The Life and Death of SAAB: RCR Car Stories

[@tamegaming1768]

always been kinda sad saab went away. always a unique car. quite the saab story.

[@stevecooper7883]

Dad......you came home....from getting milk...at last...

[@xamiax2282]

Thats the saabest excuse of a pun i ever Had the missfortune to read

[@safranejim1994]

Very saad indeed

[@milamber319]

You really had to saabatage such a nice sentiment.

[@assbag60]

It makes me Saab at night.

[@markbarrell1408]

I was lucky enough to meet Erik Carlsson at a race in Ontario Canada. Saab was racing a 9000 turbo and it had a crash in the middle of the night (24 hour race). Erik was right down there duct taping the front end back together. What a guy!

[@grantwilliamson9918]

I was at the Mossport Track in Ontario when Saab was promoting their new model that had the engine similar to the front wheel configurations similar to most of the models of today. I was not to far from Erik when I blurted out to the mechanics that I had a Notch back 67 Saab in the parking lot that they could borrow if they could not straighten the suspension on their 900. I still remember the smile on Eriks face!

[@FastNBulbous]

In 2010 I was working my first “big boy” job after getting out of the Army and was making decent money for the first time in my life. Every car I had ever owned up to that point had been a car that was on its last legs. Beaters. Bombs. Hoopties. I decided I wanted a car that was not only newer, but also interesting. So I bought a used, three year old Saab 9-3 from the only Saab dealer in Utah. And it’s the car that turned me into a “car guy.” It’s the car that made me realize you don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a car that’s different. It’s the car that taught me that cars can be interesting without being extraordinary. I put 100,000 miles on my Saab in three years before the transmission went out, and it was so expensive to replace that it made perfect financial sense to sell it and buy a Fiat 500 Abarth. Of the literally dozens of cars I have owned the Saab is the one I remember most fondly.

[@STOLerant]

It's now an Alfa Romeo dealership, as I realized the other day. I would go to that same SAAB dealership to check out the new models. Not ashamed to admit they knew me by name lol.

[@mndlessdrwer]

I test drove one of those. It was a really nice and quirky car. I didn't end up buying it because the cost of running premium in a car that only had FWD and relatively poor fuel economy wasn't really something I relished the thought of. Having said that, I think it was the only car for which I've ever just sat in it and felt that I knew where every corner of the car was from the first encounter. It also had quite a good turning radius if my memory is correct.

[@ole-mariusbergesen7818]

Yeah... You bought a opel Vectra

[@LeeGHThomas]

​@@ole-mariusbergesen7818 A rose by any other name is still a rose. While it may have been a European GM chassis, it was actually the Saab drivetrain that the opel rebadged not the other way around. Irregardless the 9-3 was a unique vehicle in North America considering the opel and Cadillac BTS were never offered here.

[@Bongofurry]

Worked with a guy in the 80's that was so into the brand he actually visited the plant watch his vehicle being built and drove it around Minnesota like he found the automotive answer to everything. Great job on the story..😊

[@rdsyafriyar]

"Think about it: has a Saab ever jumped a red light or tailgated you on the motorway? Have you ever seen a Saab being driven in anything other than a considerate and stealthy fashion? No, and neither have I. This is because the sort of people who are drawn to this image-free environment are the sort of people who don't use their subconscious to drive. They know that to do it properly they have to concentrate, absolutely, on the job in hand. So they do." - Jeremy Clarkson

[@mndlessdrwer]

Part of the reason I never fell in love with the 9-3 I test drove. I liked it, and it was a unique and quirky little car, but it just wasn't for me, at least at the time. Nowadays I can appreciate them and lament that GM was too short-sighted in killing off the brand. The very last generation of cars from them, even while more heavily influenced by GM, are something special.

[@TheHonestTruth]

@@mndlessdrwer should of driven the aero. Completely different animal. Especially the 06. (Yes, i had one, 320 hp)

[@mndlessdrwer]

@@TheHonestTruth Potentially. I saw that some of them came in V6 options with AWD, which does sound quite promising.

[@chesterwsmith]

My first car was a Saab 900 NG and I've been driving only Saabs for close to 20 years now, never a single incident or ticket, they feel totally under the radar. Kids don't try to race me, cops don't look twice, and really nobody seems to have an opinion of it other than other Saab drivers, and even some of them don't acknowledge it. I have the 9-3 Aero with V6 and AWD now, it does feel like an enthusiasts car and it's a joy to drive every day. I honestly don't know what I'll replace it with when that day comes.

[@kamikazemelon787]

I had a 94 Saab 9000 Aero when I was 25 until about three years ago - It was incredible. All of the electrics worked, leather interior, sunroof, power everything, and 225hp peak but 200tq at 2000RPM!!! B234R is one of the best engines ever made, look up people taking 9000 Aeros to 500+ hp. Felt super quick considering how heavy it was, but it was also a luxury 4dr sedan when it was new. $2k when I bought it :)

[@jizburg]

As a swede, i thank you for this epic tale. Brought a tear to my eye.

[@jamesschlueter8285]

Sweden is so beautiful. In 1986 We picked up our 900T SPG in Gothenburg on European delivery. The people of Sweden were absolutely lovely and we loved every minute of seeing the country. After a long day we collected the car and we’re traveling to our first tour stop. We stopped at a small restaurant where my wife and I got the Swedish meatball lunch. Our traveling companions wanted hamburgers. When the meals were served everyone realized that they should have the meatballs! They were so great!

[@jizburg]

@@jamesschlueter8285 glad to hear you had a good experience :)

[@nicklasveva]

Only one? Pffft. I shed at least 6 tears.

[@indigenousnorwegianeuropa4145]

Saab 900 Turbo🇳🇴🤝🇸🇪

[@tonycruise]

what a SAAB story lol

[@blahmooblah789]

I think a 3 hour long documentary on SAAB is exactly what this Monday needs. Thank you!

[@joels7605]

I think I'll go watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy now.

