Badge Engineering: Saab 9-7X travels the Natchez Trace

"BlythBros." (blythbros) 03/10/2014 at 10:30 • Filed to: None

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Repost for the read at work on the weekday crowd.

Winter 2013-2014 has been the 100 proof sort of winter that can impair one's judgement; the sort of winter that requires so many layers of pants to perform a timing belt replacement on your 24V Alfa Romeo V6 outdoors, that you start to question your homo erectus ancestors' choices in mates – you couldn't find someone with hairier legs?

In fact, this winter has been so bitter that I agreed to fly to Texas to help my friend Andrew drive his recently purchased Saab 9-7x back to Indiana. Yes, I agreed to a 1,000 mile drudge in an SUV designed to stuff GM's koffers while providing Midwesterners the ability to travel excessive distances by themselves to pick up some Chik-Fil-A, load up their cargo hatches with Duck Dynasty apparel at Wal-Mart, and make it home in time to inhale hours of cable television. Or with the addition of the Saab badge, a Swedish shuttle designed to traverse snowy roads to fish markets, load up on furniture at IKEA, and make it home in time to watch 12 hours of a log burning on television.

Hyperbole aside, I had a few substantial reasons to look forward to the trip. First, the obvious weather relief, and the chance to visit Andrew's family in Houston. Second, we planned on driving up the Natchez Trace Parkway, a scenic path connecting Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN. And finally, because I have a soft spot for the GMT360 platform. Our friend !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! has a Trailblazer, with which I've gradually bonded each time I've summoned it to tow one of my disabled cars – the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! when the alternator failed on I-70, the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! when it threw a rod 300 miles from home, and the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! when it spun a rod bearing. Of course, it's an irrational bond, as really most vehicles made of metal could tow my cars. Even a Saturn could. Suffice to say, I've found the platform (and Malhon) to be dependable when my cars are not.

Landing in Texas, we were greeted by Andrew's parents in a Mercedes E320 Estate. Weird. Up to this point, I thought that to qualify as a Saab person, you could only be related to other Saab people. Well, after dissecting the sprawl of Houston and pulling into Andrew's parents' driveway, the confusion began to subside. Sure, Andrew's dad has a M-B, but it's towing implement; a necessity brought upon by dingy ownership, and proximity to the bay. But for motoring, he keeps the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in the driveway. Swedish legend has it that at one point, all three Marracks drove Saabs – a 9-3 Aero wagon, a 9-5 Aero wagon, and a 9000 Aero. If they made a 9000 wagon, I'm sure that it would have rounded out the trio in place of the 9000 sedan.

In Houston, a sweeping tour of the city by means of 900 Turbo was followed by brief stints in a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and a 996 Porsche 911. In the Dubai of America, we hardly made a scene in either. Though, I nearly made a scene in Bellaire Broiler Burger by almost ordering a single patty burger. I identified my error, corrected my order to a double decker, and order was restored. We even drove East, past the oil refineries, to the bay for some sailing. Out on the bay, some bravado (another GMT360 platform mate) led to a brush with hearing-loss, but a gigantic winter sunset on the water sufficiently atoned.

Anxious to begin the drive up the Trace, we made one last stop at Whataburger, and crossed the swamps of Louisiana into Mississippi. Andrew has family in Natchez, so we stayed with his Aunt and Uncle, who shared Andrew's grandfather's work as a photographer in Natchez with us. The view across the Mississippi to Vidalia, LA was especially impressive to me, having only really experienced the Mississippi in St. Louis, where it's unimpressive and makes me suspect that Mark Twain was a liar. It was impressive to Andrew as well, though proportionally less, due to the Texas coefficient of expansion that factors into his Texan perception.

Within the first minute of driving up the trace, early in the morning, we established that collision with a bird was close at hand. And within the first two minutes of driving, we had collided with one. Once stopped, we pried the carcass from the Saab's grill, but not before Andrew, a Texan and instinctive hunter, was able to photograph our quarry.

Taking a page out of Putin's book, we descended onto a peninsula, protruding into a large reservoir, for some photos. This marked the first display of the Saab's sport/utility – utility for the steep approach to the peninsula, and sport for the massively juvenile all-wheel drive launch to 50 mph in the grass before reentering the Trace. The 285 hp from an updated LL8 or Vortec 4200 straight six on tap provide the Saab with surprisingly brisk acceleration for a vehicle of its heft. In spite of the four-speed automatic transmission, the drivetrain was eager to adapt to different load commands, and reacted to climbs and passing scenarios with aplomb. The GM seats were comfortable on the extended drive, and the self-leveling suspension aptly tuned out any harshness in the ride. Steering feel isn't important to me on a vehicle like this, but the speed and effort are, and the Saab really thrived on the sinuous Trace, providing reasonable reactions to steering inputs, displaying relatively little of the vagueness usually associated with body-on-frame SUVs.

