A quartet of Saabs (for now anyway...)
Discussion
Seeing as I've got a few minutes spare tonight I figured I'd make a wee thread documenting my mild Saab obsession.
It started back in about 2008, my car at the time was off the road and I was having to use the bus to get to work. It was crap. Searching the Yellow Paper (can't remember it's proper name) I found an ad for a Saab 9000 full pressure turbo for not much money, IIRC it was £650, and complete with a long MOT and FSH. I had a flashback to when I was given a lift in a doctor's 9000 Aero as a yoof and quickly decided it was the car for me, so much so, I insured it before I'd seen it.
As soon as it spun up in second gear and scrabbled for grip in third the deal was done. I didn't even open the bonnet! Doh!
Fortunately, I got very lucky and the car proved to be a cracker, in fact, one of the few my dad approved of at the time.
I was soon introduced to the Saab community, which turned out nothing like I expected. Everyone only seemed interested in making them go faster! Not to mention it's been the friendliest car 'scene' I've been part of.
I did about 20k miles over 8 months with little more than a good service and a T5suite remap.
I still maintain that a 9000 is the best all round car I've owned.
Regrettably I sold it to follow a Mercedes 190 16v dream (amazing car but no daily driver!).
I then went through an S class, a couple of Land Rovers, an E30 BMW and a Cavalier SRI.
A few years later however, I was offered this 9-3 for pocket money, it had covered a mere 71k and had been very well looked after, unfortunately the owner died and his daughter didn't really have any interest in keeping the car going.
This car also introduced the OH to Saabs as it became a temporary replacement for her Skoda while getting repaired, she loved it and quickly called if Rufus.
That car was eventually sold (one of the only cars I've made a profit on!) and the next one was this 9-3 Aero HOT. 9-3s will never really be worrying much on track but IMO they're great fun out on the open road (though they can like a tram line in ruts!). One of the best looking Saab designs too I reckon plus a fairly nice place inside.
This one was another impulse buy, I think it had 170k when I bought it but it drove great. It's still the OH's favourite one we've had.
That brings us on to the current fleet.
The 9-3 Aero was becoming a bit much of a project and I'd always been keen to try a 9-5, that was reason enough to buy this Aero, it was a great way to do my 50mile commute, if not the most economical!
It's a bit more tired looking nowadays but after a wash still looks respectable from a few metres away.
This convertible was a totally spontaneous purchase, the OH found it for sale in a town we were about to pass so we got in contact with the owner and pulled off to see it.
It had a weeks MOT left but was going to need work for the next one. 30 mins later we were driving it away!
Despite being dynamically flawed it was still great fun to cruise about in with the roof down.
We still have it but only as a parts car for another one.
In 2018 we bought our first house, that involved a longer commute for the two of us, I ended up buying a new motorbike for the journey so the OH decided she wanted to replace her trusty Fabia.
This TTID wagon appeared at a nearby dealer, I pointed it out to her and within a couple of hours we were completing the paperwork for it! She just knew it was the one. A year and a half later, touch wood, it's not thrown up any big bills save for a timing belt change at 80k.
Here it is at the bottom of France when we went to visit my mum.
By now it was quite some time since I had an impulse buy, the grey convertible had fallen out of MOT and and acquaintance was selling a non runner 9-3 Aero Convertible. It just seemed like it was meant to be.
It's become a bit more of a project than I'd intended and is about a year and a half in the making! I was close to giving in and firing it on eBay with no reserve but I'm too far in now. Hopefully it'll be ready by April.
Finally, we have my current daily driver, a 9-3 1.9 TID, it never fails to return about 50mpg and it's surprisingly pleasant to drive. I thought it would just be a 'tool' for commuting but I actually enjoy driving more than I thought!
So yeah, I like Saabs I guess
. Well done if you've managed to get this far!
It started back in about 2008, my car at the time was off the road and I was having to use the bus to get to work. It was crap. Searching the Yellow Paper (can't remember it's proper name) I found an ad for a Saab 9000 full pressure turbo for not much money, IIRC it was £650, and complete with a long MOT and FSH. I had a flashback to when I was given a lift in a doctor's 9000 Aero as a yoof and quickly decided it was the car for me, so much so, I insured it before I'd seen it.
As soon as it spun up in second gear and scrabbled for grip in third the deal was done. I didn't even open the bonnet! Doh!
Fortunately, I got very lucky and the car proved to be a cracker, in fact, one of the few my dad approved of at the time.
