Save SWEDISH UNDERGROUND
Donation protected
If you’re like me, you love cars, but you love SAABs most of all. Instead of subscribing to the notion that other fancier or more expensive European cars might handle better on a racetrack, or that an SUV can haul more kids and cargo, you recognize that you can do it all with a SAAB.
But we can’t do any of those things if our cars aren’t performing optimally. For that, we have relied on Swedish Underground, SAAB Automotive Service and the unyielding devotion of its owner, Roland George. Recently though, due to the insanity of NYC real estate and the rapid rate of development in and around Brooklyn, Swedish Underground has lost its lease and closed its doors. Because he is so committed to his customers, Roland has been retrieving their cars from Brooklyn and repairing them at his home in Long Island while he searches for a new location to reopen his business. This is not sustainable; neither is the cost of relocating an office, cars, parts, (3) lifts and tools. I started this GoFundMe page to assist with his relocation costs and hopefully buy a new lift and tools.
In addition to being a Certified Master SAAB Technician, Roland is a genuinely excellent human being. He is honest and fair and will almost never charge the standard book-rate or anywhere close to what other repair shops do. When even the newest SAAB is over 8 years old, with rusted bolts and undercarriages caked in grease, oil and dirt, there are many variables not calculated into standard repair time/cost; it would be fair to charge for the additional time every job requires, but Roland does not. That is why my father, brother and I have never taken our SAABs anywhere else for the past 15 years. Whether it has been a turbo or transmission replacement, a head gasket job, or something simple like a brake-job, charging the AC or diagnosing an electrical issue, there is no one else I trust more with the cars my wife and I drive our 2 kids in.
I will recall one instance where my wife’s 220k mile 2004 9-5 wagon suddenly would not go into park. She is a public school teacher in Brooklyn. One morning she was running late (still early by most standards) due to a childcare snag, NYC rush-hour traffic and a severe shortage of parking spots. When she finally found a spot, the shift cable had broken so she couldn’t engage park or reverse. I was too far away to help, so I told her to call Roland and gave her directions to his shop. At wits’ end, she arrived at in tears, but was immediately comforted by Roland’s kindness and the expeditious efficiency with which he fixed the problem. He dropped everything he was doing to fix the car and get my wife to work in time for her meetings and classes. Roland not only saved my wife from a disastrous day, he also possibly saved my marriage in the process. A lot hangs in the balance when we force high-mile old SAABs on our significant others.
That is just one example of the many times Roland has gone above and beyond for my family. I am sure you all have your own stories as well. I hope you will join me in providing a little help to the man who has helped all of us, so much for so long.
But we can’t do any of those things if our cars aren’t performing optimally. For that, we have relied on Swedish Underground, SAAB Automotive Service and the unyielding devotion of its owner, Roland George. Recently though, due to the insanity of NYC real estate and the rapid rate of development in and around Brooklyn, Swedish Underground has lost its lease and closed its doors. Because he is so committed to his customers, Roland has been retrieving their cars from Brooklyn and repairing them at his home in Long Island while he searches for a new location to reopen his business. This is not sustainable; neither is the cost of relocating an office, cars, parts, (3) lifts and tools. I started this GoFundMe page to assist with his relocation costs and hopefully buy a new lift and tools.
In addition to being a Certified Master SAAB Technician, Roland is a genuinely excellent human being. He is honest and fair and will almost never charge the standard book-rate or anywhere close to what other repair shops do. When even the newest SAAB is over 8 years old, with rusted bolts and undercarriages caked in grease, oil and dirt, there are many variables not calculated into standard repair time/cost; it would be fair to charge for the additional time every job requires, but Roland does not. That is why my father, brother and I have never taken our SAABs anywhere else for the past 15 years. Whether it has been a turbo or transmission replacement, a head gasket job, or something simple like a brake-job, charging the AC or diagnosing an electrical issue, there is no one else I trust more with the cars my wife and I drive our 2 kids in.
I will recall one instance where my wife’s 220k mile 2004 9-5 wagon suddenly would not go into park. She is a public school teacher in Brooklyn. One morning she was running late (still early by most standards) due to a childcare snag, NYC rush-hour traffic and a severe shortage of parking spots. When she finally found a spot, the shift cable had broken so she couldn’t engage park or reverse. I was too far away to help, so I told her to call Roland and gave her directions to his shop. At wits’ end, she arrived at in tears, but was immediately comforted by Roland’s kindness and the expeditious efficiency with which he fixed the problem. He dropped everything he was doing to fix the car and get my wife to work in time for her meetings and classes. Roland not only saved my wife from a disastrous day, he also possibly saved my marriage in the process. A lot hangs in the balance when we force high-mile old SAABs on our significant others.
That is just one example of the many times Roland has gone above and beyond for my family. I am sure you all have your own stories as well. I hope you will join me in providing a little help to the man who has helped all of us, so much for so long.
Organizer
Daven Johansen
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY
