BORN FROM JETS

  

Happy New Year, everyone!  Resolutions?  Here's hopin' that old Sandy Claws was good to you this season, and that you may succeed in what you choose to improve upon.  Read on to learn about SAAB's showing at the 2006 Los Angeles International Auto Show, The SAAB Aero Academy, great deals on SOC 2005 memorabilia, and the discovered missing Sonett prototype!  Is the snowy weather finding you with a nice set of Nokian snow and ice tires to help claw your way through these slick wintery conditions?  Let's hope so. . . . 

January Meeting at Big City Tavern 

For this month's meeting we will have the pleasure of hearing from our friend and long time SAAB owner, Tom Graham of State Farm.  Tom will share his wisdom with us and answer any and all insurance related questions you've ever had!  So, put on your thinking caps and come up with some doozies!  Next month Chuck Andrews will share a DVD of the SAAB Festival in Trollhattan last summer, and pictures of the newly renovated SAAB museum.  This month's SAAB Club meeting will be held at The Big City Tavern, located at 2801 N. Snelling Ave. in Roseville.   

1-2-06, LOS ANGELES

SAAB arrives at the greater Los Angeles Auto Show this week with two new entries: a special-edition 9-3 convertible, and a concept 9-5 wagon that runs on bio-ethanol.  

The Saab 9-3 Convertible 20 Year Edition marks two decades of Swedish soft tops in the States. Priced at $44,615, the car is fitted with a turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 that makes 250 horsepower. Finished in Electric Blue Metallic, the convertible goes on sale this spring, in a limited run of 300 units.

The 9-5 Aero BioPower concept wagon may be environmentally friendly with its ability to run on E85 bio-ethanol, but the turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder is considerably more powerful than its gasoline equivalent. Output rises from 260 to 310 hp, with torque climbing from 258 to 325 pound-feet.

Saab says 0-to-60-mph acceleration should drop from 6.9 seconds for the gasoline engine to less than 6 seconds for the bio-ethanol engine.

The division already offers a bio-ethanol version of the 9-5 in Sweden, but has not announced plans to begin sales in North America.

What this means to you: Cleaner air and more horsepower — what a concept. 

FOR RELEASE: 2005-12-20 Saab Aero Academy Enrollment Now 'Standard Equipment' on 9-3 Aero Models   The Saab Aero Academy is expanding for the 2006 model year to complement Saab’s growing product range. Enrollment in the performance driving school now comes standard with the purchase or lease of any model of the Turbo V6-equipped 2006 Saab 9-3 Aero – Sport Sedan, Convertible or the new SportCombi. Owners of 2005 model year or newer Saab 9-5 Aeros also qualify. The intensive two-day course is held at Road Atlanta in Braselton , Georgia and combines driver education with the thrill of piloting high performance vehicles. It consists of 80 percent advanced handling exercises on specially constructed training tracks and 20 percent classroom time. Aero Academy instructors are professional race drivers. “The Saab Aero Academy is not an extra and it’s not an option,” says Saab USA General Manager Jay Spenchian. “It’s as much a part of the Saab 9-3 and 9-5 as their turbocharged engines and is something no other automaker offers. It allows our customers to improve their driving skills and practice accident avoidance techniques while pushing the cars to their limits on a safe, closed course. Bottom line, if you love to drive and want to sharpen your skills, it’s a must.” Aero Academy enrollees experience a skid pad where they learn how to control a car with proper steering, throttle and brake responses; “threshold” braking, which teaches how to apply brakes, improve reaction time and avoid brake lockup; a lane change exercise which is designed to improve reflexes and car control skills; a slalom course which tests timing, throttle and steering skills – all while avoiding the orange cones; and an autocross, a scaled down race track that tests cornering, braking, acceleration and skid control while using 100 percent of the cars’ potential. Saab Aero Academy instructors are active in open wheel formula racing, sports car racing, endurance racing and oval track racing. Instructor to student ratio is 1:4. Over 1,400 Saab owners have participated in the Aero Academy since it was founded in 1999 under the name “ Viggen Flight Academy.” Customers enroll in the Saab Aero Academy by having their dealer submit their information to Saab Cars USA. Upon receiving a Saab Aero Academy certificate, the owner calls an 800 number to register for a particular session. The two-day program is free. Enrollees must pay for their own transportation to Road Atlanta, hotel accommodations and meals. Saab USA is in the midst of the most aggressive new product development offensive in its 58-year history as an automaker. The 9-7X, Saab’s first SUV, was introduced in June 2005, the five-door 9-3 SportCombi, which rounds out the 9-3 range, went on sale in November 2005 and a refreshed 9-5 sedan and SportCombi, the flagships of the Saab lineup, will be in dealerships by the end of the year. In addition to the new cars, an all-new 250-horsepower 2.8L V6 Turbo engine will be standard equipment in all top-of-the-line 9-3 Aero models.

