Exclusive: Saab of Santa Monica Closing Feb. 1
Scandinavian automotive news rocks the Westside late today: Saab of Santa Monica, one of just three remaining Saab dealerships in LA County, is fated to be shuttered forever on February 1, 2008, having been taken over by a Cadillac dealership. Their website has already been taken offline.
I remain ambivalent on the news of their imminent demise. While I won’t miss the ridiculous markups on their parts and service, there was something about their unassuming presence on Santa Monica Blvd., their always-full pot of burnt profoundly terrible coffee and “complementary” off-site car washes that made the shop an enjoyable, if quirky destination.
There are few reasons I can in good conscience direct anyone to visit Sherman Oaks–no, not even the new ArcLight–but in there in Sherman Oaks remains one of two Greater Los Angeles area Saab dealerships. CORRECTION: The other is down in the South Bay in Torrance in Pasadena. [Thanks commenters, you’re my fact-checking cuz.]
Better yet, orphaned Swedish motorcar enthusiasts in need of service would do well to find a good independent shop. I recommend Viking Motors on Pico, freeway convenient and walking distance from Joker.
Fun fact: Kurt Vonnegut managed Saab of Cape Cod. He was not able to name it “Cape Cod Saab” as he desired as Saab corporate HQ mandates the “Saab” must come first in the official business name. (Note that precise transposition typo in the header of the enclosed letter.)
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Yeah, walter is great. It’s far for me now but Walter has loaners for you so it works out fine
hopefully you’ll have a better experience in the future
Went to mart saab wasent pleased… the service rep is like talking to a wall…. money making machine care nothing for there customers.. I know take my saabs to right solution -walter wong
Just don’t tell me that the Joker is closed too… 1st legal drink there ;)
A late note, because I just came to this. That guy Shahen, he was the worst! He lied to us about, promising us that we could get our car repaired under warranty but that he was busy at the moment and to come back in a few weeks. When we did he said the warranty had passed… I got Saab HQ on the line and they straightened him out, but seriously, what a jerk. Satan Monica Saab, we used to call them. They packed that lot insanely and then refused to acknowledge the dings they made. I found loose screws and footprints all over my carpet after more than one “repair.” Sorry to see Saab go, but it’s “luxury” dealers who thought they were always right and the boom would go on forever, pumping their silicon bodies full of fluid that were to blame.
What big dance?? They haven’t come close to the sales volumes that SAAB of Santa Monica hit and work out of the used car building to sell SAAB product.What ever employee they refer to must be Jay who jumped ship quicky and when to Sherman Oaks SAAB. Great service!!
hmmm. one last post. Sometime ago, we also had an isuzu and when that dealership closed, Martin took it over. My wife’s brakes failed and she rear ended a guy. Martin intially worked on the car but, the fault occurred again right away. I took it back and they could not diagnose the problem, so i had to take it to the Santa Ana dealer who found the fault. The Santa Ana dealer told me to tow the car back to Martin since it was under the Martin warranty. But, Martin refused to fix it because they said it wasn’t broken! I had the mechanic from Santa Ana call the mechanic at Martin and the two of them went at it. Well I had to get the car fixed in Santa Ana. I would never take my beloved SAAB to Martin.
I just want to say that I felt the same frustrations that most of you seem to be feeling. Then a friend suggested I Saab of Santa Ana.
Okay, it was far but, not that far. Besides, when I get there, I was treated with respect and was never spoken to in a condenscending manner. I really felt at ease and look forward to my next service.
Anyway, I just thought I’d share that. I love my Saab.
Sounds like a bitter Saab of Santa Monica employees venting because he or she did not get invited to the big dance at the new dealership.
Catherine you clearly need to stop making story’s up!!! First of all SAAB of Santa Monica almost never had a lowner car. Never on a weekend!! There is an enterprise on site here at Martin were they alway’s have a car for you. Yes they are closed on Sunday’s, but SAAB of Santa Monica would have closed the door on your face on Sunday’s. There are only two “old sales guy’s” I can most certanly asure you that I didn’t say that. Nore did the other “Sales Guy”!!! As for this new SAAB dealer it is probably the best run dealership I have ever seen around. All new, and old customers can bring there car in everyday if they wanted for free carwash. The list goes on and on. This dealership has been here over 36 years. I would say that the 60,000 plus thousand customers they have helped might have something diffrent to say.
David
P.S. This place really dosn’t suck, you suck for trying to make story’s up that are not true!!!!!
Oh my God…SAAB Martin Cadillac not really SAAB!!
