The Last Saabs Ever Built, Left To Rot At A New Jersey Port
#1
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The Last Saabs Ever Built, Left To Rot At A New Jersey Port
The guys over at Found Our Own Road went looking for the hundreds of new Saabs held in limbo at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's vehicle shipping and processing center due to Saab's forced bankruptcy.
The two intrepid automotive explorers expected to find a locked building. Instead, they found hundreds of new Saabs — the last Saabs likely ever made — sitting outside, left to rot in the salty air of a New Jersey port.
Let's let Found Our Own Road take it from here:
"I thought we were just going to locate building 263 at the car port facility and be left only wondering what cars were parked inside. That's not what we found. At least 100-200 cars are parked outside. It was so startling and saddening that we had to go back for a better look with DeLorean this evening.
It seemed like they are parked in clusters, with bunches of 9-3s together and the two visible sport combis tossed in... There were 9-5s everywhere... The cars have brake rotor covers, large pieces of paper in the driver's side rear windows with their VINs and a fair amount of Jersey grossness on them."
It must have been a very strange sight to see the last Saabs ever built sitting there — left for dead.
Although I've said this once before — when I toured the bankruptcy auction for Saab's North American HQ — but this seems like such a sad way for such a storied brand to die.
I wish there was a way to free these poor, sad beasts. Sadly, that won't be happening anytime soon — the bankruptcy hearings in Delaware aren't what you'd call a "quick" process.
Such a shame.
The two intrepid automotive explorers expected to find a locked building. Instead, they found hundreds of new Saabs — the last Saabs likely ever made — sitting outside, left to rot in the salty air of a New Jersey port.
Let's let Found Our Own Road take it from here:
"I thought we were just going to locate building 263 at the car port facility and be left only wondering what cars were parked inside. That's not what we found. At least 100-200 cars are parked outside. It was so startling and saddening that we had to go back for a better look with DeLorean this evening.
It seemed like they are parked in clusters, with bunches of 9-3s together and the two visible sport combis tossed in... There were 9-5s everywhere... The cars have brake rotor covers, large pieces of paper in the driver's side rear windows with their VINs and a fair amount of Jersey grossness on them."
It must have been a very strange sight to see the last Saabs ever built sitting there — left for dead.
Although I've said this once before — when I toured the bankruptcy auction for Saab's North American HQ — but this seems like such a sad way for such a storied brand to die.
I wish there was a way to free these poor, sad beasts. Sadly, that won't be happening anytime soon — the bankruptcy hearings in Delaware aren't what you'd call a "quick" process.
Such a shame.
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#2
AZ Community Team
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I don't get why you'd let several million dollars in assets sit and rot during a bankruptcy. Doesn't make sense to me.
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CLtotheTL32 (04-16-2012)
#3
Senior Moderator
Saab.
Too bad it couldn't have more competent leadership/ownership.
So sad to see all that sheet metal rotting away.
Too bad it couldn't have more competent leadership/ownership.
So sad to see all that sheet metal rotting away.
#4
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Dibs on a 9-5 if they start handing them out.
#5
My first Avatar....
"Jersey grossness"
#6
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#7
Evil Mazda Driver
There are actually still twenty Mazdas left over from the Cougar Ace disaster of 2006 sitting at the Port of Portland. The mild climate has been kinder to them than it would be in the desert or farther north but six years outside has taken its toll. Headlights are hazed over, wiper arms are fading to bare metal, weatherstripping is dry and cracking and leather interiors are starting to crack. One of the cars at the port is actually a Speed6.
I sent Mazda a letter and got a reply saying they had no plans for the vehicles yet but "do not plan to make them available to the public".
I sent Mazda a letter and got a reply saying they had no plans for the vehicles yet but "do not plan to make them available to the public".
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#9
Team Owner
Looks like Ally Financial will be liquidating them. http://saabworld.net/content/hundred...ew-jersey-838/
#10
Racer
I wonder how Ally is going to do it- massive fleet placement? But what fleet would want to take on a bunch of premium European cars that have no factory parts or warranty support?
Sell them off individually via an auction?
I was always a big fan of Saab- dreamed of buying a 9-3 Convertible as an elementary/middle/high school kid, and sadly, now I'm glad I passed on the opportunity to buy several different Saabs (a 9-3 sedan, a 9-5 Aero) back in 2010.
Maybe someday I'll be able to pick one up for sentimental reasons. Preferably a green hatchback or one of the original convertibles.
Sell them off individually via an auction?
I was always a big fan of Saab- dreamed of buying a 9-3 Convertible as an elementary/middle/high school kid, and sadly, now I'm glad I passed on the opportunity to buy several different Saabs (a 9-3 sedan, a 9-5 Aero) back in 2010.
