MotorWeek | Retro Review: '86 Saab 9000 Turbo

Kirbyswarp! I found it.

[@seinsmeld13]

Too bad they are gone. This was one hell of a car company!

[@bobjohnson205]

They made good jets, too! Lol

[@ronaldderooij1774]

They still make jets. Only the car division died.

[@williamhodge2506]

Saabs are still around..... Just reincarnated into a Tesla now. LoL

[@SiliconClassics]

I currently drive a 1995 Saab 9000 CSE turbo 5sp. It has only 98k miles and it's good for at least twice that, so I hope to use it for a long time to come and am currently restoring a set of Super Aero wheels for it. These are great cars not for styling or performance, but because of the way they feel to drive. They have one of the most ergonomic and comfortable interior layouts ever - buttons and controls just fall naturally into place under your hands and the forms and materials feel great. The gauge cluster is clear and uncluttered and looks awesome under nighttime illumination. Seats are fantastic as well. Combine this with decent power (enough for 130+ MPH stock and VERY upgradeable) and tons of cargo room, and you have a unique car that is worthy of all the affection it receives from devoted owners.

[@AIRDRAC]

Oh yeah! My '96 9000 Aero (with the Hirsch 3 package) went 472k km (293k miles) before we sold it for a '01 9-5. and even after 430k it still went 281 km/h (a bit over 174 mph) with four passengers and the trunk filled. According to the new owner it still runs great!

[@Tryambakam108]

Do you still have it? 6 years since your post.

[@MarkMeadows90]

Keep those retro reviews coming. Never gets old!

[@souissi1]

what a pity such a car maker disappeared. ..

[@kupidzheart]

+Souissi they were awesome especially those later model 9-5s

[@theKevronHarris]

+Souhaj I miss the Saab brand. However, they're born from jets!!

[@TheUglydandy]

21K, Carl, 21K!

[@temelon]

NEVS is what was left of Saab cars. There are Saab people working for NEVS.

[@davidp8627]

GM is the planet's parasite, destroying every car company they buy out.

[@fontheking5]

The reason for the ignition key being up beside the steering wheel, was because the 9000 was being developed in conjunction with the Lancia Thema, and Alfa Romeo 164, so that`s why it had some un-Saab like features :)

[@oscardelaserna9788]

fontheking5 And the Fiat Croma.

[@hellkitty1014]

Yup! It returned to the console in later years.

[@AIRDRAC]

@chris younts That's rubbish. My 9000 Aero with the Hirsch3 factory tune (315 bhp measured at the wheels) went 450.000 km with no issues, and had far better and more involving handling than both the '84 900 it replaced, and the '01 9^5 that came after.

[@Mrmatteo08]

I love how the doors are perfectly interchangeable with Croma, Thema and 9000, making that concept (in FIAT was called Tipo 4 (or type 4 platform) widespread in Western countries

[@temelon]

They had even V8 prototype engine for the 9000 but GM didn't allow that to happen because they made V6 engine. It was Finnish made prototype made by Valmet Linnavuori. 280 hp with 330 Nm with less than 2000 rpm. That would have been nice. Uusikaupunki plant was important because they was too developing the 900 cabriolet. They also made the 9000 cabriolet prototype and 900 hard top version prototype of the cabriolet.

[@gwynnromano5881]

I owned four different SAAB models; a 96, 99, 900s and a 9000s. My favorite was the 9000, supremely practical, all day comfortable and it still looks good. I wish I still owned it.

[@celticsdude]

The 9000 was their best model.

[@AKJeeper]

One of my favorite Saabs. Wouldn't mind owning one now!

[@HateIronMaiden]

Buy one if you find a good one, 9000s are probably among the world's cheapest cars now and will likely be almost extinct within a few years. The early models are already almost extinct, and still they are not at all sought after.

[@celticsdude]

I loved that car. Hands down the best model they ever made.

[@Felly117]

I own one. Solid motor

[@bilalahmed2123]

Saab's good old days ! I would have bought this, if this was 1986 !

