Names for Saab models

[nordwulf]

This thread is not about what you named your own Saab but nicknames for Saab models in general.

The Dutch Saabers often use Caab for a Saab Convertible. I have seen "salmon nose" and "straight nose" for different 1st gen 900 designs. I can imagine a Sonett with the pop-up headlights could be referred to as Frog. The 2008+ 9-3 with the dark-rimmed taillights as the Buddy Holly 9-3?

The 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 is often referred to as the "Dame Edna" which I hate with a passion. Not the car, just the nickname. It's insulting and shows a lack of respect for this awesome design. I propose the new name 9-5 Wildcat, inspired by the TV commercial. Other acceptable names are 9-5 Predator or 9-5 Lynx. But what do we call the other designs for MY 2002-2005 and 1998-2001?

[rpiereck]

Dame Edna. I had to look that up, and those glasses sure look 9-5-ish!

For the 9-6 there are four versions:

The Short Bull-Nose:


Long Bull-Nose:


Cheese Grater Nose:


Square Headlights:


The rare Saab 90 could be nicknamed the Weasel, as that is its nickname in Finland, Lumikko. But I imagine calling someone a weasel in Finnish doesn't carry the same meaning as in the US.


Of course there are two Saabs that have unofficial nicknames that are semi-derogatory, but also used by their owners as terms of endearment, the Trollblazer (Saab 9-7x) and the Saabaru (Saab 9-2x).

The 9-4x could be called the Swan, as in a Swan song, because they were the last new Saab ever. We could also call it ¡El Sueco!, for the fact that it was a Swedish car made in Mexico...

[Shazam]

Whoa, whoa, whoa! First, it's the 96, not 9-6, and is pronounced ninty-six, not nine-six, like GM Saabs.

Second, the bullnose 96 only came in one length. There was no long-nose bullnose and short. Just the bullnose. In 1965, the changed it up to get ready for the Tanus V4. That gave you the cheese-grater front, and is also known as the long-nose 96. After that came what you called the "square headlight", which is just typically called the V4 96. The square headlights were just on European models, while the North American models got the round headlights.

[nordwulf]

So there are also some common names.

Saab 900 (1979-1994): 900 Classic
Saab 900 / 9-3 (1994-2003): NG900 / OG 9-3
Saab 9-3 (2003 - 2012): SS, SC I guess you could also call it 9-3NG.

SaabCentral uses Mk. I and Mk. II for the first and second generation 9-5. Not sure who came up with that. A VW fan? Other use 9-5 Classic for the first generation and 9-5NG for the second generation. Anyone uses 9-5OG? One could argue the 9000 was the first generation 9-5 but just had a different name (like the 900 / 9-3).

Personally, I don't care for OG, NG and Classic at all. If Saab would still have been making cars, what would the 3rd generation 9-5 be? 9-5NNG? And the 9-5 II would become the 9-5ONG (old new-generation).

I prefer using chassis numbers used by Saab but I don't think anyone will know what they mean. Any MB enthusiast will know what you mean when you say W124. Or use Roman numerals like I, II or 1st gen, 2nd gen etc.

9-5 I: 9600
9-5 II: 9650
9-3 I: 9400
9-3 II: 9440

If Victor Muller would have used 900 for the 9-3 III, what would that have been called?

[aeronaut]

Cat's eyes