I have been corrected by a couple of accurate readers who have
pointed out that just putting a hard drive on my LAN did not make it a
cloud and I do not really have my own cloud (see A Cloud of My Own).
So today I'm going to write about cars.
In particular, I'm going to write about the two
latest additions to the Hatchett motor pool, a pair of Saab sedans.
Saabs are legendary autos here in the Northeast, as they have front
wheel drive and could navigate the paved-over (and snow-covered) horse
paths that function as secondary roads here in New England. Back when I
first visited the area in the 1970s, Saabs and Subarus were the
vehicles of choice.
When I moved to this area for good in the
1980s, I couldn't afford to purchase a Saab - and this situation
remained until about a year-and-a-half ago, when I purchased a 2006
Saab 9-3 for my
wife. Things had changed in the Saab universe. Saab was purchased by GM
in 1989 and, of course, all heck broke loose.
The first of GM's sins was to re-badge a Subaru
Impreza as the Saab 9.2x and then, a Chevy TrailBlazer re-badged as a
Saab 7-9x. Fortunately, saner heads prevailed, and both models were
dropped, but by now Saab was sharing a platform with Opel (GM's European
division).
This is where I come in.
My wife liked her Saab 9-3, and what wasn't to
like? We bought it used, and despite it's age and mileage, it was
similar to buying a new vehicle. The four-door sedan has enough room
for four of the five Hatchetts and also delivers 30 miles per gallon.
Although it sort of looks like a generic sedan, it has a hidden sports
car in it due to the turbo charger. It ran well in the snow, and it had
heated front seats. Apparently, Sweden has similar winters (undoubtedly
warmer) as New England, and this reflects the Saab's appeal.
So when my daughter needed a car for her last
year in college, my thoughts turning toward Sweden. Fortunately, an
opportunity presented itself, and I found myself buying a second Saab,
a 2001 9-5. This
one looked more like a Saab and had a 3.0 v6. It's just a little larger
than the 9-3, with lots more room in the rear seats. The rear seats are
also heated (wow!), and the trunk is enormous. The old Pontiac sales
motto "Lower, longer, wider" seems to sum up the differences between
the 9-3 and the 9-5. I've included some pictures to further confusion.
The 9-3 is sliver and the 9-5 is bronze.
Driving the two cars reveals not so subtle similarities and
differences. Since Saab is way into aerodynamics, both are extremely
quiet at speed. One day this lack of wind noise will get me a speeding
ticket.
When both car's turbochargers are spooled up, you will be at 80
miles per hour before you can say "lute fish". The 9-5 doesn't have the
turbo lag that the 9-3 does, but both are quite fast over 80. Not that
you should go that fast, but, of course, I only did it in the interest
of science.
If I may use an airplane metaphor (Saab started as an aircraft
manufacturer), the 9-3 is like a British Spitfire - swift and pesky.
The 9-5 is more like the Hawker Typhoon - more muscular and substantial
than the 9-3. I think that the appeal of Saab is that it is sporty ride
wrapped around a safe and sure platform. Happy in my state of Saab, I
do have to warn that economically, Saab is sort of under-financed at
the moment, and if some savior doesn't trudge over the tundra, it could
be the end of these unique vehicles.
That didn't stop me from spotting a classic 1987 Saab turbo
convertible in a lot....
Like Apple technology, Saabs just work and carry on their business
with a quiet assurance. I like the older Saabs (in my defense, there
might no longer be any new Saabs), just like I get a kick out of the
older Apple laptops. Maybe it's the quirkiness, because old Saabs are
more quirky - like the older Apple PowerBooks and iBooks.
Of course, I have to do a computer repair in the Saab 9-5. There is
an information center on the dash, and the LED screen is broken. I'll
have to take apart the dash, find a replacement screen, and replace the
broken one. Should be easy - I think.
