Article: Guilford Saab in Connecticut closed after 34 years in business

[nordwulf]

You can view the page at http://saabworld.net/content.php?r=9...after-34-years

[psymon]

It's too bad really. I live 10 minutes from this dealership.

[photousa]

Great article, however, hate to see a loyal dealership close it's doors. A gracious statement from the owner and typical of Saab owners. What happens in a couple of years if the stories we are seeing come to pass and Saab starts to crank out 9-3's again? Perhaps these owner know something that we don't, because they're not waiting. Hate to see a lot of people / mechanics lose their job, hopefully they will find a new home. On a selfish note, I would love to see one or more former Saab mechanics from some of these dealerships that have gone out of business, get interviewed, discussing a long list of mechanical / maintenance / performance questions about our cars. The wealth of knowledge that Saab pro mechanics would have would be incredible.

[nordwulf]

What happens in a couple of years if the stories we are seeing come to pass and Saab starts to crank out 9-3's again?

Saab Automobile dealers and importers are mostly gone. Saab Parts still exists but that is not an automobile company. It's a parts company.

Fiat and Alfa Romeo once sold their cars in the USA and are now trying to get back. But it requires a huge amount of time and money for an importer and dealers to re-establish themselves again. And it is pretty much only possible through the Chrysler merger. NEVS is a tiny company with the plan of restarting production again of a single 10 year old car. Without a worldwide distribution network. If you were a (former) Saab dealer in the US, would you place your bet on becoming a NEVS dealer? The Saab brand took a huge hit in the last 3 years and even if it can be revitalized, it will take a huge effort.

[psymon]

Here is what other dealership looks like now...sad....

[tunnanxwd]

Real sad and driving by it would not be hard to tell that it once had a prominent SAAB on that blue canopy.

Perhaps the saddest of all was the small dealer in Dallastown PA. It was his father who started the company and some of the signs still mounted outside still tell the tale of the once magnetic pull the "exotic" European imports had. When you see the MG octogon still in the wind and then the SAAB sign the whole tale is told. I called them to inquire as to the status of Hirsch tunes since they were listed as "participating" and they never heard of apparently even Hirsch. When I questioned that it may be possible that someone else in the company offices may have approved it this great and down to earth guy said he would ask his Dad and hollered over to him. The company was he and dad; here the Porsche or Lexus dealer has a hundred employees. We ended up chatting about MG's and that time of life.

[Dave T]

Google Maps shows that the building is now full of cars as Land Rover Guilford. A green Land Rover oval is where the Saab sign on the upper left of the building was. The blue has been painted white. The building is no longer sad looking but there's no traces of Saab except sharp eyes will see the wedge that used to be blue.