RE: Saab 9-3 Carlsson | Spotted

[No Face]

I really like this, I think it’s worth the money too - most people wouldn’t get it and only some of us PH weirdos will. Perfect.

But anyone else hate those wheels? Looks like a committee formed equally of people who wanted three spokes and people who wanted multi spokes couldn’t agree and ended up with the worst of both.

[RacerMike]

Gameface said:

sledge68 said:

Have you bought it yet?

More importantly, what's the going price on WBAC for a Mk3 Focus RS at the moment? Must be well low now.....

[Welshbeef]

What is the actual spec changes for the Carlsson car vs the Aero?

So far no one has responded as such it appears no one knows or it’s just a badging exercise to flog the last few before the brand closed.

[Water Fairy]

Welshbeef said:

Using Autotrader online price valuation (the same to get my £8.5k valuation of the F10 535d it gives £5.7k for this Saab. So it’s way over book price.

I wouldn't take any notice of Autotrader price guides. It told me my MK2 Leon FR was worth £2750 a few years back. Sold it for £4800.

As for this Carlsson, nice but flawed, and I'm a Saab man (had 10). The auto on these dulls the performance hugely. The manual Turbo X with the same power is 5.4s to 60. I believe the Turbo X also had a clever cross axle diff on the rear that the Carlsson didn't have, which made it better to drive.

[Jamescrs]

A very good looking car but the price seems way out of line, one of those when you start considering what else could be bought for the cash and I feel the Saab will fall well short for most people at the price

[Pericoloso]

I had no idea there was another Carlsson edition on the late 9-3.

The previous Carlsson was the 9000CSE in 1992 ,which lasted only one MY before becoming Aero.

[Miserablegit]

Agree about the auto box
I've got the 6sp manual in a Hirsch 9-3 Sportwagon that I've had for ever. Struggles for grip on takeoff in the wet but once moving the overtaking power is superb.

[aeropilot]

buckline said:

A lovely, rare beast. Is the original RRP correct?

Does seem a bit low...?

Pretty sure the Turbo X was over 30k new at that time, around 32-34k is ringing dimming bells in my head.

I remember that the 9-5 Aero was around 25-26k new in 2003-ish.

[xjay1337]

10k ??????????

You can pick up a very nice 93 for 2k and with a remap it will be just as fast.

I'm going to advertise my car for £15835834k and split the money with Pistonheads when they promote it :-)

[BFleming]

Welshbeef said:

So far no one has responded as such it appears no one knows or it’s just a badging exercise to flog the last few before the brand closed.

The brand wasn't closing when these were launched. The spec differences are:
- 6 speed Auto only (manual was standard and auto an option on the Turbo X)
- Arctic White (solid), Jet Black (metallic) or Carbon Grey (metallic)
- 19in ALU85 wheels in silver with 235/40-19 tyres
- Turbo X Design Pack front bumper
- Turbo X Design Pack titanium front grill surrounds
- Turbo X Design Pack titanium fog light surrounds
- Turbo X Design Pack anthracite rear boot lid handle
- Rear bumper diffuser
- Rear boot lid spoiler
- Ultra sport chassis
- High performance brakes
- 280bhp thanks to Hirsch mapping (from 250bhp stock) which was the same as the Turbo X. There was an optional Hirsch factory-approved upgrade to 300bhp (needed hardware mods)
- Black & Parchment interior on Jet Black vehicles only
- Carbon fibre effect interior decor, gearlever surround, door & fascia inserts
- Nappa leather handbrake lever
- Nappa leather door handles
- Nappa leather instrument panel
- DVD Satellite Navigation with 6.5″ colour touchscreen
- Bluetooth phone integration system
- Bi-xenon cornering headlights
- BOSE Surround Sound audio system
- Dual electric front seats with driver’s 3-position memory
- Electric folding mirrors
- Auto dimming interior & exterior mirrors
- Rain sensor wipers
- Premium Natural Leather Sport interior trim (Black & Parchment interior on Jet Black vehicles only)
- Full size 17″ alloy spare wheel
- Build run of 96 announced (homage to Eric Carlsson), but 103 widely believed to be the number as early press cars weren't badged 'Carlsson'

[BFleming]

aeropilot said:

Does seem a bit low...?

Pretty sure the Turbo X was over 30k new at that time, around 32-34k is ringing dimming bells in my head.

I remember that the 9-5 Aero was around 25-26k new in 2003-ish.

The RRP is correct. When launched they were 20% cheaper than the Turbo X.

BTW Aeropilot I think I bought the suspension from your 9-5 Aero many (many) years ago, somewhere in Hampshire near the coast?!

[Miserablegit]

yes the Carlsson was about 20% cheaper than the Turbo X- I think they were just trying to get rid of expensive stock- remember all of these cars now had a £500 or thereabouts RFL/Road Tax and SAAB had been on the edge since 2008
Putting kit on a 9-3 2.8 such as the sat nav etc took the costs to about 35k. Still can't believe the sat nav didn't allow post-code input!

