| Author | Message | ||
     Trojan |
It is with much sadness and regret, and after much soul searching, that after 15 years in the business we have decided to close our doors for the last time with immediate effect. Recession in the motorcycle market, poor sales, lack of bank support and finally being let down by a major supplier have all combined into a 'perfect storm' at the same time, and we have decided that enough is enough. The business liquidation is being handled by an outside firm and they will be writing to the very few customers that may have paid for goods and not received them yet. We would like to apologise profusely to those customers who we have let down at this point, and also to thank all our customers over the last 15 years since we started our business. This has not been a quick decision and nor has it come lightly, but there is a time for everything and it is now time to move on. regards Matt & Debbie Purdy Adrenalin-Moto (twinshack) | ||
| Jaimec |
Sorry to hear, Matt. I purchased a few things from you guys when I owned my Buells. Good luck in any future endeavors! | ||
| Skntpig |
Sorry to hear the news. I hope this turns out to be a springboard to your next success. | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
In the trade myself Matt I have every sympathy. It's tough out there. I struggle with an ever dwindling Saab market, as I'm very sure you're aware of how that feels from things Buell. I'm still fortunate enough I can diversify somewhat, and earn a crust, but Saab is still my bread and butter. Who knows how long it will last. News this week says NEVS, the latest of 'new' owners of Saab, have filed for bankruptcy. They've not even got their electric 9-3 to market yet! So Matt, have you other irons in the fire you can share with us? Whatever you do, great luck to you. I trust you will still give us the best of British opinion for all things racing, here on the BadWeB. Rocket in England | ||
| Glitch |
Hate to hear the news Matt. You're a stand up guy, that ran a stand up service. Best to you and Debbie in whatever it is you decide to do from here. | ||
| Reepicheep |
My 2006 9-3 Aero (which replaced the dead 2001 9-3 SE) wants to explode the automatic transmission when I accellerate hard making a right turn from a stop, if that makes you feel any better Rocket.  If I ever drive it to London, I'll drop it off at your shop. (Damn Japanese transmission anyway...) | ||
| Court |
>>>>If I ever drive it to London, I'll drop it off at your shop. Hahahaha . . . as much as Rocket and I have wrangled over the years there is no one I'd trust more with my Saab. Matt: Sorry to see this but thrilled for what may may ahead. Your silly smart, honest as the day is long and a hard worker. I'd be willing to bet this is the beginning of something, not the end. Court | ||
| Hootowl |
Honest as the day is long? So he's the least honest on December 21st?  Pardon my attempt to inject a bit of levity into a thoroughly depressing thread. All the best in your future endeavors. | ||
| Davegess |
Matt, tough luck, sorry to see you have to shut down. Keep your chin up. | ||
| Rah7777777 |
I'm very sorry to hear this!!! Good luck in your future ventures though! Thanks for all your support and help over the years! | ||
| Gaesati |
Good Luck, Matt. | ||
| Two_seasons |
Best wishes to you and Debbie. | ||
| Kenm123t |
Its a new chance to start over Matt i know its hard. I have fired entire companies 100+ not because it did'nt make money It was time to change the culture of the company. I took 2 years off basically and relaunched Its fun again! You will find another business model and run with it! Your good at what you do so keep your values and you will be fine Ken | ||
| Kenm123t |
Now we know why Sean is Cranky he Plays with SAAB stories all day! Save the Sheep Free Scotland ! | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
Saab had a great design ethos which included simplicity of repair. Often a factor overlooked by professional mechanics due to brand unfamiliarity. The GM era not so much so, but Saab and their quirky designs had great influence on GM Europe. It's a pity GM raped Saab then left them for dead. An all too familiar story these days. Rocket in England | ||
| Jaimec |
Wow. SO not the Saab I remember! Of course, I looked at them back in the 80s and the era of the 900. GREAT handling machine, very comfortable. LOADS of room under the hatchback. But the engine was mounted BACKWARDS so that accessing the timing chain or nearly anything else that typically required service meant removing the engine... That and the fact that all my friends who owned Saabs always seemed to have their cars in the shop "waiting for parts" was the deal breaker for me. | ||
| Reindog |
My Saab 900 Turbo spewed oil in the engine compartment. I was happy to get rid of that turd. | ||
| No_rice |
sorry to hear that Matt. the buellers will miss you and your help. | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
