Hey guys. You may have noticed I haven't been on the board too much the past few days (feels good to get the needle out of my vein every now and then). Well, I've been driving south to attend the Viggen Flight Academy. I've been taking pics of the trip down and on the course. I think it's pretty cool. I still have one day left of the class.

See some pics

Looks like fun... Is this included in the price of the car? I live right by Laguna Seca racetrack and the racing courses have always sounded like a lot of fun but I've never been able to afford one...

Matthew

Okay, I have always had a thing for Saabs. I want a Viggen now.

Yes, it's incuded as standard equipment with the car. The only thing is you have to pay for hotels and airfare if needed.

I just got done with day 2. Uploading the pics now (56k is very slow). It was incredibly fun and well worth the trip!

I had no clue that Saab made a car named the Viggen. Combine the name 'Flight Academy' with Viggen and I was baffled that we had a school in Georgia that would train you in one of these http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/row/viggen.htm.

Needless to say, I was way confused until I saw the pics.

Would I be wrong in guessing that the Viggen is a relatively new model from Saab that was named after it's flight capable cousin?

The Viggen is a modified version of the 9-3. Similar to what the M3 is to the BMW 3 Series. It has been around since 1999. However, 2002 is the last model year. It's also built in very limited numbers. There were only 400 built for the US in 1999 and about 1,000 per year for 2000-2002. The last one rolled off the line on May 22 of this year. Finding a new one in the US will not be easy.

The car is simply incredible. In my opinion, it will become a classic (in the Saab community at least). The new 9-3 is coming out in a sedan version later this year. The only available engine at launch will be 170hp. According to the Saab execs at the dinner, there will be a 210hp version around 2005 or 2006. It is not enough power to call it Viggen though.

EDIT: Yes, it is named after the jet fighter.

Not enough power to call it Viggen? How evil is that thing you're driving?