[@YasssStitch]

1986 SAAB 9000T 2.0T 5MT - best car I ever owned.

[@henryovalles7311]

Just bought a 1991 9000 turbo 5 speed 3 spoke whhels and all cant wait to pick it up

[@SableMediaGuys]

@Motorweek should upload the 1986 Ford Taurus road test, I believe that is on of the most important cars from the 1980s. I have been dying to see it and have been looking for years for it.

[@dannyrobinson9725]

Had a 9000 turbo se, terrible turbo lag but once it found it's timing it was amazing and so unprintable compared to similar cars of it's days, Mercedes 200 series and BMW 5 series etc! That's what made the Saab so different in the UK back then.

[@kirbyswarp]

This is literally the car I was looking at. Same color, interior etc. It's just the one I was looking at had almost 300 thousand miles from the original owner.

[@ChopStickZero]

Man, this car was waay ahead of the curve of cars in those days. 7.6 to 60 and 102 ft to stop. Thats amazing. Handling, interior, performance, Id like to see a study why it never blew up commercially?..

[@temelon]

Maybe it was very expensive. They had too narrow model range. They didn't have a diesel engine, not until first 9-3. Maybe should have smaller Saab, not Saabaru 9-2. Yes I know they had 99 and 90 but after that.

[@MaestroTJS]

I used to really like the 9000 and the 9-5 and came close to buying them a few times but never did. I felt the 9-5 drove better than the Volvos it competed against, but eventually there was a point when Saab just wasn't updating enough and the competition was far ahead of them. I mean, the interior of this 9000 isn't substantially different from the 2009's! What a shame, though, the redesigned one never even got much of a chance, and there was no new 9-3. Thanks for your great management, GM.

[@christophermclendon2208]

Keep these coming !! They are appreciated . Hopefully the 2000 SVT Cobra R , 1995 SVT Cobra , 1987 Thunderbird Turbocoupe , will be visited on your uploads soon.

[@sneakerfreak2002]

For 1986, this car is amazing

[@fields1]

Thanks General Motors for running one of the coolest car companies ever into the ground, then selling it off to Spyker who had no means to run such an expensive company.

[@briansukhu4392]

They ruined a brand that if managed and funded properly it could go head to head the German luxury marques

[@fields1]

SAAB7899 thats what I meant! I hate GM eternally for what they did to SAAB. It had so much promise but they ruined it as they do with everything else.

[@figgeberglund4145]

I have a 9000 as dayly driving. It's wonderful.

[@vavo4902]

I had a 1995 9000 FPT. Very quick car.

[@IIKings920]

Saab put the key between the seats for safety, not just to be quirky for kicks and giggles. Between the seats keeps knee caps from being split open by dangling keychains in a frontal crash. They also made the shifter big enough so it wouldn’t fit into an eye socket and explode an eye for unbelted drivers in a rollover.

[@krisrocks121]

I love these throw back reviews keep them coming!!

[@Rusty0869]

These "Retro Reviews" are awesome! Keep them coming. Maybe a review on an '88 Ford Mustang LX 5.0L is in order.

[@Motorweek]

All I have for 88 is a convertible. I'm pretty sure it's an LX though

[@Rusty0869]

***** I just remember them being everywhere when I was in highschool. I own one now, obviously, and it's totally stock with low km's. Thanks for the reply.

[@roberthentschelmann916]

I had a 1995 Saab 9000cde. loved it!

[@kirbyswarp]

Thank you!!! Best car ever!

[@kirbyswarp]

Now a 9-3 Viggen and I will be the happiest :)

[@Motorweek]

kirbyswarp we've got that. Anything for a member of my "Track Pack"

[@kirbyswarp]

***** You sir, deserve a raise for being awesome.

[@MrCarGuy]

***** Is that you, Ben? Are you using the channel to comment? Didn't you use your own for replying before? Or is it someone else?

[@Motorweek]

MrCarGuy20 yeah it's me. I use which ever I'm logged in as at the time, usually it's MotorWeek. I guess I should switch to mine

[@toddjpiascik3653]

I had an '86 9000, over 200,000 miles, 5sp manual and the turbo took off no lag even at highway speed

[@mcrsit]

Wow! Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo all pronounced correctly in the same video. Old times were really better times...

