RE: SOTW: Saab 9000 Aero
Discussion
Great cars, I bought one of these from the PH classifieds on a bit of a whim. I think it was because my dad owned one new back in 1996 and it was the first car I drove round some car parks.
I fondly remembered the comedy torque steer, rubbery gearchange and generaly clunkyness of all of the controls. So, when a similar example came up with a crazy service history and pretty much the entire abbott racing parts catologue attached for 1600 quid. I leapt at it.
Normally 140k would have me slightly concerned but the middle owner decided, at 100k, to basically have the whole car rebuilt (no idea why...would have been worth 6k tops at the time). As such, all new suspension, engine, 'box, respray +abbot bits etc. It felt utterly bombproof...
It had about 280bhp as well which was about 150 more than the chassis seemed capable of handling. Wide open throttle in 2nd/3rd on a less-than-perfect A-road would result in quite severe wandering of the front end (normally towards the nearest hedge). You could also exit a roundabout in 3rd and, whilst cranked over, give it the beans which meant it could spin up the inside wheel and then manage the next 100-200m with one of the front tyres merrily bonfiring itself. Utterly childish and missus once asked 'why would you do that?'. Clearly the answer was 'because I can?'
The heated seats are epic in them, as is the heating A/C system. I'll be the first to admit that they look 'somewhat dated' now mind you..
An obvious rival to this (in SOTW) terms is a big BMW so when a bargain E38 740i came up I also couldn't resist that. I ran the two for a few months and concluded the BM was, by far, the better barge.
Good shed though and surely one of the few times that 3 spoke wheels don't look anything other than totally gash!
Ben
I fondly remembered the comedy torque steer, rubbery gearchange and generaly clunkyness of all of the controls. So, when a similar example came up with a crazy service history and pretty much the entire abbott racing parts catologue attached for 1600 quid. I leapt at it.
Normally 140k would have me slightly concerned but the middle owner decided, at 100k, to basically have the whole car rebuilt (no idea why...would have been worth 6k tops at the time). As such, all new suspension, engine, 'box, respray +abbot bits etc. It felt utterly bombproof...
It had about 280bhp as well which was about 150 more than the chassis seemed capable of handling. Wide open throttle in 2nd/3rd on a less-than-perfect A-road would result in quite severe wandering of the front end (normally towards the nearest hedge). You could also exit a roundabout in 3rd and, whilst cranked over, give it the beans which meant it could spin up the inside wheel and then manage the next 100-200m with one of the front tyres merrily bonfiring itself. Utterly childish and missus once asked 'why would you do that?'. Clearly the answer was 'because I can?'
The heated seats are epic in them, as is the heating A/C system. I'll be the first to admit that they look 'somewhat dated' now mind you..
An obvious rival to this (in SOTW) terms is a big BMW so when a bargain E38 740i came up I also couldn't resist that. I ran the two for a few months and concluded the BM was, by far, the better barge.
Good shed though and surely one of the few times that 3 spoke wheels don't look anything other than totally gash!
Ben
I had one of these many years ago and took it to Abbot Racing to be re-mapped and have adjustable Koni shocks and springs fitted along with a beefy front strut brace.
The ride was rather firm even with the shocks on their softest setting but my God did it accelerate! It was like driving the worlds heaviest go-kart that did over 150mph.
It was solid, rust free and only let down by electrical problems in the end, just like the one in the ad.
The ride was rather firm even with the shocks on their softest setting but my God did it accelerate! It was like driving the worlds heaviest go-kart that did over 150mph.
It was solid, rust free and only let down by electrical problems in the end, just like the one in the ad.
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 thought it was Alfa Romeo, not Peugeot. Where is your anorak?
I guess the Pug 605 does look a little like the 164, both Pininfarina. Perhaps he was even thinking 405 instead of 164?
turboslippers said:
Great cars, I bought one of these from the PH classifieds on a bit of a whim. I think it was because my dad owned one new back in 1996 and it was the first car I drove round some car parks.
