picture of your car

[spinne1]

Those Honda interiors look pretty good to me.

One of the coolest cars ever was the 1950 Buick Lesabre concept car. I wish this had been a production vehicle.

As for refinement in interiors, I think it is a matter of personal taste and preference. Everyone has a different idea of what they want on their dashboard and where it should be located. I personally do not like the new style of "cocoon" style dashes (like the second picture in the pro-Honda post just above) where each person in the front has their own little secluded space. I like a more open feel. The dash of my 92 Lesabre is a huge reason why I love my car. I first drove a 92 Lesabre back in 93 when I needed a rental car. I was at first kind of shocked at how different the dash looked and felt. It was offputting. It seemed almost TOO open and roomy near the dash. By the end of my rental I was in love with the car and wanted one from that time onward. The dash of a 92 Lesabre feels very flat and unobtrusive. It is a throwback to the dash designs of cars of the 40s-60s. Frankly they have ruined the dash with the more recent Lesabres, as well as the Lucernes and Lacrosses. The dashboards are not nearly as good to me. Granted, the speedometer is not very pretty and there is no tach or rpm gauge, but that is not my point. The overall shape is what I refer to.

There is certainly a cool factor in a snug dash (like the Saab interior above) and an ergonomic factor, but it is not for me.

 

[dpaanlka]

Here are the Saab 9-5 and it's Saab 9000 predecessor interiors. As I said they haven't changed much, only modernized a bit. It's such an excellent performance driving setup.

The bottom is a recent interior and the top is a 1980s interior.

 

[dpaanlka]

The 9-3's engine isn't in any other GM vehicle. The only engines that are in a Saab and in other brands is the Vortec 4200 Inline 6 and the Vortec 5300 V8 since the 9-7x is a rebadge of the Trailblazer. But, the 9-7x is only a stopgap until a true Saab Crossover SUV will arrive. And macmeplease, sorry if your 9-3 was troublesome. In 2003 is when the 9-3 came out so bugs and quality issues can be expected. Even in a Honda. Most of the common problems of the first year Saab 9-3's have been worked out. Expect the new 9-5 and 9-3 to have a grille similar to the Aero-X concept. The 9-2x might be gone, but a true Saab 9-2x based on the Delta platform may come along, but nothing confirmed yet.

Actually the 9-3 came out in 1998. And it really wasn't a 9-3, it was just a 900 rebadged and with a new grille.

Regardless, my 9-5 now has 116,000 miles on it and has been the most reliable car I've ever owned (third car).

Frankly they have ruined the dash with the more recent Lesabres, as well as the Lucernes and Lacrosses.

What? Those cars are gorgeous. Finally Buick has some competitive cars instead of the same old garbage.

 

[quagmire]

Actually the 9-3 came out in 1998. And it really wasn't a 9-3, it was just a 900 rebadged and with a new grille.

Regardless, my 9-5 now has 116,000 miles on it and has been the most reliable car I've ever owned (third car).

Well he said 9-3. And it came out in 2003. So maybe he should edit it and say 900(0?)

 

[dpaanlka]

Well he said 9-3. And it came out in 2003. So maybe he should edit it and say 900(0?)

There is such a thing as a 1998 - 2002 9-3. In fact this generation is famous for it's performance "Viggen" model.

The procession of the 900/9-3 is as follows:

1993-1997: 900
1998 - 2002: 9-3 (same car though)
2003 - present: *new* 9-3 - unrelated to previous car

 

[quagmire]

There is such a thing as a 1998 - 2002 9-3. In fact this generation is famous for it's performance "Viggen" model.

The procession of the 900/9-3 is as follows:

1993-1997: 900
1998 - 2002: 9-3 (same car though)
2003 - present: *new* 9-3 - unrelated to previous car

Ahh. GM loves to do that. Give the old car the new gen name before the real vehicle comes out. I mean before the Envoy came out, GMC put the Envoy nameplate on the Jimmy's.

 

[dpaanlka]

Ahh. GM loves to do that. Give the old car the new gen name before the real vehicle comes out. I mean before the Envoy came out, GMC put the Envoy nameplate on the Jimmy's.

Actually, they were returning Saab to its 60s and 70s names of 9-something. The 9000 was the 9-5 before it became the 9000, and now it's the 9-5 again. GM didn't fully own Saab until 2001, by the way. This coincides with some 2001 Saabs having the old logo, some having the new one, and some having mixed!

I personally like the old logo better, as it seems "classier" - one of these days I'm going to buy a set for my 9-5.

There is certainly a cool factor in a snug dash (like the Saab interior above) and an ergonomic factor, but it is not for me.

And that is perfect if you like that. Everybody enjoys a ride in a comfortable buick. But they're not performance-oriented cars thats for sure. I don't think the Saab interior is really designed just to be cool, but to be very useable when you are driving fast and have to make quick decisions or get information very quickly, as well as give you a sense of confidence when you are "better connected" to the car.