So, for what it is, the GM bits seem to work pretty well, but what about the Saab component? I really like the styling. Saab got a bit desperate at the very end, but 2005 was a decent year for Saab design, and the 9-7X benefits from sharp lines and a dearth of fuss. It really is just a Saab fascia on a Trailblazer, but the transformation is successful, and quite sleek in black.

Now, the fun part: how does it hoon? The Natchez Trace offers few distractions from its seclusion, save for some ancient Native American mound sites, and the spot where Meriwether Lewis was found dead. So, finding a spot to hoon wasn't so straight-forward. From the Trace, you can see plenty of dirt roads and trails, but access to them is limited. When we finally did find access to a clay road, we obliged.

I found a spot to snap some photos of Andrew getting sideways, but the combination of his protectiveness of his new Saab and my lack of aptitude with panning resulted in mediocre shots. We traded implements and got some better results. Andrew's genetic affinity for photography proved to be more valuable than my photography course experience at engineering school. Likewise, my experience driving all-wheel-drive vehicles in the snow each winter beat out Andrew's winters of southern comfort. I broke the rears loose from the clay, dialed in some countersteer, and slid the Saab for some photos. The clay was entertaining in its own right, but in the snow, the Saab should be a riot, SUV or not.

We made it to Nashville right after sunset. The dusk lighting made the minor slog through traffic much more tolerable. Cruise control set, the 9-7X rocketed though Kentucky up to southern Indiana without protest.

Now the Saab is back in Illinois, where Andrew keeps his e34 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and his Saab 9000 Aero. The 9-7X lies right in the middle of his straight 6-ylinder / Saab Venn diagram. As a sailboat enthusiast, Andrew will surely see to it that the Saab is put to work towing water vessels from his home to the water. And, hopefully it will see utilization as a creative project enabler – 24V Alfa V6 Saab 9000 Aero swap, anyone?

Original post can be found !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . For more stories about life with our 84 GTI, 88 911, 87 2.3-16, Alfa Milano Verde, Alfa 164LS, e30s, and more, check out the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! or !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! We promise not to be too bitter. Sort of.

Thanks to the Marrack family for the hospitality. Most photos are from !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Don't like a photo? It was probably taken by Graham.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > BlythBros. 03/08/2014 at 14:42

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I've driven quite a bit of the Trace, since I grew up about 20 minutes north of where it crosses AL-20, and I live in Nashville now.

It's a good drive with the top down in a Fiat Spider, at least.

BlythBros. > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully 03/08/2014 at 15:07

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Which other roads in the area do you like?

Nashville + Spider + Trace is a combo that is making quite jealous of you.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > BlythBros. 03/08/2014 at 16:09

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Heading east, I like TN-265 between Hermitage and where it hits US-70 in Watertown. Also, I believe it's TN-141? that runs between Hartsville and Lebanon, and that is an awesome bit of road. Past that, I've run TN-25 between Gallatin and Carthage in the Mazda3. Also, TN-109 up to Portland, and from there, take TN-52 over to Celina, then head south to Gainesboro on TN-53... From there, head southeast on TN-135 to Cookeville (There's an awesome series of switchbacks where you come up out of the Cumberland River valley, onto the Cumberland Plateau) and then from there, you can loop back west on US-70N, to get back into Lebanon, and then Nashville.

If you run 70N west, from Cookeville, there's a place with a ton of older BMWs in the yard, just barely past where you cross into Smith County, and the guy is awesome to stop and talk to. Last time I was out there, he had three 2002s in his yard, including a pair of tiis. It's on the right hand side of the road if you're heading west, and it's really easy to miss. If you're going east toward Cookeville, it sticks out like a sore thumb. (It's right after coming around a bend, and there's a hill blocking your view, coming from the east.)

There are plenty of others, but those are my favorites.

PRBot II > BlythBros. 03/09/2014 at 13:31

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Bravo, sir! Well done. This was a joy to read, and I thank you.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > BlythBros. 03/09/2014 at 14:00

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This needs FPing.

BlythBros. > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 03/09/2014 at 21:30

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Sounds sexual. Is that a Saab thing? Also, your username reminds me of this:

BlythBros. > PRBot II 03/09/2014 at 21:32

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Thanks! Hopefully you get to drive the Trace at some point too.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > BlythBros. 03/10/2014 at 06:35

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That is an awesome picture. And it means it needs to be sharee to the front page (Jalopnik) by one of the writers.

quarterlifecrisis > BlythBros. 03/10/2014 at 10:35

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I dig the 9-7X, in a weird way. Having had a GMT360 that I sold and lament about on here on a daily basis, I find myself autotradering 9-7X Aeros more often than I should. Man, the market fell out of those when Saab stopped existing.

