Looks bad for Saab

[gweimer]

I'm past the point of working on my own cars.  It sucks getting old.

[Pilgrim]

I'm past the point of working on my own cars.  It sucks getting old.

I get that feeling sometimes.  Used to be I had no money but lots of time to work on cars.  Now sometimes I find to my dismay that I have more money than I do time...at least when it comes to working under cars.

(Says the guy who just bought a complete set of polyurethane suspension bushings for his 280ZX but will wait for good weather to install them.)

[Dave W]

I won't do any work that involves me sliding under the car.

[jmcgliss]

Gary, serpentine belt idler pulleys seem to show up frquently as a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) items, so if you check online or with a dealer you're more likely to get the latest redesign, if applicable.

I did most of the mods and service on our Mustang Cobra track car and an '85 Toyota MR2, but the daily drivers are mostly serviced at the dealer. Road grime doesn't inspire me, plus my 50+ year old knees now have a problem with concrete floors. 

[Pilgrim]

I hear you guys.  I just find it hard to break the habits of 40 years.

[gweimer]

My drummer knows a couple guys that can come to the house, and do the work a lot cheaper than the shop I usually take it to.  I'm going that route after the New Year.  I checked out the HHR Panel today.  Not a bad little truck, but it's a big change from the bigger Vue with the 6 cyl. engine.  We'll see how this goes after I get the Vue looked at.

...the stockings were hung by the chimney with care
the car in the drive, it needs some repair...


Have a Merry Christmas

[Pilgrim]

Hey Gweimer, the more I drive that 2007 Murano the more impressed I am.  Nissan even put a 120K mile warranty on the CV transmission.  If the Saturn is terminal, check around and look at one if it's available.

[Dave W]

Looks like the Spyker deal is definitely off the table.

Curtains for Saab

[Denis]

So, GM in it's brilliance would rather shut Saab down than take money for it. Well, GM has a phenomenal record of terrible decisions, so I guess that should be expected.

[Pilgrim]

I cannot imagine how it's to GM's advantage to shut it down rather than get something for it.  This whole thing is an extended example of mismanagement on GM's part.

[chromium]

I should get one of those vanity plates for mine- DETH BY GM   

[Dave W]

I should get one of those vanity plates for mine- DETH BY GM   

Too true. OTOH Saab-Scania chose to let itself be acquired by GM.

[uwe]

Saab, the auto-making part never made money, full-stop. Before or after the GE takeover. The cars had abetter image than they were, lots of myth even as regards crash security. Saab never sold enough cars to be able to afford the development of new models from scratch, so the whole fleet was always outdated in comparison to what large s(c)ale brands were producing at the same time. Buying a Saab meant buying ten year old technology at twice the price of its modern counterpart. Without GM subsidizing them, they would have gone broke already long ago.

I'll miss the black panel function though. And am wondering what will happen to Volvo now the Chinese are buying it.

[Dave W]

.. And am wondering what will happen to Volvo now the Chinese are buying it.

It will become Vorvo.

[Freuds_Cat]

It will become Vorvo.

When I lived in London there was a small Chinese shop just down the road from my house. I used to go in there and buy cans of Lilt just because it gave me a chuckle to hear the bustling happy little old Chinese lady yell "Reewt!  you want Reewt!".  We dont have Lilt here in Oz not sure about the US.