...9-3 sedan back in production on Monday. Under Chinese ownership:
Saab Automobile New Owner to Start Car Production Monday - WSJ.com

Hopefully not fitted with Uro parts.

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Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

I find it interesting that in the '50's and '60's, many premium marques today such as Audi, Porsche, BMW, and even our beloved Mercedes were merely "niche" cars, and that Saab was the only one to go by the wayside.

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'83 300D, 126K miles.

Hard to say if they might buy many more labels at this time. Saab was a little early as the Chinese cannot meet oriental demand yet for their cars.

I estimate their automotive products will show up in north America before ten years have passed. This may not be a good thing for a lot of brands.

I am not expecting junk cars but suspect they will be cheap cars. Especially if all manufacturing is done in China. So far they have kept their currency value low. I now expect that for the next seven year period at least it will be as well.

I am possibly out of touch or out on a limb. Still I feel we are engaged in an economic war that is not being declared as such. What is worse is we seem to be losing it by my yardstick if this is true. China has plans in force to double it's economy in about seven years. Where are the plans for North America?

I would suspect it will be similar to what Honda did in the mid-to-late 70s. I would welcome simple(relative to the time) cars void of all the needless electro technology todays cars are fitted with. Envisioning just how much further down the toilet the U. S. will be in 7-10 years, I'd bet a buck China will sell beaucoup of their cars.

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Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

I hope they bring back the 9-5 and especially the wagon. Occasionally I see a brave soul driving the last 9-5 sedan, which is a really beautiful car. Of the wagon I believe not more than a dozen made it to the states and were never for sale.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

Good news!
I bought a new 1978 '99' model hatchback coupe. That's my daughter in it, she's 40 now.

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OLD & RETIRED
_.... Don't mess with old farts - - age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill! Bulls**t and brilliance only come with age and experience!____________
'96 E320
'79 450 SEL
'78 300 CD

Over here we have had Great Wall pick ups & 4WDs as well as Chery micro's for a couple of years. That is going to stop very soon as they dont have traction control & ESC. These are going to be mandatory on new cars from the start of 2014 in Australia.
Great Wall has had a few problems especially with asbestos in gaskets & brake parts. The Chinese have little respect for other countries regulations. This will change though with import bans for non compliance.

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

That would not be as easy as it was then. Between safety mandates, emission, and fuel economy requirements SAAB is >five years behind the times now to be sold here, or even given away here which is what they would need to do.

Nice. My Dad owned one when I was a kid. Pea green in color with green interior, foam-like texture seats iirc.

Think it was a 75, because in 78 he bought a 280Z.

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'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

If Mercedes were "niche" that was only in the US. There was nothing "niche" about them elsewhere in the world.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Your claim could be made about all those marques.

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'83 300D, 126K miles.

I had a 92 900S convertible. It was an OK car. I bought it as my first car after moving to the US from the the UK because price wise, it was comparable to what I would have to spend one if I bought it in the UK. They had a great reputation for build quality and just about everything else was 2-3 times more expensive then what i was used to paying (this was pre-craigslist days).

My daily driver in the UK was an E30 BMW 318i and I can honestly say that compared to the BMW, the Saab was inferior in terms of build quality and performance. It was so slow that I'm certain that a 300D Turbo would outrun it. The turbo's are much quicker.

I would not consider it reliable either, and it was quirky enough so that not many people could work on it. If I wanted quirky again, I think that a Citroen DS would be a better bet.

I tried very much to love it, but was very happy when I bought the 97 E420 which replaced it.

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With best regards

Al

Saab 900s are still relatively common in the US. Citroen DS's, not so much, since they were only imported for a few years and discontinued in the mid-70s,