RE: SOTW: Saab 9000 Aero

RE: SOTW: Saab 9000 Aero

Author
Discussion

Turbobanana

6,160 posts

200 months

Monday 23rd April 2012
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900T-R said:
Being Scandinavian, Saab put a lot of emphasis on consistent behaviour on low-grip surfaces, preferring their own beam axle with four longitudinal links and a Panhard rod to the independent set up the Fiat brands wanted.
That's interesting: mine was extremely good in snow and ice, even on less-than-ideal tyres.

And 32 mpg - no problem.

carinaman

21,221 posts

171 months

Monday 23rd April 2012
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Thanks 900T-R, very informative, a bit more detail than the Top Gear boys gave us on the SAAB farewell piece.

Thank you for all of the knowledgeable posts.

K321

4,112 posts

217 months

Monday 23rd April 2012
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good shed, but for even cheaper money and newer with a years MOT you can get this

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Edited by K321 on Monday 23 April 23:18

carinaman

21,221 posts

171 months

Monday 23rd April 2012
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That 9-5 Advert doesn't mention an MoT? HJ says 2002 MY 9-5s had a better sorted chassis wrt handling and reining in understeer. Agreed there are some seriously tempting 9-5 Aero HOTs out there for not much more than shed money.

But there's an earlier reponse saying the 9000 motor can pass 400hp with stock internals unlike the 9-5 engine.


  • I've just realised that autotrader link is for a 9-3. It's a different kettle of fish from the 9000 and 9-5. I guess the engine is similar. **
Edited by carinaman on Monday 23 April 23:42

Riggers

1,859 posts

177 months

Tuesday 24th April 2012
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MadDog1962 said:
carinaman said:
cybersimon said:
The Type 4 body was " a joint project between Peugeot, Fiat, Lancia and Saab. "

I thought it was Alfa Romeo, not Peugeot. Where is your anorak?
A shocking error from Riggers.

I guess the Pug 605 does look a little like the 164, both Pininfarina. Perhaps he was even thinking 405 instead of 164?
It I recall correctly, the platform was shared by the Saab 9000, Alfa 164, Lancia Thema and Fiat Chroma. Fellow anoraks will know that the only common body panels shared were the doors (which seem to have been common to all 4 cars). This platform sharing seemed successful in that all 4 vehicles looked sufficiently different to have their own character. I don't think they shared any engines.

I was going to say that at least it was a proper SAAB. However, since it was built on a shared platform to reduce costs, in a manner similar to the GM based SAABs, I'm not sure you could could even call it a proper SAAB either (although the styling is).

Not my cup of tea really. A Jag, BMW or Benz of the same vintage would probably be easier to live with and cheaper to repair.
Massive brain fade from me there, guys yikes I have fired myself.



melvgold

10 posts

143 months

Tuesday 24th April 2012
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Hi Folks...I'm new to posting but not new to perusing Pistonheads. Please be gentle.

I owned a 1996 Saab 9000 aero at 130K miles until recently until I sold it at 201K miles working well and loved it. As has been pointed out on this thread the Barge that was the Saab 9000 is now smaller and lighter than your average hot hatch posting similar power. Further to that some very cool tuners like Abbott Racing could modify these cars in some very discreet and cool ways and mine was treated so.
Like most old skool Saabs The Saab 9000 aero is a car that any car fan will HATE until they try one. Even back in the day they were desperate to sell these..they came with a free Clarion sound system that otherwise was a $2,500 option and was fantastic. The seats and general ergonomics were unbeatable. Torque steer is not normally a problem with well chosen modern tyres. I found Toyo Proxes T1R to be best or similar V pattern treads but these seem to be going out of fashion. With over 300BHP through the front wheels some driving sensitivity is required but the same can be said of rear drive with no traction control. With the right tyres and mods this car can come from left field and embarrass our pals who went for something more obvious.....If you can find one....
Regards, M


G4HKS

2,673 posts

218 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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I think for a first post you should be congratulated - very informativce and worth a read. Thanks!

melvgold

10 posts

143 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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Thanks G4HKS!
If I can add more the 9000 aero does like a new head gasket every ten years/100K or so and a buyer should check that on service history and factor in to price. Another thing on turbo cars in general to look for is busted exhaust manifold studs which can cost a lot to fix
My Saab 9000 aero had mobil 1 and filter every 6K. even at 210K there was no need to top up oil. On the fuel figures I must admit that I have seen and experienced the figures claimed in this thread....even when Abbott tuned the car was fuel consumption was remarkable. One thing that is not deniable is that if you are using the full performance of a car that has 300 bhp you will pay!....What I found with the aero ( before and after tune) was that long motorway journeys at almost permissible speeds returned 32mpg. Around my local country road area hooning was 27mpg and setting cruise to 60mph for a long motorway journey with V power fuel gave 44 mpg.

PaulTaylor99

288 posts

155 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
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Cool, this is my old car.
Sold it about 2.5yrs ago.

Its actually 285bhp, with some very good remaps by Maptun, and some tuning parts from Abbott Racing.
Absolutely stunning car, and if i had the space i would buy it back at that price

chniba

34 posts

132 months

Friday 8th March 2013
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Anyone there?

Well if you are and are thinking of getting an aero please read my experiences with my aero.

I get a thrill every time i floor mine in second. Getting a good start can be difficult with mine having a stage 2 remap and abbott exhaust it does wheel spin alot if you're over exuburant but once you get into second the power in a straight line is intoxicating. Going from 10-60mph in second gear is incredible in a straight line but not advisable in the bends. Once in third wheel spin isnt an issue and you can drive accurately at high speed.

