New member with Saab!

Lord Helmet

Original poster
Member
Jul 21, 2013
56
Hi, All! New member here. I just picked up my new-to-me '05 Saab 97x last night. It's a Linear with 137k and the rear entertainment pack and I got a hell of a deal on it. I've been doing a lot of reading over the past 4 or 5 days and I am really hoping this truck will provide me with some solid reliability. I've read really good things about them and the 4.2L engine but this is my first GM. I've always been a Ford or Jeep guy. It is replacing my old '87 Mazda B2600 4x4 as my winter/carry stuff vehicle. I only have one pic of the outside right now but the inside is in superb condition, like 9/10! So far I'm loving driving it and I can't wait to get a couple of things done to it. First up is window tint up front then I want to bypass the XM and turn that into an aux input for my iPhone/MP3. I've read that it's pretty easy to do.

I found that on the carfax, the vehicle was serviced at the original dealer for the first 5yrs of it's life like clockwork. Does anyone know if I went to a GM dealer if they would provide me with the service records? So far everything in it works perfectly but I'd like to know the history of the diff & trans fluids, etc..

Anyway, here is a pic of it, not the best I know but it will have to do for now. I look forward to sharing and helping in the future the best I can. This seems like a great forum!

 

Ryda55555

Member
Apr 11, 2013
1,111
Nice! Love the saab rims
Btw welcome to the forums, the president of saab forums canada just bought a 5.3l 9-7x and is on this forum too

Edit- saabscott is his display name
 
May 5, 2013
434
Welcome aboard bro
 

Denali n DOO

Member
May 22, 2012
5,596
Welcome to GMTNation :thumbsup:

nice looking truck!
 

SaabScott

Member
Jul 11, 2013
81
Ryda55555 said:
Nice! Love the saab rims
Btw welcome to the forums, the president of saab forums canada just bought a 5.3l 9-7x and is on this forum too

Edit- saabscott is his display name


Welcome!

I don't know about the US, but dealers in Canada are not allowed to release information on a vehicle under previous ownership due to privacy rules they have.

I was looking at a 2006 9-7X 4.2i, but the owner of that traded it in before I could get it. I found a great deal on a 5.3i instead. So far, so good.

And yes, they are INCREDIBLE deals! :thumbsup:
 

C-ya

Member
Aug 24, 2012
1,098
Ryda55555 said:
Nice! Love the saab rims

Saw a Buick (?) in the parking lot of the hotel I'm at with wheels that looked almost exactly like those. It was leaving as I was eating dinner and enjoying my 2nd O'Fallon 5 Day IPA so I only saw it out the window.
 

Boricua SS

Member
Nov 20, 2011
3,080
Ohio
Welcome to the Nation :tiphat:
 

TexazReece

Member
Dec 4, 2011
1,341
Glad to have you in the nation family. That truck looks :salivate: Welcome to The Nation again bruh :cool::wootwoot:
 

Lord Helmet

Original poster
Member
Jul 21, 2013
56
Thanks for the warm welcome! I just came in from performing the aux input mod to the XM and I'm stoked it was so easy. Took me about 2hrs to do with a break for dinner. I can't wait to drive to work in the morning and crank some tunes! :wootwoot:
 

SaabScott

Member
Jul 11, 2013
81
Lord Helmet said:
Thanks for the warm welcome! I just came in from performing the aux input mod to the XM and I'm stoked it was so easy. Took me about 2hrs to do with a break for dinner. I can't wait to drive to work in the morning and crank some tunes! :wootwoot:


Sorry ... I have to ask, where did you find this? And can it be done even without XM?
 

cmd

Member
Dec 8, 2011
13
:thumbsup: Welcome! I have an 05 9-7x also. Mine is currently at 106k and still going strong. It was my daily driver for 4 years but I still have it as a second car. Can't justify selling it with the residual values so low.
 