[sledge68]

Unless you are the one buying it, why would you be bothered?

Welshbeef said:

How is this car worth thousands more than the vastly higher new cost of a 535d F10 same age m sport fully loaded similar ish miles (maybe 25-30k more).

£8k for the 535d F10 and yet this is more...... really? No chance

[anonymous-user]

BFleming said:

Welshbeef said:

So far no one has responded as such it appears no one knows or it’s just a badging exercise to flog the last few before the brand closed.

The brand wasn't closing when these were launched. The spec differences are:
- 6 speed Auto only (manual was standard and auto an option on the Turbo X)
- Arctic White (solid), Jet Black (metallic) or Carbon Grey (metallic)
- 19in ALU85 wheels in silver with 235/40-19 tyres
- Turbo X Design Pack front bumper
- Turbo X Design Pack titanium front grill surrounds
- Turbo X Design Pack titanium fog light surrounds
- Turbo X Design Pack anthracite rear boot lid handle
- Rear bumper diffuser
- Rear boot lid spoiler
- Ultra sport chassis
- High performance brakes
- 280bhp thanks to Hirsch mapping (from 250bhp stock) which was the same as the Turbo X. There was an optional Hirsch factory-approved upgrade to 300bhp (needed hardware mods)
- Black & Parchment interior on Jet Black vehicles only
- Carbon fibre effect interior decor, gearlever surround, door & fascia inserts
- Nappa leather handbrake lever
- Nappa leather door handles
- Nappa leather instrument panel
- DVD Satellite Navigation with 6.5? colour touchscreen
- Bluetooth phone integration system
- Bi-xenon cornering headlights
- BOSE Surround Sound audio system
- Dual electric front seats with driver’s 3-position memory
- Electric folding mirrors
- Auto dimming interior & exterior mirrors
- Rain sensor wipers
- Premium Natural Leather Sport interior trim (Black & Parchment interior on Jet Black vehicles only)
- Full size 17? alloy spare wheel
- Build run of 96 announced (homage to Eric Carlsson), but 103 widely believed to be the number as early press cars weren't badged 'Carlsson'

Not sure why Welshbeef has such an axe to grind with this one. Maybe he's regretting his car choice and needs a few posters to help him validate it

[pSyCoSiS]

BFleming said:

pSyCoSiS said:

I do like older Saabs, not the 9-3 though.

Had a few 9-5s both saloon and estate. Picking up a 2004 2.3 HOT estate manual in a few weeks time which I paid £375 for on eBay. Just to use as a load lugger to clear the garage out, tip runs etc.

9-5 always felt better built to me than the 9-3, which had cheap feeling interiors.

I'd go with that; I had three 9-5's over the years, all of which served me well. My last one was the one I shouldn't have sold, it was well sorted and sold for peanuts :-(

Yeh they don't keep their value, but people are now realising how solid they were and nice to drive, as well as being quick with circa 250 bhp. So much bang for the buck really.

I loved the 3 spoke split rim-style wheels on the early 9-5 Aero HOT models.

[Mark-C]

Welshbeef said:

What is the actual spec changes for the Carlsson car vs the Aero?

So far no one has responded as such it appears no one knows or it’s just a badging exercise to flog the last few before the brand closed.

WTAF is your problem? It's a "spotted" on PH - they tend to turn up oddities.

Why have you taken this so personally?

If given the choice of this or anything DIesel I'd have this frankly, I actually wouldn't want either but it was nice to read about something less run of the mill ...

[Greenbot35]

Mark-C said:

WTAF is your problem? It's a "spotted" on PH - they tend to turn up oddities.

Why have you taken this so personally?

If given the choice of this or anything DIesel I'd have this frankly, I actually wouldn't want either but it was nice to read about something less run of the mill ...

I've got a saab and love it for the fact it doesn't pretend to be anything but a pleasant drive or nice place to be. German (popular) cars have to have rock hard suspension and more bhp than everything else the saab has enough bhp and handling good enough for road use. Some people really seem to hate the non competitive nature of these cars.

[soad]

cerb4.5lee said:

CharlieAlphaMike said:

I've always secretly fancied a Saab and was close to buying a 9-5 (the last model) but somehow never managed to part with my money.

I've always fancied one too but never pulled the trigger. I've always seen them as really good solid cars.

Now’s your chance, chaps!!

[Water Fairy]

My last Saab I sold last summer and miss it very much. 2006 9-5 Aero saloon, manual, kitchen sink spec in chilli red metallic. Properly sorted running around 320bhp with huge maptun 6 pots. I added sas sway bars and a quaife diff. It was very quick and surprisingly capable.

I'd have it back in the blink of an eye. Agree GM 9-3 saloon felt cheap compared to the 9-5.

[anonymous-user]

Welshbeef said:

No that was in reaponse to another stating his Saab beat a 1 series diesel recently but it’s like comparing apples with pears

Eh? Sounded more like you were trying to sell the virtues of diesel BMWs and it seems you are in a fan club of one.