Anyone got a Saab, and willing to admit it ?
Discussion
Didn't think I'd be doing this when I first fell over Pistonheads - 2 posts in a week!
I've got a 9/5 Diesel estate - wife, family, dogs, mountain bikes etc etc - which I bought 6 weeks after trading in a grey Legacy GTB for a 140 bhp V70 AUTOMATIC estate..... are you with me so far?
Had GTB for 3 years and did 60,000 miles in it - magic motor if you need an estate, but turned out to be expensive, partic after ran into back of old Escourt in queue of traffic - insurance up from £500 to £1500, 24 to gallon, serviced every 6000 miles. Anyway, couldn't shift it so went to David Hendrie who do TVR's and Subarus, looked at Chimera but saw 18 month old V70 sitting on forcourt and swapped out. Had done 100k miles on 850 T5, so thought could cope, but no way. The Volvo made me feel old, so chopped it in in double quick time for the Saab.
Much more enjoyable, lots of mid-raange grunt, can't get more than 37 to gallon out of it (wonder if big clouds of smoke under hard acceleration have anything to do with this - not into diesels) but otherwise ace motorway cruiser, which is where the 47k miles have come from - 2 years old in September. However, it is a bit like a tractor - nothing past 4500 rpm and in this sense, offends my mechanical senses, if you know what I mean. (GTB redlined at 7, second turbo cut in at about 5+ .... bliss)
So nearly two weeks ago now, bought S3 TVR to have fun in - still abit like a tractor but much bigger grin factor - even when I locked keys in boot. Got past she who should be listened to by promising to keep Saab longer - would have traded in at 60k but now happy to keep by using S3 on a horses for corses basis - like trip to S of France in a few weeks.
If you're still with me, Saab's a good half of a balanced pair and in fact was pretty happy running it as a lone vehicle, espec when compared to Volvo
I've got a 9/5 Diesel estate - wife, family, dogs, mountain bikes etc etc - which I bought 6 weeks after trading in a grey Legacy GTB for a 140 bhp V70 AUTOMATIC estate..... are you with me so far?
Had GTB for 3 years and did 60,000 miles in it - magic motor if you need an estate, but turned out to be expensive, partic after ran into back of old Escourt in queue of traffic - insurance up from £500 to £1500, 24 to gallon, serviced every 6000 miles. Anyway, couldn't shift it so went to David Hendrie who do TVR's and Subarus, looked at Chimera but saw 18 month old V70 sitting on forcourt and swapped out. Had done 100k miles on 850 T5, so thought could cope, but no way. The Volvo made me feel old, so chopped it in in double quick time for the Saab.
Much more enjoyable, lots of mid-raange grunt, can't get more than 37 to gallon out of it (wonder if big clouds of smoke under hard acceleration have anything to do with this - not into diesels) but otherwise ace motorway cruiser, which is where the 47k miles have come from - 2 years old in September. However, it is a bit like a tractor - nothing past 4500 rpm and in this sense, offends my mechanical senses, if you know what I mean. (GTB redlined at 7, second turbo cut in at about 5+ .... bliss)
So nearly two weeks ago now, bought S3 TVR to have fun in - still abit like a tractor but much bigger grin factor - even when I locked keys in boot. Got past she who should be listened to by promising to keep Saab longer - would have traded in at 60k but now happy to keep by using S3 on a horses for corses basis - like trip to S of France in a few weeks.
If you're still with me, Saab's a good half of a balanced pair and in fact was pretty happy running it as a lone vehicle, espec when compared to Volvo
matt_t16> that's a lovely motor you've got there!
Recently I have been looking round at classic 900 turbos. Nearly went for a Ruby the other week but too many little things needed sorting and it was too pricey.
(Ruby is a run out T16S with leather, aircon, &c - need the aircon as it's an only car...)
Recently I have been looking round at classic 900 turbos. Nearly went for a Ruby the other week but too many little things needed sorting and it was too pricey.
(Ruby is a run out T16S with leather, aircon, &c - need the aircon as it's an only car...)
I owned a brand new 9000 2.3 Full Turbo Griffin for 3 years, it was a great car. It had an autobox, leather interior, heated seats etc. etc.
It was the fastest accelerating car from 50-70 bar none.
I can't remember what it was like around corners, but I know it was great for commuting over long distances.
It was the fastest accelerating car from 50-70 bar none.
I can't remember what it was like around corners, but I know it was great for commuting over long distances.
!!! It's from 1992 and has just covered 87000 miles. 
I started out with a 97M 9000 2.3lpt last November....since then, I have tweaked here and there, the car is light years away from what I started with 11 months ago now.
It was slow (claimed 0-100mph 20s) and cornered like a jelly with zero feedback through the wheel, but it was still a great family car.
Since then, 85bhp and 120lb/ft later and upgraded suspension, strut brace and not to mention nigh on £7K later, it will give most hot hatches or impreza's a run for its money once above 30mph, witness 70-90mph in 5th 6.0s (on the autobahn of course) or a 30-70 of 4.8s. It still returns 28mpg on the urban cycle!
