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2011 Saab 9-4X owners review - Part 3: Performance, handling and equipment

Frank Wulfers — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:22:46 GMT

Part 1: Exterior, engine and transmission
Part 2: Interior, Seats and Visibility
Part 3: Performance, handling and equipment

Wilderness State Park, Michigan

The Saab 9-4X weighs a hefty 4,400 lbs with the 3.0i engine. The Aero is even heavier and can tip the scale up to 4,700 pounds. I owned a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer for a couple of years and it had the typical ride of an SUV. Heavy, pretty slow, vague steering, an engine that ran out of breath beyond 4K rpm and a bit of a mushy suspension. So my expectations of a crossover with similar size and weight were not that high.

While it still is a heavy vehicle, it sure feels pretty quick. The engine likes to rev and has pretty good power all the way up to 5.5 to 6K rpm. It is also a slow-revving and quiet engine when you want it to be. At 55 mph - 90 km/h, you can't hear the engine at all, mostly because it only turns at 1600 revolutions per minute. And that's quite impressive as well.

Check out the video for 0-60 mph in about 8 seconds: link

The brake pedal feel is typically Saab and harder than many other vehicles, especially from Asian origin. I am used to it and prefer it that way. I haven't made any panic stops or did any other brake testing but the brakes are up to the task of stopping the 9-4X.

Steering feel is excellent. The ratio is just perfect and the hydraulic power assist has the usual natural feel I have come to know from my 9-5 and 9-3. It probably requires more effort to turn the steering wheel compared to other crossovers but this gives the feel you're actually driving the 9-4X. The turning radius is much smaller than I expected and feels similar to the first generation 9-5. And that's a great accomplishment for the size of the vehicle. I expected the 18" tires with taller sidewalls not to be very communicative but they give a nice feel of the road without feeling soft.

UP of Michigan looking towards Canada

Many journalists wrote about driving the 9-4X and how it feels more like driving a car than a mid-sized crossover. And they are completely right. Even in the base trim without the adjustable Aero suspension, it actually is fun to drive. The suspension is firm but still soaks up bumps and potholes quite nicely. As a matter of fact, the suspension could be just a bit softer for regular driving on Michigan roads. But the better handling is worth the firmer suspension.

It is surprising the suspension feel is so good considering the size of the wheels and tires. The 9-4X 3.0i in base and Premium trim is equipped with Michelin Latitude Tour HP all-season tires 235/65HR18. You would think the tall sidewall wouldn't be good for handling so it is all the more surprising how well Saab tuned the suspension. The Latitude tires have a 55K warranty but time will tell how good they are going to hold up.

I purchased this 9-4X from a Saab/Cadillac dealership and the salesman said the 9-4x is much more fun to drive than the SRX. I should test drive one of those some day to see how it compares to the 9-4X.

Noise comfort is excellent as well. There hardly is any wind noise even over 70mph and you can't hear any tire noise either. It's the quietest Saab I have owned so far. These are the little things that make all the difference.

Fuel economy

I have been keeping track of all fill-ups since I bought the 9-4X. In the last 4,500 miles, I am getting an average of 20.3 mpg with regular fuel. At the current prices, regular fuel has a price advantage to premium of about 1.5 mpg. When you compare this to the 25.6 mpg average of my 2005 Saab 9-5 Aero, the adjusted 21.8 mpg of this 9-4X seems very reasonable, considering it is much heavier and taller.

Lake Michigan near Petoskey

Equipment

The base Saab 9-4X comes with a nice list of standard features.

You can get the Power package on the base for $1,385 and you get quite a lot of features for the money.

Driver's seat, mirrors and pedals memory
Electrically adjustable pedals
Heated front seats
Auto-dimming interior mirror
Power tailgate
Rear-view camera

The Premium model costs $3,870 more than the base model ($2,485 more than the Power package) and includes all equipment from the Power Package plus:

High-pressure headlight washers
Premium alloy wheels (basically the same 18" as the base but different finish)
Ambient lightning
Ventilated front seats
Rain-sensing windshield wipers
Keyless passive entry
Remote start
Universal remote garage door opener
Power passenger front seat
10-speaker Bose Audio system with 5.1 surround sound (base system has 7 speakers)
Auto-dimming outside mirrors
Power folding mirrors

The Technology Package for $1,350 includes Bi-Xenon cornering headlights and Parking Assistance. Rear seat audio and video is $1,845 and the Infotainment Navigation system $2,395. For complete details about equipment, you can download the brochure here: link

Ambient lighting provides a few extra interior lights in the foot wells. There also is a faint green spotlight in the overhead console which illuminates the center console just slightly. The door handles also have a faint glow. I first thought it was going to be annoying but it gives a luxurious feel when driving in the dark. It gives a sense of the interior without being distracting.

I used to have ventilated front seats in my Saab 9-5 and they are very nice to have when it is hot and humid outside. They don't seem to have the same kind of cooling power as the 9-5 but they also are not as loud. It is definitely a nice upgrade in the 9-4X.

Keyless passive entry is something that I never thought I needed but it has become a feature that is now difficult to live without. You can leave the key in your pocket and the door will automatically unlock when you pull the handle. Locking the 9-4X only requires touching the door handle. This is in addition to the standard lock and unlock buttons on the remote. I usually don't like have anything in my pockets when I drive but the remote is small enough so it doesn't bother me at all. If you leave the remote in the 9-4X and exit, the horn will sound twice. You can't lock the car if there is still a remote inside.

The auto-dimming mirrors are another feature I can't live without anymore. You sometimes forget you have this as optional equipment until you drive another car that doesn't have it. I do not have the package with parking sensors on mine but the rearview camera with the monitor built in the rearview mirror is a great alternative and works just as good as parking sensors. There is quite a large blindspot towards the back so the camera is pretty essential for backing up.

Remote start has always been a bit controversial for me. They say it is best for the engine to start and drive away. However, I do prefer to have the engine running a few minutes before I start driving just to get all the fluids going and defrost the rear window. The remote start makes that very easy so you won't have to get into the car, start the car (requires pushing the brake pedal), get out and clear ice or snow from the windows. I don't use it to let the engine idle for 15 minutes to warm up the interior.

All the extras are not necessary for enjoying the 9-4X or any other modern car but the toys are nice to have. And many of them are very useful as well.

Wilderness State Park, Michigan

2011 Saab 9-4X long-term owners review - Part 2: Interior, Seats and Visibility

Frank Wulfers — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:20:06 GMT

Part 1: Exterior, engine and transmission
Part 2: Interior, Seats and Visibility
Part 3: Performance, handling and equipment

Interior

No matter how good the exterior looks, it is inside where we spend most of our time. The interior of the 9-4X is very similar to the current 9-5 in design. While I have sat in the new 9-5 many times, I have never actually driven on. Coming from the first generation 9-5, the 9-4X feels a bit large inside at first. I had to get used to the thicker A-pillars. It seems they are farther away from the driver than in the 9-5 so they don't actually block as much of the view to the outside as you would expect.

After owning the 9-4X for a few months, I am really liking the larger size as it gives the cabin a very open feel. Where the dash is vertical in the 1st gen 9-5 and current 9-3, the 9-4X lower dash slopes away from the driver, enhancing the sense of open feel. I can easily reach all heater, audio and other controls without the need to get my back out of the seat. It was actually a bit of shock how my 2005 9-5 felt quite small and a bit cramped inside when I drove it again after a couple of weeks. The 9-4X has a lot of legroom and it is easy to get very comfortable.