Sitting in a buick is like swimming in a pool.

 

[true777]

I'm actually having a very tough time thinking of truly refined, truly driver-oriented brands of cars. Here's what I come up with so far:

BMW
Saab
Porsche
Alfa

Maserati, baby.

 

[dpaanlka]

Maserati, baby.

Hell yes.

 

[imac abuser]

I wish

 

[blackfox]

Here are the Saab 9-5 and it's Saab 9000 predecessor interiors. As I said they haven't changed much, only modernized a bit. It's such an excellent performance driving setup.

The bottom is a recent interior and the top is a 1980s interior.

I have a 1997 9000 (special edition) and I love it (it's buried in this thread somewhere). While I really like the cabin design, to me Saab hit it's high-mark with the Original 900. No computers, no little buttons - just samrtly-designed guages and easily twistable knobs. My 9000 has some quirks inside, like no glove box, instead a lockable center console (pretty small). It also has the ignition in the noraml position on the steering column. I also love the interior design of the 99 - I almost bought a 1978 99 turbo - fantastic seats and strange, yet functional seat belts.

To me modern saabs are just not very good looking, especially the 1998-2002 9-5's. The redesigns are a marked improvement, but the 9-5 seems to have too many chicklet-like buttons in the interior. I actually like the design of the newest 9-3's, however and find the 9-3 sportcombi to be the sexiest wagon ever. Aero seats, have traditionally been among the finest production seats in any car.

As to your photos - is the 9000 interior you posted really from the 80's? I didn't think Saab switched to wood-grain interiors until the mid 90's...

BTW, I love all this Saab talk - great cars.

 

[dpaanlka]

While I really like the cabin design, to me Saab hit it's high-mark with the Original 900. No computers, no little buttons - just samrtly-designed guages and easily twistable knobs.

I actually prefer the flurry of buttons in the 1998 - 2002 to the 3 big knobs that have replaced them since then. I like it because each button has one purpose, whereas the knobs have like multiple functions that can get confusing, especially when you're trying to focus on driving.

Aero seats, have traditionally been among the finest production seats in any car.

I'll say.

As to your photos - is the 9000 interior you posted really from the 80's? I didn't think Saab switched to wood-grain interiors until the mid 90's...

I was referring more to the design of the dash rather than the wood grain. It may be from the early 90s I'm not sure. But the overall layout and position of the driver-focused dash is indeed from the 80s. Now on 2006 models you cannot buy a 9-5 with wood grain, which is a shame. Brushed aluminum looks cheesy to me. I like my wood grain a lot, and my dozens of buttons.

BTW, I love all this Saab talk - great cars.

Indeed they are! I really like the 9-5 as it is the last Saab that actually looks like a Saab, all funky and unique. They should make a 9-3 hatch... that isn't a wagon. That would really bring back some Saab flavor to the line. The 9-3 conv is gorgeous though.

GM must be given credit for the 9-7 interior. While the outside looks like the Trailblazer that it is, the inside is a totally new design built specifically for Saab. It even features the Saab knob-vents and the center mounted dash, and the twirly cup holder from the 9-5, and sortof a general "saab shape" with a very driver-focused feel.

 

[CompUser]

Here are the Saab 9-5 and it's Saab 9000 predecessor interiors. As I said they haven't changed much, only modernized a bit. It's such an excellent performance driving setup.

The bottom is a recent interior and the top is a 1980s interior.

I noticed that. My mom had a 1993 Saab 9000 Turbo. I remember that interior. What an unreliable and expensive to fix (and it took forever to get parts) car. She only kept it for 2-3 years.

 

[devilot]

BTW, I love all this Saab talk - great cars.

I don't.


j/k I just keep seeing this thread being posted in, and click expecting to see photos of members' cars but nope, just OEM type published photos.

 

[dpaanlka]

keep seeing this thread being posted in, and click expecting to see photos of members' cars but nope, just OEM type published photos.

Well here is my actual car. I don't know if I already posted this - this thread is so huge.

I noticed that. My mom had a 1993 Saab 9000 Turbo. I remember that interior. What an unreliable and expensive to fix (and it took forever to get parts) car. She only kept it for 2-3 years.

Yeah, a Saab is most rewarding when you can afford it. Although, mine has been quite a bit more reliable than my 96 Camaro and 94 Saturn SC2. But in the case that something does go wrong, a Saab is not something that I would recommend to anyone on a limited income.

 

[japasneezemonk]

black.

 

[Cloudgazer]

Here are the Saab 9-5 and it's Saab 9000 predecessor interiors. As I said they haven't changed much, only modernized a bit. It's such an excellent performance driving setup.

The bottom is a recent interior and the top is a 1980s interior.

I'm sorry, but i think its pretty stupid that they haven't updated the interior much in 20 years.
There have been great strides in ergonomics since then.
And while i agree with the 'if it aint broke...' philosophy, I have no doubt that the interior can be improved.

