A car past its prime shows me a broken clock is right twice a day.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

 

[Champ]

I'm NOT excited about getting up at 4:30 in the morning.

....getting up?  Stay awake!

[FlatBlackCaddy]

....getting up?  Stay awake!

Fantastic idea.......

[Champ]

lol!

430 is early enough that it isn't so bad.  I have a harder time with like 530-615 range for whatever reason..

[FlatBlackCaddy]

lol!

430 is early enough that it isn't so bad.  I have a harder time with like 530-615 range for whatever reason..

I guess, what will be hard is getting up early then sitting in a car for 2 hours. I'm sure i'll be drifting off on the way up there, or be driving 100MPH up 169 with the windows down at 5am and the radio blasting.

[Champ]

Either are acceptable alternatives.

[Raza]

I was tired and I wanted to play devil's advocate last night.  Still, unless it's go-kart-like like a MINI, I fail to see how this car could be so awesometastic.  That's a hell of a lot of power going to the front wheels.

I thought the same thing about FWD cars in general six years ago. 

The Viggen can't be explained so much as it must be understood.  You can't be taught the tao, you can only learn it.

[the Teuton]

I thought the same thing about FWD cars in general six years ago. 

The Viggen can't be explained so much as it must be understood.  You can't be taught the tao, you can only learn it.

This means I have to drive one, doesn't it?  Can I substitute a regular 900 or 9-3 in instead?  It's getting hard to find Viggens and it's harder to find a friend with one.

[Raza]

This means I have to drive one, doesn't it?  Can I substitute a regular 900 or 9-3 in instead?  It's getting hard to find Viggens and it's harder to find a friend with one.

No. 

I drove a 2003 9-3 Arc and it wasn't nearly the same as a Viggen. 

[the Teuton]

No. 

I drove a 2003 9-3 Arc and it wasn't nearly the same as a Viggen. 

Still nice, though?

[Raza]

Still nice, though?

Yes, it was.  Although I haven't driven any older (pre-SS) 9-3s other than the Viggen.

I think that the new V6 Aero would be a good modern day Viggen.  They could have called it a Viggen if they wanted to.  Fuck, it has more power.

[the Teuton]

Yes, it was.  Although I haven't driven any older (pre-SS) 9-3s other than the Viggen.

I think that the new V6 Aero would be a good modern day Viggen.  They could have called it a Viggen if they wanted to.  Fuck, it has more power.

And Saabs generally have resale value sucky enough to bring them down into my next car price range.  Like I said, besides the massive torque steer and somewhat iffy build quality, the Saabs I've been in were quite nice.  Those two issues also happen to bug the hell out of me, though.

[Raza]

And Saabs generally have resale value sucky enough to bring them down into my next car price range.  Like I said, besides the massive torque steer and somewhat iffy build quality, the Saabs I've been in were quite nice.  Those two issues also happen to bug the hell out of me, though.

The build quality isn't iffy.  Sure, there are some years that are worse than others (for example, I'd stay away from 2003 sport sedans), but for the most part they're fine. 

And torque steer isn't that bad. 

[Danish]

That hurts, Raza.  That really hurts.

[sportyaccordy]

I have six words why I doubt the abilities of the 9-3:  dated chassis and unequal-length halfshafts. 

Don't knock it till you drive it baby

I would bet my last buck a Viggen is more fun than (insert turbocharged Japanese AWD car w/boxer engine)

[Cookie Monster]

Don't knock it till you drive it baby

I would bet my last buck a Viggen is more fun than (insert turbocharged Japanese AWD car w/boxer engine)

Even more than an Impreza/Forester STI?

[MidnightDave]

I bought a '99 Viggen when there were only 400 in production. I was shopping a 3 series, and the guy told me to reach into the unfinished metal work in the trunk to close it. I freaked, (I'm like that) and said for this money it doesn't have a freakin' grab handle? He shrugged and walked away. I turned to look out the window and saw my future Viggen across the street.

I didn't know jack about SAABs and had read one article on the Viggen in Autoweek. The experience at the SAAB dealership was fantastic, the car was quirky, fairly fast and fun. You could even dim the dash like a jet and it would only light the speedo when you went over 80 or something, don't recall exactly. Point is, it was a gadget guys dream, even with a little turbo lag and torque steer.

It turned into a love/hate relationship. I instantly had a circle of friends in other SAAB owners. Lots of people asked me what it was at gas stations. I had a blast blasting around in it, and even auto-x'd it, although it was an auto-x pig. On the downside, I blew a clutch, the wheels flaked off, both replaced under warranty, one time the doors wouldn't unlock or the windows go down and I was trapped inside--fortunately I had paid $400 to a stereo tuner shop to put in a wireless phone connection, (this was before cars had bluetooth as a standard feature).

