May we have a moment of silence please. A death of a great brand has just been announced.
No, I’m not speaking about Tiger Woods. I’m talking about SAAB, the automobile of choice for the eclectic consumer – architects, beat poets, & creative asian males. Unfortunately, the Swedish car company that was acquired by GM is going the way of the dodo. Apparently having the DNA of a fighter plane was not enough to entice any buyers on planet Earth to acquire the SAAB brand from ailing GM, even at a fire sale price. And with no buyers, GM announced today that it is going to let SAAB die (as well as Saturn & Pontiac). Sucks. But there are a few winners here…
1) Sweden. In 2000, GM purchased full ownership of the company. The Swedes walked away with billions and GM, in spectacular fashion, killed the Swedish car company with amazing success. Thank God the Swedes didn’t sell ABBA or IKEA to America.
2) Current SAAB owners. If you have one, CONGRATULATIONS! You officially own a classic car. AND (you’re gonna love this), if you happened to purchase a SAAB in the last year, you now own a COLLECTABLE, classic car because technically your 2008/2009 production model would be considered a “final production run” vehicle! AND (it gets stupidly rad here), if you happened to purchase a 2008/2009 limited edition SAAB, you are a proud, accidental owner of a collectable EXOTIC car. The only two cars that qualify are the 2008/2009 limited edition SAAB Turbo X sedan & wagon. So SAAB owners wipe away your tears, for in death you can ride amongst the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini & DeLorean for eternity (or until your warranty runs out. wait, that’s void now too…)
SAAB – 1938-2009 R.I.P.
yesterday's conventional is today's exotic
*** Sunday 12/20/2009 – just in…SAAB may not be dead! Dutch car company Spyker has made an offer to GM to buy the SAAB band. Yeah! hope it goes through. It’ll turn Spyker from just an exotic car company to a company for the people! : ) waiting…
A Chinese company owns the rights to make old SAAB models. Does it mean it will make SAAB cars under a Chinese name?
it’s my understanding with the Chinese deal that basically they’re getting blueprints of how to make a proven, road-tested car. BUT, not under the SAAB name. GM has been trying to sell the SAAB brand to anyone who wanted to enter the car market but didn’t want to invent a brand from scratch (ie. Tesla, Fisker, etc).
SAAB…sniff!
DNA of jets, yes, but also Chevy SUVs with a slightly different grille once GM got involved… Why are we bailing out this company again?
I love my Saab Turbo X. Screw the relentless pursuit of perfection. Why would I want to drive something that sounds so anal.
SAAB Slogans over the years…
Welcome to the State of Independence (USA campaign)
Saab. Move your mind (European campaign)
Find Your Own Road
definitely not anal. if anything, it’s got more of an anus kicking vibe
Roger, your fab writing has relieved a little of my pre-Christmas stress.
[...] courtesy of fellow Offender Roger, I learned my beloved Saab “WaSaabi” Turbo X had become an orphan. What’s worse, it looks like the Chinese is going to only buy the blueprints of “how to [...]