[@nowake]

:scrolls back up to video: YOU'RE KIDDING ME

[@nathaniel7828]

The first car I ever bought with my own money was a 2005 Saab 9-5 Arc Wagon. I was just fascinated with it. The valve cover gaskets leaked and the rear passenger strut was destroyed but I still drove and hour and a half to buy it for $800. I dumped money into it to keep it alive. The power steering pump, the alternator, cv axels, tires, etc. not because it was unreliable but because it was old. I loved driving it. The turbo made it so damn fast. And I moved my entire apartment into my first house with it. December of 2021 the secondary gas pump started to leak and the lines leading to it. I finally got it to a repair shop in the spring, just to be told that it’s rear sub frame was completely gone and not worth saving. It sits in my garage, waiting for me to get the cash to fix it and to find a person willing to work on it. I love this car to death and I want to cry just thinking about letting it go. Thank you for this.

[@JoeBilello1969]

Buy a cheap welder and get to work my boy, it ain't all that hard, just replace whatever it is that you cut out😊

[@5yearshed]

Never sell it and lesrn to fix it yourself

[@BirdNoise77]

Luckily there's options. You could learn to fix it yourself, like others are saying. If you really don't feel confident in your welding ability I probably wouldn't do that though. The other option is this: saabnet (it's a website) has a page for dedicated qnd verified saab mechanics, sorted by state. Find your closest mechanic and give em a call. The nice thing about owning a saab is that there's a wonderful consumer base, all of whom are dedicated to keeping these wonderful cars on the road. Good luck :)

[@STASlayer]

A Saab 900 saved my life and my Dad’s life when I was younger. I will always have the utmost respect for this brand and its commitment to making cars safer.

[@stoneylonesome4062]

SAAB was a lot like the Citroën of Sweden.

[@curttaylor7841]

I can firsthand comment on that seat of the pants experience DUI 100 mph into a guardrail flipped over slid on top what seemed forever sparks no glass left road rash almost broken back dislocated mangled left elbow popped it back in myself my friend and I walked away 1980 Saab 900 turbo had a 78 engine no turbo

[@stevenfromer3816]

I had the same experience.

[@howardkahn4330]

YOUR NUTS!

[@TrossOfTheAlba]

What a remarkable achievement this podcast is. I've owned a Saab for 20 years. As the only owner, I obviously have heaps of pride in the vehicle. Your storytelling gives me just as much pride in the brand and its history. Thank you to you and your researchers for a jaw dropping amount of work.

[@the_cheese]

We still have a Saab dealer here in Portland, Oregon (Garry Small Saab) who maintains a stock of gently used Saabs for sale, as well as a full service department with genuine Saab parts. Thanks for this epic (seriously, EPIC) tale of Saab, Roman; great work!!

[@LimitedTimeRoman]

Thank you!

[@jorgepeat5750]

I was gonna mention this, glad to see someone already has!

[@TheDumpbin]

I'm surprised the antifa haven't burned it down yet. Maybe this summer....Portland is a national laughing stock. Couldn't pay me to live there.

[@brutalbasspro]

I got my 900 there back in 2010 wish I still had that car.

[@Channelscruf]

I worked there in the 80’s and 90’s. Great guy and dealership. Garry still races and I believe he is 80!

[@giuliog7371]

Bought a 1999 SAAB 9-3 on the day this video was uploaded. Started doing research on the car and found this video. I had no clue this brand had such an interesting history and huge cult following. I simply bought a cheap car that looked incredibly cool. Now I'm a die hard SAABER!! Excited to be part of this community 🖖🏼

[@KeineHobbysHaber2009]

Welcome, and bring your friends 😁

[@Noob2Ever]

It's always nice to see my hometown of Trollhättan in this, and if you ever go there I highly highly recommend visiting the SAAB Museum we got. Thanks for this awesome video.

[@LimitedTimeRoman]

I would absolutely lose my mind. Hell, I'd be excited going to the Museum in South Dakota. But to go to Trollhättan would be like some sort of wonderful dream.

[@martinvrabel5513]

How has the town recovered after the closure if I may ask?

[@Noob2Ever]

@@LimitedTimeRoman If you ever go, I recommend going around 14-18 July, since usually around 15-17 July is when we have the so called "Fallens Dagar" known as "The Waterfall Days" in English is where we hold a festival all around town as we release the water through our waterfall plants. It's quite a spectacle for such a small town with fireworks and everything. We don't have that much tourist attractions but both the waterfalls, the water-lock Café (recommend the shrimp and egg sandwich) at the river and the SAAB museum is some of the highlights of our little town.

[@Noob2Ever]

@@martinvrabel5513 It was rough for a couple of years, as it was a nasty bankruptcy. Due to debt and mishandling of funds many people never got paid their salaries for the leading up months. My dad's wife who was a consultant to SAAB at the time had racked up 5 months of unpaid salaries (dont ask me how that worked) and she never got a dime, even as the bankruptcy finally finished. The CEO of course left with a good bonus of several million swedish kronor of course. Now, several other industries have bought up the factory space and made it their own, we've had GKN etc but recently a company is investing large sums of money in Trollhättan to build a battery factory so things might be looking up. The unfortunate thing is that we had a lot of very talented factory workers, engineers and just good folk at the SAAB plant who most now are either retired or never worked in the automotive industry again. That's why Trollhättan is now mostly a commuter town for Göteborg (Gothenburg) and more and more office oriented work is becoming the main stay here. It's a shame, we've even had cultural comedians make their sketches at the SAAB factory and about our town in general. Everyone took SAAB's end really poorly, so did we with Volvo Aero who was before GKN. The town isn't in bad shape nowadays but it was rough when it happened, especially with how overall poor the economy was. I'm not a factory worker, nor do I got any interest to work in the automotive field but it was a point of pride to be able to say "Yes, my town not only built airplane engines but some of the best cars in the world." Not so much anymore.

[@hendo337]

I always thought it would be funny if the symbol of Trollhattan was the Troll face meme with a hat.

[@CarDietrich]

"Share your Saab Memories in the comments." Unfortunately there are not enough keys on this keyboard. I've had five of them, wrecked two of them, and had untold amounts of fun and life within their confines. I think that Saab, as it existed when it was independent, could no longer exist today regardless of what happened. Saab to me represents a sort of purity that you really can't find anymore. They did things the way they did them, because they thought and believed (with good reason) that was the way things should be. Were the cars perfect? Of course not. Were they well-made? Were they safe? Were they reliable? Were they fun to drive? Were they practical? God yes. Saab tried harder than they absolutely had to. Not due to the pressures of the marketplace, but do to a pride and belief that they were doing it the right way. We are worse off without them. Not because we can't buy new Saabs anymore, but because we have built a world where a company that did things the way Saab did them cannot feasibly stay in business. A car company cannot exist on one or two models that can be bought and driven for 300,000 miles at a time. They need platform sharing and seven different unibody SUVs that all drive the same and lease programs and CPO programs and planned obsolescence. One of the things I inherited from my old man when he passed away last September was a 1989 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible. When he first bought it he said it would be his last car. He wasn't bullshittin'.

[@CaptainZG]

bravo great comment, you saved me a lot of typing thank you !!! I have been Saab driver/owner all my life ( cca 50 years) until two years ago when circumstances forced me to continue living without any Saabs in my garage... they were great cars, loved "real" Saabs ( before GM ) much more but even my 9-3 and 9-5 cars were a lot of fun and pleasure to drive. Miss all my Sabbs a lot.....

[@65bu57]

All of my saab memories are bad ones. I worked in a European auto repair shop for 10 years. Nothing redeemable to me about these piles of “uniqueness”

[@worawatli8952]

I bought my Saab 9000 used, it is my first car, and i want it to be my last car, I plan that if the engine is busted and petrol price goes insane, I will make it electric. But now I'll just use it as it, it is bone stock and was very well taken care of, I don't drive that often, like, weekly. So the 9000 is perfect car for me, it cost less for me to spend more on petrol and maintenance cost on the Saab than buying a new car and not driving it much.

[@AlanStryman]

​@@worawatli8952 hey! same story here bought my saab 900turbo with some minor modification to suit a more modern use i hope its my last car

[@noth606]

The first car I distinctly remember, and very well at that, was my mothers SAAB 900 EMS which she had for so long that it's the first car I distinctly remember from my early childhood, and the first car I ever drove. RIP, it is one of the most distinct brands I have a lot of memories to die in the wave of 'conform or die' that happened in the 80s and 90s.

[@tonyq4358]

I own 3 9-3s at the moment. I was aware of the brand when I was a kid but didn't know too much about it. I was working my first job as a teenager and my boss had a red 04 9-3 Aero in pristine condition. I was cleaning the windows of the store one day and he let me take it for a test drive, I thought it was the perfect car for me at the time and knew I wanted to buy one. It was quick, looked nice, and underrated. It was the underdog and that really appealed to me. I searched and searched till I found my 04 Aero, and while it hasn't been without its issues, it eventually led me to make friendships online with other Saab people, which led me to find jobs and eventually career. Since then, I've been the guy that people call when they need help or programming. Where I once knew nothing about cars, I now have a tremendous amount of not just car but life experience to share because of these cars.

[@GeekyFast]

Driving a 1988 500 Turbo SPG was one of my greatest chapters in my life! I still tear up and reminisce about that beautiful black 3 door hatchback!

[@steveaugustine5832]

Great lookin cars !!!

[@JS-pondering_reality]

There are so many reasons to be impressed by this video: The correct pronunciations of difficult Scandinavian/European Names and places; The detailed and painful clusterfuck of an ending of a trailblazing company that gave so much but was ultimately thought of as worthless; Their history and their technical insight, but to name a few. Thank you on behalf of all Saab owners, as regretful as we are at the demise of our beloved brand, we remain devoted to the cause. Once you are bitten by the Saab bug, you won't ever be free (not that you won't too). I have learnt so much that I didn't know, so many blanks have been filled in, and to sit through over 3 1/2 hrs of video whilst remaining enthralled, never bored is testament to your ability to engage your audience. I am on my 3rd Saab, having had a 9-3 Vector Sport 2.0T convertible, A 9-3 linear TTiD SE convertible I am now restoring a 9-3 Aero TTiD salon, as I said once bitten...... As sad as I am this video has made my day. Thank You.

[@testkanal2mille]

Except that he butchered the German town "Rüsselsheim". It should be "rüssels heim", basically meaning "home of rüssel"

[@noth606]

You should try to get a try at least to drive the earlier SAAB's, after the 9000 they weren't really the same. The most fun car I've ever driven was a 99 Turbo, it was outrageously fun to drive, and the handling was so good that I drove it often far faster than I think you could drive anything else safely, and it never felt even close to being dangerous, and this was on snow covered ice.

[@noth606]

@@testkanal2mille He butchered a bunch of things, SCANIA is not SCONIA for instance.

[@catonehere]

GM

[@hobojon44]

gm bought saab and bleed it

[@chartreux1532]

German & Historian (Institute of Contemporary German History, Munich) here, i'm glad to see you continue to create Videos on the History of Cars. I always watch the Reviews until your Video a while ago on Volkswagen which included a lot of History and while that Video had 2-3 Mistakes (which is impressive from someone who both isn't a German Speaker nor a Historian!) it was a great watch and i was surprised about certain Details you added that most leave out of their Videos on the same Topic, making me hope to see you continue creating Videos with a Focus on History. Can't wait to watch this one and especially seeing the Length (the longer the better when it comes to a historical Topic) Prost & Cheers from Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps (yes, Germans do capitalise a lot of Words and i still didn't get used to not doing that when i write in english, unless it's a Paper i write in english)

[@aspectcarl]

I owned two SAAB's in the UK, firstly a metallic green M94 900 with the V6, comfortable, with a stylish interior and a great boot(trunk). A largely disappointing car noise and handling wise. Written off after an accident I replaced it with a black 9000 2.3 aero, a far more enjoyable and exciting car to drive. The 9000 would happily break traction at 60mph and spin up the left front wheel in second gear if the throttle was mashed into the carpet. A massive 4 seater with deep dished 3 spoke alloys from the factory and nick named by our eldest as "Hot wheels Harry" when she saw him for the first time. A car I truly loved.

[@sandasturner9529]

Hot wheels Harry. Good naming sense.

[@LimitedTimeRoman]

Hot Wheels Harry is an incredible name. Seriously.

[@chrisdavidson911]

non-UK people; M94 is a 1994 car, which would have had the letter M at the start of the number plate. Edit; apparently this is incorrect, but if i delete it the comment stream might not make sense

[@chrisdavidson911]

admittedly i've never been in a 900NG, but they never had the feel of being a proper replacement for the big bumper ones

[@catsaretasty]

Your not smoking the tires at 60 mph in your '94 saab.old geezer

[@charmcitytoe]

Thanks!

[@sparky6086]

In the late 1970's, there was an old hermit who lived in a small house, next to my high school in the US. He had two Saab Sonnet III's and a Bricklin in his driveway. He had no garage or carport. It was a bit of a mystery. Never knew, what happened to him or his cars. Presumably he died alone, and the cars were sold with the estate. Don't know, if he had any family? No one seemed to know him, or what he'd done for a living. In fact, no one would have ever noticed his house which was not only small but partially obscured by trees, except that it had the unusual cars in the driveway. ...If the cars gave him joy, I suppose, that's all that mattered.

[@sparky6086]

@@bullbutter2931 ...I'll have to admit, I can't throw any stones. In my older years, I've ended up a hermit in the middle of the woods, in the middle of nowhere. ...At least, he remained in the proximity of civilization and had two Sonnet III's & a Bricklin!

[@danbolton3180]

We all die alone. Dying in your sleep is the best way to go.

[@Thegonagle]

@@danbolton3180 Not everybody dies asleep or alone. For example, my grandmother died peacefully in her sleep, but the passengers in her car weren’t so lucky.

[@SURENITY]

@@Thegonagle Damn.

[@luisvelasco316]

@@SURENITY Old joke, but it still sneaks up on me!

[@kjprettyboi99]

I appreciate your hard work in making this video . I’ve own a 2012 Saab 9-5 and always felt like that it was one of the most uniquely designed cars ever made . Thank you for your time

[@yaboi5047]

Great work on this long form, nice to hear Romans voice as well. in the 80s, before Subaru became the Colorado car of choice, Saabs were everywhere in boulder. Not sure how much cross over between rcr and donut media, but I love that you both exist in KZbin.

[@glypnir]

My parents had a 1972 SAAB 99E. It was the best of cars and the worst of cars. It seemed to me that it had the perfect user interface, with all the controls perfectly proportioned, not too sensitive, not too anesthetized, with gentle feedback, not brutal, not effete. The suspension was supple without being soft. This may have been somewhat due to the fact that I was a new driver and the other vehicles I was learning in were a 1967 Dodge van and a 1973 Galaxie 500. It was the worst of cars. By 40K miles it had needed rebuilds on both the engine and transaxle. In addition it had experienced and intermittent short which would randomly discharge the battery. It spent several days and nights at the dealer with a short detector wired up. It had a fancy high tech hydraulic hose for the hydraulic clutch which allegedly didn't need hose clamps. This popped of twice. After the second time, a hose clamp miraculously appeared. The freewheel was still installed on this version, which was handy with no clutch. You had to start it with the starter with the clutch engaged, but then you could just lift off the gas pedal for all shifts until you had to stop again. The most fun bug was that the Bosch electronic fuel injection had an extra set of points, presumably for position and RPM information. Somehow it could run without then when they broke, but it was degraded. The main effect was that at idle it would start to die, then gun the engine. This was amusing, especially when my 40-something mother was driving. Now she was a car nut whose favorite vehicle was the original Mini Cooper. When I was 7 she did read me the names of all the cars we came upon. But stoplight grand prix was not her style. When that thing worked is was the sweetest of cars. But too often, it didn't work.

[@tobyhogan6207]

Had a 1991 Saab 900i while I was stationed in Italy (2002-2006). The absolute best vehicle I have ever owned. It drove great and was very reliable. I would love to have that car today.

[@alexcr5276]

Day 4 of watching this masterpiece. I'm taking my time to watch it and actually pay attention to the details. Being 30 I have a vague memory of SAABs when they were sold here in Mexico. The 2000's Saab 9-3 has a special place in my memories, and learning about the brand's history through your video has been a wonderful experience. It's always sad to see a car manufacturer vanish into history; every single one of them has printed their steps in popular culture, in one way or other.

[@s.d.3236]

As a sign of how great saabs really are, there were about 300 (almost entirely 35-40 years old) of them at the carlisle import car show a few weeks ago. That's out of ~1200 cars total.

[@pistonburner6448]

When the owners don't possess the physical strength to press the throttle more than 1/3 of the way, they tend to last.

[@saab-xq8lc]

@@pistonburner6448 haha

[@charlesearle8414]

These stories are always super well-made, I always love seeing them. Much as the "life and death of ___" series might seem repetitive, I'd love to see a "Life and death* of Lancia". It's technically alive, but barely, and it's got a really cool history going back to even the 20s

[@einpercy825]

Just being 17 minutes in, I know this is gonna be one of the best videos I'll ever see on KZbin. Period. Thank you for producing this.

[@KoHoSo65]

As somebody that has written and narrated long pieces for radio, I give this my absolute highest compliments. There's a lot of documentaries on "real" TV channels that are nowhere near as good as this was in the quality and presentation of the words. I can only wonder what could be done if RCR had the budget to find and use historic footage to match the stories.

[@danielhausmann3177]

Amazing y’all have done one for Saab. My favorite car brand since I was a toddler and my parents had one. Haven’t even watched this one and know I will love it. My 9000, 900, 95 aero wagon, all great cars and my goal is to one day restore a sash for myself, and both of my parents.

[@edwardj.birdie2175]

Having owned both AMC and a SAAB vehicles, I can say that your video story / histories are exceptionally informative, enlightening, educational AND entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed them. Please continue your exceptional work. Also congrats and kudos to your hard-working team.

[@jkoepis]

I was raised in a Saabist family. If there was a need for a new car, it was going to be a Saab. I have a vivid memory of asking my parents why we had to have a Saab and not some other car that was around the same price. I was answered vaguely, but the point was that the cars were understated but amazing quality, ”they have qualities other cars don’t have”. I didn’t get it back then, but boy do I get it now.

[@user-pt1ow8hx5l]

Sounds like asking why we are Christians. In a Christian family. If it was in the seventies then Saab's had steely side impact protection and a solid cabin. 25 years before it became mandatory. With euro-tests.....

[@DoctorCalabria]

I just wanted to acknowledge and thank you and your team for all your hard work on this wonderful documentary.

[@OnTheWorkbench]

Wow, thank you; his should be nominated for an Emmy. As a Saab loyalist you did an amazing job eulogizing a brand I fell in love with t as a child, and continue to use as my daily driver.

