Saab story from Hamburg. Saab virus.

I was probably infected in the summer 2003, when I was with my son in search of a beautiful convertible. Junior was on the MX 3 trip and I was just with. This cookie jar is simply not for me, because to get in and out you need a shoehorn and when you sit in it, you realize with 1,93 m body size that you can drive such a car only open, because the head is well above the windshield.

Saab Cabriolet 1999

In this context, we also strolled around Dello (car mile HH Nedderfeld) and I discovered several Saab 900 convertibles. What are those cars, from Sweden, this design, may I take a seat? I was allowed and immediately felt well. I suspect I got infected here. At the time I drove a company car with a star and therefore there was no need for action.

Time is in the country, company cars come and go and at some point I had the idea; you can drive open sometimes. I had accumulated enough “play money” and wanted to go to the market, but my partner said; nonsense, we don't need a convertible, we need a new couch, apartment has to be overhauled, new entrance door for the arbor and so on.

Then spring 2015 came and I was faster. Around the corner from us a Saab 9-3 convertible was offered for little money. Jumping in the car and driving there was one! So there he was, a dark blue 99 Saab 9-3 2,0i convertible. After 12 years of incubation, the virus struck fully. The roof looked good, here and there slight paint damage (nothing dramatic), on the radio only a front speaker worked. The first impression is quite good. With a little jump start, from the friendly Albanian car dealer, he jumped on. The engine runs smoothly after a short time.

Now the big moment, does the roof work? What can I say, roof opens without a problem, so red number on it and on for a test drive. This trip took us to our screwdriver of confidence to check the hardware. And although we have mid-March, of course, the roof remains open. The automatic turns smooth, steering and straight-ahead, no strange noises. Our mechanic takes a look at the car and fell in love immediately. The test revealed; new starter and new valve cover gasket, the rest is great.

So back to the Albanian and act when he starts talking about his small, starving children, I know the pain limit has been reached. We agree and on March 25.03.2015th XNUMX there is a “new” Saab in our street. At my request, the screwdriver also had TÜV approved, the only drawback, the turn signal lamp on the left is no longer orange enough!

With much anticipation, we then waited for the summer and every day with sun (and without) exploited. On the occasion, I have found Saabfahrer greet each other!

But then a downer, there are things on a Saab which overwhelm my Polish screwdriver. I wanted to have a remote control in the key, because of the original remote control, there was only one and that did not always work. A Saab dealership just around the corner should help. Grossspurig everything was promised, but in the end I paid a lot of money and received little or wrong functions.

But you learn from mistakes and now I have the dealer (by the way, a supporter of the blog) found that I am in good hands.

The virus continues, and my girlfriend also had to get a new car. The existing Astra F no longer did. I immediately proposed a Saab and was presented as a spinner, but that didn't get me out of my mind. With a little time in the background, we had enough cars (company car and 9-3 convertible) so I started looking for them on the net. A station wagon and diesel (that was before the diesel scandal) should definitely be. After looking at several Saabs and testing them, we discovered a beautiful black 2005 9-3 1.9 TiD SC Vector, driven by a student who was looking for something else.

The nice thing about the car, it is fully equipped and I mean really fully equipped. In addition 8 tires, everything on aluminum rims. Mileage 214.000 km but there was a new engine at 95.000. The test drive uncovered some shortcomings, all little things, but food for the negotiation. Long story short, we “hit” and a second Saab has been on the street with us since April 2016. The SC then hit something in the office because swirl flaps and EGR valve had to be made. But the substance is good and that's why we got the car in shape.

The previous owner had also a little Vogelsch ... .. too long on the hood and a talented painter has also eliminated this. The reader will notice that we definitely want to keep the cars alive. The Kleene (comes from Berlin) has then painted the calipers red and now the car is there, almost like a new car. She has since arrived at Saab. She loves her car above all else and has since discovered that one is suddenly approached by strangers and people talk about cars, even as a woman!

Another great experience was our meeting with the Saab friends Erftkreis, where we spontaneously registered for the rally in 2016. Even though we were strangers, we were accepted as if we had always been there. Rally 2017 was of course a popular event and in 2018 we will be there again. Perhaps we will meet “Paul” here for the 40th anniversary of Saab friends, of which there is so much to read.

Saabine is now in hibernation and therefore I have time to tell you about my virus. I hope I could entertain you a little and send you

nice greetings from Hamburg,
Henning


Thanks to Henning for his Saab Story! This is one of our exclusive Saab boarding files on the journey. Do you also have something to tell about Saab?

The story of an unforgettable holiday trip, a restoration or another event in life with the cult brand from Trollhättan?

The countdown is on, the deadline is the 31.12.2017. We are looking forward to it!
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Bukki 2001
Bukki 2001
6 years earlier

Hello Henning,

not all “viruses” are harmful. On the contrary, some are even very healing or extremely soothing. Nice that you have such a “good virus”. Have fun with the SAAB fleet.

GP362
GP362
6 years earlier

Hello Henning,

nice story, bridges the days until the new year very nice.
With 193cm the selection of convertibles is very limited, I know that

When I picked up my mother from her French lions, I sat down in an open tin roof convertible in a fit of mental derangement. In doing so, I cut the corner of the window frame, which was far too flat and pulled far too far back, right in the face. My mood was "suddenly so good" that no salesman dared to come near ... My mother then pushed me out of the shop quite quickly before the good nursery was completely lost 🙂

Ralph Luchsinger
Ralph Luchsinger
6 years earlier

Great Story Thanks Henning

Herbert Hürsch
Herbert Hürsch
6 years earlier

"... have a little chat ..."

But yes. But yes and how! ! ! Thank you for the great story.

1.) I am amazed that there is anything to read here on December 28.12th. And …

2.) That's a really good story. Right, really good. A father-son-action that ends in a cross-generational affinity to Saab, that is already somehow Christmas. It's a family party. And it's a SAAB story. And it's an unexpected one too.

Unexpected not only because it was published between the holidays, but also because someone with a company car and without “necessity” found their way to SAAB in 2015.

What a great compliment to the Swedish cars.
And a confirmation for all SAAB friends. Thank you ! ! !

Robert
Robert
6 years earlier

Henning wrote that very nicely and can understand him well ...
And also my wife, otherwise zero autoafin, likes Saab!
I wish you all in the blog everything, all the best for the coming year and of course nice Saab tours. Best regards in the round