I was soon introduced to the Saab community, which turned out nothing like I expected. Everyone only seemed interested in making them go faster! Not to mention it's been the friendliest car 'scene' I've been part of.
I did about 20k miles over 8 months with little more than a good service and a T5suite remap.
I still maintain that a 9000 is the best all round car I've owned.
Regrettably I sold it to follow a Mercedes 190 16v dream (amazing car but no daily driver!).
I then went through an S class, a couple of Land Rovers, an E30 BMW and a Cavalier SRI.
A few years later however, I was offered this 9-3 for pocket money, it had covered a mere 71k and had been very well looked after, unfortunately the owner died and his daughter didn't really have any interest in keeping the car going.
This car also introduced the OH to Saabs as it became a temporary replacement for her Skoda while getting repaired, she loved it and quickly called if Rufus.
That car was eventually sold (one of the only cars I've made a profit on!) and the next one was this 9-3 Aero HOT. 9-3s will never really be worrying much on track but IMO they're great fun out on the open road (though they can like a tram line in ruts!). One of the best looking Saab designs too I reckon plus a fairly nice place inside.
This one was another impulse buy, I think it had 170k when I bought it but it drove great. It's still the OH's favourite one we've had.
That brings us on to the current fleet.
The 9-3 Aero was becoming a bit much of a project and I'd always been keen to try a 9-5, that was reason enough to buy this Aero, it was a great way to do my 50mile commute, if not the most economical!
It's a bit more tired looking nowadays but after a wash still looks respectable from a few metres away.
This convertible was a totally spontaneous purchase, the OH found it for sale in a town we were about to pass so we got in contact with the owner and pulled off to see it.
It had a weeks MOT left but was going to need work for the next one. 30 mins later we were driving it away!
Despite being dynamically flawed it was still great fun to cruise about in with the roof down.
We still have it but only as a parts car for another one.
In 2018 we bought our first house, that involved a longer commute for the two of us, I ended up buying a new motorbike for the journey so the OH decided she wanted to replace her trusty Fabia.
This TTID wagon appeared at a nearby dealer, I pointed it out to her and within a couple of hours we were completing the paperwork for it! She just knew it was the one. A year and a half later, touch wood, it's not thrown up any big bills save for a timing belt change at 80k.
Here it is at the bottom of France when we went to visit my mum.
By now it was quite some time since I had an impulse buy, the grey convertible had fallen out of MOT and and acquaintance was selling a non runner 9-3 Aero Convertible. It just seemed like it was meant to be.
It's become a bit more of a project than I'd intended and is about a year and a half in the making! I was close to giving in and firing it on eBay with no reserve but I'm too far in now. Hopefully it'll be ready by April.
Finally, we have my current daily driver, a 9-3 1.9 TID, it never fails to return about 50mpg and it's surprisingly pleasant to drive. I thought it would just be a 'tool' for commuting but I actually enjoy driving more than I thought!
So yeah, I like Saabs I guess
. Well done if you've managed to get this far!Nice bit of Saabing there......just need a V6 Aero to top it off 
They get under your skin after you’ve had one, especially when you get the tuning bug as they’re so cheap to get flying. You either love em or hate em. It’s the only marque I keep going back to.
Bang per buck is hard to ignore on these.
My favourite was my 1st Saab (although it was much much slower than my 9000 Aero and wouldn’t know which way my v6 went!) was my 9000 Anniversary 2.0 LPT. Never had a problem with it but I didn’t really get into the tuning side until I sold my 9-5 Griffin (can’t do much with these)
I’d love another 9k but it’ll have to be a v6 wagon next.
They get under your skin after you’ve had one, especially when you get the tuning bug as they’re so cheap to get flying. You either love em or hate em. It’s the only marque I keep going back to.
Bang per buck is hard to ignore on these.
My favourite was my 1st Saab (although it was much much slower than my 9000 Aero and wouldn’t know which way my v6 went!) was my 9000 Anniversary 2.0 LPT. Never had a problem with it but I didn’t really get into the tuning side until I sold my 9-5 Griffin (can’t do much with these)
I’d love another 9k but it’ll have to be a v6 wagon next.
I do occasionally look at the V6 ones, I seem to remember you had some slight issues after tuning it though 
.
Currently the only one with any tuning is the blue convertible, just a stage 1 noobtune, it made perfect sense to make the one with the least structural integrity more powerful.
I'd like to go stage 3 on my 9-5, at 165k it's probably run in enough.