Went to find Jay already gone and waited for 20 minutes to talk to Alan to find they don’t have SAAB loaners nor will they give them out if you break down on a weekend! Then spoke to one of the old sales guys from Santa Monica that admited the place really did suck.His quote “they need Jeremy here”
There is no Saab in Beverly Hills, and the new dealership was a let down. We now drive over to Sherman Oaks, a little bit out of the way…but a much nicer service department and Peter and Jay from Santa Monica are there. We were very happy to see both two faces.
Swedish Car Center at Venice and Rose is a great shop. Daniel and Chris are extremely good at what they do, and also as honest and fair as you will ever find. They serviced my 1990 Saab 900 Turbo for a long time and took great care of me. Now that I’ve leased a 2006 9-3, I don’t get down there, but still highly recommend them.
Sorry to see em go — is Shahen still in service at martin?
I think the only dealership on the Westside is Saab of Beverly Hills, for I checked online, and it seems like everyone else is gone? I saw their banners behind the Martin Cadillac, Pontiac, GMC store off of Bundy and Olympic. I suspect they are part of the same dealership now?
I read that GM is now consolidating its brand lines among dealers into Cadillac, Saab, Hummer stores to better compete with other luxury brands.
At least there is somewhere I can service my Saab without driving too far.
Thanks Jeremy Miller for not paying off the mileage on my returned Saab as promised in return for buying my new Saab. I love getting the outstanding balance statements from GMAC, and I love the way you haven’t returned my phone calls. Do not buy a car from this man- he know manages Saturn of Santa Monica.
I live in San Pedro and I’ve been bounced from Saab of South Bay, to SM and now to BH. Thanks for making me take a day off work just to get my car serviced!!
Thank you for this forum. Hearing “Beverly Hills” when I phoned for service (never rcvg the Saab SM letter), then being transferred to a gentleman’s desk (not a service department), I was immediately dismayed expecting high prices and was headed over the hill to Sherman Oaks. Now I will give this new Saab BH a try, I will be relieved to see familiar faces and perhaps service records from Saab SM? We’ll see…
We are no longer owned by the pendragon
Just got back from getting my 2007 93 serviced at Martin Cadillac (Saab of BH). I wasn’t sure what to expect but came away impressed. Familar faces from Santa Monica, along with quick and friendly service. I only required routine maintenance, not advanced diagnostics or repairs. I am wondering if the guy who has been working on V8 Cadillac Escalades is now a “Saab expert”. Time will tell.
still owned by pendragon?
We have been with Saab on the Westside since 2001
with WI Simonson group when they established a Saab dealer on the Westside.
We were sold to Pendragon in 2005 and the lease expired on the property at 1820 SM Blvd this January 2008.We apologize for the inconvienence!!!
Our new dealership is located at Martin Cadillac on the corner of Olympic and Bundy in west LA.
We welcome you to come visit us at our new dealership, Saab of Beverly Hills!
Unlike the rest of this blog this is factual and we welcome all of our friends to our New Digs!
Best Regards
Certified Sales
xoxox
Very suspicious. I thought something funny was going on when we traded in a saab lease last year (March 2007) for another saab lease but CA DMV never got the ownership change paper work as of last month!!SAAB USA did not show the trade in by SM SAAB etc…Fraud?? Not paying taxes???
This all happened very quickly. First the note on the Saab forum, then the letter, and now as of 2/1 it’s closed. There’s already a banner up on the Martin Cadillac lot saying “Saab of Beverly Hills”! Well no, but I guess they couldn’t say Saab of SM anymore. I’m quite surprised this happened, the Brit company Pendragon that bought Saab of SM and South Bay from Simonson is one of the largest car selling companies in the world. I’d love to know what really happened.
At least you got a letter. I’ve had two West LA dealerships dry up on me without so much as a peep!
I was shopping for a Saab last summer and was appalled by the “service” at Saab of SM. I went to South Bay and discovered that they had been closed down for some time even though they were listed at saab.com. The dealer in OC was much better but the whole brand experience wwas so frightening I bought a BMW instead. I wanted to love the Saab – but the dealers scared me.
The two remaining L.A. County Saab dealers will be Saab of Sherman Oaks (as you mentioned) and Symes Saab of Pasadena.
Another great Saab indie mechanic (years and years of service and a Saab Master Tech) is Right Solution, Inc. (http://www.saabtech.net) on Venice and La Cienega.
Actually, the South Bay Saab has been closed for over a year. It’s a used car dealership now, I think.