[@robertleivonen6116]

A huge thank you for such a comprehensive history on Saab. You and your team have put in a huge effort for such a niche subject - rather like the Saab company itself. Cheers, a 1991 Saab 900 5 door owner.

[@signwaveslandmarks]

I'm only a third of the way in but I already have to congratulate you on this. I've loved each of these stories so far and this seems to be even more elaborate and fascinating. Apart from the insane level of detail and research in your writing, I love your narration. I'm in a quite nervous state right now and this is what I needed. Your narration manages to calm me down and lets me focus on he topic instead of my own thoughts more than anything else could. Thank you. Amazing work! Oh, and the way so say "End quote." in these videos is just amazing. It elevates each and every quote to a realm of otherworldly profoundness. "My farts are weapons. My truck doesn't need a horn. I'm not allowed onto airplanes cause the windows might burst." "End quote."

[@ContemplativeCat]

I didn't really know anything about SAAB before watching this. In a few hours I've gone from not knowing anything about what I simply saw as a quirky and unusual brand, to someone who not only now knows something about SAAB, but perhaps more importantly, understands SAAB, when I didn't at all before. As a result I really felt the pain and tragedy of SAAB's demise. 😢 Thank you for putting the time and effort it must have taken to put this together.

[@sparky6086]

I remember Dad's artist friend, Edith, had a Saab 96 in the 1960's & '70's. I think, that it was a 1960 model, which she bought new. It had a 2 stroke engine & freewheeling clutch. It road very smooth for a small car. It was completely reliable, back when few people expected any car to be. I remember thinking, that it must be a hassle having to make sure, that she put oil in the gas, I was just a young kid, so I didn't realize, that it really wasn't any trouble. I imagine, that most of the engine failures resulting in a warranty claims came from people loaning their Saab to a friend or relative, then that person failing to put oil in the gas. That's certainly been the fate of many boat motors over the years! I was intrigued, that it was front wheel drive, as that was unusual in the US at the time. It never once broke down.

[@markmiller3279]

That generation of Saab was popular with artsy sorts, long before the turbo models gave the brand performance credentials outside the rallying world. I once knew a set designer who drove a 96.

[@johncoughtrey8383]

I have a 1938 Rover 16 Sports Soloon. It's good to know that SAAB also had this device.

[@ErikTS]

My family has had Saabs for over 50 years. From my great-grandparents to me, we've had almost all of the models starting with the 96 (no 9-2x or 9-7x). I still daily drive a 9-5 wagon with almost 180k miles now. It will be difficult to eventually replace. Thank you for the excellent video on the brand, I always appreciate new Saab content!

[@hoppysport2872]

Erik...great sentiments! I often think about what I'll do if my 2008 9-5 with 125,000 miles needs a major, expensive repair. To date since new, I've spent a total of $5,028 on all labor, parts, fluids, batteries, tires...everything. That's $359 per year. I recently asked my independent SAAB Master Tech what the cost of a used Aisin AW55 transmission and labor was. He said about $2,200. My 9-5 might only be worth $5,000, but it's worth a lot more to me. I know the car and it's history. Honestly, I'm more than willing to invest even $5,000 in parts and labor. The car is long paid for, so it would be akin to paying $5,000 for a new car...at least for me.

[@ErikTS]

@@hoppysport2872 completely agree about keeping the car on the road. I just checked my spreadsheet, and since it came off warranty when new, I/we have spent over $20k on maintenance on the 9-5 wagon alone, not adjusting for inflation...

[@hoppysport2872]

@@ErikTS Wow, that seems like a lot. Are those dealer labor and parts prices? My $5,028 is from independent SAAB Master Tech. Plus they let me buy my parts, which is a huge savings. In 125,000 miles I've replaced 2 DICs, 2 Throttle Bodies, a PCV Valve, hoses, a Heater Bypass Valve delete, subframe bushings, shocks, struts, exhaust including two mufflers, bulbs (thankfully halogen) 2 batteries, a few rear bulbs, control arms, 2 sets of front rotors/pads and one rear set, 2 sets of wiper blades, one set of motor mounts, one front transmission mount, 1 mirror switch, and four green window rollers. I was lucky to find 3 SAAB Master Techs...all with incredible knowledge. My current one drives me to a Panera Bread if it's going to be long and I enjoy lunch, go online and do work on my notebook.

[@ErikTS]

@@hoppysport2872 yeah, over the last 16 years it has only ever had service at two different saab dealers.

[@barryervin8536]

When I saw that this was over 3 1/2 hours long I thought, I'll never get through it all, I just don't have the patience for things like that anymore. 3 1/2 hours later I'm wishing there was more. I'm going on Ebay to shop for an old SAAB now. Thanks!

[@MrGaryGG48]

Barry, just be careful that you choose a "Pre-GM" model. I suspect that would already be what you're looking for but GM's history with the global automobile industry hasn't been anything to brag about. What with their run through European, English, and Australian brands, GM has pretty well trashed those brands before either closing them or selling off the remaining scraps. I bought a new 1979 SAAB 99 EMS, 2 door sedan that, to me was a Swedish BMW 2002. The performance and handling, in spite of the front wheel drive, was very similar, but it was far more comfortable than the BMW. One thing that always gave me a chuckle, was when my wife would drive me to work in the morning and take the car for the day, she always was annoyed that the heated driver's seat would shut off before she got to drive the car! It wasn't a quick car but it was a very good fast cruiser. It made many smooth 100+ mph runs through the Southern California deserts with no drama. The passengers had no idea just how fast we had been moving until they happened to notice what time we arrived at our destination.

[@barryervin8536]

@@MrGaryGG48 Yeah, I wouldn't touch any GM SAAB, might as well buy a Chevy. I had a 71 99 and a 78 99 EMS. The 78 needed a 5 speed trans badly, but other than that I really liked it. I owned it for over 6 months before I realized it had heated seats, on the first cold morning on my way to work. I was a tech at a BMW dealership at the time (Certified Master BMW Tecnician, LOL!) and you couldn't give me a BMW 2002, or a 320i either for that matter.

[@AlphanumericCharacters]

I watched a couple RCR videos. Not my bag. I fell asleep a few hours ago and the algorithm decided to play this video. A 3.5 hour Saab fever dream. I feel some kind of way.