.Currently the only one with any tuning is the blue convertible, just a stage 1 noobtune, it made perfect sense to make the one with the least structural integrity more powerful.
I'd like to go stage 3 on my 9-5, at 165k it's probably run in enough
.Cracking cars!
I got my first one new, as an import back in the days when it was 25-30% cheaper (2001), a 5-door 9-3 Aero in steel grey. Really comfy car, rapid enough and well specc’d.
Indeed, I recall looking (briefly) at BMW: seats in the Saab were streets ahead, and the Aero had pretty well everything specc’d - the Beemer had an option book the size of the main sales brochure
113k miles later, chopped in for a 9-5 Aero......which went another 100k miles before getting my last, a 9-5 estate turbo edition.
Over 300k miles, 13 years, all ready to replace it with the new model....then they went bust
I didn’t have the balls to take on something that might become an expensive paperweight, and moved across to Volvo: my mileage has reduced a lot, and I’m now 5.5 years & ~75k Miles into our XC60 D4.
First auto I’ve owned, and very smooth and equally comfy.
Loved the Saab’s....only had need for one (maybe 2?!) DI cassettes, only one LED display pixel issue, but a great community of people too....Bond Street Saab in Leicester always friendly and helpful, now Bond Street Service. Malcolm Miles looks like he is still going as the local Indy specialist.
Glad to see you’re enjoying much fine Swedish motoring. Maybe one day I will move back
I got my first one new, as an import back in the days when it was 25-30% cheaper (2001), a 5-door 9-3 Aero in steel grey. Really comfy car, rapid enough and well specc’d.
Indeed, I recall looking (briefly) at BMW: seats in the Saab were streets ahead, and the Aero had pretty well everything specc’d - the Beemer had an option book the size of the main sales brochure
113k miles later, chopped in for a 9-5 Aero......which went another 100k miles before getting my last, a 9-5 estate turbo edition.
Over 300k miles, 13 years, all ready to replace it with the new model....then they went bust
I didn’t have the balls to take on something that might become an expensive paperweight, and moved across to Volvo: my mileage has reduced a lot, and I’m now 5.5 years & ~75k Miles into our XC60 D4.
First auto I’ve owned, and very smooth and equally comfy.
Loved the Saab’s....only had need for one (maybe 2?!) DI cassettes, only one LED display pixel issue, but a great community of people too....Bond Street Saab in Leicester always friendly and helpful, now Bond Street Service. Malcolm Miles looks like he is still going as the local Indy specialist.
Glad to see you’re enjoying much fine Swedish motoring. Maybe one day I will move back
Lugy said:
I do occasionally look at the V6 ones, I seem to remember you had some slight issues after tuning it though .
Currently the only one with any tuning is the blue convertible, just a stage 1 noobtune, it made perfect sense to make the one with the least structural integrity more powerful.
I'd like to go stage 3 on my 9-5, at 165k it's probably run in enough.
Yeah had some issues at stage 5, never ran right then went bang after a few months .Currently the only one with any tuning is the blue convertible, just a stage 1 noobtune, it made perfect sense to make the one with the least structural integrity more powerful.
I'd like to go stage 3 on my 9-5, at 165k it's probably run in enough
.
Camt wait to get another but won’t be for a few months mikeiow said:
Cracking cars!
I got my first one new, as an import back in the days when it was 25-30% cheaper (2001), a 5-door 9-3 Aero in steel grey. Really comfy car, rapid enough and well specc’d.
Indeed, I recall looking (briefly) at BMW: seats in the Saab were streets ahead, and the Aero had pretty well everything specc’d - the Beemer had an option book the size of the main sales brochure
113k miles later, chopped in for a 9-5 Aero......which went another 100k miles before getting my last, a 9-5 estate turbo edition.
Over 300k miles, 13 years, all ready to replace it with the new model....then they went bust
I didn’t have the balls to take on something that might become an expensive paperweight, and moved across to Volvo: my mileage has reduced a lot, and I’m now 5.5 years & ~75k Miles into our XC60 D4.
First auto I’ve owned, and very smooth and equally comfy.
Loved the Saab’s....only had need for one (maybe 2?!) DI cassettes, only one LED display pixel issue, but a great community of people too....Bond Street Saab in Leicester always friendly and helpful, now Bond Street Service. Malcolm Miles looks like he is still going as the local Indy specialist.
Glad to see you’re enjoying much fine Swedish motoring. Maybe one day I will move back
My 3 door Aero was an import, always wondered what it's story was, that makes sense now!I got my first one new, as an import back in the days when it was 25-30% cheaper (2001), a 5-door 9-3 Aero in steel grey. Really comfy car, rapid enough and well specc’d.
