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SAAB VS. SCEPTICISM

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A blog about Saab and Saab Culture. Saab obsessions, Saab rescue missions and the odd Aeroriginal Saab for sale

SAAB VS. SCEPTICISM

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  • Aeroriginal
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Drive My Car

February 9, 2022 Eleven
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Probably a little late to the party for this one, but I hadn’t heard about this film until today, the hero; an immaculate, classic red Saab 900 Turbo.

’Two years after his wife’s unexpected death, Yusuke Kafuku, a renowned stage actor and director, receives an offer to direct a production of Uncle Vanya at a theater festival in Hiroshima. There, he meets Misaki Watari, a taciturn young woman assigned by the festival to chauffeur him in his beloved red Saab 900. As the production’s premiere approaches, tensions mount amongst the cast and crew, not least between Yusuke and Koji Takatsuki, a handsome TV star who shares an unwelcome connection to Yusuke’s late wife. Forced to confront painful truths raised from his past, Yusuke begins - with the help of his driver – to face the haunting mysteries his wife left behind’.

Adapted from Haruki Murakami’s short story, Drive My Car is a haunting road movie traveling a path of love, loss, acceptance, and peace.

Drive My Car | drivemycar.film

In Driving, Saab, Saab Stories, Saab vs Scepticism Tags Saab, Saab Culture, Driving, Film, Drive My Car, Saab 900 Turbo
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For the love of driving

November 20, 2019 Eleven

Cheddar Gorge, England | Ryan Searle

With a bit of fettling, us Saab owners arguably have some of the finest understated driving cars in the world, but without decent roads, nothing matters.

I’ve long had a fascination for discovering those peaceful, tree canopied avenues, curvaceous country lanes and momentous mountain passes, free from all but the most intrepid drivers, but the world is full of endless possibilities and it’s a never ending search.

Of all landscapes I love, the ones that feature these hidden roads please me most, for years I’ve collected images of them for future road trip inspiration, so thought it was about time I shared a few.

#getoutanddrive

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In Saab, Saab vs Scepticism, Driving Tags Saab, Driving, Roads, Curves, Landscapes, Life, Saabvs, Saab vs Scepticism
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A Road Trip to...

May 8, 2019 Eleven
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…Cardigan, North Wales. Firstly, this is more about driving than it is about cars, and dare I say it, not all journeys need to be in a Saab, it helps, but let’s face it, a great Road Trip is a great Road Trip and if you love driving as much as I do, it’s pretty much always as exciting as the destination itself.

I was heading out to Makers & Mavericks, an event hosted by the inspirational jeans company, Hiut Denim based in Cardigan, North Wales and what promised to be 500 miles of pure driving pleasure.

The initial part of the journey to Wales is always laborious, 50 mph speed restrictions, endless traffic and mind numbing roads, but patience is a virtue and you’ll soon find yourself driving along immaculate roads and winding your way through ever more beautiful landscapes. Hit the A44 running alongside the River Wye and you’ll quickly gain altitude with majestic snow capped Alpine forests on one side and wild open mountainside the other, take the opportunity to turn off the main A44 and embrace the majestic wind farms and shear beauty of the valleys nearby.

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A little further on and in to the valley with endless tree lined, sun dappled roads, wind down the windows and enjoy the raw, visceral sounds of the engine bouncing off the tress and hillside rocks. this opens up on to the A487 coastal road with immaculate sparkling blue ocean views and slate lined beaches, eventually leading to my temporary market town home.

After a weekend of meeting some inspirational and exceptionally talented creatives, I had the pleasure of the return journey home, and it didn’t disappoint.

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In Saab, Saab vs Scepticism, A Road Trip to... Tags Driving, Roads, Road Trip, Cardigan, Wales, Nature, Beauty
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Shady Character

March 25, 2019 Eleven
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Each new day brings a reminder that Spring is well and truly underway, it’s one of the most amazing times of the year here in England - warm sun, cool breezes, trees, hedges and fields turning green again, a beautifully fresh scent in the air and of course the most important of all - dry, clean roads.

Drop the windows in the 9-5 and enjoy the sounds - the subtle turbo whistle as you accelerate, the deep bubble of the sports exhaust and the seamless power leading you on your journey, no destination in mind, just the joy of the drive.

