The Prodigal Saab returns!
Discussion
brettski said:
I've been keeping my eye out for one of these for a while now. I managed to find a T16 S for sale locally but i was really disappointed by how slow it was though. I'm hoping it was just a bad example as i'd love to have one to smoke about in like yourself. Enjoy the car!
They can be pretty slow as a standard car and even worse if in poor tune. Everything is adjustable so if it's not properly fettled it won't be worth the fuel bills. If it is LPT that's only 145hp and subject to the same poor tuning issues. 
brettski said:
I've been keeping my eye out for one of these for a while now. I managed to find a T16 S for sale locally but i was really disappointed by how slow it was though. I'm hoping it was just a bad example as i'd love to have one to smoke about in like yourself. Enjoy the car!
I guess its not 205 GTI fast, it feels more refined in its gathering of pace and for me is more of a cruiser than a hot hatch. First gear is very short and doesn't help matters. It doesn't feel right thrashing it like you would in other similar age cars and its not nimble but nonetheless its fun. Worth trying another one for comparison.
They can be very quick. This is my old car being taken out for a test drive. I converted it to run the T5.5 engine management from the Saab 9000.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WOo2eJsR6A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WOo2eJsR6A
TheJimi said:
Love these things. Grew up with my old man having loads of them.
One of my biggest automotive regrets is not buying poppopbangbang's turbo when I had the chance, back in circa 2004-ish
Woody, you made the right call
Was it cheap? That said, values still don't seem to have risen much compared to other 80's classics. You can still get a very good one for £7k +One of my biggest automotive regrets is not buying poppopbangbang's turbo when I had the chance, back in circa 2004-ish
Woody, you made the right call
Edited by TheJimi on Monday 27th June 11:35
I guess its not 205 GTI fast, it feels more refined in its gathering of pace and for me is more of a cruiser than a hot hatch. First gear is very short and doesn't help matters. It doesn't feel right thrashing it like you would in other similar age cars and its not nimble but nonetheless its fun.
Worth trying another one for comparison.
I will be trying another once i can find one. The car i test drove was a FPT as well. Cheers
Worth trying another one for comparison.
I will be trying another once i can find one. The car i test drove was a FPT as well. Cheers
Assuming that it is a proper T16S then second and third gear should shove you back in your seat with the mid-range torque between 2,500 and 5,000 and feel very decently quick in that range. If it doesn't do that then there is something wrong with it.
My T16S was one of the most joyfully chuckable cars I've had - (previously owned Westfield, Integrale, 205gti and FD3S RX7 - none of which are exactly considered dogs in the handling department). The Saab will roll a bit more than most of the above, but there should be no lack of grip or steering feel provided that the tyres are decent and the front ball joints are in decent nick.
Disclaimer: I also removed the front ARB which makes a big difference to turn in.
My T16S was one of the most joyfully chuckable cars I've had - (previously owned Westfield, Integrale, 205gti and FD3S RX7 - none of which are exactly considered dogs in the handling department). The Saab will roll a bit more than most of the above, but there should be no lack of grip or steering feel provided that the tyres are decent and the front ball joints are in decent nick.
Disclaimer: I also removed the front ARB which makes a big difference to turn in.
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