It was slow (claimed 0-100mph 20s) and cornered like a jelly with zero feedback through the wheel, but it was still a great family car.
Since then, 85bhp and 120lb/ft later and upgraded suspension, strut brace and not to mention nigh on £7K later, it will give most hot hatches or impreza's a run for its money once above 30mph, witness 70-90mph in 5th 6.0s (on the autobahn of course) or a 30-70 of 4.8s. It still returns 28mpg on the urban cycle!
Just doing some more work on mine at the moment. Just deciding if I should go T3/T4 or stick with the Super 60 T3 at the moment, T3 should just manage 330bhp whereas the T3/T4 gives me the option of 370bhp both power outputs dependant on my switching to mapable ignition.
I'll stop when it gets to 300bhp/tonne power to weight, although I said that at 250, and 280
Matt
I'll stop when it gets to 300bhp/tonne power to weight, although I said that at 250, and 280
Matt
Saabs 
First post on this forum but my dad has the Saab 9.3 Sport Convertible, a lovely looking car and aint exactly slow either. He seems to think it handles well but I'm sure I'd do him on the twisty's in my Clio
I work for SAAB though, only been working there for 6 weeks and have already driven:
9.5 2.3 Turbo
9.3 1.9 TID
9.3 2.0
9.5 3.0 V6 TD (As fast as a bag of fast things in fast land)
I love the way the cars look and they feel so comfortable. The 3.0 was just mental on motorway driving, its hard to adjust the way you drive (i.e. in my clio an overtake in 70 requires a change down and a lot of gas, tried that in the Saab and next thing I know I'm in license losing speeds)
Dont be ashamed to have a Saab. Stand tall!
By the way, if any Saab owners need any help / advice / parts then feel free to contact me from my profile, I'm sure there's a PH deal I can cook up.
Regards
Ben
First post on this forum but my dad has the Saab 9.3 Sport Convertible, a lovely looking car and aint exactly slow either. He seems to think it handles well but I'm sure I'd do him on the twisty's in my Clio
I work for SAAB though, only been working there for 6 weeks and have already driven:
9.5 2.3 Turbo
9.3 1.9 TID
9.3 2.0
9.5 3.0 V6 TD (As fast as a bag of fast things in fast land)
I love the way the cars look and they feel so comfortable. The 3.0 was just mental on motorway driving, its hard to adjust the way you drive (i.e. in my clio an overtake in 70 requires a change down and a lot of gas, tried that in the Saab and next thing I know I'm in license losing speeds
) Dont be ashamed to have a Saab. Stand tall!
By the way, if any Saab owners need any help / advice / parts then feel free to contact me from my profile, I'm sure there's a PH deal I can cook up.
Regards
Ben
1st post, it seems there are a lot of SAAB owners out there but no dedicated SAAB Forum within PH? Maybe the interest this thread has generated will change things?
I believe SAABs to be a performance vehicle, not in the long bonnet - big engine sense of the word but still an enthusiast's car. {Although the wrong wheels are driven}
I've covered a fair few enthusiastic miles in mine so far, if you drive it for what it is, a big heavy cruiser, it actually handles quite well considering it's bulk/Vectra running gear. 29 mpg is attainable with general driving which is better than many of it's brethren from BMW/Merc/AUDI/Volvo. The build is good and it oozes practicality. The sliding boot floor is an absolute revelation when changing into your wellies and the ergonomics and comfort levels are on a par with cars costing twice as much. It's 5* NCAP crash testing outclassed the Volvo estates when launched and you do feel very protected on the Motorway.
The great news for used buyers is that they depreciate faster than 2nd hand toilet paper, my 2.3 Aero kitted estate would have cost 30k+ new, but 30 months old and 29,000 miles later I picked it up for 35% of this price - bargain!
It's nice to read such positive thing's about SAABs and as soon as the new 93 Cabrios start making an impression on the used market I'll probably get one of them for the wife.
I believe SAABs to be a performance vehicle, not in the long bonnet - big engine sense of the word but still an enthusiast's car. {Although the wrong wheels are driven}
I've covered a fair few enthusiastic miles in mine so far, if you drive it for what it is, a big heavy cruiser, it actually handles quite well considering it's bulk/Vectra running gear. 29 mpg is attainable with general driving which is better than many of it's brethren from BMW/Merc/AUDI/Volvo. The build is good and it oozes practicality. The sliding boot floor is an absolute revelation when changing into your wellies and the ergonomics and comfort levels are on a par with cars costing twice as much. It's 5* NCAP crash testing outclassed the Volvo estates when launched and you do feel very protected on the Motorway.
The great news for used buyers is that they depreciate faster than 2nd hand toilet paper, my 2.3 Aero kitted estate would have cost 30k+ new, but 30 months old and 29,000 miles later I picked it up for 35% of this price - bargain!
It's nice to read such positive thing's about SAABs and as soon as the new 93 Cabrios start making an impression on the used market I'll probably get one of them for the wife.
, and no. 
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