[@ChrisCam84]

I have lived and breathed Saab since I was 16 years old and have owned every model from the classic 900 to the NG9-3. I still have 3, 7 if you count all the Saabs in my family that I look after. I took the death of Saab almost as hard as losing a parent. It was so painful to see the brand get these glimpses of hope over and over just to have it ultimately fizzle out. I love these cars and will always have one in my garage.

[@MrJommins]

This is one of the greatest car videos of all time. I’ve watched it over and over again and I learned something new every time incredible reporting and conclusions Roman.

[@Fordguy02]

I enjoyed this and it brings back memories of the Top Gear segment done on Saab. I think the car world is worse off without the brand. It’s hard to speculate but maybe if the Ford deal had happened the brand would still be around just like other other brands Ford once had.

[@wollaminfaetter]

Worth every minute. Much new info, even for me - who have owned a few SAAB's and even worked at the plant in Trollhättan in a previous millennium. I worked there at the time GM entered, it was kinda sad times.

[@HermesT93]

Listening to this while doing maintenance on my 99' 93 this morning before it gets to hot out. My swedish shit box was the first car I felt enthusiastic about and love it even if it's a pain sometimes. Truly fun to drive anywhere at any speed, still surprised with it's sleeper ability.

[@jdub117]

Thanks! Here's $30. The L & D of SAAB was wonderful. Being of Swedish ancestry, the story saddened me and made me long for my last 9-5 Aero or my first 9EMS. - Jon Walgren

[@jasonvaughn3478]

Holy hell, 3 1/2 hours! I have a long drive next week, so I’ll be saving this one. Looking forward to it.

[@SonnyGTA]

I’ve been watching this on and off and it looks fantastic! I’m gonna wake up early watch the whole thing tomorrow!!

[@RyanBowie1]

I remember when I was little, my dad (the man who introduced me to being an auto enthusiast) would get excited when we saw a SAAB and tell me about their fighter jet history and how their dashes and gauge clusters were styled after fighter jets, and id listen in awe about it. Thanks for the amazing video!

[@MsLampalampa]

30 minutes in I realized it was over 3 hours damn. Good job you must love this brand

[@techpassion4126]

I didn't really care that much about Saab for a long while as a kid, not because they're bad but simply because their presence in Malaysia was non-existent. However, I remember seeing the last 9-5 they made on Top Gear Magazine and even had the opportunity to see it twice over here on our streets! I still think it's an absolutely gorgeous car. As a young teenager I really wanted one, and was so sad to find out the company went bust before I could even have the chance. After that I watched a ton of videos on Saab and just fell in love with their cars and what I missed out on. And now I'm gonna see this video, thanks Roman! TLDR: I was too young to know about Saab much but fell in love the more I learned about them after the company went out, really looking forward to hear their story!

[@Techcycles]

Thank you so much for honoring SAAB, one of the brands i grew up learning about being proud of as a swede. So many thanks...you did a great Job ❤

[@Spheredalai]

even after the death of Saab, the fanbase is still going strong and stronger!!!

[@dreamypablo]

Just wanted to say thanks roman...i download these three hour ones and watch and listen from florida to denver and back... its perfect timing and.very well done.... 🙌...they are run to watch again and again... so just wanted to say thanks... the amc one was awesome... saab has always been under rated....

[@La-yt1wr]

I didn’t know about Saab until back in 2011 when I first saw a 9-4X at a airport when I was 11 years old. The NG 9-5 was oddly a dream car of mine, luckily I found a 2011 9-5 Aero as a birthday gift when I was 18. It’s now a secondary car but it’s a very special car even though it’s based on the Epsilon 2 platform which is one of the better FWD based GM platforms at the time. I am learning more about Saab’s past models and aviation, but the final era of Saab is what caught my attention. The saddest thing about the discontinuation of Saab was that the NG 9-5, 9-4X was short lived, NG 9-5 SportCombi never came to the US, spy shot of a unfinished clay model of the next generation of the 9-3 never came to production.

[@ErikBeckner93]

I prefer the OG 9-5s but man. Them 2011 still look so modern in 2022. Beautiful car man, I hope you keep it on the road. Only way it could look better is as a wagon.

[@rapu4]

NG 9-5's are so pretty. I've got two OG 9-5's, but I'd sure love a 2011 9-5 Turbo6 XWD one day. SportCombis are essentially unobtainable. I will likely never see one on the road. As far as I know, there are less than ten roadgoing NG 9-5 SportCombis in the world, with less than 25 ever being made with at least 5 being destroyed in crash testing. I know that some NG9-5's have been converted into wagons however.

[@tommyholden602]

This is amazing - Thank You for this. I'll help promote this for the SAAB convention next month in South Dakota (especially as a 3x SAAB owner over the last 10 years.)

[@Schumanized]

Wow!! i saw the whole thing. As a Saab fan i thank you for this. Not everyone knows these cars or their history. You guys always deliver🙏🏾.

[@robertlaporta862]

This is hands down the BEST retrospective of SAAB I have ever seen. Thank you, my brother of a different mother.

[@MrJommins]

Yes! Buddy i can’t wait to near this! I owned a 1987 900 Turbo Coupe and every single part was so incredibly expensive that I had to sell it. It drove great! But it was plagued with little things that I was constantly having to fix. Perfect example was a turbo vacuum hose that would love to pop off while driving which would disable the turbo. I didna clutch once it it costs almost three thousand dollars! A starter cost me eighteen hundred! However, when I think back about this car I always remember how great it drove and handled. Also the rear seats folded down and the cargo area was huge! I loved my Saab. I miss the idea of having a Saab, but I would never buy another one because repairs were so extremely expensive. Thanks Roman for this video. I flippin’ love your work!!!

[@ijskolibrietje]

I've seen a movie in which the Saab 900 turbo featured a big role, it was called "Drive My Car" I'd recommend it if you're into Murakami.

[@AdventureShock]

Modern 9-3 and OG 9-5 aren't that bad. The cars are in junkyards all the time. You can buy everything from esaab

[@bn9983]

Nicely done Roman this was so well done and so worth the wait. Keep up the great work.

[@brandoncarlson340]

Thanks RCR for making these types of in-depth documentaries

[@RegularandRoman]

Thank you for watching them!

[@LegendFromWoW]

There's several motivational bits in this video about overcoming problems life throws at you. Very well done video; glad to see it!

