One Million Miles — The Story
By Jay Spenchian
General Manager, Saab Automobile USA
One million miles, one car and one single owner — that’s quite a story and one long-running affair! Peter Gilbert and his 1989 Edwardian Gray Saab 900 SPG are the couple in question.
Knowing what I know about Saabs, I wasn’t surprised to learn that it still has its original engine and turbo. I was able to ride with him as it rolled over during this year’s North American Saab Owners Convention in Lake George, N.Y. We also snapped a shot of the odometer as it hit a million. It was such a cool experience for me to share this milestone with a diehard Saab owner and for it to happen in front of a bunch of other Saab loyalists.
Saab Automobile USA is honoring Peter’s commitment to his ‘89 SPG with an all-new Saab 9-5 Aero, which includes admission to the Saab Aero Academy.
This isn’t a one-time deal. We are so completely convinced of the jet-like performance and endurance of our products that we encourage others like Peter to come forward and present themselves. Saab Automobile USA is offering a free, new Saab to any U.S. customer who covers the distance of 1 million miles or more in a Saab that he or she originally purchased new.
Stories like Peter Gilbert’s really inspire me. I’d like to hear yours too. It’s not everyday that someone actually wants to hear a “Saab story” (pun intended) but here is your chance. So let the world know about your Saab and how important it is to you.
- Posted in Cars & Trucks
John
Hey, this is completely off topic, but way to go on making the Solstice America’s favorite convertible.
http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061214/FREE/61211012/1024/LATESTNEWS
I didn’t think you all had a chance against the Miata, what with weighing 400lbs more and not having a real trunk and all, but GM did it.
Nice work! There really is a market for American cars with RWD and decent sheetmental.
I can’t wait to see what the RWD Impala looks like! Just make it a real American car, not a rebadged Holden.
Fred S
Jay,
There were a few things you failed to mention about Peter’s accomplishment.
The transmission was rebuilt once at 250K. Not bad considering it lasted another 750K+ miles.
Over the 17 years of ownership, Peter hit 8 deer with his Saab. Often, deer car accidents result in the vehicle being totaled. It’s pretty amazing that this Saab survived eight of these crashes.
Finally, one of Peter’s reasons to retire this Saab was the result of Wisconsin’s harsh winters and the use of road salt. The Saab’s frame was rusting and he was concerned that it would not survive a ninth deer crash.
Seventeen Wisconsin winters, 8 deer crashes and 1 million miles. WOW!
Gereon Langlitz (Germany)
Dear Mr. Spenchian,
here’s good news for Saab (and Opel) from Germany, regarding the latest survey by the ADAC. It’s about whiplash protection. Well, the report is in German, but I think it should be possible for anybody to interpret the ranking. See: http://www2.auto.t-online.de/dyn/c/99/65/98/9965988.html
(Note: Whiplash is the most common injury at a car-accident, at least over here. In my opinion that’s basically an embarrassing result for BMW and Volkswagen, which don’t offer the least expensive vehicles by far.)
Buick Diesel
Does my ‘83 LeSabre diesel count? My dad bought it new in 1983. Now it has 237,000 miles (origional engine).
Maybe it’ll hit the million mile mark when my son (now 5 years old) drives it.
Ben
Jay, I think that’s a wonderful thing for you guys to do. Saab needs all the good PR it can get! I mean, anything that can help Saab emerge from being a “niche” brand is good.
noel park
We had 420,000 hard miles on our 1985 Suburban when we finally had to get a bigger tow rig (2004 3500). Granted, it was on its second engine, about its 4th transmission, and its second rear end but, considering the work it did, that’s pretty good. We gave it to one of our employees, and it is still going.
Our 2000 S-10 has 170,000 miles on it and has never had more that simple maintenance. It’s on its 2nd set of tires and 3rd set of brake pads! I am sure that there are tens of thousands of similar stories out there.
So, longevity is not an issue. I had to laugh when I saw the Totota ads a few years ago bragging about their high mileage vehicles. Chevrolet can top them every single day.
The problem is the fuel efficiency. If GM does not take back the high ground on this issue, I really fear for the future.
I don’t mean playing catch up. You have to get in front of the curve and claim the bragging rights. Maybe the plug in Vue will be a start, if Totota doesn’t outflank you with a plug in Prius. Let’s not wait 3 or 4 years, it will be too late.
I do not doubt for a minute that the talent and expertise exists in the company. It’s a matter of leadership and vision.
Gary Dikkers
Would it be too Grinch-like at this time of year to point out that in 1989 when Mr Gilbert bought his Edwardian Gray Saab 900 SPG, GM had nothing to do with Saab?
Jay Spenchian said, “This isn’t a one-time deal. We are so completely convinced of the jet-like performance and endurance of our products that we encourage others like Peter to come forward and present themselves.”
You’re right Jay, Saab has a reputation for jet-like performance and endurance — the question though is how much of that reputation is GM responsible for, and how much is due to the work ethic and engineering skills of the Swedish aerospace and defense company that made its reputation building first-rate jet fighters such as the JAS 39 Gripen?
Andy
Love the idea. I would have preferred a 9-3 Aero cabrio, though.
Jack Forrester
What exactly is jet-like in the performance of Saab or any other car?
Saab has nothing to do with jets and vice versa. This is pure marketing hubris and not even very good at that. Just look at the fine print at the bottom of the ad.