Lord Helmet

Original poster
Member
Jul 21, 2013
56
jonbo2002 said:
Welcome and nice looking truck now you just gotta learn to park it :raspberry:

LOL, I actually park like that on purpose. You should see what it looks like when the Stang is parked there, it's generally WAY over the line so people parked next to me can't wack their door into it! This is at my office and I always park at the end. :wink:
 

Lord Helmet

Original poster
Member
Jul 21, 2013
56

The_Roadie

Lifetime VIP Donor
Member
Nov 19, 2011
9,957
Portland, OR
Lord Helmet said:
... my posts are *sometimes being dropped into a moderator approval abyss ...
1000 apologies for that. We have an automatic system where if a new member comes out of the gate and posts off-site links, they need mod approval before posting because that's also what spammers do. We get to them, but not instantly. I've been approving your posts, but I didn't set up the filter system. I assume with a few more posts, the system will trust you to not be a spammer. Again, sorry for the accidentally unfriendly treatment of a valued new member with a rare vehicle we all admire. :thumbsup:
 

SaabScott

Member
Jul 11, 2013
81
Lord Helmet said:
I tried to post this once already but my posts are *sometimes being dropped into a moderator approval abyss so here it goes again... Just follow the instructions in this link. It's really easy to do: Complete DIY for AUX input.....iPod, MP3, Android, Zune... - TBSSOWNERS.com Forums - The #1 TrailblazerSS Dedicated Owners Forum

Good luck!

Thanks ... I'm looking at going the route of a full adapter kit so that it will charge and allow full control of the iPod.

The challenge is, no one associates the 9-7X with any of the adapters out there ... so I either need to take a leap of faith based on someone else having done this or ... I guess that's really my only option.
 

jonbo2002

Member
Sep 27, 2012
213
Lord Helmet said:
LOL, I actually park like that on purpose. You should see what it looks like when the Stang is parked there, it's generally WAY over the line so people parked next to me can't wack their door into it! This is at my office and I always park at the end. :wink:

I hear ya there I park way out in parking lots but somehow someone still cranked my passenger door and left a big dent.
 

Lord Helmet

Original poster
Member
Jul 21, 2013
56
the roadie said:
1000 apologies for that. We have an automatic system where if a new member comes out of the gate and posts off-site links, they need mod approval before posting because that's also what spammers do. We get to them, but not instantly. I've been approving your posts, but I didn't set up the filter system. I assume with a few more posts, the system will trust you to not be a spammer. Again, sorry for the accidentally unfriendly treatment of a valued new member with a rare vehicle we all admire. :thumbsup:

No worries! I figured out that by previewing the post first, that seems to by past the mod approval wait. Either that or you guys are seriously on top of it! lol
 

Lord Helmet

Original poster
Member
Jul 21, 2013
56
SaabScott said:
Thanks ... I'm looking at going the route of a full adapter kit so that it will charge and allow full control of the iPod.

The challenge is, no one associates the 9-7X with any of the adapters out there ... so I either need to take a leap of faith based on someone else having done this or ... I guess that's really my only option.

Any time!

From all the research I've been doing, if I were in that market, I wouldn't hesitate to buy something (like that) that says it would fit a TB/Envoy. I think you will find that even the electronics are 99% similar. After doing that aux mod in addition to programming my key fob last night for the keyless entry/locks, it's pretty clear to me that everything works exactly the same. Aside from the aesthetics, I am wondering if the only real differences are maybe the suspension dampening and the anti-rollbars. When I pulled the kick panel to do that mod, what I found was 100% identical to the TB in the OP's How-to. I have no doubt that the majority of the (GMT Saab) vehicle is the same way.
 

Darkrider_LS

Member
Jan 25, 2013
9,332
Welcome to the Nation!
 

meerschm

Member
Aug 26, 2012
1,079
the dealer (perhaps any dealer) who performed the service can print out a service history. the place I go (when I have to) does this for any service, for the reference of the technician. if you sweet talk the service rep, you may be able to walk home with a copy.
 

Ryda55555

Member
Apr 11, 2013
1,111
The more i look at the 9-7x the more i want one :raspberry: the tuned suspension and the centre console ignition are sweet selling points
You could do a lot of simple DIY mods that'll make it really nice
Might consider a 9-7x aero as my summer driver and convert it into a 2wd so i dont get TC issues
 

ddgm

Member
May 7, 2013
152
Lord Helmet said:
Any time!

From all the research I've been doing, if I were in that market, I wouldn't hesitate to buy something (like that) that says it would fit a TB/Envoy. I think you will find that even the electronics are 99% similar. After doing that aux mod in addition to programming my key fob last night for the keyless entry/locks, it's pretty clear to me that everything works exactly the same. Aside from the aesthetics, I am wondering if the only real differences are maybe the suspension dampening and the anti-rollbars. When I pulled the kick panel to do that mod, what I found was 100% identical to the TB in the OP's How-to. I have no doubt that the majority of the (GMT Saab) vehicle is the same way.