[@roxiebeagle]

I had to watch this over 2 days. I am so glad you allowed this video to be as long as it is- that way you could cover everything. You did great!

[@davebtf]

Fantastic video! I listened to this over a few days driving to and from work and this morning on the way in while I was listening I ended up behind a silver 93 convertible. I often see Saabs on the roads in Ireland and I was saddened when the company folded as I have appreciated them since I was driven around in one over a weekend with a school friend and his father in the early 90's. It was so different inside and out to my parents 87 Ford Seirra that it stuck in my mind ever since. I haven't driven a Saab but I very much want to after watching this video. Thank you so much for making it!

[@rhyslegge]

Awesome story. I owned a "real" '87 900 base, 8 valve non-turbo, 3 speed auto. Slow as snail but tons of personality. There is a Saab collector/service business in New Castle, DE that owns a myriad of rare Saabs including one of the six original Sonnet 1's. Really cool place to visit, the owner did historic rallies in it!

[@DK-nv9zu]

Job well done Roman! This was a great story told by you and your research team. Thanks for making this and helping to preserve Saab.

[@k_hristov27]

Well done RCR! Another great story, written in a great way! British Leyland or Lancia will be a good go too.

[@markmiller3279]

Lancia just ended up part of the Fiat conglomerate and then Stellantis, like all Italian cars seem doomed to be. Fiat used the brand off and on over the years, and Stellantis may dust it off again one of these days.

[@stoneylonesome4062]

Perhaps they could do a “What happened to” series for various brands that lost their charm/quality/appeal, (Nissan, Lancia, Citroën, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler)

[@dwtn81]

Watching cars being built all day, your videos are a true companion. Thanks for another history lesson!😉

[@pontiacGXPfan]

Saab's life: factory turbo engines before they became standard issue in everything Saab's death: Putting their future in the hands of a company with an insular and arrogant belief in its approach to the industry

[@SuperMcgenius]

Best video I have seen on Saab.

[@DurocShark]

Glad to see you do Saab. I've had 6 of them over the years, and always loved them.

[@aarons6730]

Tremendous effort. Can't imagine the amount of time this video took. Great story and great presentation.

[@Sysiphos]

Some notes from a current Valmet Automotive employee, firstly it't pronounced Walmet not Falmet. There actually is a biography made of Greta Molander, but it's in Norwegian so have fun with that. The first 99 finlandia was a one-off for the president Kekkonen but there were more lengthened 99:s and 900:s made later. Saab-Valmet produced 96 and 95 before the 99 and as you mentioned later made mostly convertibles. There were some funky variants developed in Finland, like one running on kerosene for tax reasons (like in the simpsons gag that was referenced in the Trabant video) and a unique 9000 with a saab V8 that was planned for the american market before the GM merger buried the project.

[@NavionPilot]

The V8 was an in-house concoction of 2 B204s joined at the crank. I read an interview, and later found a video of the engineers (in Swedish) describing it as "a hoot to drive", and apparently they had the speeding tickets to prove it.

[@janiverster6162]

Man, what a story! Have a lot more appreciation for our two SAAB's now, both still purring. Greetings from Cape Town.

[@MA9494AM]

The body design of the SAAB 92 was based on a Husqvarna concept from 1943. Although the Husqvarna was a three-wheeler and never came to be built even as a prototype. Even the 9-5 is becoming rare here now, many are still left in their home town but according to family member commuting past they do end up stranded on the motorway sometimes..... Many engineers went to Volvo/Polestar/CEVT after SAAB and we might not have gotten the kombi-kupé design on the Polestar 2 if SAAB had not went bust.

[@driveman4588]

This is an unbelievable documentary about SAAB well done !!!

[@philipjohnsson7925]

I love RCR! This documentary is incredibly in depth and interesting. Fantastic work.

[@tomfagan8505]

Fantastic piece Roman, Really enjoyed this, over the last two nights listening at work. I’m now looking for saabs for sale haha.

[@ampinstein]

Truly an epic video which I enjoyed immensely. Had no idea about the Spyker twist.

[@jamesschlueter8285]

Congratulations on this definitive history of SAAB. This will be the historical reference of record about SAAB for a long long time. My family had five Saabs in the 80’s and 90’s and they registered hundreds of thousands of miles. Best built cars we’ve ever had. Not one engine or turbo failure even with just the oil cooled turbos. Our 9000 saved my wife when a fool pulled out in front of her while she was going 60 mph. The last one, my daily driver, a ‘86 900T gave up its life when a deer jumped out in front of me destroying the front and right side as it pirouetted down that side. I hardly even felt it and drove on to work. The SAAB club had some legendary meetings. I met Eric Carlsson, pa taket, (on the roof) at New Glarus, Wisconsin, where he was proud he found the hot tub where he could invite the girls to join him. At the convention at Kings Island I met David E Davis, Jr., our speaker. He was a true gentleman and car nut. I was part of the staff and I saw him arrive driving his car around the parking lot taking a long time looking at all the wonderful Saabs. He gave one of the best speeches I’ve ever heard. I’ll never forget the convention at the GM Heritage Center where we saw the historic Saabs. If we could do so today we would buy two new 900 Turbos without question.

[@NavionPilot]

The old APC system was fantastic! Instead of digitally manipulating fuel maps, there were about 4 adjustable potentiometers inside that you could adjust. It was also really easy transplant the APC system onto another engine; all you had to do was tap a threaded boss into the target engine's cylinder head for the knock sensor, and figure out a few taps on the turbo (inlet pressure, boost pressure, and a line to the vacuum operated blow off valve.

[@johnsmith-zv1lo]

i had one 900 turbo, driving and adjusting potentiometer so it spitted flames, good times !!

[@nathancook1404]

It was a good video you made! I'd had to take breaks from it for awhile and would get back right to it to finish watching it, Accouple years back I would findout about SAAB's discontinuation and I'd had no idea that it happened after the Bankruptcy with GM during the 2010's and I'm glad you shown some of the information on why SAAB was discontinued after GM's Bankruptcy and how bad investment was one of the things that slowly killed SAAB in the end. R.I.P. SAAB 1945-2016.