On mornings like this, I take my trusty old Leica and head out looking for the perfect spots for a quick photo, the Saab isn’t clean and shiny, it’s dusty and enjoyed, but find a peaceful lane and the sun and shade create the perfect feel for a few photos of this timeless car. More and more I’m enjoying the Gen1 over most other 9-5’s i’ve owned, the Carbon Grey with the Matt Black Carlsson Turbo X alloys give it a menacing stance and with the updated interior, I can’t think of many other cars I’d rather drive through Spring in.

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In Saab, Saab vs Scepticism Tags Saab, Road Trip, Spring, England, Timeless, Saab9-5, Aero, Carlsson, Hirsch, Driving, Tuned, Saabvs
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Saab vs. Porsche

November 30, 2018 Eleven
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So, for my Saab Sins Confession, I also drive a classic Porsche 911, a while ago, this got picked up by a fellow Saabist who asked if it would be appropriate to compare the experience? So, here we are, Saab vs. Porsche. This is repost from 2017.

The Porsche is ’91 964 Carrera 4, 3.6 flat six, air cooled, modified and tuned to kick out some 280hp, in my eyes, it’s one of the most iconic cars ever crafted, I used to dream of owning a 911, and this was the model that did it for me when I was younger.

I don’t own the Porsche to have it sitting around, it was bought to use and abuse, all year round, in all weathers, and that’s what I do on a regular basis, I don’t need a destination in mind, I just jump in and head out, often for a 50 – 100 mile B road blast, this is a car bought purely for pleasure.

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Midway through a recent drive, I got a phone call to collect my son from an estate he works at, the Porsche isn’t the car to go in, so I made my way home, hopped out of the Porsche and in to the Saab 9-3 convertible, with a similar bhp of 300 – it seemed like the perfect opportunity to compare 2 very different (but similar in many ways) cars.

I won’t waste time debating the aesthetics of either car, both are beautiful, and imho, neither have ever been bettered, which brings me directly to the driving experience.

The Porsche is raw, I mean really raw, I like to call in an analogue experience, although it has PAS and ABS, we’re talking minimal intrusion, it manages to connect you directly to the road, you become part of the car quickly and with ease, you feel every trace of the road, every curve. It also feels exceptionally low and rather small compared to most modern cars.

The 3.6 air cooled, flat six produces a very distinct soundtrack, the shear noise is heavenly – although reasonably subtle at lower rpm, at around 4000 rpm it breaks in to the purest scream which keeps on building and building right through to 6500 rpm, it really is captivating. The steering is so on point it’s hard to imagine anything better, the gears are again, pure analogue, you feel the beautifully engineered H box as it slips from gear to gear, and the handling gives you the confidence to power on through corners in pretty much any weather.

I did a 1000 miles in a week recently, I drove it up to North Wales, through Snowdonia and to the coast, I took it in to the city, to meetings and home again, not once did I get bored. The Porsche is a real, time honoured driver’s car, it has earned its reputation as one of the finest sports cars ever made, and I for one feel completely privileged to be the keeper of one, even just for a little while.

Hop straight in to the Saab 9-3 and I realise just how high it feels, not just its stance, but its general seating position too, high, but also ridiculously comfortable. Everything is easy, the gear change is light and smooth, the steering sharp and accurate, with the suspension work it’s had done, the Saab also handles amazingly well, less analogue, but still manages to feel involved.

The power delivery seems utterly immediate, rather than building like the Porsche, foot down and it continues to endlessly pull until it hits 6000rpm, it needs control and attention to drive, less stuck to the road, but equally exhilarating, the Saab feels faster than the Porsche, and although less involving never fails to make me smile. The 9-3 can never compete with the Porsche for sound, although with the addition of the APH downpipe, full stainless steel exhaust and BSR induction kit, it still has a hugely pleasing one with enthusiastic driving.

By no means a full comparison, but one that might give an insight in to both cars. Which do I prefer? both. If I’m honest it really depends what mood I’m in, the Saab provides exceptionally fast, easy driving and with the roof down really can’t be beaten for style and pleasure, but the Porsche, the Porsche still offers a unique and uncompromising experience that modern cars just don’t offer.

The Porsche on Instagram

In Saab, Saab vs Scepticism Tags Saab, Saab vs Scepticism, Porsche, Stance, Saab vs Porsche, Classics, Driving
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