I have a 2006 9-7x and am looking for a NAV unit so I can install a backup camera and the GPS part would be a bonus. I am getting the same runaround. I believe that most things are shared with the TBs & Envoy but I also know that the factory NAV unit is the same as the Hummer3. I am leaning to the Kenwood units as they use a Garmin based Gps. Unfortunately, my Saab is 1500 miles away and I won't see it until November. Crutchfield says there are differences and won't guarantee any fitment. By the way, the steering on the Saab is quicker too.
 

Bscfrank914

Member
Aug 10, 2012
151
ddgm said:
I have a 2006 9-7x and am looking for a NAV unit so I can install a backup camera and the GPS part would be a bonus. I am getting the same runaround. I believe that most things are shared with the TBs & Envoy but I also know that the factory NAV unit is the same as the Hummer3. I am leaning to the Kenwood units as they use a Garmin based Gps. Unfortunately, my Saab is 1500 miles away and I won't see it until November. Crutchfield says there are differences and won't guarantee any fitment. By the way, the steering on the Saab is quicker too.

First off welcome aboard fellow saab brother!

I have a 05' 9-7x, and 99% of the electronics that fit the tb will fit the saab HOWEVER, there are some minor altercations you will have to make. I purchased a pioneer head unit from crutchfield, and the wiring harness said it would not fit the saab,however it did. The only thing that it did no maintain were the chimes of the vehicle. (ie. Door open, trunk open). There was a saab forum for the 9-7's that had some pretty useful information. Good luck with the truck! Any questions with it feel free to pm!!
Frank-
 

Lord Helmet

Original poster
Member
Jul 21, 2013
56
How actually rare are these Saabs? It seems like there are quite a few of us here.
 

HARDTRAILZ

Moderator
Nov 18, 2011
49,665
I never thought of them as rare. I see a few in the parking garage everyday. I think they are more common than most Saab's actually.


Welcome and nice looking truck.
 

cmd

Member
Dec 8, 2011
13
Lord Helmet said:
How actually rare are these Saabs? It seems like there are quite a few of us here.

It was the second best selling SAAB model behind the 9-3 throughout its existence.
 

Sparky

Member
Dec 4, 2011
12,927
ddgm said:
I have a 2006 9-7x and am looking for a NAV unit so I can install a backup camera and the GPS part would be a bonus. I am getting the same runaround. I believe that most things are shared with the TBs & Envoy but I also know that the factory NAV unit is the same as the Hummer3. I am leaning to the Kenwood units as they use a Garmin based Gps. Unfortunately, my Saab is 1500 miles away and I won't see it until November. Crutchfield says there are differences and won't guarantee any fitment. By the way, the steering on the Saab is quicker too.

What's wrong with Garmin-based? Heck of a lot better than Tom-Tom :crazy:
 

jrSS

Member
Dec 4, 2011
3,950
Sparky said:
What's wrong with Garmin-based? Heck of a lot better than Tom-Tom :crazy:

Sparky....I don't understand this. He said he wanted the garmin based gps head unit.
 

Sparky

Member
Dec 4, 2011
12,927
:lipsrsealed:

Totally misread it as leaning "away from" - not sure how I managed that :blinkhuh:
 

Lord Helmet

Original poster
Member
Jul 21, 2013
56
cmd said:
It was the second best selling SAAB model behind the 9-3 throughout its existence.

That's pretty interesting. I see them here but not nearly as often as I see TB's on the road. Or on my street for that matter! lol
 

The_Roadie

Lifetime VIP Donor
Member
Nov 19, 2011
9,957
Portland, OR
cmd said:
It was the second best selling SAAB model behind the 9-3 throughout its existence.
But Saab overall was struggling with sales worldwide of about 100K per year. So I went Googling, and it was hard to locate sales broken down by model.

One link had a long term consolidated chart that looks like there were 20K 9-7X ever sold, or about 5% of the 9-3, gen2 sales, but the 9-3 was sold for more years. In any event, 20K is a smaller sliver of the pie than the other five models, but I don't have full numbers for all those. The Aero (like the SS) was the most rare of all, with only 639 produced, according to Wikipedia: Saab 9-7X - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

View attachment 29801

Trailblazer numbers from Wikipedia:

Yearly American sales
Calendar Year Total American sales
2001 115,103
2002 249,568
2003 261,334
2004 283,484
2005 244,150
2006 174,797
2007 134,626
2008 74,878
2009 8,829

Envoy numbers were incomplete, but ran around 40% of trailblazers.
 

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