Saab owners

Sir,

I am indeed sorry to see in your September issue that you consider the Saab 95B ugly, old-fashioned in many respects, and lacking in superiority over our native products. I presume that you apply these comments to the sister vehicle, the Saab 96, with the same liberality.

Surely you realise, Mr. Boddy, that for any enthusiast the most important factor in the choice of a car is the handling characteristics. I searched your article in vain for the anticipated favourable eulogy on this point.

I am sure my club members would like me to point out that, (a) the Saab may be ugly in your eyes, but not in ours, (b) your opinion of the car as old-fashioned is confounded by any thoughtful assessment of the amount of careful and contemporary planning which is apparent throughout the car and its fittings (we think you may be unduly waist-line conscious!) and that, (c) we should be delighted to hear of any native product which offers us “Saab handling,” good capacity, and a high degree of comfort and solidity of construction—plus entertaining motoring—at anything like a comparable price for either saloon or estate version.

John Morgan,

P.R.O., Saab Owners’ Club.

[Mr. Boddy considers Saab 95B ugly, etc. You are quite wrong to presume that he thinks the Saab 96 similar. One of these days he will test one and then we shall all know. In the meantime I am still a Saab fan. I get a more exciting ride in my Saab 60 than any car I have so far driven. Reliable, quicker away than most, and easy to handle. During last winter’s snows it got me to my destination every day and repeatedly delighted me by weaving around stranded cars. 100,000 miles in Saabs without being let down once. The only other car to equal this performance in 40 years of motoring was the B.M.W. 502, little wonder that I say I look forward to and enjoy every minute I’m behind the wheel of my Saab.—Proprietor.]