 SAAB Sonett Number 4, Discovered! 

Check out the neat Elkparts website at http://www.elkparts.com/product_info.php/products_id/2687. 

SAAB Owners Convention 2005 Suffering Deficit--Help Out and Get Great Deals!

Usually I wouldn't add more text but Dirk's a buddy of mine, twenty something, and just starting out in life.  They put on this year's
convention more out of passion than thought.  This debt is probably spread over three housholds, or more likely two, and the hole they're in wasn't their own doing. . . 

If you are able to contribute, please do, even if you don't want something in return. 

Thank You,

Sean Mullady. 

We have many items left over from SOC 2005.  The proceeds from these sales are going towards paying for the convention.  We are $5400.00 + in debt and need your help to pay these bills.  This Christmas is going to be very hard for some people if we don't cover this debt.

You may be asking yourselves how this could have happened.  There are many reasons for this debt not the least of which is people sneaking into Saturday night's dinner.  So, if you know of anyone who did come to dinner (without paying) Saturday night, please encourage them to make a donation.  Spread the word.  We don't care who they are we just want to cover the debt and put the 2005 convention to bed.  If you feel like donating that's great too, there are three donation options available.  (Saturday's dinner cost us $35+)

Most of the for sale items are located with Ashli and I and we'd like to get them out of our 700 square foot house as well.  So buy now, buy often.  With our thanks in advance for your support. 

http://www.mollyguard.com/event/21919562

Dirk and Ashli Feather

dirkfeather@gmail.com 

SAAB Club Window Stickers

We have SAAB Club stickers available!  The Minnesota SAAB Club window stickers are static-cling so that you will never have to worry about scraping off that hardened film from your window.  The static stickers are similar to the logo here on the newsletter, and are about 3X5 inches in size.  The major difference is that the fire-breathing-chicken is now in red.  Stickers sell for $5 each, or 3 for $10.  Additionally, if you are a current dues paying member of the Minnesota SAAB Club, you get a window sticker for FREE (Membership has its privileges)!  Also, we are not discriminatory.  If you belong to another local or national club, or are simply a lone enthusiast, you too can still get one.  Heck, even if you drive a Yugo you can buy one and display to the world the lust that lies in your heart.  Just contact me and place your order today! 

Minnesota SAAB Club Website

Come visit the Minnesota SAAB Club website at www.mnsaabclub.org for the latest and greatest in the SAAB world!  The now regularly updated site will continue to provide increasingly timely and important SAAB news and events for all to enjoy.  Pictures, stories, and contributions are always welcome.  We are a strong SAAB community, and together we can spread the joy of SAAB ownership that we all experience today! 

Thank You Members!

I would like to thank all of you great folks that have renewed your annual membership in recent months.  I would also like to welcome those new members that have recently joined us for the first time!  Have you popped in on an occasional monthly club meeting?  Have you been helped out with your "SAAB story" from one of the local SAAB buddies?  Have you enjoyed the camaraderie at one of the meetings or one of the area events?  If you have felt the desire to give back a little, now you can!  Make a once a year contribution of $25 to "The Minnesota SAAB Club" , and feel good about yourself knowing that you are supporting an organization devoted to helping out others, keeping the environment clean, and keeping the SAAB brand alive.  You can advertise cars and goods for sale in the newsletter and on the club website (www.mnsaabclub.org) , and you will also receive one of the cool new static club stickers we have (a $5 value!)  Receive various discounts from your favorite regional SAAB facility, and so much more.  Visit the ever-changing club website at www.mnsaabclub.org .  Renew or become a new member today!  

 High Gas Prices Getting You Down?   

SAAB Club Calendar 

-More fun times coming soon! 

Check out the latest previously enjoyed SAAB inventory at Andrews of Princeton at www.andrewsofprinceton.com, or call Andrews directly by dialing 1-800-882-7220.    

 MEYER GARAGE

You can now get 0.9% financing on certified pre-owned SAABs!  Additionally, you can get get $500 off your new SAAB purchase with the GM red tag event through January 3rd.  Get more details and the latest inventory at www.meyersaab.com, or call Marty or Annette at 1-888-722-2246 to set up a test drive.  Remember,  the new 9-7X and new 9-5 are here!