haha this is awesome

 

Makes me want one. I love how the majority of the article was about power, makes me miss old Saabs!

 

I dig the references to the people and cars that were on the 'talked about' list in 1991 that 99% of the public doesn't have the foggiest notion of.

 

i wish i was old enough to remember when saab was a seriously competetive company. it must have been glorious.

nice post.

 

i wish i was old enough to remember when saab was a seriously competetive company. it must have been glorious.

nice post.

No one is that old.

 

I have my 86' 9000 on my lift - and I just replaced the rear lower motor mount. I can't understand why no-one else has such a love afair for these cars. lol I love the silly thing so much. 9000's are the shit - and the 91's look just as sleek and stylish.

 

It selects whatever blower speed it considers appropriate (usually the Hurricane Hugo setting -- a fine facsimile of the Lockheed wind tunnel during Winston Cup tests) and is extremely cumbersome to override.

I lol'd. So true. The ACC in my Viggen and 9000 Aero both had enthusiastic minds of their own. "I'mma get you colder than a sno-cone fair in January in Göteborg!!"

ETA: I also think this comment in the counterpoint section was at the root of Saab's problem with regard to profitability over the years:

Unfortunately, the automotive values of most buyers change as their sights move up the price scale. Luxury car clients treasure engine smoothness more than parsimony. They will gladly sacrifice rear seat comfort and cargo-carrying utility for the sake of exterior lines that fit in at the country club. And they don't necessarily need to get the best value for every dollar they spend. For these buyers, rational decisions give way to personal styles and tastes.

 

I test drove a '91 9K Turbo back in 2003, when I was contemplating getting a replacement for my C900.

Red with a black interior. Only had 85K. Damn I loved that car, I wish that I could have bought it.

Great article, thanks for posting that IJ.

 

Excellent post IJ, thanks for sharing. I remember sitting in a brand new one as a little kid.

 

Wicked neat.

Thanks for sharing!

 

Nice. If I was to get back into a Saab, it would be one of these.

 

I got a copy of this article from the original owner of my '92 9000T when I bought it back in 2001. He said it was *the* reason he decided to check out the 9000.


Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app

 

There is a road test video on YouTube as well.. I've seen it about 6 times

 

Yeah I've seen the video too. It makes me smile.

 

This is excellent! I just need to delete my tcs so I too can turn my front tires into Chernobyl!! haha

Great Article, and good video too! Would have linked it, but it seems to have been removed from youtube.

 

I love how the tables have turned... back then no one wanted the 4 cylinder and/or gave a shit about fuel economy. Now all the big players are going with fewer cylinders and smaller displacements and turbocharging to increase economy.

As always, SAAB, way ahead of the times.

 

As always, SAAB, way ahead of the times.

Too bad they weren't able to market themselves better! If only they grabbed up AWD when the time was right!

 

yeah all very good points, and great article i had not seen the C&D road test magazine article before.

these were/are such great cars to own and drive, and as my buddy mike d puts it, they just seem pissed off !

there's not too many around anymore, most have all been thought as throw away's/totaled or just didn't survive the 20+ years of wear.

it's been years since i've seen another 91-92 turbo on the road here in NH/MA.

i personally have so much more taste for them than the CS body's.

I am curious how many members we have on here who actually have c9000's or even 91-92's now, how many were @ carlisle last year ??

i cant wait to see what t5 and the NA manifold i just picked up last night up @ JP's do for my car!

hopefully i'll have access to a good camera and someone to help with the shots and get some good pics up here of it!

good stuff

 

...I hate AWD

I can appreciate it as a marketing tool and I know lots of people buy cars because of AWD, but IMO it's just more shit to break and makes the vehicle less efficient. I think we all agree that SAABs are plenty capable in the snow.

And yes, the FWD layout definitely has it's power/tq limitations, but within reason it still can provide for a great driving experience.

 

I'm pretty much in total agreement. But lots of potential Saab buyers who felt they needed/wanted AWD didn't have an option, which sucks because that's a huge chunk of the safety conscious market walking out the door and onto the Audi and Subaru lots.

And re: great driving experience: All the car mag douches keep ignoring the fact that Chevy is completely DOMINATING in World Touring Car Championships...and spanking BMW in the process.

 

Have all of you seen the saab ballet ?? I'd post the link but honestly I'm not that savvy type it in YouTube if you have not. My brother and I beat a m3 with his red 91 no shit it'll beat a m5 must be a hard pill to swallow for BMW drivers. BTW best article I've ever read so thanks

 

lol my '91 is only making 6 to 8 psi right now lol, i just haven't bothered looking into it since i'm trying to keep it from blowing up before i can swap the trans.... its more like an 8.5 0-60 right now, if not more.

 

I have to say growing up (ok i'm still 24) my dad sold cars. I got to drive it anything, and everything you could think of. My dad bought and sold cars like nothing. I remember it was the 1987 Buick GN he kept for a summer. Super clean one at that, had lots performance upgrades, I remember the day the couple bought it for their 16 year old son ( I was about 12 at the time ) and I, as well as both my parents said "This car will kill your son, we do not feel comfortable knowing a teenager is going to have this as his car". My parents having owned turbo Porsches, Vette's, Mustangs, GTO's you name it they had it "growing up".

Two days after the kid's gave the GN to him, he totaled it on the highway and it was all over the news. I remember the last ride, to go meet them halfway to give the car and exchange money. I cried and cried, don't sell it don't sell it don't sell it. They sold it for $7,500 god what that car would be worth now!

That's what got me into loving turbo cars. Once I drove the 900 turbo coupe, that same day I drove a 98' 9000 CSE, about 5 years ago. I put the papers through for the 900 coupe, and backed off once I drove the 9000. Went to go buy the 9000 a few days later and it was sold. I remember it had about 80k on it, and was a one owner blue car.
A bunch of cars have come and gone with me, but my 9000. Well you guys get it.

 

I remember my friends dad getting a brand new 86 9000 turbo. Even though we had red (a 84 900s) I was happy to be getting picked up for hockey carpooling in the 9000. I remember the leather and the pull of the boost. The dash looked so cool. I loved that early 9000

 

Just found this post from over a year ago..

I got my 1991, 9000 turbo, 5sp & sport pack used when it was three years old and 80,000 miles. Today it has almost 380,zyx miles on it and still quite a healthy daily driver.

This 9000 turbo has served as daily transportation, moving vehicle, race car support vehicle in rain, shine and snow. Alway ready, alway reliable.

It is one of the very best cars I have eve owned. There are few weaknesses in the design and far more things correct for real-world personal transportation needs.

It is honest, extremely well engineered, well built using high quality materials and works as it should.

In many ways, it is an Aero before SAAB officially introduced the Aero.

There is nothing on the car market today that can replace this SAAB... nothing.



Bernice

 

Just found this post from over a year ago..

I got my 1991, 9000 turbo, 5sp & sport pack used when it was three years old and 80,000 miles. Today it has almost 380,zyx miles on it and still quite a healthy daily driver.

This 9000 turbo has served as daily transportation, moving vehicle, race car support vehicle in rain, shine and snow. Alway ready, alway reliable.

It is one of the very best cars I have eve owned. There are few weaknesses in the design and far more things correct for real-world personal transportation needs.

It is honest, extremely well engineered, well built using high quality materials and works as it should.

In many ways, it is an Aero before SAAB officially introduced the Aero.

There is nothing on the car market today that can replace this SAAB... nothing.

Bernice

More like the best car ever made