JR1 > BlythBros. 03/10/2014 at 10:48

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I was unaware Saab even made this SUV. I never understood the love for Saab until I got on this website but now I am finding them more and more interesting. This Saab looks 3 years old. Not something from 2005

spanfucker retire bitch > BlythBros. 03/10/2014 at 11:05

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Taking a page out of Putin's book, we descended onto a peninsula

Oh god, my sides!

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > JR1 03/10/2014 at 11:25

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It looks a little more dated on the inside, but I agree, on the outside it still looks very recent.

BlythBros. > quarterlifecrisis 03/10/2014 at 16:56

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Yeah, great buyer's market on those.

Ad_absurdum_per_aspera > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully 03/10/2014 at 21:23

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Sounds like an enjoyable experience; never had the opportunity myself. Here's some theme music (assuming you like your Americana a little shaggy around the edges and with its roots showing, even from somebody who later got more commercial for a time).

(From the album Geronimo's Cadillac ... though perhaps the estimable and still active Murphey was better at music than at antique-car identification .)

Someone Else's Projects > BlythBros. 03/10/2014 at 21:41

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A 9-7x Aero is near the top of my list of replacements when my 227k mile 9000 Aero bites the dust. I just want to see the look on my fellow Saab owners' faces when I show up to Swedish car day with a LS-2 powered truck and "Born from 'Vettes" on the back window. It's still a 16-valve liftback and that makes it okay, amirite? Maybe I'll tow my 96 on a trailer to keep everyone happy.

Jason > BlythBros. 03/10/2014 at 21:54

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I've taken the Natchez Trace from Tupelo to Nashville a few times. It's a great road but man does the 50mph speed limit suck.

ohlins8990 > Someone Else's Projects 03/10/2014 at 22:04

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Funny you say that. This is the replacement for my Stg 2 9k Aero that was getting a bit tired to keep as a DD. I seriously considered another Aero, but I like my straight sixes too...

http://blythbros.com/cabin-fever-an…

BIGBLOCK472 - wide and bizarre > BlythBros. 03/10/2014 at 23:02

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I live right off the Trace near Tupelo, MS, and I take the parkway to Nashville quite frequently. It is truly a beautiful drive in the spring. I also have a SAAB—an '08 9-3 Aero.

theseeker411 > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully 03/11/2014 at 00:32

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Thank you for that sir! I recently moved here from Atlanta, and I was hoping to find some decent driving roads nearby.

mallthus > BlythBros. 03/11/2014 at 01:00

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Although the I6 powered 9-7x is fine, the Aero, powered by a 6.0-liter LS2 V-8 with 390 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque, is much, much better...

alimushman > BlythBros. 03/11/2014 at 07:30

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The batman building in nashville. (bellsouth/ATT). Woot

satalac > BlythBros. 03/11/2014 at 07:49

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Never done the whole Trace, but make the drive from Nashville to Jackson, MS quite often to visit the wife's family. Always take the trace because there's not near as much traffic as the interstate, plus it's just a beautiful drive. Watch out for deer and turkey though. A great place to go for a weekend drive too.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > Ad_absurdum_per_aspera 03/11/2014 at 08:24

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It ain't bad, although I do have a strong preference for bluegrass over country. (Yes, there is a difference. A big one.)

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > theseeker411 03/11/2014 at 08:25

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Whereabouts are you? I'm on the edge of Percy Priest Lake, here.

tomato1 > BlythBros. 03/11/2014 at 08:28

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Their Saab 9000 Aero is a hatchback, a superior form of wagon.

Slow4o > BlythBros. 03/11/2014 at 08:53

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Another great article! Good job Graham. Hopefully you get to make it down again sometime and we can take you to an actual motoring event in Houston.

swansong, rockin' the wagons > quarterlifecrisis 03/11/2014 at 09:25

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Found a couple, and one in my state (WI)!:

http://madison.craigslist.org/ctd/4365692098…

http://buffalo.craigslist.org/cto/4366759370…

quarterlifecrisis > swansong, rockin' the wagons 03/11/2014 at 09:32

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Any excuse to go to New Glarus...

Those used to always bring well over $20k, usually over $25k, even when they weren't that old. I had an 07 TBSS and a comparable 9-7X Aero was usually 50% more, if not more.

cabarne4 > BlythBros. 03/11/2014 at 13:10

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The Natchez Trace is the one redeeming quality of the state of Mississippi (ok, Natchez and a few other towns have some cool old houses, but that's about it).