But the engine was mounted BACKWARDS so that accessing the timing chain or nearly anything else that typically required service meant removing the engine... Who told you that nonsense? On the early B series engine you could lift the head off and leave the cam wheel bolted to a carrier, thus not disturbing the cam timing whilst a complete head overhaul and gasket replacement was possible. On the slightly later and greater number sold H series, including the B2** series twin cam engines, the timing cover can be removed without disturbing the engine. The entire timing chain set up including drive gear and tensioners are removable. The crank seal can be replaced as can the oil pump, not that you'd ever need. As for the engine being sat 'backward' this also allowed for complete clutch replacement from inside the engine bay. No need to lift the car and work underneath it. I've also seen it done where the complete engine has been removed from the bay but leaving the gearbox / transmission in its entirety undisturbed. The bolts above the driveshafts intentionally shorter than the others holding the gearbox / sump (one piece) to the engine, so no need to pull the driveshafts. Saab thought of everything. A design which lasted three decades of production no less. Rocket in England | ||
| Davefl |
My "87 900 Turbo had well over 300,000 miles on it when I sold it and I would not be surprised if it was not still on the road. A Saab is a lot like a Buell, it is as good as the person spinning wrenches on it. | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
I was happy to get rid of that turd. Sounds like you had a post 94 model. The American's added the turd factor in which case. GM's name is shit in Saab circles. Not my belief of course. Just conveying what I hear Rocket in England | ||
| Reepicheep |
I joke my 2000 Saab was a Saab that GM tried to ruin. My 2006 Saab is a GM that Saab tried to un-ruin. The net effect wasn't that much different. That being said, at least here in the states, Saabs are a killer deal if you can live with the quirks (like my transmission that won't shift into second gear on a hard right turn ) None of which has anything to do with the fact that we wish Matt the best! (Message edited by reepicheep on August 27, 2014) | ||
| Court |
>>>GM's name is shit in Saab circles. Pretty much everywhere . . . . Me? . . . I just wanted them to return the taxpayers money. :-) I had and loved 3 Saabs. | ||
| Hootowl |
"The American's added the turd factor in which case" Yeah, we tend to do that. Ford didn't do Jaguar any favors either. disclaimer...I have a Ford era Jaguar. It's a great car, and the Ford parts it wears are dirt cheap compared to non-Ford Jaguars. That said, the Indians took Jaguar in the direction it needed to go. New Jags are amazing. I'm glad Ford sold it. | ||
| Reindog |
My SAAB 900 Turbo was from the early 80's. | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
My SAAB 900 Turbo was from the early 80's. You see mate, I knew your comment had little to do with Saab, and more to do with you trying to push my buttons. Bit silly really. As for GM, the truth is, Saab wouldn't have made it beyond the 90's had not GM bought half the company. The GM era cars were not bad Saabs at all. If you can find the full ten minutes worth of Top Gear tribute Clarkson and May put together a few years ago, with their brand of humour interjected into what is a serious piece, Clarkson has it that Saab engineers just wouldn't listen to GM and kept on designing and spending in their inimitable Swedish way. This is why the GM Saabs are a lot more Saab than many, including so called experts, realise (or care to admit). Rocket in England | ||
| Jaimec |
Except for that all-wheel drive Saab they sold for awhile. That was a Subaru WRX in disguise... | ||
| Reindog |
You see mate, I knew your comment had little to do with Saab, and more to do with you trying to push my buttons. Bit silly really. ??????????. Ask me about the time the metal battery heat shield shorted the battery terminals at Big Bear Mountain with the sun going down and the temperature dropping into the teens (F). Fun ride down the mountain with no heat, turn signals and electric windows jammed shut. But we are getting off topic. (Message edited by reindog on August 28, 2014) | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
Except for that all-wheel drive Saab they sold for awhile. That was a Subaru WRX in disguise... A badge engineering exercise by GM America and nothing to do with Saab. Rocket in England | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
Ask me about the time the metal battery heat shield shorted the battery terminals Had the heat shield been in good condition and fitted correctly, ditto the battery, it's impossible for this to happen. I've seen some bodges back in the day where the wrong batteries were fitted. The heat shields just pushed over and trapped between battery and exhaust, no fastenes. No heat shield at all and melting batteries. Sounds like yours was one of these. Rocket in England | ||
| No_rice |
not to rain on the saab parade, but... so i hear trojan is closing down... | ||
| Jaimec |
Every body has a "Saab Story."  | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
I don't think Matt would mind the odd Saab story, seeing as their fate turned out similar to that of Buell. Rocket in England | ||
| Trojan |
don't start me on saab stories.........Although I was lucky enough to get sponsorship from a Saab Germany dealership when I was kart racing many years ago |