Indeed, I recall looking (briefly) at BMW: seats in the Saab were streets ahead, and the Aero had pretty well everything specc’d - the Beemer had an option book the size of the main sales brochure
113k miles later, chopped in for a 9-5 Aero......which went another 100k miles before getting my last, a 9-5 estate turbo edition.
Over 300k miles, 13 years, all ready to replace it with the new model....then they went bust
I didn’t have the balls to take on something that might become an expensive paperweight, and moved across to Volvo: my mileage has reduced a lot, and I’m now 5.5 years & ~75k Miles into our XC60 D4.
First auto I’ve owned, and very smooth and equally comfy.
Loved the Saab’s....only had need for one (maybe 2?!) DI cassettes, only one LED display pixel issue, but a great community of people too....Bond Street Saab in Leicester always friendly and helpful, now Bond Street Service. Malcolm Miles looks like he is still going as the local Indy specialist.
Glad to see you’re enjoying much fine Swedish motoring. Maybe one day I will move back
I'm either on borrowed time or I've been really luck with the Saabs I've had, aside from the routine stuff, they've never thrown up any big bills. The fact that they're fairly easy to work on and the factory manuals are readily available online also keeps running costs pretty low. I do keep a space DI cassette close just in case though!
I'd quite fancy trying a late XC70 D5 as a comfy daily driver at some point, as I get older they seem to make more sense
.griffin dai said:
Yeah had some issues at stage 5, never ran right then went bang after a few months Camt wait to get another but won’t be for a few months
I look forward to seeing what you come up with! Camt wait to get another but won’t be for a few months Thought I'd update this a bit seeing as progress has been made.
In the days before lockdown, when we were sure it was coming, I got the Aero convertible brought along to the house for me to tinker with. A fair amount of new parts, a bit of welding and a long wait for a replacement V5 later got to this stage, ie, on the road!
I'm glad I got my finger out, aside from it being quite a wobbly car, it's great driving about with the roof down again. It's surprisingly quick and the boosting noises from the exhaust amuse me a lot. Reminds me of when the back box fell off the 9-5.
I also finally went and bought a 2 post lift for in the big garage.
To anyone on the fence over whether or not to get one, if you can, do it! Everything is so much easier.
There's still some fettling to be done; I've a new thermostat to go in tomorrow, the plugs are probably in need of changing and I have a set of the original 'double Y' wheels in the garage that need tidied up, the current tyres are terrible and quite old so that will help solve that situation. There's a bit of bodywork that I'd like to see to but I've waited long enough to use the car so that's on hold until the end of summer!
Once I've got that lot done, it's time to have a look at the 9-5....
In the days before lockdown, when we were sure it was coming, I got the Aero convertible brought along to the house for me to tinker with. A fair amount of new parts, a bit of welding and a long wait for a replacement V5 later got to this stage, ie, on the road!
I'm glad I got my finger out, aside from it being quite a wobbly car, it's great driving about with the roof down again. It's surprisingly quick and the boosting noises from the exhaust amuse me a lot. Reminds me of when the back box fell off the 9-5.
I also finally went and bought a 2 post lift for in the big garage.
To anyone on the fence over whether or not to get one, if you can, do it! Everything is so much easier.
There's still some fettling to be done; I've a new thermostat to go in tomorrow, the plugs are probably in need of changing and I have a set of the original 'double Y' wheels in the garage that need tidied up, the current tyres are terrible and quite old so that will help solve that situation. There's a bit of bodywork that I'd like to see to but I've waited long enough to use the car so that's on hold until the end of summer!
Once I've got that lot done, it's time to have a look at the 9-5....
Edited by Lugy on Friday 17th July 11:23
I do like a bit of Swede steel, I had a classic 900 T16S back in the day, was quite a weird spec; Scarab green 3-door on three-spokes - no leather, but strangely had optional aircon. One owner, who was a GP, swapped it for another 900 cabriolet. I think he'd upped the boost, as while it wasn't particularly revvy, it could turn an impressive rate of acceleration in real world performance, say joining a motorway, or a well measured overtake. If I were to go for a post-GM model it would be a Viggen, but they seem to have starship mileage, or silly pricing. Enjoy your 'fleet' 
I really enjoyed my old 2001 93. Although it was a diesel and fairly tired all round it was a great motorway car and served me well for 18 months or so.