The dash may look a bit too simple and boring at first when compared to the competitors. But that's the strength of the Saab interiors for me. As with exteriors, many interiors are over-styled and are just a visual overload. All materials in the 9-4X have a good quality feel and a great improvement from other Saabs. The door handles, for example, have a rubber-like coating on the inside and just feel solid. The main black dash panels have some kind of metallic coating which gives it some depth, especially on a sunny day. Switches and knobs feel solid with a nice feel and feedback to them.

The metallic accents around the shifter, gauges, steering wheel controls and the door pull give the interior a quality yet subdued look. The faux-stitching on the upper part of the dash is a nice touch, even though you know it is not leather. The artificial wood trim looks much better than the 2011 9-5. While it is still man-made material (I pulled of part of the trim to make sure), it doesn't offend at all.

There are three colors available: Parchment, Shark Grey and Jet Black. I like light interior colors and really wanted Parchment. However, that color is only available on the base model and not on the Premium and Aero. I don't really understand what the reason is for that. I am not a huge fan of grey but it brightens up the interior a little bit more than all black. I think other seating and accent colors like a rich chocolate brown or more red/orangy as you see with some BMW and Audi interiors would look great in the 9-4X as well. Saab could be a little bit more creative with interior colors.

Like others who see the interior in pictures, I didn't like the green information display for the radio and climate controls at first. After getting used to it after a few months, I am really starting to appreciate the way it looks, the information displayed and the easy viewing of information in day/sun light and darkness. It blends in perfectly with the other dash lights and now I am actually glad it is a monochrome display. It displays information about the audio you're listening to like XM satellite radio with artist and song information and iPods and other music players. More about the infotainment system will follow later. It also shows the temperature readout for the interior and exterior.

There is quite a lot of storage. The glove box is pretty large, has the cooling vents like other Saabs and has a separate shelf for smaller items. There are two pockets in the doors. The larger common map pocket on the bottom and a smaller one perfect for cell phones and other small items. The storage area under the arm rest is divided into two separate areas as well. The lower part is very large and has a 12V, 3.5mm Aux-in and USB port. The upper storage is smaller and perfect for car registration/insurance documents, pens, wallet and other small things.

As in other newer Saabs, the dash lighting is perfect with green and white for everything. As a fan of the button dash in the 2003-2006 9-3, I really like all the buttons for audio, climate and other controls. And it all is easy to operate, even in the dark. The Night Panel feature is familiar from other Saabs but it could darken a few more lights for my taste. The gauge faces and needles look very nice and are easy to read. With the 3.0i engine, you obviously don't get a turbo gauge and this is replaced with a MPG (miles per gallon) gauge. Unfortunately, it is pretty useless but I guess designers had to put something there.

The steering wheel could be a little thicker for me. The one in the 9-4X Aero feels just a bit nicer. A cover for the cupholders would be nice when they are not in use. However, these are the best cupholders in a Saab so far. I usually take a large water bottle and coffee mug when going on short and long trips. I was always very scared using the dash cupholders in the 9-3 and 9-5 and the holders in the 9-4X are perfect. It has a horizontal divider to allow for small and larger cups or bottles and should fit anything from a 12 oz coffee cup to a 24 oz water bottle. Or an extra large fast food soft drink or 7-Eleven Slurpee.

Seats

Seats are one of the most important features in a vehicle for me. The seats in the 9-4X feel quite hard if you are used to seats in other Saabs like the 9-3 and 9-5. I am not sure if they have gotten a little bit softer in the first few months but they are very comfortable after you get used to them. I still had my 2005 9-5 Aero for more than a month after I bought the 9-4X. After driving the 9-4X for a month and getting back in the 9-5, those seats felt a bit too soft and mushy and I actually preferred the harder 9-4X seats.

Many agree the Saab 9-5 sport seats are pretty much perfect and very comfortable while still offering good side support. However, the 9-4X seats are even better for me. I am about 6'2' tall and weigh about 210 lbs. While the 9-5 sport seats were the best I have had in any car, the seat bottom was a bit too short for me. I experience this in most cars, especially from Japanese manufacturers. I looked at the new Subaru Outback once and the very short seat was an immediate deal breaker for me.

The leather is quite a nice quality. It feels soft to the touch but still appears durable. I say it is on par with the 1998-2005 9-5 and better than grainy and pleather feel of the 2006 9-5 and 2006 9-3. Seats are wider than the 1st gen 9-5 and are a bit more comfortable for cruising long distances. However, they don't offer as much side support when cornering so you may slide around a bit during spirited driving. This is a crossover and not a car build for handling like a 9-3 Aero so it isn't an issue for me.

One of the best features of the 9-4X seats is the seat bottom extender. The seat bottom is about the same length as the first generation 9-5 sport seats when not extended. The extension can be set in a few different positions and extends the seat with 2� / 5 cms when all the way out. I really like the feel of the bottom almost touching my inner knee and is very comfortable on long rides. This extension is standard equipment in every 9-4X. The Base, Premium and Aero all have they the same seats.

Seating position and Visibility

With many cars and crossovers these days, function (and visibility) follows form. Windows seem to be getting smaller, blind spots bigger and the view outside is getting worse. I was very happy to find out the outward visibility to the front and sides is excellent. Windows are large and the view towards the front is very open as mentioned before. Just perfect.

As with most Saabs, the 9-4X interior seems to be perfectly molded around the driver. You really feel you're sitting in it (not on it) and everything is within reach. Besides a few minor issues, it really is the best interior I have had in a Saab. I usually get annoyed by small things pretty quickly but there isn't anything like that in the 9-4X interior for me. It just feels right.

The dark tinted rear side and back windows give a nice sense of security and privacy while not obstructing the view outside, even in the dark. The view towards the back is not so good. The C-pillars are quite large and it is difficult to see what is behind the vehicle when backing up. I have come to rely on the rear-view camera and side mirrors because looking over your shoulder when backing up is challenging. While the view towards the back could be much better, it hasn't been a problem for me so far. It is something you live with and get used to.

When I checked out the current 9-5, I was not impressed with the outward visibility at all. The side windows seemed small and the window sill was near shoulder level. In the 9-4X, the sill is about halfway between my shoulder and elbow. The large door and center armrest are positioned perfectly. The 2006 9-3 just didn't fit me very well as my head was next to the B-pillar with the seat all the way back and the door armrest was useless.

The rear seats seem comfortable with sufficient leg room for most people. In this picture, the driver seat is all the way back. I never sit in the back seat so I can't comment on the comfort on longer trips. There are two different positions for the rear seat backs. There is a pass-through for large items like skies when the center arm rest is folded down.

The optional panorama sunroof lets in a lot of light so the cabin feels very open, even on an overcast or dreary winter day. The only problem with the roof is the poorly designed wind deflector that comes up when the roof slides open. It is vertical and made of some kind of cloth material. When the roof is all the way open and going faster than say 50 mph, there is a wind blast right on the top of your head. The wind blast goes away when the roof is only half open or you push the deflector down a little bit. And the deflector looks pretty ugly as well. Saab can do better with this design.

Part 3: Performance, handling and equipment

2011 Saab 9-4X long-term owners review - Part 1: Exterior, Engine and Transmission

Frank Wulfers — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:26:46 GMT

Part 1: Exterior, engine and transmission
Part 2: Interior, Seats and Visibility
Part 3: Performance, handling and equipment

I wasn't planning on buying a Saab 9-4X. Seriously! I made the mistake of visiting a few Saab dealers to check out the new 9-4X and see what all the hype was about. To make a long story short, I was very impressed and picked up my own 9-4X a few weeks later.

I purchased this Saab 9-4X 3.0i Premium FWD on 13 September 2011 so that was about 2 1/2 months and 4,200 miles / 6.800 kilometers ago at the time of this writing. It is easy to be overwhelmed with a new vehicle so I decided to wait with writing a review until the honeymoon was over and I had more time to experience the 9-4X. This is going to be a multi-part review because there is a lot to talk about the 9-4X.

Car reviews can come from many different people, sources and points-of-view so it is important to make that distinction from the start.

Journalists invited by the manufacturer to review their cars and are pampered with luxury accommodations and exotic trips.
Journalists who drive many different vehicles and don't know everything about a specific brand.
Reviews and press releases by the manufacturer
Websites with advertising revenue from manufacturers
Enthusiasts and journalists who drive a car for a few hours or days
Consumers who bought the product with their own money and spend many years with their purchase

I fit in with the last two on the list. While I am a big fan of everything Saab, buying a new vehicle like the 9-4X is a big purchase so I review as an owner first and enthusiast second. SaabWorld is not sponsored by advertising and I wasn't compensated to write this review in any way. I have owned a few different Saab 9-3 and 9-5 in the last 6 years so you will also see referrals to some of those throughout the review.

Exterior

To sum it up in just a few words: timeless, elegant, modern and very Saab. Many exterior designs these designs are a bit over-styled in my opinion and function often follows form. This design will age very well and should still look good in 10 years from now. I don't particularly care for the lower grey plastic treatment and the front needs some more design cues towards the bottom.

I did not like the blue-tinted headlamp styling at first when I saw it in pictures but it is one of those unique design treatments that look better in person. This blue design detail continues in the side-markers and into the tail lights. I think it looks best on lighter exterior colors.

The blacked-out A-pillars look fantastic and give the 9-4X another unique design cue. The entire body has a strong muscular appearance and all proportions are just right. The visible C-pillar is positioned almost at the rear so you don't have that familiar family hauler wagon or large SUV look. There are several metal accents around the windows (the hockey stick profile), on the door handles and other places. These are difficult to see on light-colored 9-4X but still look good on the dark colors as well.

The roof rails are nicely finished. There aren't any accessories available for the 9-4X from Saab yet but the Saab crossbars I used with my 2005 Saab 9-5 wagon fit nicely on the 9-4X. I use these mostly for transporting a kayak and windsurfer and they are perfect for that. One disadvantage of a higher roof like on the 9-4X is that it is much more difficult to secure a load. I am taller than average but I really have to stand on my toes to secure a load with straps. It was much easier with my 9-5.

Color of this Saab 9-4X is Diamond Silver. Other available colors for 2011 are Birch White, Moorland Bronze and Zodiac Black. I prefer lighter colors and silver has always been one of my favorites.

The tail lights are very unique and span across the entire width of the hatch. This 9-4X does not have a fog light in the back which seems a bit unusual. The string of red lights across the hatch is one of my favorite features and looks like no other car on the road.

Engine

Almost all reviews in the press cover the 2.8T engine in the Aero model and there isn't much written about the base 3.0i engine. Words you often see in reviews are 'underpowered' and 'not as good as the 2.8T'. And that is too bad because it is quite a capable engine and fits the 9-4X very well.

Engine cover removed for this picture

The 3.0i V6 LF1 engine is part of the GM High Feature (HFV6) engine family, the same as the 2.8T V6 in other Saab models. These engines were first designed by Cadillac and Holden and are manufactured in North America and Australia. The LF1 version in the 9-4X is equipped with Direct Gasoline Injection. Unlike regular fuel injection where gasoline/petrol is injected in the intake port, fuel is directly injected in the combustion chamber of each cylinder. The main advantages are increased fuel efficiency, higher power output and lower emissions.

Engine Power (hp / kW) RPM Torque (lb-ft / Nm RPM

3.0i 265 / 198 6,950 223 / 302 5,100

2.8T 300 / 221 5,500 295 / 400 5,000

Official numbers from Saab show 0-60 mph with the 2.8T engine is 7.7 seconds and slightly higher for the 3.0 engine at 7.9 seconds. The higher torque numbers for the 2.8T engine probably allow for lower rpms with regular driving. While the 3.0i engine doesn't mind being pushed, it needs to downshift when accelerating or even going uphill. I haven't driven the 9-4X Aero but I am familar with the 2.8 engine from my 2006 Saab 9-3 Aero. It is a wonderful engine choice for the 9-3 and I am sure it fits in very nice with the 9-4X as well.

If you haven't driven the 9-4X with the 3.0i engine, the lack of a turbo and the lower power and torque numbers are perhaps a bit of a disappointment. While it is not the fastest Saab I have owned, it still is a very good engine and has more than enough power for daily use. It is very responsive between 20 - 60 mph / 35 - 100 km/h and is sufficient for most people.

3.0i V6 LF1 engine

It does lack bit of power when you're trying to pass another car at 55 mph. I was used to the power and torque in my 2005 9-5 Aero before this 9-4X and accelerating from 55 mph often caused uncontrollable laughter because of the instant and very quick acceleration. I definitely had to get used to the different or lack of power in the 9-4X and it can be scary when you try to pass and not much happens when you floor the gas pedal. While it is a good engine, it definitely lacks the feel of a turbo engine and especially the B235R Saab engine. Some of the passion is missing. Too bad we can't have a 9-4X equipped with the 260hp 2.3T B235R engine.

This 3.0i engine is also used in some or all model years of the Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet Equinox, Holden Commodore and a few others. It was used in the Cadillac SRX for the 2010-2011 model years but Cadillac decided to make the 3.6L naturally aspirated engine the only engine for model year 2012 and up.

Transmission

The 3.0i engine is paired with a 6-speed Hydra-Matic 6T70 automatic transmission while the 2.8T engine has a Aisin AF40 six-speed automatic transmission. Gear shifts felt a bit clunky in the lower gears in the beginning but it is getting smoother after the engine and transmission have been broken in after a few thousand miles. Gear shifts in automatic mode are quick and there really isn't anything to complain about. There is manual mode where you can select and shift gears with the shift lever. It is not something I would use often but it can be helpful if you want to use engine braking when going downhill.

When you drive with the cruise control on, speed is regulated by automatic up-shifting of the transmission if you're going downhill and exceed the set speed at more than 5 mph. There is a Comfort and Sport mode setting for the transmission. Sport mode moves the shift points to a higher rpm and also seems to provide a bit more engine braking when holding gears a bit longer. There is a gear indicator on the dash when the transmission is in Sport mode so you can see which gear you are in. This shows for both automatic and manual mode.

There is not much else to say about the transmission. It shifts smoothly and shouldn't require any maintenance. I have owned several GM vehicles and their drive-trains are usually very reliable. As it is shared with other GM vehicles, repairs should be possible and parts available at GM dealers in case of an emergency if there is no Saab dealer nearby.

Part 2: Interior, seats and visibility

Saab road trip - Lake Superior, Minnesota and Manitoba - part 3

Frank Wulfers — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 20:27:42 GMT

This Saab has been sold so I better finish up this trip report!

Part 1 and 2 of the report can be found here:
http://saabworld.net/blogs/frank-wul...ba-part-1-323/
http://saabworld.net/blogs/frank-wul...ba-part-2-328/

I had been on the road for a while and decided to stay at the same campground for another day. The Lake of the Woods area is quite scenic and it was just nice to explore the area and not do much for most of the day.

I had to climb up a bit to take these pictures and one of the locals was making a lot of noise. I guess he wasn't used to visitors.

As I mentioned, this was a day for relaxing. I found an even better spot at this campground and decided to move the tent. I got a few things at the small local grocery store and I didn't feel like cooking dinner. The LCBO store (beer, winde and liquor store in Canada) had quite a few good choices for such a small place. I made another campfire in the evening and just sat in that chair for most of the time reading and enjoying the view.

