The JAS is "jakt, attack, spaning" which in swedish means "hunt - attack - recognizance". SAAB's jets have always been called different abbreviations depending on their task. JA is for Hunt and Attack, AS would be Attack and recognizance etc.
Ok, that makes since. And the 9-5 had was supposed to be a bigger number than the 9000, because that was car to replace the 9000, but 90,000 didn't sound good so the 9-5 is actually 9^5 which equals 59,049 which is bigger than 9000 to signify that it was the replacement . That's what I heard, but the story isn't the same for the 9-3.
IMO abandoning the small car and going BMW bashing was the worst mistake Saab ever made. Sure, the results were good such as 9000 but the competition in that market was just too hard. Being cheap, robust and well-built, the 96 had a solid fanbase and it was always the backbone of the business for Saab and had it been replaced by a proper successor - no late 80's financial troubles, no GM, no bankruptcy. Just good old Saabs, built like a tank.
i started rallycross in a underpowered fwd toyota, and let me tell you.. few things are harder than making a slow car go fast, especially on traction limited surface.. you learn to never brake.
split windshield! sweet, you know you are old school with a split windscreen. the 3 cyl 2 poppers were not bad cars, for the period and the engine size, whlie small, it was a nimble and tuff little thing. like the dkw it was motored by, neat cars. i really like the 3=6 dkw too. pretty pretty car.
@miserablerottensmurf Saab use the fourth generation Haldex system (VW is apparently doing something similar with Haldex now for the next Audi Quattro). There's a nice wikipedia entry describing it. Saab's rear limited slip differential can transfer 85% of the engine's power to any of the rear wheels. I have tested the FWD Vector without DriveSense, and it was quite good. But my XWD Aero w/DriveSense is better. It eats sharp corners for breakfast.
i love old minis. but saabs are so cool. the two popper made then cool. i saw one once, at a vintage race.. a sonnet hardtop, purple i think. and it sounded like a moped. i kept waiting for my freinds moped to come into view, nto a funny looking saab coupe.
@miserablerottensmurf which configuration of the 9-5 have you been driving?!? The 2.0T handles like a dream. Quiet, yet powerful. It comes with a very sophisticated AWD system and is probably the safest vehicle you can find on any road. Admittedly, the dashboard fascia is a bit boring (it was supposed to be nicer, but the subcontracter went bust), but as a driver you're not looking at that anyway. The 9-5 provides the driver with an extremely nice environment.
Look at the cars today, like '10 9-5, 9-X/9-X Air, Aero-X, 9-4X, and 9-3 and compare those to the old Saab's, 92, 96 and so on. So cool to compare those cars. Long live Saab, and their loving owners! Btw, what is the significance of the 9? I can't find the answer anywhere.
@tkaminsk I don't know where you get your info, but Koenigsegg has never owned any part of Saab. They were in the process of buying it outright, but backed out, and have had nothing to do with Saab design. The current 9-5 is still based on the GM platform; it was already almost completed when GM hit the skids. It was still "engineered in Europe" by Saab, using the GM platform. The upcoming 9-3 is indeed all new.
@miserablerottensmurf ...wrong the 95 was engineered from the ground up by Saab/Spyker/Koneigsiegg engineers in Rotterdam, Gotenburg and Oslo. Spyker and Koneigsiegg own Saab, and GM has refused to sell the frams that the GM Saab was built on. The car is 100% engineered in Europe. They gave it major facelift yes but it will be worth it. The 93 is slated for 2012 and will be completely reengineered. There is talk that a 97 is coming back for late 2012 as well that will be from Gotenburg SWE.
@miserablerottensmurf Have you ever tried the new 9-5?I did, and i also tried the 5-serie,the E-Klasse and the A6, and i do not unterstand how people can say this car is a crap.Germans cars are far too overrated,and they look sooo ugly and boring compared to this one .
I have two modern Saabs and I love them to bits especially the Aero 95 but I would love a 1950s or 60s Saab the shape is terrific
The JAS is "jakt, attack, spaning" which in swedish means "hunt - attack - recognizance".
SAAB's jets have always been called different abbreviations depending on their task. JA is for Hunt and Attack, AS would be Attack and recognizance etc.
I friggin love these old Top Gear episodes!! They're very informative. Quentin is a great host too.
The Swenglish is strong with this one.
Yäs, väry fantastisk.
Is it just me, or is that one very awesome sounding engine?
fantastisk roadhållning XD
lill sunqen man hör att han är svensk XD
Det där är svensk brytning :)
Saab 96, the best car ever produced. Other comments are useless...
R.I.P Saab
Ok, that makes since. And the 9-5 had was supposed to be a bigger number than the 9000, because that was car to replace the 9000, but 90,000 didn't sound good so the 9-5 is actually 9^5 which equals 59,049 which is bigger than 9000 to signify that it was the replacement . That's what I heard, but the story isn't the same for the 9-3.
I loved my 96's and everywhere I went in my Sonnets, people thought they were Ferraris.