I went to Mississippi State for all of 2 semesters, at which time my parents lived in Ridgeland (northern suburb of Jackson). The Natchez Trace ran about 1/2 a mile south of their house. The quick way to get to MSU from Jackson would be MS-25 (or, if you're coming from the north side of town, take I-55 up to MS-16, then cut over to 25). It's also an incredibly boring route. So instead, I took the Trace. Hop on it, take it all the way to Kosciusko (still have NO idea how to pronounce it), then take MS-12 to Starkghanistan. Or, take the Trace all the way up to US-82, and then head to MSU.

It'd add about 30 minutes total to the trip, there's less traffic (sometimes I'd go the whole way maybe seeing one or two cars), and you're going slower so you get better fuel economy (cruise set at 50 — because you WILL get pulled over for going 1 or 2 over — I managed 34 MPG in an '05 Altima).

My favorite stretch is still the section along the Barnett reservior (and yes, unfortunately there is a relation). Nice, slightly winding road alongside a lake. Took it a couple times on a Ninja 250R — probably one of the best bike rides I can imagine in the area.

BlythBros. > Slow4o 03/11/2014 at 23:39

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Thanks! And that would be excellent - I'd love to get down to COTA or Hill Country (which I believe is right outside of that area) and I'll be in touch with you/Andrew when I do.

BlythBros. > spanfucker retire bitch 03/11/2014 at 23:40

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Full disclosure: I believe nothing had happened at the time we made our descent. Sochi Olympics were still yet to happen. Sean White still had a chance.

BlythBros. > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 03/11/2014 at 23:41

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Definitely dated on the inside, but that era of GM trucks are kind of like sweat pants on the inside - uninspiring, yet comfortable.

BlythBros. > swansong, rockin' the wagons 03/11/2014 at 23:44

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Those are twice the price of a good six-cylinder...and they're still a body on frame SUV.

I'd buy a 6-cyl and use the leftover cash for something fun. Above ground pool seems to be popular among the GMT360 set.

BlythBros. > Someone Else's Projects 03/11/2014 at 23:44

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You'll tow your 96 to me and I will take it.

I like your style.

BlythBros. > Jason 03/11/2014 at 23:46

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We cooked it the whole 400 or so miles. Everybody told us to take it easy, but we did it on a weekday in the off season. Like, 65mph the whole way. Oops.

BlythBros. > alimushman 03/11/2014 at 23:47

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The things you notice when you're sober in Nashville. Or, sober while looking at a photo of Nashville.

BlythBros. > BIGBLOCK472 - wide and bizarre 03/11/2014 at 23:47

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We liked the Neon Pig in Tupelo. Have you been? It was pretentious, but had the food to back it. Wasn't terribly expensive for the quality. I think lunch was $7.

BlythBros. > satalac 03/11/2014 at 23:49

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I've never been on such a relaxing stretch of road, and I've been to many parts of the country.

Deer and turkey + smaller birds were all prevalent!

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > BlythBros. 03/12/2014 at 08:26

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Where-as new ones are yoga pants? When worn by the right person they are inspiring and comfortable.

BlythBros. > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 03/12/2014 at 08:44

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Wow. I thought about going for a yoga pants analogy, but couldn't pull it off. Well done.

BIGBLOCK472 - wide and bizarre > BlythBros. 03/12/2014 at 10:08

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Yes! The Neon pig is quite pretentious but the food is great. My partner and I remark that it has a Nashville feel to it...with both the pretension and the decor. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as we miss loving in Nashville.

What did you order at the Neon Pig?

BlythBros. > BIGBLOCK472 - wide and bizarre 03/12/2014 at 10:28

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Nice. Ate the pork bun and enjoyed it. And yes, it had the East Nashville feel (for me). I live in southern Indiana, so I don't get out enough to really mind the rampant 'coolness' of places like that. I also kind of prefer it to 'cool' places in, say, Philly.

Also, reading too far into the use of partner, our hosts in Natchez said that the town has a decent LBGT community. They said that many of the older houses have been fixed up by the community. Not sure if that was them trying to sell the place, or if it's actually true.

alimushman > BlythBros. 03/12/2014 at 17:03

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Haha. I live here, so its one of our few "points of interest"

theseeker411 > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully 03/16/2014 at 13:18

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Bell Rd by Nolensville in Antioch.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > theseeker411 03/16/2014 at 17:55

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Ah, just up the road. :)

theseeker411 > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully 03/16/2014 at 23:41

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Yep. Once I can fix my e24 up a little more I want to bring it out to Cars & Coffee and a few local meets.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > theseeker411 03/17/2014 at 13:13

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E24? I'm drooling, now.

theseeker411 > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully 03/17/2014 at 21:23

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Thanks, I call him Ol Dirty Bastard.