I fondly remembered the comedy torque steer, rubbery gearchange and generaly clunkyness of all of the controls. So, when a similar example came up with a crazy service history and pretty much the entire abbott racing parts catologue attached for 1600 quid. I leapt at it.
Normally 140k would have me slightly concerned but the middle owner decided, at 100k, to basically have the whole car rebuilt (no idea why...would have been worth 6k tops at the time). As such, all new suspension, engine, 'box, respray +abbot bits etc. It felt utterly bombproof...
It had about 280bhp as well which was about 150 more than the chassis seemed capable of handling. Wide open throttle in 2nd/3rd on a less-than-perfect A-road would result in quite severe wandering of the front end (normally towards the nearest hedge). You could also exit a roundabout in 3rd and, whilst cranked over, give it the beans which meant it could spin up the inside wheel and then manage the next 100-200m with one of the front tyres merrily bonfiring itself. Utterly childish and missus once asked 'why would you do that?'. Clearly the answer was 'because I can?'
The heated seats are epic in them, as is the heating A/C system. I'll be the first to admit that they look 'somewhat dated' now mind you..
An obvious rival to this (in SOTW) terms is a big BMW so when a bargain E38 740i came up I also couldn't resist that. I ran the two for a few months and concluded the BM was, by far, the better barge.
Good shed though and surely one of the few times that 3 spoke wheels don't look anything other than totally gash!
Ben
Sounds like my old car ! i had three of these which i emptyied the Abbott Racing parts bin into and ran just under 300bhp.the seats were like bucket arm chairs with heating too,probably one of the most comfortable cars i've ever driven.brilliant A/C systemI fondly remembered the comedy torque steer, rubbery gearchange and generaly clunkyness of all of the controls. So, when a similar example came up with a crazy service history and pretty much the entire abbott racing parts catologue attached for 1600 quid. I leapt at it.
Normally 140k would have me slightly concerned but the middle owner decided, at 100k, to basically have the whole car rebuilt (no idea why...would have been worth 6k tops at the time). As such, all new suspension, engine, 'box, respray +abbot bits etc. It felt utterly bombproof...
It had about 280bhp as well which was about 150 more than the chassis seemed capable of handling. Wide open throttle in 2nd/3rd on a less-than-perfect A-road would result in quite severe wandering of the front end (normally towards the nearest hedge). You could also exit a roundabout in 3rd and, whilst cranked over, give it the beans which meant it could spin up the inside wheel and then manage the next 100-200m with one of the front tyres merrily bonfiring itself. Utterly childish and missus once asked 'why would you do that?'. Clearly the answer was 'because I can?'
The heated seats are epic in them, as is the heating A/C system. I'll be the first to admit that they look 'somewhat dated' now mind you..
An obvious rival to this (in SOTW) terms is a big BMW so when a bargain E38 740i came up I also couldn't resist that. I ran the two for a few months and concluded the BM was, by far, the better barge.
Good shed though and surely one of the few times that 3 spoke wheels don't look anything other than totally gash!
Ben
Edited by dhf on Friday 20th April 11:18
B'stard Child said:
My understanding is the gearboxes however don't like that level of bhp but I'm sure one of the UK-SAAB peeps wil be along shortly to put me right
From Paulo on UKS about someone wanting big BHP:"The td04 will need to be a no.6 hotside for those figures, and a decent ic. Can't see those being got for 350.....
You'll not need new fpr but at least green giants.
You'll ideally need a 3" middle and back exhaust too.
With 350bhp you'll need forge pistons tbh.
Decent uprated fuel pump too.
Then you'll need decent suspension, maybe lsd, top range tyres or you'll be spinning everywhere.
Clutch unless in top order would say bye."
So would be struggling!
Good shed and advert, should I have needed a £1000 vehicle built like cammel laid's toilet block with decent mods then I would have been down the road for this, telling statement re air cooled turbo?
warm up and cool down times as per earliest audi ur. This could be a fine car, too good to break and couple of o/s jobs done and probably two years good motoring, love these older, well built quality cars hence my few.;)
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