IMO abandoning the small car and going BMW bashing was the worst mistake Saab ever made. Sure, the results were good such as 9000 but the competition in that market was just too hard. Being cheap, robust and well-built, the 96 had a solid fanbase and it was always the backbone of the business for Saab and had it been replaced by a proper successor - no late 80's financial troubles, no GM, no bankruptcy. Just good old Saabs, built like a tank.
PwrTorch You are absolutley right. I was Saab mechanic i Sweden in the -90's. I mourn Saab.
at least they could've been taken over by volvo, which was looking for a small affordable car around that era.
i started rallycross in a underpowered fwd toyota, and let me tell you.. few things are harder than making a slow car go fast, especially on traction limited surface.. you learn to never brake.
That's why the hand brake
Tartken Karen on the roof
split windshield! sweet, you know you are old school with a split windscreen.
the 3 cyl 2 poppers were not bad cars, for the period and the engine size, whlie small, it was a nimble and tuff little thing. like the dkw it was motored by, neat cars. i really like the 3=6 dkw too. pretty pretty car.
that 92 sounds awesome
@miserablerottensmurf Saab use the fourth generation Haldex system (VW is apparently doing something similar with Haldex now for the next Audi Quattro). There's a nice wikipedia entry describing it. Saab's rear limited slip differential can transfer 85% of the engine's power to any of the rear wheels. I have tested the FWD Vector without DriveSense, and it was quite good. But my XWD Aero w/DriveSense is better. It eats sharp corners for breakfast.
i love old minis. but saabs are so cool. the two popper made then cool. i saw one once, at a vintage race.. a sonnet hardtop, purple i think. and it sounded like a moped. i kept waiting for my freinds moped to come into view, nto a funny looking saab coupe.
what, no mention of the Sonnet series? Decades later they were still destroying the competition in slalom races.
Not bad for an old man.
SAAB makes good plane but it makes good cars also powerful hardcore and fun to drive
@miserablerottensmurf which configuration of the 9-5 have you been driving?!? The 2.0T handles like a dream. Quiet, yet powerful. It comes with a very sophisticated AWD system and is probably the safest vehicle you can find on any road. Admittedly, the dashboard fascia is a bit boring (it was supposed to be nicer, but the subcontracter went bust), but as a driver you're not looking at that anyway. The 9-5 provides the driver with an extremely nice environment.
I want that bomber badge on my saab...so sick.
I love my SAAB
3:23 epic spring seats !!!
i am a illicit solicitor. with a love of german cars. even though saab is swedish,, and dead.
Look at the cars today, like '10 9-5, 9-X/9-X Air, Aero-X, 9-4X, and 9-3 and compare those to the old Saab's, 92, 96 and so on. So cool to compare those cars. Long live Saab, and their loving owners! Btw, what is the significance of the 9? I can't find the answer anywhere.
great vid.. thanks man..
I have a 2stroke SAAB
@tkaminsk I don't know where you get your info, but Koenigsegg has never owned any part of Saab. They were in the process of buying it outright, but backed out, and have had nothing to do with Saab design. The current 9-5 is still based on the GM platform; it was already almost completed when GM hit the skids. It was still "engineered in Europe" by Saab, using the GM platform. The upcoming 9-3 is indeed all new.
my saab 93 v6 turbo kicks any golfs or bmw's arse!!!
@miserablerottensmurf ...wrong the 95 was engineered from the ground up by Saab/Spyker/Koneigsiegg engineers in Rotterdam, Gotenburg and Oslo. Spyker and Koneigsiegg own Saab, and GM has refused to sell the frams that the GM Saab was built on. The car is 100% engineered in Europe. They gave it major facelift yes but it will be worth it. The 93 is slated for 2012 and will be completely reengineered. There is talk that a 97 is coming back for late 2012 as well that will be from Gotenburg SWE.
Well fuji heavy industries, which makes subaru, makes planes.
svenska äroplän acti boloyay? XD
i have been upside down be4. it was funny
a sound that made you wet your pants, aparently even for the drivers.
why go common with a bug, when you cna have a saab 2 popper fwd. great car, bug chaser, but you could have fwd in 1948. great stuff.
akti bolajee? XD HAHAHA!
here and theere
carlsson on the roof...
"Roadhållning"
"Svenske Aeroplan Akti Bologe". Lol.
"bolasjé"
xfiles theme ay the end HAHA
the mini did not come till later.. and while i love minis, the 2 poppers are great. i would not want any other saab.. just s 3 cyl two popper.
0:33 Is he next to Derwent water?
haha svengelska
@miserablerottensmurf
Have you ever tried the new 9-5?I did, and i also tried the 5-serie,the E-Klasse and the A6, and i do not unterstand how people can say this car is a crap.Germans cars are far too overrated,and they look sooo ugly and boring compared to this one .
yeah but subaru is for tools, not enthusiasts....
1994 ?
early cars 2 cyl.
if not stoke not a 850monty
"Dorky looking"???? If by dorky he means sexy, then yeah. What a tool.
if it was stup enough xDDD Haha