Saved by the Spyker

It appears that the SAAB brand has been given a reprieve. According to CNN Money, the Dutch car builder Spyker will be dishing out a lot of money and preferred stock to take over the sinking SAAB name. This is being backed up by a guarantee from the Swedish government for an European Investment Bank loan to SAAB.

It will be interesting to see what the dawning Spyker chapter in SAAB's history will unveil.

The Saab Aero-X

The Spyker C8 Spyder

Read the CNN Money article

Revenge of the Saab, Part 4

Yesterday was another visit to the mechanics for Rag Taap. I am having, yet again, ACC problems. In fact, I'm having the exact ACC problem I had 2 years ago and fixed August 08—the AC compressor. Rather then tell my story regarding this fucking problem again, you can read about it here:

• Revenge of the Saab, Part 1
• Revenge of the Saab, Part 2
• Revenge of the Saab, Part 3

Driving to Tampa in October, the new AC compressor died. Which means I get to a) do it all over again and spend over $500 so my entire engine doesn't sieze up, and b) spend more money to replace the anti-frost switch, which my mechanic thinks is the culprit (it's not working, so too much frost built up and "broke" the compressor). Of course, it would have been nice if, last August, my mechanic would have told me this. Fuck.

Unlike last year, my mechanic says I can drive the car, but should do so with the AC off (D'uh). Even then there is no guarantee that the ruined compressor won't snap the serpentine belt before I can get it fixed. Ah, the joys of auto ownership.

Merry Christmas to me. I guess I will be asking Santa for a new ACC compressor and some labor $$.

Have I said Fuck yet?

Rag Taap Day!

I finally broke down and ordered my vanity plates. I love 'em!

Inspired by both my Saab convertible, and Jimmy Buffett. It's often a rag top day! :)

FIRE SALE! All subsidiaries must go!

So, Saab is filing for bankruptcy--or rather the GM subsidiary, Saab, files for bankruptcy. It appears the Swedes won't help GM by giving them more money. I'm shocked! note the exaggerated sarcasm

I'm the first to admit I don't understand the world of finance and big business. It doesn't, however, come as a surprise that GM is having to scramble to reorganize Saab so they can try and sell them. Of course, selling Saab won't save GM, especially if the gazillions of dollars the U.S. government has already given GM can't save them.

What does this mean for me and my Saab? Probably nothing. I'm not under any kind of warranty and I don't ever go to the dealer (unless I need my remote key programmed). It does mean I probably won't be replacing the Vig with a new Saab any time soon. Yeah, 'cause that was going to happen!! note even more exaggerated sarcasm

Read the full story here: CTV.ca: Saab files for bankruptcy protection from creditors

Damn big rigs!

Well, I'm back. Of course, it's only to bitch about spending more money on the Saab. This time, however, it's not Vig's fault. While driving the other day a big rig idiot decided he wanted to be exactly where I was. Since two solid objects can't occupy the same space (at least not in this reality), I had to swerve fiercely to the right to avoid getting crushed. All the while, Jonah's in the backseat watching birds (the top was down) and talking to himself—ah, the obliviousness of youth!

To prove my theory that two solid objects can't occupy the same space, there was a kindly curb corner where I was trying to be. Right front wheel, meet curb corner. Curb corner, meet right front wheel. I pulled over into a parking lot (which was conveniently there) and when I was finished cursing and screaming, got out to check my wheel. Curb 1-Vig Wheel 0.

I guess I'm lucky that my tire didn't blow. The wheel has bent in and my alignment now sucks. After a lot of internet searching, I finally found my wheel online. Of course it's discontinued, but my luck has held out and I think I'm getting the last one on the planet. It's even local (Miami, but that's close enough) so I'm hoping it will arrive on Monday (12/22).