I am religious about maintenance/bodywork and have spent way too much money on the car making it as close to perfect as i can afford. These cars really do cost money to own once you get past 150k. I use a very good independant saab specialist in southampton but it can still be eye watering at times how much it costs me. Same with any premium car i guess.

Watch for rust under windscreen surround as this is a known issue. Gearboxes and clutches obviously very expensive and will go around 150k. Amazing longevity for all that power. Replacement shocks, bushes and springs very reasonable and advisable for good handling.

I have had everything big fail on me in the last two years and i still love the car. Looked at possible replacements but I just cant find a car that is as well rounded as the aero.

It's a testament to the quality of the saab ECU that i can get 31 mpg on average out of such a monster. I drive it in a very spirited fashion most evenings.

If you want a very fast and spacious family car on a budget that is also very easy to drive on the limit i recommend very highly. Just be prepared for large annual bills on high mileage examples. Ive owned the car from 125k to 180k and spent on average over £1000 a year on servicing and maintenance.

Lastly, be aware that the auto aero is a very different beast to the manual. You get a bigger turbo (and an extra 25bhp) on the manual and much better driver involvement.

Hope this helps.

Strawman

6,463 posts

206 months

Friday 8th March 2013
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Welcome chniba. Itake it your doesn;t have traction control then? You are better of without it because all the drive-by-wire throttle gubbins it involves can be problematic.

aeropilot

34,299 posts

226 months

Friday 8th March 2013
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chniba said:
Getting a good start can be difficult with mine having a stage 2 remap and abbott exhaust it does wheel spin alot if you're over exuburant but once you get into second the power in a straight line is intoxicating. Going from 10-60mph in second gear is incredible in a straight line but not advisable in the bends. Once in third wheel spin isnt an issue and you can drive accurately at high speed.
You need to fit a Quaife diff into it, without question the best mod you can do to an Aero. It transforms the car, the extra grip in the twisty stuff will put an even bigger smile on your face.



amstrange1

599 posts

175 months

Friday 8th March 2013
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I do miss my Maptun Stage 1 9000 Aero. The 9-5 Aero HOT I had after it handled much much better, but I never really got attached to it like I did with the 9000. The handling was terrible, the brakes not much better - but it was an awful lot of comfortable barge for the money, and properly quick in a straight line once rolling. I scrapped it as the windscreen surround was held together with mastic and it needed a few hundred quids worth of new bits - kept the engine for another project though.

aeropilot

34,299 posts

226 months

Friday 8th March 2013
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amstrange1 said:
I do miss my Maptun Stage 1 9000 Aero. The 9-5 Aero HOT I had after it handled much much better, but I never really got attached to it like I did with the 9000. The handling was terrible, the brakes not much better
I felt the opposite about my 9000 Aero and the 9-5 Aero I replaced it with. I much preferred the 9-5 Aero, as I found it more comfortable, a much better chassis and brakes (even before I replaced the bits with the Hirsch suspension & brakes) and I preferred the 235R engine over the 234R engine.
The one and only thing I missed from the 9000 Aero was the heated windscreen washers.

amstrange1

599 posts

175 months

Friday 8th March 2013
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Maybe it wasn't clear, but I did find the 9-5 much better in the handling and braking department. But despite those things, I much preferred the 9000. Probably because it was lighter and made much better power and torque than the 9-5 - but then the 9000 was Maptun tuned, and the 9-5 T7suite'd.

chniba

34 posts

132 months

Friday 15th March 2013
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Glad to see more posts on the car.

My car is a 97 so no traction control which as you say was a tad unreliable so saab removed it on later cars.

The limited slip diff was on the wish list but with a new clutch and gearbox in Nov/Dec i just couldnt afford it.

Shame as could have saved on labour with the gearbox out already.

My mechanic friend warned me that the 9-5 petrol engines have a nasty habit of going bang and the parts in general can be very pricey. Have those of you with 9-5 experience had many problems?

aeropilot

34,299 posts

226 months

Friday 15th March 2013
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chniba said:
My mechanic friend warned me that the 9-5 petrol engines have a nasty habit of going bang and the parts in general can be very pricey. Have those of you with 9-5 experience had many problems?
If he means they have a habit of seizing due to oil starvation from a blocked sump pick, then yes they do if they haven't been looked after correctly.
This was an issue on engines up to model year 2004 (i.e pre Sept 2003) especially on non-Aero engines (doesn't mean Aero's were not susceptable) that were run on semi-synth oil instead of full synth. Sump drop and check/clean is a neccessity when buying, and making sure the latest factory spec PCV equipment is fitted.
From model year 2004, Saab redesigned the engine block and haed casting to accomodate a new PCV system, which pretty much solved the problem, unless the car has been very uncared for and again, the wrong oil has been used.

chniba

34 posts

132 months

Monday 18th March 2013
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thanks aeropilot.

The price of the pre 2004 cars is unbelievable at the moment so very tempting.

I think the saloon looks really striking and they apparently drive very well.




chniba

34 posts

132 months

Tuesday 19th March 2013
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thanks aeropilot.

The price of the pre 2004 cars is unbelievable at the moment so very tempting.

I think the saloon looks really striking and they apparently drive very well.




leejitsu

5 posts

128 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
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Cracking read this thread, I bet u can't guess who now owns this cracking aero wink

Edited by leejitsu on Wednesday 3rd July 16:31