Maybe someday I'll be able to pick one up for sentimental reasons. Preferably a green hatchback or one of the original convertibles.
#13
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There are actually still twenty Mazdas left over from the Cougar Ace disaster of 2006 sitting at the Port of Portland. The mild climate has been kinder to them than it would be in the desert or farther north but six years outside has taken its toll. Headlights are hazed over, wiper arms are fading to bare metal, weatherstripping is dry and cracking and leather interiors are starting to crack. One of the cars at the port is actually a Speed6.
I sent Mazda a letter and got a reply saying they had no plans for the vehicles yet but "do not plan to make them available to the public".
I sent Mazda a letter and got a reply saying they had no plans for the vehicles yet but "do not plan to make them available to the public".
If you get the opportunity, can you take photos of the cars? It'd be interesting to see what they look like now.
#14
Evil Mazda Driver
I read somewhere that they're not legally allowed to sell them. There was an article in one of the car magazines about how they blew out the airbags, dismantled them, and crushed them. Brand-spanking new cars.
If you get the opportunity, can you take photos of the cars? It'd be interesting to see what they look like now.
If you get the opportunity, can you take photos of the cars? It'd be interesting to see what they look like now.
#15
07 tl-s in
sad to see....I've never owned one but always wanted one since I was young.
Last edited by subbuzz; 04-16-2012 at 02:38 AM.
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neuronbob (04-16-2012)
#17
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Thread Starter
Here is my video of the remaining twenty Cougar Ace Mazdas that technically don't exist because Mazda scrapped every single one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY-qU...1&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY-qU...1&feature=plcp
^^^ and this are painful to watch:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcpiF51gJRE[/url]
#18
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Damn that is a shame. Sucks no one was able to successfully take them over because the new 9-5 was a beautiful car.
#19
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Hopefully someone will break into the factories and take pictures of everything the same way some of the urban explorers did of the MG factories after their demise.
#21
AZ Community Team
#22
Someday, an RS6 Avant+
Very sad indeed. Just as the product was getting better.
#23
Serious question here...considering some great deals on these (9-5's specifically), would it be completely unwise to score one?
#24
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
I suppose the main issue would be with regard to warranty coverage. If I worked for GM or a GM dealership, I'd definitely consider one.
#27
Senior Moderator
I'll take one if it's free!
#28
Besides the question of any kind of warranty coverage and lack of parts, they might be tough to insure. I remember reading that, when Daewoo went under, the lack of parts forced insurance companies to write off the full cost of the car for even minor damage, so they refused to insure anymore.
#29
Besides the question of any kind of warranty coverage and lack of parts, they might be tough to insure. I remember reading that, when Daewoo went under, the lack of parts forced insurance companies to write off the full cost of the car for even minor damage, so they refused to insure anymore.
I really like this car. Too bad.
#30
Team Owner
#33
Currently Post-Acura
What happened with all those Mazdas (The CX-7s and the 3s)? Seemed like they were all perfectly fine cars. Unless I am completely missing something
And I actually really liked the 9-3 Saabs, that new 9-5 looks good too. And they are so close to me every day since I go to school in Newark
And I actually really liked the 9-3 Saabs, that new 9-5 looks good too. And they are so close to me every day since I go to school in Newark
#34
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Back to those Saabs, I don't see them going the way of the Cougar Ace Mazdas as they are legitimately good cars that are just sitting there due to the company's bankruptcy. However, if they sit too long then they may just have to be scrapped.
#35
Three Wheelin'
That second Mazda video is a horror film. OMG how sad.
And yes those 9-5s seem like an attractive deal, but even at $39K, who's going to spend 40-large for a "new" car without a warranty?
And yes those 9-5s seem like an attractive deal, but even at $39K, who's going to spend 40-large for a "new" car without a warranty?
#37
The sizzle in the Steak
No warranty, nobody to back it, limited parts, probably hard to insure.
No thanks!!!
No thanks!!!
#38
Instructor
I feel like someone is bound to take advantage of the parts market, if they haven't already. Sure you won't be able to get SAAB parts but I think so long as there are SAABs out there - someone will be manufacturing parts.
#39
Currently Post-Acura
Isn't that what they said on Top Gear when they had the Saab tribute show? Unless they just thought of something to make people think more highly of Saab
#40
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Thread Starter
From what I understand, a number of Saab 9-3 and 9-5 parts are sourced from the GM parts bin. But from what I understand, there is some pushback from GM dealers in servicing Saabs even when owners are willing to foot the bill.....even on the 9-7x which is a Chevy Trailblazer clone.