These Inuksuk rock structures are quite common in northern Ontario. I always find them interesting to look at and find on the side of the road.

http://www.athropolis.com/arctic-facts/fact-inuksuk.htm

Inuksuit - Signposts of the North

An "inuksuk" (pronounced "in-uk-shuk") is a monument used for communication and survival that is usually made of un-worked stones.
Inuksuit (plural) have been used by the Inuit people as guides and markers for special places in the Arctic, marking trails, caches of food, nearby people, or the migration routes of caribou.

Such a marker is of considerable importance on a landscape that could be otherwise featureless or constantly changing because of ice and snow. These "signposts" were essential for survival and Inuit tradition forbids their destruction.

An inuksuk-like monument in the form of a human being is called an inunnguaq (an imitation of a person). These seem to have been a recent development and many inunnguat (plural) are being built by non-Inuit but are incorrectly called inuksuit.

This one was quite large and high up.

Ride reports on motorcycle forums often feature pictures of food places and local delicacies.

I don't know how famous these fries are but they were quite delicious. Best eaten "Dutch style" with some mayonaise. . The burger was a bit plain but quite tasty. What can I say.. I am easy to please when it comes to road food.

Shortly after lunch, I reached the Manitoba border.

The change from the rugged and rocky scenery in Ontario to Manitoba was quite significant. Huge skies and very flat and straight roads.

Every landscape has its own beauty and it was a nice change.

Winnipeg is a pleasant place to spend a few days.

If you only have time to visit one place or museum, I can highly recommend the Manitoba Museum. There is a lot of information on the history of Manitoba and there are special exhibits of the sailing ship Nonsuch and the Hudson Bay company.

Stroll the waterfront of 17th century England, where the two-masted ketch Nonsuch awaits high tide, morning light and a voyage into history. In 1668, the original Nonsuch sailed into Hudson Bay in search of furs. The voyage not only led to the founding of the Hudson�s Bay Company two years later, but was instrumental in establishing commerce in western Canada. Built in England to celebrate the tricentennial of the Hudson�s Bay Company in 1970, the Nonsuch is considered one of the finest replicas in the world, and sailed 14,000 kilometres of salt and fresh water before finding a home at the Museum.

I didn't take my camera inside and found the above picture on Flickr.

I have always been intrigued by the hisotry of the Hudson bay company which is headquartered in London and Winnipeg. This is their flagship store in Winnipeg. I had a feel of an old store last updated in the 1970s but that gave it some character. They even had a fur department, dating back to their beginnings of a fur trading company.

I spent a few hours walking through downtown to explore the local sights. In addition to sea and airports, I am also easily attracted to railway stations.

I only stayed one night in Winnipeg and headed back East the following day.

When it was getting dark, a few moose were crossing the road. I had seen them in Michigan and Ontario before but they always are a magnificent site. Even though I would not want to hit one of these huge animals, it's comforting to know Saabs are built to withstand a crash with a moose and let you walk away to tell about it.

This is not a very good picture but they were walking pretty quick and light was very low.

I stopped at a basic but decent roadside motel. The Saab was doing very well and it is an excellent tourer for the long distances on this road trip.

There was quite a lot of rain on the way back along the Lake Superior north shore. But I don't mind the rain. It's actually quite relaxing and comforting.

There are a few of these places in Ontario where you pass the divide between the Atlantic and Arctic watershed.

I made another stop in Thunder Bay as I wanted to see Little Finland. Thunder Bay has the largest number of people of Finnish descent outside of Scandinavia. So it is not surprising there still is a lot of Finnish history to be found in the city.

The Finlandia Club and Hoito Restaurant is quite a well-known establishment.

Some random pictures on the way back towards Michigan.

The fog and rain wasn't too bad to drive in, even though it obstructed the beautiful views I saw here before.

I bet you didn't know where the official home of Winnie the Pooh is. Well, neither did I but it is in White River, Ontario.

There is not much else to do in White River and many run-down establishments hint to a richer past.

More great roads for driving and beautiful scenery.

The long bridge between Canada and the USA, connecting the Ontario and Michigan sides of Sault Sainte Marie.

The US Customs building and border crossing.

A short drive through the UP of Michigan brings you back to the Mackinaw bridge, the place where many northern adventures started before.

Instead of the usual tacky souvenirs (that are most likely made in China), I try to save different mementos of trips. I stopped at the side of the road on the north Shore of lake Superior and collected some rocks. I was wondering how difficult it is to build a inunnguaq without any tools or adhesive. And it is not as easy as it may seem. Perhaps not the greatest work of art but a great reminder of another awesome road trip. :cool:

Safe travels to all of you explorers!

The full album with 118 pictures can be found on Picasa: https://picasaweb.google.com/113579073485167939315/RoadTripLakeSuperiorNorthShore#

Saab road trip - Lake Superior, Minnesota and Manitoba - part 2

Frank Wulfers — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 03:46:10 GMT

Find Part 1 here: link

And the road trip continues.. We're still on the King's Highway 17 which is the longest highway in Ontario. It stretches from the Manitoba border to the east near Quebec and is 1,964 km / 1,220 miles long. That's a pretty good size road.

It's an impressive road and you can only imagine what it took to build this. From Wikipedia:

The portion of Highway 17 over the top of Lake Superior was constructed in the late 1950s as a result of the Trans-Canada Highway Act. Amongst some of the most difficult terrain encountered in Canada, engineers blasted 2,730,000 cubic yards of rock, removed 7,825,000 cubic yards of earth, and cleared 6.97 square kilometres (1,720 acres) of forest in order to bridge the 266 kilometres (165 mi) of wilderness known as "the Gap". The Gap was completed and opened to traffic on September 17, 1960, uniting the two segments and completing the route of Highway 17 from the Manitoba border to the Quebec border. The last gravel stretch of Hwy 17 was located west of Ignace and was paved in 1967.

I can't really visualize how much a million cubic yards of anything is but it sounds like quite a lot.

Many of the communities like Nipigon are old logging towns and most are just hanging on. Downtown Nipigon was pretty much deserted and some older buildings hinted of a richer past. Not so much anymore.

There are not many Saabs in this part of the world. I think I only saw a couple on my entire trip and I encountered this still life in Thunder Bay. I don't think they'll be going anywhere soon but it was still nice to see the familiar shapes of these cars.

Thunder Bay is the largest city on the north shore of Lake Superior. I always had great expectations of the city with a name like Thunder Bay but reality was a bit different. It's a gritty and rough town without much wealth. A real working town.

The port is quite large and I always like to explore these industrial areas. I guess I have a thing with airports and seaports, air planes and big ships.

I only spent one night in Thunder Bay. I still had enough time to tour through most areas. The Canadian / US border is not that far from here. Again, traffic was very quiet and going through customs didn't take much time at all. I have crossed the border in Port Huron, Detroit and Niagara and there it can take an hour or more.

Grand Portage in Minnesota is a National Monument is not far from the border. It's nice to stop, walk the grounds and stretch the legs a little bit.

The Great Hall and surrounding buildings and area hosted informative re-enactments with the guides dressed appropriate for the time it once was. I always like these kind of old forts and it is deifnitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Grand Portage National Monument is a United States National Monument located on the north shore ofLake Superior in northeastern Minnesota that preserves a vital center of fur trade activity and Anishinaabeg Ojibwe heritage.

The Grand Portage is an 8.5-mile (13.7 km) (2720 rod) footpath which bypasses a set of waterfalls and rapids on the last 20 miles (32 km) of the Pigeon River before it flows into Lake Superior. This path is part of the historic trade route of the French-Canadian Voyageurs and Coureur des bois between their wintering grounds and their depots to the east.

