Thanks a lot for the trip report - it's funny about the retarded griffin. I have a saab (a 11 model) - and previously a 06 model. I have driven a Megane, Volvo, Kia, and a handful of SUVs and honestly I love my car - it flies on the German motorway (the biggest drawback was the slow speed up due to being a diesel car). Yes they were pretty retarded until their last couple of years before bankruptcy, but the last models they made weren't bad at all.

I think the retarded griffin has something to do with the Skane (scania) province (Scania has the same retarded griffin too) and I remember there were some relationship between SAAB and Scania.

The retarded griffin

Swedes are not the worst people in terms of helpfulness. Norwegian were bad, similar to the Danes IMO. Once we got on the wrong bus at Hadeland (went on a bus tour using the Oslo Boat from DK), our bus left without us. We asked the bus drivers (all the buses painted with Nettbuss on and they all looked the same!), and they didn't seem to care more. Then we went back to the glass factory (we did buy things from there) and after a while they finally helped. The Danish guide called a taxi for us back to the ferry terminal and it was 1400 NOK (of course we didn't pay)!

Airport bus in Sweden is like a money machine (to some extent the Norwegian ones too but not nearly that much). From KRN to city centre - a 10 minutes ride - 100 SEK per adult and 50 per kids. Mr. was so furious and he said it's the most expensive bus ride he has ever tried. I told him that it will cost us a lot more to pick up the car a day earlier (we were thinking about doing the mine tour and it was cancelled on our way to Kiruna - I even called them the day before).

I really enjoy reading the trip report, especially from someone who is not a Scandinavian. Thank a lot!