[@iLupi]

You know it’s going to be an amazing RCR documentary when it’s over 3 hours! Also: 1:18:00 when you weren’t laughing until it was mentioned because you were actually invested and focused on the turbo and torque explanations. 🤣

[@SnapRasta]

I inherited my dad's 2001 SAAB 9-5 3.0L Turbo earlier this year. I have been keeping it going in his memory because he loved that car. I never understood why he loved that car when I was younger but now that I have it I understand. Whenever I am driving around town I get people in newer more expensive cars look at it maybe not knowing what it is but others give me a thumbs up.

[@rhkips]

Beautifully written, amazingly presented, and a treat as always. Your efforts and attention to details show, and are very much appreciated. I had to take a few breaks in listening to take care of real life, but I'm glad I listened the whole way through. Thank you, Roman. :)

[@RegularandRoman]

That makes me so happy! It's such a privilege to be a part of your day.

[@Mindtrocity]

SAAB being lost pains my soul. This documentary is beyond excellent, but also heartwrenching. Thank you for it! My first 900 was a -88 or -89 but it was cursed with bad luck. First my mom struck a deer, although the car only needed minor bodywork and a new headlight. Then a pretty huge tree fell over it in a storm. Only needed minor bodywork and a new side window. Then in 70km/h I drove straight into the side of a Volvo 740 who ran a red light, which shortened my car by about 50cm, the engine pushed up in a 45 degree angle and the wheelhouses for the front wheels touching the tires. I was completely unblemished and the car still started and was drivable, so I got a police escort to drive it home (which was only about a km away), but this was not fixable and it's next owner was the local junk yard. Nowadays I drive my second 900, a -92, and I've had it for 16 years. I wouldn't be surprised if I still drive it 16 years from now. Best car I've ever driven in so many ways.

[@barryervin8536]

The difference between Saab and Pontiac or AMC is that Saab wasn't just like every other car but with a different grille and a different name on it. Saab was a clean sheet of paper design from engineers (as opposed to stylists) who recognized that a car is a machine, not a rolling sculpture, and wanted to make something that functioned better than the average car. Unlike some other car brands that have disappeared, Saabs didn't rely on gimmicks like DeLorean and Hummer and Tucker and Bricklin did. Saabs are best appreciated by people who understand engineering as opposed to judging cars by what they "look like".

[@kushforthought-8749]

Is that why they couldn't even get all the normal things right? no car should have as many nitpick issues as an old Saab.

[@putinslittlehacker4793]

All 3 of the car companies you mentioned had clean sheet designs from engines. Other than Pontiac where Most of the models were based on the same platforms.

[@genturgidson8948]

An amazingly well researched and well told story of what was an innovative company. Thank you for the time and effort put into the epic chronological look into SAAB cars.

[@cameronkanachki]

As a film buff & aspiring filmmaker, I’m glad to see the mention of Drive My Car in this RCR Story at 1:31:22. It’s an incredible film if you haven’t seen it. Worth every second of its 3-hour runtime.

[@LimitedTimeRoman]

Hear hear. It's a slow build but so incredibly engrossing. And I'm always happy to see a film utilize Waiting for Godot.

[@worawatli8952]

After watching it at an indie theater, I didn't have high expectation, but upon the end, it stuck with me, not the best film for me, but will be most memorable one for years. The red 900 is perfect for the role, I can't imagine if any other car will fit the role other than a 900.

[@cameronkanachki]

@@worawatli8952 In the original short story it was based on, it was a yellow Saab 900. However, due to COVID, the film had to change its main setting to Yokohama, where the director decided to make it a red Saab 900, as he felt that red fit better with the landscape.

[@briangardner5905]

Loved this documentary. I would really, really uh? REALLY like to own a Saab later model Station Wagon - love their looks!!

[@Qrail]

I will never ever buy a GM product after what they did to the SAAB brand, it’s workers, owners, and customers. 8 SAABs owner here. I had a 1967 96 Monte Carlo, 1974 99, 1991 9000 Aero, 2 1991 900’s a 3 door, and a 5 door, 2002 9-5, 2005 9-5, 1993 900s, and a turbo convertible. I met Bob Sinclair at the Import Car show in San Francisco. He asked if I would buy a convertible, I said yes if it had a canvas top. He said yes, with a headliner. I bought one that lives on in Ohio in a collectors garage. And no, I don’t smoke a pipe or own a tweed jacket. SAAB cars were well engineered and way ahead of their time.

[@Uzidoesitson]

I really appreciate all the research, thought, organization, effort and time that went into this video. Thank you

[@jimeworks]

Thanks for doing this! Having owned Saabs for forty years I’ve lived out lots of this story. Saabs we’re never the best cars, but often the most unique daily drivers of that era. Most of the cars I bought were over ten years old when I got them because of my finances, and most easily topped 200,000 miles despite my ham fisted mechanical skills. They were easy to work on, comfortable and fast to drive, and attractive to my art school sensibilities. I owned 93, 95, 96, 99, and 900 models, sixteen cars in total. I never partook in the GM cars because it was clear the the company was failing by the time those cars hit my used car budget range. I still own a 1994 900S convertible, the last of the “real Saabs” and suppose I’ll always own it. Perhaps I’ll electrify it someday. :-)

[@rosiehawtrey]

Put a diesel in it, but for the love of science don't turn it into a muskkretinwagen. Every Saab employee will be spinning in their graves.

[@paulwagner4028]

Great stuff Nick, thanks for all the research and time you've put into this! Excellent edition to RCR Stories!

[@faheemwyne5098]

I've owned 3 Saabs - a 900, 2000 model 9-5 and a 2006 model 9-3. The last one I've still got so my son can learn to drive a proper manual. It was sad to see Saab go. Now my daily driver is a Jaguar XF R-sport but I still miss my old Saabs

[@DnBBHox]

Chiming in way late to say I just listened to this entire thing in one sitting. COVID finally got me, and something long form like this was the perfect background to gritting through it. I grew up in upstate NY in the 80s. I never paid THAT much attention to saabs, but they are a key component in memories of my childhood. My yuppie wall Street aunt's and uncles had saabs; I was good friends with the the son of a local, semi-notorious SAAB guru (Pellegrino). Without realizing it at the time, they were kind of everywhere growing up. Thanks for this, and Bravo for getting it finished and out there in the world.

[@jkajewski]

I live for these long form stories, they’re just so perfect for listening to while doing mindless work or driving.

[@spedracer55]

absolutely

[@fluffskunk]

You're making THE definitive documentaries on these stories.