Saabs of years past were quirky and distinctive as a result. The current mentality at GM is low-cost wins and there is absolutely no interest in preserving the image or true Saab brand character.
Next they will be designed and manufactured in Germany, to US mandated specifications, and probably built with parts sourced from China and other low cost countries. Exactly what is jet-like or even remotely Swedish for that matter?
Sorry Jay, I’m not buying it. Saab may have a rich heritage and may even have been born from jets, but GM has successfully morphed it into an unwanted stepchild.
André
Simply fantastic to see a turbo ride passing the million-miles mark. Maybe it’s the turbocharged car that covered the higher distance in world history! So, it’s great to see something like this.
Well, in the U.S it’s easy to keep an old car as your everyday drive and maybe the only one. So is in Europe, and this because their parts are still made.
But here in Brazil, something so great as this is near impossibile to do, because parts for discontinued models in some cases aren’t found. Great to see that GM do Brasil still make the stampings of its axed models ate Mogi das Cruzes factory (made specially for it), but it’s an incomplete action, because we don’t hit our old cars everyday to be in so bad need of spare panels. But people that have their old rides and love them need other things that get worn easilly, as mechanical parts and other bits like interior details. My dad had a 1982 Chevrolet Caravan (the Brazilian version of the Opel Rekord C Caravan, using the Chevy II/Nova drivetrain instead of the Opel one) which was simply great. Comfortable, robust, well-built, seating six adults without problems, but due to the lack of the original parts, keeping more and more rare (the main problem were the interior bits, almost impossible to find at decent prices), he had to sell the best car that owned. We still miss that wagon, but now we know that probably its in a very bad shape (we never saw it again). And you also lost a very nice outdoor.
Hey, isn’t it time here in Brazil to, when a ride is discontinued and after its suppliers found that make new parts for them isn’t worthy anymore, license other ones (maybe smaller, that making parts in a smaller scale isn’t a problem) to make easier the life of their owners? And maybe these new original parts for old cars can benefit from the same quality standards applied for the more recent models, so maybe they’re being involuntary over-restored and also safer and more reliable.
In US, if you want to build a old Corvette from the ground up, you can do this, because its parts are still being made. Here in Brazil, if you want to make even a simple restoration of Opalas of every year/model, you will suffer due to the difficulties of finding the original parts. Even GMB dealer network won’t help you, in part because of the lack of original old parts, but in other side due to the disdain to the old cars owners. Isn’t a 69 Opala less Chevrolet than a 2006 Vectra? Won’t the Opala’s owner pay for its parts and the Vectra’s will? I don’t think so.
But the reality that we face here in Brazil is that we have to sell good rides not because we want, but because if you aren’t a collector with all the patience in the world, you have to sell because you won’t find many parts to keep your old car running healthy.
Andy
“Sorry Jay, I’m not buying it. Saab may have a rich heritage and may even have been born from jets, but GM has successfully morphed it into an unwanted stepchild.”
I have to agree with Jack some of that. Saab cars have nothing to do with Saab jets…BUT I am NOT a believer in Saab being a once-mighty marque ruined by the General. There were few Saabs that could be considered exotic or sexy–then or now.
That said, I still like the 9-3 Aero. But if I’m in the market for a Bimmer-beater, I’d rather hop in a CTS-V than a Saab. That’s just a fact.
One thing that has amazed me from Saab has been the Aero-X concept. That is one of the finest-looking vehicles I have had the pleasure to view.
RDW
Even though I’m a GM fan (as well as SAAB, too) the General had nothing to do with the 1 Million mile SPG. SAAB and GM, in my opinion, are great companies, but they need to be separate. I drive a Cobalt now and hope to own a SAAB someday. BUT, I think I am unlucky as I will not have the chance to purchase a “REAL” Swedish-built SAAB. Oh. . .I just hope something changes (for the better).
Jeremy
Hitting the million mark is awesome! I always find it interesting, like a previous person said, that the imports brag about how many miles they can rack up but I’ve never seen a Honda or Toyota with over 200k that hadn’t had major engine work. I had a friend with a 94 Honda that only had 140k on it and it was a nightmare, he also had a 94 integra with 170k and it was on it’s third engine. My other friend has a 2002 Sentra Spec 3 and it only had 70k on it when it’s first engine blew and my girlfriend’s Eclipse only had 54k on it before it blew a head gasket and the AC didn’t work. While I have a 2000 Cavalier with 168k miles on it, it’s been broken in to and it’s been in an accident where the front end was smashed, it’s taught 3 or 4 people how to drive a stick, and I ran the hell out of it while I worked as a contractor and I’ve never done anything to it but fix the accident (which was all body damage and a radiator) and change the oil!!
Evan Villwock
“There were few Saabs that could be considered exotic or sexy–then or now.”
Saab owners didn’t become Saab owners because the cars fit the stereotypical “sexy/exotic” car form. They like Saab’s because of their uniqueness, safety, performance, innovation, and namely prestige.
That said, I still like the 9-3 Aero. But if I’m in the market for a Bimmer-beater, I’d rather hop in a CTS-V than a Saab. That’s just a fact.
CTS-V? What a piece of plastic, have you ever inspected the workmanship in those cars today? Awful.
Bill
I’m sorry, but driving a high mileage car in the winter waiting for something to fail and leave me stranded in the middle of no place is not what I want. Today’s cars have too much dependent on a chip, or some belt, or a cog designed not to last more than 100K miles. What would happen to the auto industry if everyone kept their cars for 10 or 15 years??