The Want is (Strangely) Strong

"Hooker" (Hooker) 12/02/2014 at 13:56 • Filed to: None

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I really have a very strong want for one of these. Electric, gas, don't really care. I want one. But I want it to be a NEVS one. Built in Sweden. Does that make me weird. I know their incredibly old, outdated cars but I just love them.

MIATAAAA > Hooker 12/02/2014 at 13:58

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It makes you weird. And that's exactly why you're here.

Get one. Post pictures. Now.

djmt1 > Hooker 12/02/2014 at 14:05

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Same here. Doubly so as for some reason I can't explain that gen of Saab are cheaper than the previous gen that said both can be had for under a £1000.

cazzyodo > Hooker 12/02/2014 at 14:18

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Nothing wrong with this thought process...every time I see one I think about how nice it looks and how sad it was to say goodbye.

SaabE39 > Hooker 12/02/2014 at 15:03

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Buy mine

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > MIATAAAA 12/02/2014 at 15:53

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Does this count?

Hooker > SaabE39 12/02/2014 at 16:35

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How much? I'm debt free other than a mortgage and car payment. What year? Miles? Cost? PICTURES?

Hooker > cazzyodo 12/02/2014 at 16:35

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So, I'm not broken?

Hooker > djmt1 12/02/2014 at 16:36

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I just would like to find a late model one for dirt cheap money and just drive it on Sundays. on back roads. Where it's free to frolic.

Hooker > MIATAAAA 12/02/2014 at 16:36

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I like the way you think. Loan me the money, now?

Hooker > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 12/02/2014 at 16:37

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Do. Want. Is that yours?

cazzyodo > Hooker 12/02/2014 at 16:38

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Let's not get ahead of ourselves here...I'm not exactly a perfect measure for these things!

Hooker > cazzyodo 12/02/2014 at 17:33

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You're good enough to justify my crazy wants/needs! When my parents ask me why I blew thousands on a car that doesn't have a manu backing, I'll just tell them because cazzyodo said it was ok!

cazzyodo > Hooker 12/02/2014 at 18:07

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and then they'll shake their heads and walk away.

Hooker > cazzyodo 12/02/2014 at 20:12

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Meh, they do that anyway. I'm used to it.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Hooker 12/02/2014 at 21:03

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Yup, nice and dirty after a spirited drive on a 20 mi dirt road. 3/4 tires survived the drive intact.

Hooker > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 12/02/2014 at 22:43

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I'm more than a little jealous. Only 3/4? I feel like there is a story here. It's beautiful. Do you have more shots? Interior? Do you love it?

Eazy-O > Hooker 12/03/2014 at 08:40

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Personally I fell in love with this version:

That said, the Griffin does look nice with the updated looks, if perhaps a tad busy on the front end. Those wheels do fill out the gaps nicely.

Hooker > Eazy-O 12/03/2014 at 09:54

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I dig those wheels. Seriously. But the front end on the later ones get me. It's still cohesive and the design still works. Also, the newer hood is my favorite.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Hooker 12/03/2014 at 10:23

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Here's the rest of the story. I drove a Tacoma back to town to get the tire fixed (for free!). The Tacoma had crazy numb steering, and I quickly remembered why I'm not a pickup guy. I was lucky not to have to drive 20 miles back on that dirt road with the spare.

I don't have any interior shots. It's an '08, so well into the GM era and it's in the interior where that shows. The radio is the same as what's in the Cobalt and it's way too plasticky for the prices they charged when new. The seats are excellent though and still look brand new.

Mine is an XWD Aero, so it's all-wheel drive with a 2.8T 280 HP / 290 lb-ft. Turbo lag means that it doesn't always feel as fast as it is and you have to keep it up above 3k RPM to see what it can do. I can see why some people prefer NA engines, but I think it gives the car a fun dual character. I wish the exhaust was louder, but I suppose there are aftermarket solutions for that. Handling is great, but the steering is a little light for my taste. It has the 6-spd manual, which I'd rate as "acceptable." The shifter just feels gummy and imprecise. The gearing is also a little odd with a huge gap between 1st and 2nd and then 6th is barely higher than 5th.

As far as regular car stuff goes: the trunk is huge, the backseat is a little tight, the gas mileage is not great, the ride is good, very quiet. Even though the interior is a little lacking in the materials department, it's well laid out. So much simpler and more elegant than the overly busy interiors that are popular right now. My only functional complaint about the interior is the cruise control / turn signal stalk which I swear feels like it's going to break at any second. The cruise control is the most confusing process and almost needs a user manual of its own.

And, lastly, the big one: reliability and maintenance. I'm at just over 100k miles and the only unexpected problem I've had is the fuel pump. It went bad less than 100 miles after I bought it and was a nightmare to diagnose and fix. Ended up costing about $800 but the car was in and out of the shop about 5 times over the course of a month before they finally fixed it properly. I've got a better mechanic now, but you still want to watch out for the fuel pump on these. I've had no trouble finding parts, but there's definitely a premium compared to Camry's or whatever. I've done some of the work myself and it's very Swedish in there. Replacing the ignition coils and spark plugs was so much more painful than it should have been. Replacing the brake lights required ordering parts online and removing a ton of the interior bits in the trunk. It's not the reliability nightmare that some would have you believe, but if you're seriously considering one, be sure to budget for repairs.

Hooker > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 12/04/2014 at 09:17

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Cruise control on these things was a joke. It's like when I get into any Camry. It just looks like an afterthought. I love the dual character thing. My Cruze has a little lag so it starts (briefly) out slow and then it hits 2K rpm and comes to life. I love it. Functional, well laid out interiors are my thing too.

The maintenance history seems about normal I think. I think if you're going to buy a vehicle like this, you need to understand that things are going to be a bit more contrived. It's part of the fun.

I'm not a pickup buyer, however, if you get a chance, drive the new Colorado V6. That's the one I drove yesterday. It was fantastic. I was incredibly impressed with the overall vehicle. I was a little surprised with how big it was but honestly, it was very manageable and drove considerably smaller than it was.

Thanks for the story! Sorry it took so long for me to get back to you!