I bet you have images of Native Americans roaming the land on horseback. These days, transportation is a Pontiac Grand Prix or other fine American automobile.

The road continued and it slowly gets flatter, less rocky and less exciting on the northern Minnesota shore.

Sometimes you just have to slow down, stop and... smell the flowers! Unfortunately, I was too busy dodging traffic and taking pictures that I actually forgot to smell them. Ah well, the pictures last a lot longer.

This lake just never ends. Actually, we not that far from the west end of Lake Superior and I imagine this freighter is headed to Duluth.

I was planning to spend the night in Duluth but weather was still very nice and I wasn't looking forward to spend the night in another city. When I came to Two Harbors, I decided to turn the Saab north and head into the Minnesota unknown.

I found a nice National (or State) Forest campground about 20 miles south of Ely, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. It was pretty quiet with many spots to choose from. Nicely maintained as well.

Time to sit and relax, enjoy the sounds of nature, have a cold one and try not to get annoyed by the bugs.

After dark, a very large thunder storm passed through the area. It's definitely a bit of a tense experience seeing bolts of lightning and hearing very loud thunder when the center of the storm is right above you. And you're separated from the driving rain by the very thin tent fabric. Fortunately, Coleman makes good tents and it never leaked one bit. I may not have the fancy North Face expedition tents that can withstand gail force wind and blizzards on Mount Everest but this $50 tent works just fine for me.

There weren't any facilities other than outhouses and drinking water so the following day started with a jump in the river. That's something I would never do at home first thing in the morning but here it was quite relaxing and very refreshing. A bit too refreshing but it least it woke me up.

The town of Ely, MN is not that big but has quite a bit of character. After that, it was north towards International Falls and the Canadian border.

The border crossing was pretty quick again and I was back in Canada. I heard many good stories about the Lake of the Woods area and always was curious to check it out. As the name suggests, it's an area with many lakes, woods and islands. Originally, it was actually called Lake of the Islands by the natives in the area but the Europeans messed up the translation and called it Lake of the Woods.

The campground in Sioux Narrows was exactly what I was hoping for in this area. There was hardly anyone there and it actually made it more difficult to choose one of the many nice spots with a vview of the lake.

A tasty yet easy to prepare meal courtesy of Chef Boyardee. Well, not very tasty but it was all I had.

I got a warm welcome from the locals and a few old friends stopped by for some blood. I think this one got away but I killed a few that evening. Insect repellent is definitely a must this time of year in early July.

The sun was slowly setting over the lake and a few bugs can't take away the pleasure off simply enjoying the silence, the occasional sound of a loon in the distance and the smoky campfire.

This will give an idea what a loon sounds like. An amazing haunting sound from the north woods.

The lake turned to glass and the reflection of the island was almost surreal. Or perhaps that was the Teacher's Scotch whisky I bought earlier at the duty-free at the border crossing. Either way, what a beautiful evening.

To be continued...

Saab road trip - Lake Superior, Minnesota and Manitoba - part 1

Frank Wulfers — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:04:09 GMT

Warning: There is excessive use of pictures of my Saab 9-5 in this road trip report. This is not a tourist report with detailed information about the places I passed on the way. It's merely a snapshot of life which you may or may not encounter on a road trip.

I have to make at least one decent road trip once a year. I had never seen all of the north shore of Lake Superior and read good stories about northern Minnesota, especially for its lakes and nature. It was a combination of staying at campgrounds and motels which worked out great. Camping is nice when the weather is good and you have time to enjoy it. Motels are nice with inclement weather and it is always convenient having internet access and catch up with the rest of the world.

I racked up a total of about 2,500 miles / 4.000 kilometers which is a pretty good road trip. I usually plan not to drive too far on a trip because it seems the more you drive, the less you see. However, I usually end up driving more than planned because, well, driving is fun. Especially in a comfortable tourer like a Saab 9-5.

Trip reports can get pretty boring so I'll mostly use pictures with a few captions to let the reader know what's going on.

Lake Superior is one of the 5 Great Lakes. Its size is difficult to comprehend by just looking at the statistics. But driving for a couple of days just along the north shore make you see it just never seems to end. This is a big lake. More like an inland sea as the Great Lakes are often called.

Trips to the north always start out with the Mackinaw Bridge. It's 5 miles long and always a treat with an awesome view of the Mackinaw Straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

This is Saturday morning at the start of the 4th of July holiday weekend. As you can see, traffic in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was crazy as usual. ;)

Sault Sainte Marie in Ontario, just across the US/Canada border is reasonably large town. If you ever have a few hours to spend here, I can recommend visiting the Bushplane Museum and explore the history of these type of planes and fighting forest fires.

I wanted to make it past Wawa this day and Thunder Bay the next. The 17 is the only highway in this area so it is impossible to get lost.

The east side of Lake Superior immediately turns into a beautiful landscape of hills and mountains with well maintained routes which are usually pretty quiet. No traffic jams here.

The weather wasn't as nice as I hoped for but you never know what to expect in this area. The big lake creates its own climate and fog can roll in any time of the year. While not good for enjoying the expansive views along this part of the route, the fog is actually pretty neat.

The view through the windshield.

A rest area with some rocky rapids. Not much water coming down this time of year and can get pretty spectacular after the snow starts to melt in spring.

I spotted this camper/RV (or whatever you want to call it) in a rest area. It has British plates so it must be on quite a trip. I researched it a bit more after i returned home and these are quite the vehicles for exploring the world. I want one! :cool:

These vehicles are made by Overland Vehicles Ltd in the UK. Just dreaming about selling everything, buy one of these and set out on a journey around the world.

http://www.overlandvehicles.co/
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...77441422279837

The road continued through Lake Superior Provincial Park with many great views and scenery.

When you're close to Lake Superior, it can get pretty chilly. Remember, this is summer in July but I think 12 degrees Celsius is unusually low, even for this area.

I always have to make a stop in Wawa and drive through town. It's like most northern Ontario towns. It's pretty nice in summer but just looks depressing at other times. The town has difficulties to survive after the major employer Weyerhauser (producer of oriented strand board) closed its doors in 2007.

The main street in Wawa with the historic Lakeview Hotel on the right. Notice the many power lines which makes downtown look very ugly. You wonder why they don't put these in the ground. But it's pretty common in the Americas.

The Northern Stores chain is operated by the North West Company are often the only stores for remote Canadian towns. This one in Wawa closed it's doors after 4 decades.

Watson's Skyways is always a nice stop for a good photo opportunity. The first picture of the Saab 9-5 and definitely not the last.

I don't know the historic significance of Wawa and geese but these birds are everywhere!

Wawa was cold and foggy on this day in July. But all of the weather was caused by Lake Superior as mentioned before. Continuing north/northwest along 17, the weather quickly improved and suddenly it was 28C again. Quite a change from the 12C just a few hours ago. (12C = 54F and 28C = 82F).

I passed Obatanga Provincial Park which is north of Wawa and decided to spend the night here. Camping in provincial parks is expensive compared to state campgrounds in Michigan but much has to do with higher taxes and the unfavorable exchange rate between the US and Canadian dollar.

The good thing is most provincial parks are very nicely situated and often include lake front sites. I was surprised the campground was very quiet, especially with the 4th of July holiday weekend in the US. Perhaps it is too far north for most or traveling to Canada has become expensive lately.

The trip continued the next day and Marathon is the first town on Lake Superior after you drive inland from Wawa. This is where the north shore begins and new territory for me.

I mentioned there were going to be many pictures of the Saab.. I have been hanging out on motorcycle forums for quite some time and those trip reports always feature many shots of the bikes.

Even though this is the main road in this area, it's usually pretty quiet. The road surface is excellent and the wide road makes for easy cruising.

Continue to part 2:
http://saabworld.net/blogs/wulf/saab...ba-part-2-328/

Saab winter road trip in Northern Ontario

Frank Wulfers — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:27:48 GMT

This is from 2009 but winter doesn't change much in Northern Ontario. Empty roads, cold and snow is pretty much the same every winter.

I decided to take a short road trip in Northern Ontario. Cabin fever hit early and I didn�t feel like sitting inside the house anymore after the Christmas break. The trip took me along Highway 17 through Wawa and I stayed the night in White River. I have been in Wawa several times but never made it beyond that town.

The lowest temperature on this trip was -14F / -25C which was just a bit north of White River. A car engine really doesn�t like to be started in these temperatures but the Saab started without a problem after a little bit of hesitation.

Highway 11 is part of the Trans-Canada Highway and I always wanted to see this northern road in Ontario. Many towns in this area like Hearst and Kapuskasing are mainly francophone which I didn�t expect in Northern Ontario.

Cochrane is an interesting town because it has train service to Toronto and Moosonee on James Bay. Riding the Polar Bear Express is still on my list of things to do. Cochrane is also the birthplace of Tim Horton, a hockey player who founded the well-known doughnut and coffee shop chain.

The trip was a total of about 1,100 miles / 1.770 km. Not bad for a 3-day trip, eh? This was only a smaller part of Ontario and the size of this province and country still amazes me every time. There were many other interesting towns on the way like Timmins and Chapleau but I won�t bore you with the details and let the pictures do the talking. If you are interested to read more about Highway 11, check out this website: http://www.highway11.ca

The photo album can be found here: Wulf's Album: Northern Ontario road trip 2009

Saab Turbo X media event

Frank Wulfers — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 04:15:27 GMT

This took place in April of 2008 but I thought it would be nice to post it here as well. I attended this media event for trollhattansaab.net (now saabsunited.com) where the Saab 9-3 Turbo X was introduced to a select group of journalists. The idea was to have some competitor cars at a race track and see how the Turbo X would compare.

Full picture set on Flickr: link
Originally published here with comments from readers: link

Here is my report from that day.

When you get an offer to attend a Saab event and there are hints of driving a unique and fast car, there isn�t a whole lot to think about in terms of whether or not to attend. Thanks to TS, I had the opportunity to attend one of the first testing events of the Turbo X in the USA. It was at Gingerman Raceway in Western Michigan and it was a day to remember for a long time. There were several other cars at the track (Subaru STI, Audi A4 3.2 Quattro, BMW 335Xi and M3) which were put through their paces by Pratt and Miller, who also run the Corvette Le Mans racing team.

One of the last snowstorms of the season blew through Michigan on Saturday but we were treated with a clear blue sky and a reasonably comfortable temperature this Monday. I was met by Jan-Willem Vester of Saab USA at the track after a quiet drive downstate on this Monday morning. The Turbo X was sitting next to a race trailer waiting to show someone a good time. Like many of you, I have seen many pictures of the car at glitzy auto shows before, but it is a different experience when you meet the car in person. And especially at a race track where there are no beautiful women draped across the hood, the car is not immaculately clean and the wheels are coated in a nice layer of brake dust. This day is not about show � it�s all about business.

I need quite a few hot caffeinated beverages to get me going in the morning and coffee and donuts were readily available. But right after the first sip, Jan Willem introduced me to Jan Magnussen. The Turbo X was ready to go so I jumped in the passenger seat next to him. Let me tell you, a few laps on the track in the Turbo X sitting next to this guy wakes you up faster than 20 MochaJocaLattis (or whatever fancy drinks they serve at Starbucks). If you have been on a racetrack before then you�ll be familiar with screaming tires, a howling engine and the smell of rubber in the car. This was one of those experiences.

It would have been nice if someone had told me before the ride that Jan is a professional race driver (originally from Denmark) and he was assisting Saab in evaluating the Turbo X today. I felt a bit helpless and questioned his experience in making the next turn while I was grabbing the door handle and hold on for dear life. The laps were over with pretty quickly and I noticed my heart rate was quite a bit faster compared to when I first got into the car. This is much better than coffee!

It turned out I was in really safe and experienced hands because Jan Magnussen has had an impressive racing career already. He has won Le Mans several times and more about him can be found at his website www.janmagnussen.com. Jan-Willem told me Jan was very impressed with the performance of the Turbo X and it was faster than the rwd BMW M3.

The 1985 SPG Turbo from the Heritage Collection was on-site as well. Greg Mull from CAS explained everything about the restoration that was started in October of last year and finished before the auto show in Boston. They really did an amazing job and it almost looked like a new car. I haven�t driven any of the older Saabs before (I am quite a Saab noobie) and it was a real treat to have my first drive in this Saab 900. I was actually quite terrified driving it through the parking lot because I didn�t want to mess anything up. There is a saying �You break it, you buy it� and I probably would have to give up my house to cover the cost of this Saab. Greg took over the wheel after a while and put the SPG through its paces. Very impressive performance for a 23 year old car.

Previous reports indicated this was the first production Turbo X in the USA but it was a pre-production model also used at the press event in Marseille. There were still a few glitches in the electrical system of this pre-production model, which occasionally caused a cut in engine power. The real production cars are still somewhere in between Europe and the USA but should arrive stateside soon.

There was an opportunity for me to take the Turbo X for a few laps in between the professional tests. John Libbos was kind (and perhaps crazy) enough to sit in the passenger seat when I took the car out to play. While I have driven on a racetrack before and was taught a few techniques from professional drivers, I am certainly not a pro at this.

The first thing I noticed about driving the Turbo X was that it is a car that is very easy to drive fast. Almost too easy to get in trouble fast. Taking it through the turns went very smooth and you have to look at the speedometer to see how fast you�re really going. Of course the saying �You break it, you buy it� was still in the back of my head so I took it easy with the Turbo X and didn�t make the Pirelli Zero Nero�s scream too much.

I used to have a 2006 9-3 Aero SC and was always very impressed with its performance. This Turbo X is another step up, though, and can easily get you in a lot of trouble if you don�t pay attention. The few laps were over much too soon but it was an incredible experience being able to drive this car.

Another few testers were not so lucky today. One of the journalists did something to the car it didn�t really like, which resulted in a failed clutch. But considering the previous duty of this car at the Marseille event and at Gingerman Raceway today, this was probably bound to happen sooner or later. This was bad news for the program because this Turbo X was supposed to go to the Milford Proving Grounds for additional tests over the next few days.

The day ended with a few laps in my own car. It�s fun to drive someone else�s car on a racetrack but it is even more fun to drive your own. I was actually curious to find out how the heavier and FWD 9-5 would compare to the smaller and lighter XWD 9-3.

The 2005 9-5 Aero was very stable and fast through the turns. It was actually much too stable, until I realized I forgot to turn the ESP (Electronic Stability Program) off. This system really works very well because I was not able to spin the wheels, break out the rear or do other irresponsible maneuvers. Hitting the ESP switch on the dash awoke the beast within and let me do things you should only be doing on a closed track. Front wheel drive, more weight and less power is no match for the Turbo X, of course. It was fun though to see what the car actually could do when driven hard. I really should take up auto crossing with the SCCA again some day.

There were many dedicated employees from Saab USA at the track this Monday who made it a great success. John Libbos � Product Manager for the 9-3 and 9-5, Roger McCormack � Marketing Director, Jim Hunter � Group Product Manager and of course Jan-Willem Vester � Manager Public Relations. I also had a nice chat with Jim Laman of the Great Lakes Saab Club and I am sure I will participate in some of their events in the near future. I want to thank Swade for this fantastic opportunity to hang around this great car and friendly people all day and feel very fortunate to experience the Turbo X.

Cost of owning my Saab

Frank Wulfers — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 02:19:29 GMT

I own my current 2005 Saab 9-5 for about 8 months now. Time to figure out what the cost is of owning one of these fine Swedish automobiles. You often hear they can be very expensive to own but that's not really the case if you can do most maintenance and repairs yourself. Working on a Saab 9-5 is actually surprisingly easy with some patience, manuals, good tools and help from other Saab owners.

Some costs are real numbers (maintenance and repairs) so they can be lower or higher for other years or even for the remainder of this year. But I expect them to be minimal at this mileage. Most major maintenance has been done so far.

Depreciation can be calculated as a variable or fixed cost. To keep it easy, it is a fixed cost here. Obviously, more miles will mean a faster depreciation and lower end value. But I think my expected yearly miles of 15,000 is pretty typical for me.

Tire cost is an estimated average of the type of tires I usually buy. I have a different set of tires for spring/summer/fall and winter so it will take many miles and several years to figure out the true cost.

I don't keep a fuel log but 25 mpg seems an accurate estimate of 22mpg city/30mpg highway I am getting with this car.

This is the maintenance and repair log so far this year.

It's always surprising to see the actual cost per mile when figuring in all cost. While fuel is a large expense, it's only about 1/4 of the total cost.

About 5,000 miles is commuting, shopping and other necessary travel. The rest is driven on vacation, day trips and just for pure pleasure. But that's why I own a Saab after all. :D

Saab 9-5 on the Bonneville Salt Flats

Frank Wulfers — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 17:55:59 GMT

In 2008, I purchased a 2006 Saab 9-5 in California and drove it back to Michigan. I planned to pass the Bonneville Salt Flats on the way to see what it was all about. This was a place I always wanted to visit and I had the opportunity on October 2nd . I figured the access roads would be blocked off but the flats were wide open.

There was a commercial shoot for Lincoln going on and it was interesting to watch for a little bit. I was hoping to see some top-secret Saabs but no such luck.

There are several long tracks marked with black lines and a few cones. It's awesome to see an endless horizon with a blue sky and the white salty surface, be able to hit the accelerator and not worry about cops, animals or other obstructions.

The US 2006 9-5 is limited at a top speed of 135 mph (220 km/h) and I could feel it holding back a bit after passing 130 mph. I was hoping to be able to pass the magic 250 km/h mark but no such luck. However, 135 mph is still plenty fast and a great thrill. It's an interesting sensation to go so fast when you don't see any of the surroundings pass you by. There is the pounding of the tires on the salt, the air hitting the car, the engine working hard and you see the salty surface going under the car but the mountains in the far distance are hardly moving at all.

If you ever find yourself in NW Utah, make sure to take Exit 4 on I-80 and take a few runs on the salt flats. :cool:

See the photo set on Flickr

European delivery experience - part 3 of 3

Frank Wulfers — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:05:19 GMT

Back in the USA

Tracking the car
June 9, 2006

It was too bad I was not able to take the car with me on the plane but that would probably cost more than the purchase price of the car. So the waiting starts..

Fortunately, there is a way to track the car and find out how it will make its way across the ocean. Most Saab vehicles are shipped by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics. To find out more about the shipping schedule for your car, go to the tracking page:

1) go to www.2wglobal.com
2) click on Customer Centre and Cargo Tracking
3) click on Auto Cargo
4) enter your vehicle VIN in the Cargo ID field.
5) Click on Track and you will see the name of the vessel, port of origin and destination among other things.

My vehicle shows up as:

On the website, you can click on the Voyage number to see details about the schedule, including the ports this ship will visit.

My car will be put on the vessel in Southhampton in about 10 days and will arrive on June 12th at Port Hueneme north of Los Angeles. So it seems the estimate of 6 - 7 weeks after drop-off in Europe is an accurate estimate.

Archive picture of Isolde

On the boat
June 19, 2006

The car has been loaded on the ship. It's still a long time away before it reaches California but at least it's moving again. Every day a little bit closer.

Arrival at the port in the USA
July 12, 2006

At last, she made it to shore in California.

Arrival at dealership
July 18, 2006

Almost home. It arrived at the dealership in Mission Viejo waiting for the finance check clearance (they were a bit slow in cashing the check from 3 months ago..), clean up from the long trip and a quick visit to the service department to have the daytime running lights disabled.

Delivery
July 21, 2006

At last, today is the day for picking up my car at the dealership. After signing the necessary forms, I could finally drive my car again that I dropped off in London exactly 7 weeks ago. It seems more like 7 months! It took 20 weeks from order to delivery in California so you definitely need patience with the European Delivery Program.

Would I do it again? Most definitely. It might not be the fastest, most expensive, most exclusive car in California but how many people do you know that toured the factory where their car was made, have driven their own car along glaciers in Norway, crossed the Oresund link from Sweden to Denmark, experienced the autobahn in Germany, driven along the canals in Amsterdam, crossed the North Sea, visited ancient castles in Wales and photographed their car with Stonehenge in the background?

What a trip, I can't wait to do it all over again some day. :)

European delivery experience - part 2 of 3

Frank Wulfers — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:51:15 GMT

Travels in Europe

Travel to Trollhattan
May 14, 2006

I checked with the IDS coordinator for Saab USA 5 days before I left to make sure they received my travel information and everything was all set. They confirmed receipt of my travel info and a driver would be at the airport.

After a long flight (Santa Ana, CA --> Chicago --> Frankfurt --> Gothenburg), I arrived at the airport of Gothenburg. Unfortunately, no driver from Saab waiting for me ... After an hour, I decided to take a taxi to Ronnums Herrgard which is about 70 miles from Goteburg. Arriving at the hotel, I discovered it is closed on Sundays.. I wish Saab would tell you beforehand you won't be staying there if you arrive on a Sunday.

I was lucky to be able to reach someone from the hotel because my taxi already left. They were very helpfull and sent over the groundskeeper to give me a key and let me into the hotel. Not what I expected for the first night but at least I had a place to stay. Of course, the restaurant is closed on Sundays as well so no dinner for me that night. I found a supermarket near the hotel where I was able to get a sandwich and some other things.

Picking up my new car
May 15, 2006

The hotel already contacted SAAB ANA (the dealer where they handle IDS deliveries) and arranged for a taxi to take me there. Later at the dealership, Monica (the IDS coordinator) told me she never received the information from Saab USA about my arrival. The first time she heard I was coming this day was when she received a call from the hotel. She was very nice about it and immediately offered to pay for the taxi fare (about $200).

My new car was waiting in the delivery area of the dealership, among several other cars for local customers. Monica showed everything about my new car I needed to know. After that, we went through all the paperwork and signing of the necessary documents. I was there for about 1 and a 1/2 hours so there was enough time, nothing was rushed.

There was a mistake made with the order entry of my car. They forgot to enter the body-colored door handles into the system. We agreed it would be best to have this corrected by my dealer in California. My advice is to make sure you're familiar with the standard equipment of USA-spec cars and check when you take delivery.

Please note: My experience with these few problems are an exception to the rule. Saab does hundreds of IDS deliveries a year and I am sure most of them go smoothly. As with anything, there is a possibility for problems but don't let it ruin your vacation and enjoying your new car.