It kinda like having an aluminium macbook pro fitted with a trackball from a powrerbook 140.

 

[imac abuser]

Nice Jetta

 

[mpw]

I'm sorry, but i think its pretty stupid that they haven't updated the interior much in 20 years.
There have been great strides in ergonomics since then.
And while i agree with the 'if it aint broke...' philosophy, I have no doubt that the interior can be improved.

It kinda like having an aluminium macbook pro fitted with a trackball from a powrerbook 140.

But what if the PowerBook 140 had been fitted, with typical Job's foresight and ingenuity, a scrolling trackpad just as the present MacBook Pro what should the present MacBook Pro use or should it stick with the best design for the job in hand?

 

[imac abuser]

haha that's great! lol

 

[dpaanlka]

I'm sorry, but i think its pretty stupid that they haven't updated the interior much in 20 years.
There have been great strides in ergonomics since then.
And while i agree with the 'if it aint broke...' philosophy, I have no doubt that the interior can be improved.

It kinda like having an aluminium macbook pro fitted with a trackball from a powrerbook 140.

That was the worst analogy ever. Everybody that gets into my car comments on the interior, and it really is a testament to excellent swedish design and ergenomics. And now that (unfortunately) most car companies seem to have adopted the unfocused blob interior philosophy, it really stands out as unique and something special. Change for the sake of change is pointless and illogical, just like your analogy.

But what if the PowerBook 140 had been fitted, with typical Job's foresight and ingenuity, a scrolling trackpad just as the present MacBook Pro what should the present MacBook Pro use or should it stick with the best design for the job in hand?

Couldn't have said it better myself. Who knows what would have happened if Jobs hadn't left Apple for 10 years. The whole computing industry might have been different. Cloudgazer, you should at least stop by your local Saab dealer, sit in the drivers seat of a 9-5 sedan, and then try and tell me that Interior is outdated and should be "replaced."

EDIT: For more fun, here is a 30 commercial for the current 9-5. It features some interior and exterior action shots as the driver races head on towards an aircraft. And as a preemptive answer to anyones question, "yes." That obviously CGI-ed fighter is in fact a Saab JAS-39 Gripen fighter.

 

[marchcapital]

I wish

A hockey player on my street has one of those. That exact color. He also has a black Land Rover Sport. Lucky bugger!

 

[Cloudgazer]

That was the worst analogy ever. Everybody that gets into my car comments on the interior, and it really is a testament to excellent swedish design and ergenomics. And now that (unfortunately) most car companies seem to have adopted the unfocused blob interior philosophy, it really stands out as unique and something special. Change for the sake of change is pointless and illogical, just like your analogy.



Couldn't have said it better myself. Who knows what would have happened if Jobs hadn't left Apple for 10 years. The whole computing industry might have been different. Cloudgazer, you should at least stop by your local Saab dealer, sit in the drivers seat of a 9-5 sedan, and then try and tell me that Interior is outdated and should be "replaced."

OK, maybe not the best analogy to have used.

I like Saabs, think they're great cars and all, but I've never been mad about the interior.
In fact, its the one thing that would stop me buying one. The only thing actually.
I can't put my finger on what it is though. The design just does not appeal to me.
Since I spend all my time inside the car, the dashboard and interior design are of far more importance to me than the exterior.

 

[Cloudgazer]

But what if the PowerBook 140 had been fitted, with typical Job's foresight and ingenuity, a scrolling trackpad just as the present MacBook Pro what should the present MacBook Pro use or should it stick with the best design for the job in hand?

I dunno - a wacom styled trackpad possibly, something you could write on, who knows.
The point I was trying to make was that they've practically redesigned, fixed up, tweaked and improved everything else.
Please see my previous post about how I feel about the interior.

Oh, now I remember one of hte features I didn't like.
I thought the speedometer was waaay too large it was like looking at a grandfatgher clock.
I prefer to have the rev counter more prominent than the speedo.

 

[dpaanlka]

Since I spend all my time inside the car, the dashboard and interior design are of far more importance to me than the exterior.

The dashboard and interior design are a huge priority to me... just look at how much time I've wasted posting in this thread about Saab dashes! This is a huge reason why I love this car. I wish I had bought it sooner. I never even considered Saab until I started researching them. Now I can't get enough Saab to satisfy me.

I'm assuming then that you are in the other spectrum of car drivers, who like a wide open space in front of you, just as spinne1 had stated? Because if this is the case, I can understand why some people, especially those who don't care much about performance driving but rather a comfortable and safe ride, would not like the very snug "cockpit" feel of the Saab - even the 9-5 (a fairly large sedan - larger than a BMW 5 series) has a snug feel to it.

EDIT:

I prefer to have the rev counter more prominent than the speedo.

As I was saying about not caring about performance driving... you mean tachometer? I'm sorry but I can't think of a single car anywhere who has a larger tachometer than speedometer.