It's on my short list of cars I regret I sold, (in company with a '69 'vette, '77 280Z). The thing I miss the most are the seats. They were cool, like ostrich, blue and comfortable as all get out.

Sure, it's "just an M3 fitted with a turbo that spins up to 20lbs of boost", however, there is no comparison with the standard 9-3 of that vintage. The Viggen was a special car. Always will be. It reminds of the Jeep campaign: "It's a Viggen thing, you wouldn't get it."

My hard drive crashed this morning and I'm a work laptop that has Photobucket blocked, so I'll have to post a pic of "JETRYD" another time.

[Raza]

Even more than an Impreza/Forester STI?

Definitely more fun than a hawkeye STI.  I know that one from experience.

[Cookie Monster]

Definitely more fun than a hawkeye STI.  I know that one from experience.

Hmm, that's interesting.

Well, so much for Subaru then.

[280Z Turbo]

I miss my 9000 Turbo. It was unlike any other car I've ever driven.

Saab has a unique mix of luxury and sportiness that nobody else has.

[the Teuton]

Hmm, that's interesting.

Well, so much for Subaru then.

Subarus are a lot more fun when you get to play on loose stuff.

[SVT_Power]

Subarus are a lot more fun when you get to play on loose stuff.

You just love 'em loose don't you

[the Teuton]

You just love 'em loose don't you

[SVT_Power]

I dunno why i cracked that joke

[ChrisV]

Simply put, if you've only heard about torque steeer, you don't know haow good or bad it is until you drive it. And the torque steer in a Viggen is simply not bad at all. As was described in the OP, it's just a slight tugging at the wheel, and only under full throttle, really. In that regard, it's kind of like doing a burnout in a RWD car where you are slightly correcting as the rear end wiggles with the tires spinning slightly. One can even construe it as fun, like taming a slightly wild horse.

And 148k on the one that was tested was too much and at the end of it's life? My, my. Most cars I've ever bought were about there when I GOT them. My current 7 series was purchased at 143k miles and has 162k now after a year and a half. I'm shooting for 200-250k on it before I start looking for something else. That shoudl be years from now. Proper maintenance is the key. Modern cars like that Saab and my BMW will go 200-300k no problems.

[Champ]

Good post Dave!

Admitadely, I've had zero problems with my car, just passed 103k.  Owned since 60k.

It's a little over 8 years old, looks great and I still get questions about it.

[Cookie Monster]

Good post Dave!

Admitadely, I've had zero problems with my car, just passed 103k.  Owned since 60k.

It's a little over 8 years old, looks great and I still get questions about it.

Who's Dave?

[Raza]

Who's Dave?

MidnightDave is Dave.

[Raza]

Simply put, if you've only heard about torque steeer, you don't know haow good or bad it is until you drive it. And the torque steer in a Viggen is simply not bad at all. As was described in the OP, it's just a slight tugging at the wheel, and only under full throttle, really. In that regard, it's kind of like doing a burnout in a RWD car where you are slightly correcting as the rear end wiggles with the tires spinning slightly. One can even construe it as fun, like taming a slightly wild horse.

And 148k on the one that was tested was too much and at the end of it's life? My, my. Most cars I've ever bought were about there when I GOT them. My current 7 series was purchased at 143k miles and has 162k now after a year and a half. I'm shooting for 200-250k on it before I start looking for something else. That shoudl be years from now. Proper maintenance is the key. Modern cars like that Saab and my BMW will go 200-300k no problems.

Yeah, but you'll agree that the health of an automobile directly correlates to the life that vehicle has led.  I was talking to the lease-return inspector, and he was talking about how he couldn't believe how many cars he sees that are in garbage condition after just three or four years because the owner didn't take care of it (he also mentioned that my car was probably the best he's seen).  So while the automobile could easily last 200 or 300 miles, the caretaker is going to be the main fault here.  You can't live very long if you eat the wrong things, don't exercise, and snort heroin.  Cars are the same way (although a little heroin in the gas tank improves fuel mileage by 64.2%). 

EDIT:  Duh, I just saw your second to last sentence.  Perhaps this example was simply abused.  I know dealerships that don't buy used Evos (no matter how new, off lease, whatever) because after even two years they're beat to shit by the owners. 

[Cookie Monster]

MidnightDave is Dave.

Oh I thought he was talking about  Chris V's post since he didn't quote.