Overview & Reviews
Originally known as Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (Svenska Aircraft Company), Saab is a Swedish company that began manufacturing automobiles in 1949. The company's early designs placed an emphasis on aerodynamics that is reflective of its history as an aircraft manufacturer.
The first production Saab, the 92, boasted a lower coefficient of drag than many modern cars. The 93, unveiled in 1955, was powered by a three-cylinder, 33-horsepower engine, and featured the distinctive fastback profile that made early Saabs among the most recognizable cars on the road. By the time the '50s drew to a close, Saab's lineup had grown to include the 95 wagon (capable of seating up to seven) and the 93 750 Gran Turismo, the automaker's first series-built sports car.
The marque started the '60s with the introduction of its successful Saab 96. With a production run of 20 years, this was the car that made Saab a recognized presence in the international market. The decade also saw the launch of the Saab Sport coupe. Scoring numerous wins on the rally circuit, the coupe marked Saab as a force to be reckoned with. The Sport's success on the track inspired a name change; it later came to be known as the Saab Monte Carlo 850. The Saab Sonett II sports car, with its body of fiberglass-reinforced plastic, also made its debut during the '60s, as did the Saab 99, which was the first Saab to feature the manufacturer's trademark wraparound windshield.
In 1973, Saab gave birth to the 99 Combi Coupe. The car came to define the Saab brand; with its hatchback and fold-down rear seat it offered remarkable utility. By the end of the decade, Saab had rolled out the 99 Turbo, which was a forerunner in harnessing turbo technology for use in production cars. The company also introduced the Saab 900, which held the distinction of being the first car to offer a cabin air filter.
During the 1980s, Saab cars (especially the Turbo models) gained American popularity as young urban professionals (yuppies) sought them out. The decade saw the launch of the 900 Turbo, the 900 Turbo Aero (the world's first car to offer a 16-valve turbo engine), the 900 convertible and the Saab 9000, a larger four-door car available in hatchback, and later on, sedan body styles.
In 1990, General Motors bought half of Saab's automotive division. The decade saw the launch of a revamped 900; the car offered a bevy of cutting-edge safety features, including three rear three-point seatbelts and rear side-impact protection. By the time the '90s drew to a close, Saab had also unveiled the 9-5, a larger, premium four-door sedan that essentially replaced the 9000. The 9-5 offered a host of new technologies such as ventilated seats. It was also the first to offer Saab's active head restraints, a system designed to prevent whiplash injuries.
By the 2000s, General Motors had bought the other half of Saab Automobile. Despite the brand's position on the leading edge of safety technology, Saab's popularity in the U.S. and around the world waned as its product portfolio grew increasingly stale and reliant on GM for parts, platforms and design. New models like the 9-2X and the 9-7X were based on platforms borrowed from other brands -- Subaru and Chevrolet, respectively. Meanwhile, the 9-5 soldiered on and the second-generation 9-3 ditched its quirky hatchback body style in favor of a mainstream sedan design. The hope was to make the 9-3 more appealing to American car buyers, but ultimately it only served to remove the car's unique personality.
In the midst of General Motors' financial difficulties and eventual bankruptcy, Saab was viewed as a disposable, troubled asset and essentially cast away. With the financial assistance of a European bank and the Swedish government, Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg intended to purchase Saab with the promise of restructuring the brand and keeping production within Sweden. That deal fell through when Koenigsegg changed its mind about becoming involved with such a troubled company. Another niche-market supercar company, Spyker Cars, pursued the purchase of Saab. But that venture eventually failed as well and ultimately, at the end of 2011, Saab went into "wind-down" mode, filing for bankruptcy. In other words, Saab's future is still very much in limbo.
User Reviews:
Showing 531 through 540 of 2,450.00-
Too Much Fun !! - 2004 Saab 9-3
By Saabldy - July 21 - 2:00 amThis car is the most fun I have had driving - for the past 50 years! And, I have had a lot of different cars, from Porsche, BMW to VW. Performance on the highway is exceptional. Braking is reassuring. I found it necessary to buy a radar detector!! Great value! Even came with free OnStar.
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Great Car - 2004 Saab 9-3
By Jeffery Ross - July 21 - 2:00 amI love this car. Fits a unique personality.
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My Beautiful SAAB Convertible - 2004 Saab 9-3
By Margaret Long - July 21 - 2:00 amThe color of my SAAB Convertible is Espresso Brown, which is a metalic brown in the sun, and is beautiful!! Driving is fun and especially in Florida where you experience the warm weather in the winter. It has a lot of room in the rear seat. I have lots of admirers when on the road and in a parking lot!
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Great car - 2001 Saab 9-5
By Scott - July 21 - 1:13 amMy first Saab and will (hopefully) not be my last. I have a lower back issue and do not ride in cars very well. However, I can ride long distances in this car in relative comfort. Kick the sport in and it goes!
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Great Vehicle - 2007 Saab 9-3
By Chris - July 20 - 3:33 pmGreat car! Little leery of Saab before purchase, but absolutely love the ride.
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Beautiful and Unique - 2011 Saab 9-5
By bradmad - July 12 - 7:39 pmI have had this car now for 3 weeks and so far it has been a pleasure to drive. I havent see any others on the road, so its nice to drive something unique. Handling is responsive, power is adequate and the interior is both comfortable and stylish. Gas mileage is better than rated as well. Im averaging about 21 in town and have gotten 31 on a recent highway trip of about 100 miles.
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Top Notch for the Aero - 2000 Saab 9-5
By malapides - July 9 - 10:13 amThis vehicle has provided a range of diversity with regards to comfort, performance, efficiency and practicality. I regularly take road trips with bikes on the roof, or gear in the wagon area along with friends. The car gets me there quickly with its powerful turbo engine (I do have the 5-speed), in comfort (the ventilated seats are a must in hot weather) and efficiently (frequently 30-32 mpg highway). I highly encourage anyone buying this car who lives in a snow belt to absolutely buy a second set of wheels/tires for the snow. This makes a huge difference. Overall, I could not be happier with thie vehicle. With 75,000 miles on it, there have been no significant repairs.
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No Regrets! - 2007 Saab 9-3
By Scott M - July 9 - 8:13 amIve had my 9-3 for 2 years now...overall very pleased -- perfect combo of sporty and practical; fairly comfortable for long trips, punchy fun when you want to zip around some backroads...Turbo makes it seem quicker than it probably is, steering is crisp; cuts through winter roads fine with aftermarket Goodyears on it; cool (albeit quirky) body style. Great mpg (28-30). Pretty reliable -- 2-3 minor repairs under warranty.
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Jack of all trades... - 2005 Saab 9-5
By Stan18 - July 5 - 9:13 pmSafe, fast, reliable, high utility (big trunk and enough interior space for 4 adults). Handles nice. Great gas mileage. Outstanding car for the real world. Ignore the critics (they dont live in the real world, and they dont like FWD.). I just re-leased my 3rd one (never owned a Saab prior to my first 9-5)... need I say more?At the prices you can negotiate (way below MSRP), they offfer great value.
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Aero Go - 2004 Saab 9-5
By Spencer27 - July 4 - 10:00 amThe Aero is a "Beast" to say the least, I looked at the BMW 5 Series, Cadillac CTS and CTS-V, Accura TL, and they did not stack up. Saab Aero is in a class alone when considering value to dollar ROI. Handling is clean and crisp, fuel ecomony is running nearly 24 MPG (highway/city). 17" rims are very nice. Overall impression is, "where has Saab been?" We know Saab is owned by GM, but this group is a sleeper. Dont get it confused, sleep on the Saab and you are likely to get snake bitten!
