future, even though its Defence products business is very profitable at the moment.

Rolls Royce Motors was sold to VAG, whoop de doo.... Which meant that the "crew" at Crewe were able to continue to build Bentleys.

but NOT Rolls Royces, because Rolls Royce Aerospace still owned the rights to the name, which is how we ended up with Rolls Royce building cars on a virgin site at Goodwood.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Not quite....BMW own Rolls Royce, not VAG......VAG own Bentley.

 

[Alex225]

It's great when you check up on an old car you had and find out it's still going. I mean only 25k in 10 years isn't much so hopefully it's a nice weekend car for someone!

The GM era Saabs get a bit of flack, I think because Saab had such a specific reputation before they were taken over. That said I don't think they lost all of their character with the later models. They definitely aren't comparable to a Mercedes of the same era though, if that's the sector they were aiming at, I can see why they would have failed. If they'd have been aiming at Ford, Renault, Vauxhall etc. they'd have don't much better.

They're built well but they're not as good as the Germans made at the time.

I do love their left field-ness though, which is why after the first one I had (a 2006 9-3 estate) it got under my skin. I replaced it with my E320cdi which was a better car but I still loved the Saab. Hence I've got two now, which are making for fun projects.

And as for the Chinese and Saab, as already discussed there is something in the midst that I've heard about but nothing official. Just the idea of the name being resurrected. I almost hope it doesn't though. Let's be honest whatever the quality of modern MGs, they're not the same as the original brand. Some may see that as good but I don't think they have retained the character in any way whatsoever.

 

[Darrell]

Not quite....BMW own Rolls Royce, not VAG......VAG own Bentley.

They do which is why my boss’s RS Q8 thingy has the same engine as the Bentayga and the Urus.

 

[Darrell]

I think it has actually, the overall look is quite different now. I'll embrace the purpleness haha. At least its not pink!

It's not lowered, it could do with it at the back but it struggles on speed bumps as it is.

The MPG is very good, it's a mapped ttid so has a decent amount of go in it but returns around 55-60 genuine mpg.

As for the tyres, it was a wheel and tyre package so I didn't go bottom for super cheap unknowns but was still just over £1k for the package. These are all season tyres where others were summer tyres. I think the term for them is adequate, I think they'll be fine in the dry and the bulk of my miles is on the motorway so we'll see.

If my next reply is a picture of it in a ditch, we'll know!! haha


Thank you! I mean I love them but it's nice to know other's appreciate what I was going for.

Little stop off for fuel, £45 isn't too bad a top up considering the miles haha

Fitted some pressed plates, legal font and reflectivity just cleaner and fresher than the slightly tired ones on there.

All coming together nicely. Not much else planned for it to be fair. Will enjoy it as it is for a little while.

Lovely cars. My had had 3 before she moved onto E Class cabs in 2019. I wish I’d bought the last Saab from her but there you go.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Not quite....BMW own Rolls Royce, not VAG......VAG own Bentley.

Umm, you’re caught me out there….

Yes VAG own Bentley, but not Rolls Royce

And have done a fantastic job with it.

RR ? Arguably truer to RR before the Shadow, but definitely not true to the Labour Government days of the RR Shadow

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

It's great when you check up on an old car you had and find out it's still going. I mean only 25k in 10 years isn't much so hopefully it's a nice weekend car for someone!

The GM era Saabs get a bit of flack, I think because Saab had such a specific reputation before they were taken over. That said I don't think they lost all of their character with the later models. They definitely aren't comparable to a Mercedes of the same era though, if that's the sector they were aiming at, I can see why they would have failed. If they'd have been aiming at Ford, Renault, Vauxhall etc. they'd have don't much better.

They're built well but they're not as good as the Germans made at the time.

I do love their left field-ness though, which is why after the first one I had (a 2006 9-3 estate) it got under my skin. I replaced it with my E320cdi which was a better car but I still loved the Saab. Hence I've got two now, which are making for fun projects.

And as for the Chinese and Saab, as already discussed there is something in the midst that I've heard about but nothing official. Just the idea of the name being resurrected. I almost hope it doesn't though. Let's be honest whatever the quality of modern MGs, they're not the same as the original brand. Some may see that as good but I don't think they have retained the character in any way whatsoever.

The MG thing is just brand equity. People know and consider the brand because of the name, not the lineage. Had the new cars been called the WongDong XS Exclusive, Europeans wouldn’t have given these WongDongs a second look.

You’re right about quality. The new MGs are nowhere near as unreliable, and poorly made as the rust buckets we ran in the 60’s and 70’s, which were scrap by the time they had 80k on the clock

As for lineage, is anyone really buying a new Range Rover because of its 1960’s lineage of being a farmer or soldier’s Land Rover? I doubt it. (Harry and Jeremy excepted, maybe) Things roll on.

 

[Darrell]

The MG thing is just brand equity. People know and consider the brand because of the name, not the lineage. Had the new cars been called the WongDong XS Exclusive, Europeans wouldn’t have given these WongDongs a second look.

You’re right about quality. The new MGs are nowhere near as unreliable, and poorly made as the rust buckets we ran in the 60’s and 70’s, which were scrap by the time they had 80k on the clock

As for lineage, is anyone really buying a new Range Rover because of its 1960’s lineage of being a farmer or soldier’s Land Rover? I doubt it. (Harry and Jeremy excepted, maybe) Things roll on.

Don’t even mention the Ford Mustang.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Don’t even mention the Ford Mustang.

Autocar are pondering a "Turning in the Grave" award for new car designs.

First nominee was the founder of Lotus, Colin Chapman, the man whose slogan was "simplicate and add lightness."

for the new Lotus Evora and especially the 2.5 tonne £100+k SUV the Lotus Eletrre

IMHO, Colin's neck and neck with Alec Issigonis, the inventor of the very affordable, and certainly not bespoke, MINI.

 

[Alex225]

Lovely cars. My had had 3 before she moved onto E Class cabs in 2019. I wish I’d bought the last Saab from her but there you go.

Always time for another Saab haha. Nice thing is that at the moment many of them are still cheap, I suspect the diesel models will never really go beyond what they sell for now.

Some of the interesting models like the V6s may get more of a following........one day.

The MG thing is just brand equity. People know and consider the brand because of the name, not the lineage. Had the new cars been called the WongDong XS Exclusive, Europeans wouldn’t have given these WongDongs a second look.

You’re right about quality. The new MGs are nowhere near as unreliable, and poorly made as the rust buckets we ran in the 60’s and 70’s, which were scrap by the time they had 80k on the clock

As for lineage, is anyone really buying a new Range Rover because of its 1960’s lineage of being a farmer or soldier’s Land Rover? I doubt it. (Harry and Jeremy excepted, maybe) Things roll on.

Very true, although there are people out there are such non-car types that actually a new brand that's unheard of would still sell if they presented reasonable quality vs price. Look how Dacia took off. But like you say, people know MG and I suspect few care much for the heritage of the name.

I suppose for me, who started driving around 2000 the MGs that resonate were the ones based on Rovers at the time. I look back quite fondly on the ZS and other 'hot versions' especially the ones based on the 75. I'll be in the minority I'm sure as I know they weren't great cars but they did have character. Most cars buyers don't buy cars for character though.