2006 Saab 9-3 SportCombi

While browsing that site, this is a nice article too;

-- MH '72 97 '77 96 '78 95 '79 96 '91 900i 16

Interesting. Isn't Saab due to join some of the other manufacturers in dusting off some of its old designs and making them anew (a la Mustang, Mini, Beetle)? A modern interpretation of a Sonnett could be very interesting.

While it would be very cool too see a new interpretation of a C900, it may be too early for that. It probably needs at least 20 years of dust collecting duties before a renewal can occur. Hmmmmm...2013! But will Saab be around then?

- tex

What is car? Are the specs wrong? They brag about the V6 engine with the turbo producing 247 hp - Honda does that now without the turbo . . .

It also brags about 14.7 cu/ft cargo space with the rear seat up and "whopping" 45cu/ft with the rear seat down. They call this a station wagon that will replace the SUV and minivan? The C900 hatchback (classified as a sub-compact) has 57 cu/ft and the 245 Volvo wagon (classified as a compact) has 80 cu/ft. This must be a GM car :-(

But Honda engines are 'screamers'; turbo engines have much more torque. Most people in this group will know the difference.

They don't say "whopping" space. This is a life-style car, it has more space than the saloon without loosing the sporty-ness (apparently). If you want more, you can always have a people carrier - or a Volvo.

Nice.

All Saab needs to do is to reintroduce hatchbacks and Europeans will start buying them again too.

Graham

Yet many Saab drivers complain about being beat out of stops by . . . soccer moms in minivans (Honda?). This is a Saab turbo with a manual transmission being beat by a minivan with an automatic. Any explanations? Either the Saab drivers don't know how to drive a manual or these are really aggressive soccer moms who added superchargers to their Honda minivans :-)

Or you could get a C900 SPG - more space and more sporty-ness . . The Saab web site describes the Sportcombi as having "ample cargo space", the definition of ample is open to interpretation.

I normally wait at the lights in neutral and am happy to see other drivers smoke their clutch. There is no reward or 'podium' for getting across first. Honda Civic and Jazz are nice cars with some quality feel. [...]

If you can find one in good condition?

Yes, it's silly to brag about the cargo space of the Sportcombi, since this will not be it's main attraction. I don't think buyers will look at this, as long as there is enough for their needs. Possibly a young couple with a pram. What's the point of driving around with a room full of air?

Funny that a Saab lover would ask that. It's about potential. Saabs are not the best driving cars, but they are pretty well rounded, including their cargo usefulness.

We could ask a Mustang owner why he wants so much power under the hood, and his response will be similar: it has the potential to accelerate heavily, though he won't use it every day.

Tom Reingold Noo Joizy

I can tell you as a Saab lover, I do use the cargo space in the Classic

900. There were several threads about "what you have put in your Saab". As for the Mustang driver with all that power, I had plenty of fun today with my SPG and its "potential" :-)

Go to the Saab web site - they are pushing the five doors and "station wagon" size cargo space as hard as they are pushing the performance of the engine. People may buy the SportCombi for the engine, but GM wants people to buy it for as a station wagon as well.

Yes, cargo space is very useful, but my point is that I don't want/need too much cargo space as it spoils the look, among other things. That's why I like my 9000 CSE rather than an estate car.