After leaving the dealership, I drove to the nearby factory for the factory tour. The tour started at the welcome center for a brief overview of Saab history. The actual tour starts at the stamping plant and goes through the entire production process. It was very interesting to see how the chassis with wheels, engine etc is joined with the car body coming from high above the factory floor. The plant is very clean and pretty quiet. A unique experience to see how cars are manufactured and I highly recommend taking this tour if you take delivery of your new Saab in Trollhattan.

The Saab museum was the next stop and is only a short drive from the factory. It is not very big but gives a nice overview of the history and future of Saab vehicles. Entrance is free when you mention you are an IDS customer.

Travel through Scandinavia
May 15 - 20, 2006

I spent the first week of my European adventure in Scandinavia. After I was done in Trollhattan, I headed to Oslo. Next stop was Bergen. All the fjords in this area are simply breathtaking. Nothing can prepare you for seeing these majestic mountains with beautiful clear waters. Wow.

The days are pretty long at these latitudes. I kept thinking of the movie Insomnia (the first Norwegian version) when daylight finally fades around 11:00pm. The sun greets you again around 4:00am so nights are pretty short. I still need to experience the midnight sun some time.

From the fjords, I headed southeast following the road along the Jostedalsbreen glacier. It�s the highest mountain pass in Northern Europe and there was still a lot of snow left. The temperature hovered around freezing so the snow was not going anywhere soon.

Back again through Sweden. I didn�t see a whole lot of Sweden but made a little detour from the highway through the southern part (Sk�ne). The landscape around Trollh�ttan with all the lakes and rocky shores was remarkably similar to what you find in the U.P. of Michigan and Ontario around Lake Superior. That could be the reason so many Scandinavians emigrated to that area (and Minnesota as well). Strange to see a landscape so familiar so far away from home.

From Sweden to Denmark over the �resund link, a combination of a long bridge and tunnel. Quite an engineering accomplishment. Denmark took me to Germany where I had the opportunity to try out the top speed. I was able to get the 9-3 over the magical mark of 200 km/h (125 mph) for just a minute or so. The wet road surface and many vacationers with caravans (travel trailers for you Americans) limited the fast-driving experience. Northern Germany passed by quickly after which I crossed the border with Holland.

Week in Holland
May 21 - 28, 2006

The second week was in Holland for visiting family and friends. Just a few places to visit so not much to report as far as sightseeing goes. I am originally from Holland and it�s difficult to give an objective touristic view of your own country.

England and Wales
May 29 - June 5, 2006

From Holland, I took the ferry to England (IJmuiden - Newcastle) which was an overnight trip. I drove from Newcastle along the Scottish border towards the west coast. Through the Lake District and south to Liverpool. Interesting city, lot of history as well. Onwards to Wales.

It�s very interesting to listen to Welsh radio stations. They say Dutch is a hard language to learn but Welsh seems to be up there as well.

The area around the Snowdon mountains is beautiful. There are too many castles to visit but I was able to explore some. From there I headed south to Cardiff and then on towards Stonehenge. I expected it to be a very touristic but it is one of those things you have to see at least once in your life. And yes, there were a lot of tour buses and large groups of people

Looking back, I enjoyed visiting the much smaller Castlerigg stone circle in the Lake District more due to the solitude in that location.

Dropping of the car in London
June 6, 2006

The agent for the UK is located near Heathrow airport. It is a small office inside the Renaissance Hotel. All paperwork was handled quickly and efficient. The handling fee had to be paid in cash and came to GBP 215. I also had to hand over my keys and say goodbye to my car. "So long my friend, see you in a couple of months!" I wanted to shout to my Fusion-Blue companion with tears in my eyes but I was able to compose myself.

I have driven a total of 3651 miles with an average of 28.2 miles per gallon (US). Not bad at all. I just shouldn't think about the $9 per gallon I paid on average throughout my trip. Ah well, how often can you drive your own car through the most beautiful places in Europe, right?

From the hotel, I took the Hoppa hotel bus to the airport where the Underground took me to the centre of London. Just a few more days in London and then back home. It was all over but the memory and pictures will last a lifetime.

Continue with part 3

European Delivery experience - part 1 of 3

Frank Wulfers — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:43:38 GMT

Buying my new car

The story begins
February 18, 2006

I never really considered buying a Saab. That was probably because I did not know much about them. Aren't those the quirky, different looking cars from northern Europe? When I was checking out dealerships for a replacement of my current SUV, I test-drove a Saab 9-3. One short drive and I think I was sold. I just couldn't take my eyes of the SID. How cool is that, eh?

After some research, I discovered Saab offers a european delivery program where you can order a new car at your local dealer and have it delivered at the factory in Sweden (or many other cities in Europe). You can drive it around for a while, have it shipped back to the USA and pick it up at your local dealer after a coupe of months.

Saab covers the cost of return shipping, you receive a discount on the price of the car and even get $2000 towards travel expenses. What's not to like?

Dealer visit
February 25, 2006

It was time to check out the Saab dealer in Mission Viejo, CA. For American standards, it's a fairly small dealer but it has a friendly, personal feel. A friendly salesman helped me, answered all my questions and explained everything I needed to know. No pressure, it looks like they are not trying to push cars at this dealership. So with literature in hand, I left with many things to think about.

I was planning a trip to Europe in May anyways so there couldn't be a better opportunity to take advantage of this European Delivery program.

Where do I sign?
March 5, 2006

I finally made up my mind (these things go slow with me). I was ready to take a test-drive of a 2006 Saab 9-3 sedan and see if I still liked it. The 2006 was even nicer to drive than the 2003 I drove a couple of weeks ago. The new models come with more standard equipment and more powerful engines. I was sold. Where do I sign?

My new car will have the 2.0 liter turbo engine. Besides the generous standard equipment, I also ordered the automatic transmission, power sunroof and metallic paint as optional equipment. The exterior color is Fusion Blue (somewhere between light and dark blue) with a Slate Grey leather interior.

Total price in this configuration is $29,720. With the European Delivery program, the sale price is $26,510. This does not include the $2000 travel assistance check Saab will send you a couple of weeks before you pick up the car.

The pickup date at the factory in Trollh�ttan is set for Monday May 15th. This program requires putting in the order 6 - 8 weeks before the pickup date. A minimum deposit of $1000 is required at time of order.

Package received from Saab
March 17, 2006

A large envelope from Saab's USA main office arrived with information about the International & Diplomat Sales program, together with a Customer Order Confirmation. Everything seems very organized and right on track.

The waiting is the hard part. Here in the USA, it is possible to walk into a dealership, choose a new car on the lot, arrange financing, trade-in your vehicle and drive off with your new purchase all within the same day. This delivery in Europe takes much longer..

Full payment
April 8, 2006

Full payment is required 4 weeks before the car is picked up in Europe. It can be a little tricky to arrange financing. Many financial institutions require registration of the car at time of purchase, together with a lien on the vehicle. When full payment to Saab is required, the car is not even manufactured yet. Strangely enough, Saab's own financing company doesn't even offer financing for IDS sales.

To make a long story short, there are a few ways "around" this issue and financing was no problem. The waiting continues..

My car is born
April 17, 2006

The dealership told me the car was going to be built this week. Somewhere far away, people and machines are manufacturing and assembling parts to make my own car. Quite exciting. I am getting too involved in this entire process.. It won't be long before I start thinking of a name for her. :)

Travel assistance check received
April 30, 2006

The check for the $2000 travel assistance payment arrived in the mail. The letter also shows the VIN so my new car has been brought into this world. Still thinking of a name...

Continue with part 2

Engine	Power (hp / kW)	RPM	Torque (lb-ft / Nm	RPM
3.0i	265 / 198	6,950	223 / 302	5,100
2.8T	300 / 221	5,500	295 / 400	5,000