The first gen 93 is such a good looking car imo, especially in coupe form with the aero wheels. I'd really like another but they're getting a bit thin on the ground now and I couldn't justify having one as a second car.
The first gen 93 is such a good looking car imo, especially in coupe form with the aero wheels. I'd really like another but they're getting a bit thin on the ground now and I couldn't justify having one as a second car.
griffin dai said:
They get under your skin after you’ve had one, especially when you get the tuning bug as they’re so cheap to get flying. You either love em or hate em. It’s the only marque I keep going back to.
This 100%. I had a 2005 9-3 2.0T Aero for a couple of years until December when I got rid for a new (leased) V90. It's a lovely car but just something I can't put my finger on stops me loving it like I did old Saaby. She was getting a bit rough before I sold her but I kind of liked the fact that something would break and 9 times out of 10 I could fix it cheaply and easily on my drive. I'd never done brakes or droplinks (gaahhhh!) before I had that car and now I wouldn't hesitate to do my own on most other stuff. Still lust after a V6 Aero when I see one!Update time, things have been going pretty smoothly to be fair, the TiD daily driver was due an MOT last month which it passed with a bit of preparation. First up was a set of new tyres, Uniroyal Rainsport 5s to replace a mismatch of budget tat.
First impressions are good and if they're anything like the 3s I'm sure we'll get along fine. I forgot how much of a workout using a tyre machine can be.
IMG_20200725_135126 by Jimbobhanksmith, on Flickr
Next was a pair of rear springs and spring mounts, one spring had broken and both spring mounts had perished allowing the spring to hit the bottom arm causing an annoying knock.
[ url=https://flic.kr/p/2jDgnWg]IMG_20200725_112327[/url] by Jimbobhanksmith, on Flickr
IMG_20200725_110310 by Jimbobhanksmith, on Flickr
IMG_20200725_113122 by Jimbobhanksmith, on Flickr
The rear ARB bushes had also gone loose so those were replaced too along with a new exhaust flexi-pipe.
I got a couple of advisories for CV boots deteriorating but otherwise a clean bill of health. Unfortunately though, for the first time, I was let down by a Saab. The moisture sensor on the fuel filter began leaking on the way to work. When I discovered it at work I figured I'd tighten it some more, only for it to snap off.
Luckily one of my mates who I share the big garage with stays not far from work and was at the garage at the time so was able to bring a part to get me back on the road.
A new part was only about £15 and was fitted the next week.
IMG_20200725_113224 by Jimbobhanksmith, on Flickr
The convertible has also been racking up the miles, roof down as much as possible of course. Still loving it! Last month it got a new set of tyres, eBay had a discount code which worked with Demon Tweeks so I ended up going for Toyo Proxes TR1s, probably as good as you'll get for £200 in this size. It's a vast improvement on the very old ditchfinders it had.
IMG_20200802_191254 by Jimbobhanksmith, on Flickr
First impressions are good and if they're anything like the 3s I'm sure we'll get along fine. I forgot how much of a workout using a tyre machine can be.
IMG_20200725_135126 by Jimbobhanksmith, on FlickrNext was a pair of rear springs and spring mounts, one spring had broken and both spring mounts had perished allowing the spring to hit the bottom arm causing an annoying knock.
[ url=https://flic.kr/p/2jDgnWg]IMG_20200725_112327[/url] by Jimbobhanksmith, on FlickrIMG_20200725_110310 by Jimbobhanksmith, on FlickrIMG_20200725_113122 by Jimbobhanksmith, on FlickrThe rear ARB bushes had also gone loose so those were replaced too along with a new exhaust flexi-pipe.
I got a couple of advisories for CV boots deteriorating but otherwise a clean bill of health. Unfortunately though, for the first time, I was let down by a Saab. The moisture sensor on the fuel filter began leaking on the way to work. When I discovered it at work I figured I'd tighten it some more, only for it to snap off.
Luckily one of my mates who I share the big garage with stays not far from work and was at the garage at the time so was able to bring a part to get me back on the road.
A new part was only about £15 and was fitted the next week.
IMG_20200725_113224 by Jimbobhanksmith, on FlickrThe convertible has also been racking up the miles, roof down as much as possible of course. Still loving it! Last month it got a new set of tyres, eBay had a discount code which worked with Demon Tweeks so I ended up going for Toyo Proxes TR1s, probably as good as you'll get for £200 in this size. It's a vast improvement on the very old ditchfinders it had.
IMG_20200802_191254 by Jimbobhanksmith, on FlickrGassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff