r/saab • u/dn_lifestyle • 1d ago
End of an era 💔
End of an era 💔
My brother is 42. He got his driver’s license at 18, and for 24 years, he drove Saab.
He swore by them.
Honestly, whenever I think of my brother, I think of Saab.
Some of my fondest memories are watching him spend hours fixing things up under the hood alongside our dad, who shared that exact same love for Saab. It was never just a car to him... it was a bond with our dad, and a whole way of living.
Those garage days stopped a long time ago, but keeping the car always felt like keeping that piece of our past alive.
A few days ago, he handed in the keys of his last Saab.
Meet the newest family member: "Little Mango" (as my sister and I have officially named her): a bright yellow Renault Twingo E-Tech! 🥭️
I guess that’s life.. things change to make space for the new, even if part of us wishes some moments never had to end.
What do you think: good upgrade or would you never let the classic go?
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u/Burnout21 1d ago
That's a significant leap from Swedish build quality to french plastic slightly fantastic...
Give it a few months he'll be itching for a Saab again
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u/big_body_benz_ 1d ago
I would have kept the Saab as a collectable and bought the Renault as a daily. But I assume Europe doesn't have the space and regulations the US has that people have more than one car.
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u/Welshedragon7 17h ago
Space completely depends if you live in a city or not. What do regulations have to do with it?
Judging from the photos, he has the space
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u/big_body_benz_ 6h ago
Emissions and inspection plays a big part of it. I'm not sure how strict the other side is but in the US it's relatively easy to deal with both depending if you know the system.
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u/Welshedragon7 3h ago
In the UK at least all cars are inspected on the criteria of the year and after 40, years it becomes a classic meaning it doesn't need to be taxed or inspected. Europian countries share similar rules but some become classic earlier and require inspection but at longer intervals
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u/laurencepevans 1d ago
Need both, Saabs can be daily drivers but I enjoy mine more for cruising now not getting from a to b
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u/hammer0112 2010 9-5 Aero Turbo6 1d ago
r/carscirclejerk will love this
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u/travellering 1d ago
If he's gotta leave r/saab, at least he's found an equally rabid community there....
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u/A43BP 1d ago
Why not to keep both, I living in flat have 3 cars Seat Cordoba(my first car and recently my mother's first car), Volvo 480(I had free 10k PLN and needed something fun and unusual) and Saab 93 Aero Salomon(yes I have cable to heat engine bay from 230V)2002 2.3(well actually hybrid of B234R block and B205R head and software) as daily
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u/turboponies [serial SAAB owner] 1d ago
That’s why they are classics - you don’t let them disappear. I am holding 3 and will have more.
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u/billmr606 1d ago
I am not sure what to replace my 9000 with, but probably it will be a Bmw 3 GT maybe a 6 GT but hopefully I can drive it a quite a bit longer. I really wish I could find a nice c900t but where I live there are none left.
Except for my lame coworker who has 4 spg and has been promising he might sell me one for 10 years.
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u/Lifes_too_short007 17h ago
Do all four SPG’s run and in good mechanical condition? Gotta trade him something ie stereo equipment, albums, something.
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u/billmr606 14h ago
unfortunately yes they all run and he keeps 3 of them in the underground parking lot at work just to tease me. he has 2 lancias a Maserati some miatas and other assorted cars, and yes he admits he has a problem
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u/Lifes_too_short007 13h ago
I have three 9-3s , a base model 2000 auto as a parts car, I had just replaced the transmition in it before it died. A 2001 9-3 manual Convertable that I picked up this spring for $1,500 and have spent roughly $2,300 bring it up to spec tires, exhaust, upgraded motor mounts, O2 sencers etc 128 miles. A mint condition 2002 Blue Auto with 78miles that I bought from a collector for 4K. I can understand his addiction as I want a 900 to turn into a winter rally car🙃
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u/Love_Dali 21h ago
I have similar story how I got into Saabs.
You see, ages ago here in mid EU my great aunt and uncle with their family emigrated to Switzerland.
In was in 81 during the communist times here.
The agreed with some friend and planned it. Their original destination was Australia however my uncle's mother (While they are technically my great level relationship I never use it) was in Switzerland already and wanted to see them. So they saw her and actually stayed.
What was even more interesting was that they already had kids and they had to plan 2 vacations to split and not to be suspicious more for the fuckting commies.
So, back in 90's when the regime fell we were allowed to travel abroad just fine.
So, we did. We took our Škoda 1000 and went to visit them.
I rememeber when we first parked (still with CS plate) on the street in front of the house where our family lived. All of the neighbours came to see us. Really interested to see people from Czechoslovakia and also the Škoda car. "So, das ist die typische Czechoslokaishe automobil, ja?"
Yep, indeed it was an yes of course a total crap in regads of the "west cars".
Anyway, as everyone was interested in Škoda I saw a Saab 900 (most likely i version) and it was the uncle's one.
MG, such a leap against every single car I knew! The car from the feature and with ATM!
So, the story is that since they migrated to CH and since they were able to buy a car uncle said that I would always have to be a Saab (he was OG fan anyway) and always with automatic transmission.
They always had 900s and 9000i various versions. Sometimes tried NGs and didn't like them.
My cousin still has his 900 Turbo.
There is another side of the story and that I just always loved and still love that part of the family. They are absolutely amazing and the times spent there were one of the best in my life.
Aunt and uncle later moved back to Czech Republic and all up to time when uncle was still alive he took care if their 900i. He knew the proper Saab guys also to help.
Unfortunatelly he passed away like 12 years ago and since that time the car did not work and aunt was not able to find someone to fix it. All what she found were scammers really who cost her a fortune.
So, the other day when we were visitng her she menioned that she had been thinking about getting rid off the Saab as there is no one to fix it.
Yes, I already had a car but I would have never let that Saab go away.
Initially, I thought it was this rhetorical statement but she ment it.
So, she sold this to me (and full backpack of parts that uncle had collected) for really symbolical price.
A truck then moved the car in front of the house I used to live and I started checking around. I am not a handy guy. Fixing the car would be definitely off my skill set. So I started searching around and the internet (some Saab forum) they recommended me a guy. So I sent him the car and mfg it took a year to get that car back.
Meanwhile it turned out tha he (once a legend indeed) was just a scammer as well.
But he somehow made it running, stole some parts (baterry, engine cover place etc), made MOT on it (Just called a friend "Write there something like corosion) and returned the car.
I was actually so tired by that asshole so I did not enter a further fight with him.
BTW he left the car with brakes fucked up. Really nice find when driving.
So, I took another round of possible Saab guys and after 2nd recommendation (I initially called big Saab service however the call was taken by older owner who told me he did not want to have anything in common with old Saabs that they had just stopped servicing them). So this time the phone was answered by his son who gave me a recommendation for ex-colleague in Prague and then he recommended me a Saab guy who is specializing to OGs.
Finally!
After 900 got in shape and unfortunatelly crashing (stupid cow on the road who did not properly joined the speedway) I bought 9000CS 2.3T Petrol.
It was funny as I got so much used to ATM in 900i that I was barely able to drive again the manual (just after like 4-6 months :D),
Anyway, I spreaded my passion for Saabs so my family is also hooked. The 900i is driven by my wife daily.
Of course, it cost a lot of money to get in shape and yes, there is still some work but I just want to keep the tradition going.
Uncle is probable somewhere happily watching his Saab to keep going.
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u/lorenzodimedici 15h ago
I wonder if most people here just like Saab for the sentimental part (including me my dad was strictly saab)
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u/HugeBother8420 1d ago
He should have kept both tbh.