Boxwish Blog

Auto of the week: Saab 900 Cabrio

Posted by Team Boxwish on 12 August 2008 at 11.16AM

Cinematic road trips evoke images of carefree young ‘uns, partying and cruising about. These gorgeous young things don’t drink wine, have probably never even heard of Merlot and are often inexplicably driving a car they could never dream of affording. Sure, it’s the glamour of the silver screen, but providing us with a healthy dose of reality is the middle-aged comedy/ drama Sideways. The acclaimed 2004 flick follows forty-somethings Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Jack (Thomas Haden Church) as two mismatched old college buddies that head off on the open road for a week long jaunt around the wine country of Santa Barbara. And they do so in a Saab 900.

Saabs often pop up in movies, albeit as the car of choice for quirky, intelligent, often more mature characters. But, considering the manufacturer doesn’t pay for such product placement, their inclusion in Sideways and the likes of High Fidelity, Contact and Annie Hall is pretty impressive.

In the vino-obsessed film, the convertible ably assists Jack and Miles on their journey until the more spontaneous and reckless, Jack decides to fake a car crash and of course, Miles is along for the ride. The red Cabrio is then driven into a tree and subsequently, a ditch.

It’s another sad ending for a movie car (are there any films where cars don’t get completely trashed?) and it’s demise seems almost inevitable. Yet, having provided comfort and practicality for so long, we raise a glass to the Saab 900 Cabrio.