[@AltaSonata]

That rear cup holder can't be for real - C'mon Saab! 2:34

[@christopherconard2831]

AltaSonata Europeans don't understand Americans and drinking in cars. I believe Mercedes didn't have a factory cupholder until the late 80's.

[@Tuppoo94]

Christopher Conard That's right, and I think that's true for other German cars as well. The Germans thought that when you're driving you should concentrate on driving rather than sipping your beverage. Makes sense on unrestricted autobahns.

[@temelon]

Was it the first 9-5 which had descent cup holder?

[@GyroPyro121212]

Christopher Conard A good driver should be able to eat/drink in a manual transmission car at 100+ mph.

[@rodmunch69]

@@Tuppoo94 You should be concentrating on driving while sitting in the back seat?

[@chriscornelius2518]

The 1988 turbo 900 in medium silver with the open air on the one side of the hood is one of the most beautiful distinguished looking cars.

[@recpro7847]

These car were awesome. Wish Saab was still around :/

[@FoodyTunes]

That cup holder

[@henryovalles7311]

Autos Fan that Saab 9000 looked like a 90s car in1986 and performance handsome car too

[@robertsise7898]

Never owned one, always admired them.

[@maurico92]

1986: "Nothing last forever" 2016: Saab is dead

[@petezzzz]

Mauricio - 2018: Ours are ALIVE and well, thank you. ;)

[@steveespinola7652]

2:47 I love that old PESPI can.

[@NESherv]

"If the 900 and all the early Saabs were like '60s rebels in the automotive world, then the 9000 is the rebel-turned-'80s-bank-president." I love that line.

[@TheBTG88]

Had an 1988- fantastic car that did everything well.

[@alexlevy322]

Nice. Loving these old videos. Fantastic. Do you have any tests of Dodge Omni GLH, GLH Turbo or GLH-S?

[@dtm8887]

My dad had one back in the 80s, he loved it. I’d like to find one just because of that.

[@Andal8811]

Still incredibly beautiful! The height of taste, my friends!

[@CardboardSliver]

John: "...well the 900 should be with us for a while to come." Meanwhile in 1998..

[@minivanman1356]

God I miss Saab

[@deannaausten8867]

Me too!

[@CeeStyleDj]

That was some of the best non ABS braking I've seen.

[@frazzleface753]

The Lancia version (Thema) came with an optional Ferrari V8.

[@CeeStyleDj]

Wow.... that must have been a lot of car to handle.

[@jlcii]

@@CeeStyleDj not hardly. It only had 210 horsepower. A Taurus SHO could outperform it.

[@CeeStyleDj]

@@jlcii Ah... V8INO (in name only) LOL.

[@OpenBarGarage]

Man I miss my 9000 :'(

[@ALurkingCamper]

I had a 87 9000. Modified the waste gate, air intake, exhaust and fuel management “resistors inline signal wires only”. HP?, times? Was quicker than a S2000 is my only measurement. Spent about 1200 for everything including registration.

[@lfsracer79]

2:42 That's not exactly a cup holder.

[@colthoover]

Yea lol, you'd hit a bump and you'd Pepsi would go flying

[@MaestroTJS]

More like "plastic shaped like the bottom of a cup."

[@orbits2]

The 900,s and a few 9000,s i remembered were thee car to see for sale signs on while rotting away on front lawns. After warranties expired the cars were expensive to maintain and were thrown out

[@kingalex29339]

this car is amazing. wish i could have one

[@TheDivineicons]

Quick even by today’s standards...

[@2steaksandwiches665]

Onto my 5th Saab. Even in 2020. Parts are easy to get and you get a lot of value.

[@auxmike718]

I always wanted one!

[@Irideshare2]

I use to like Saabs. I saw a white one with white rims in New York that looked good as hell. It had the 3 star rims that you don't see anymore.

[@WHO9119]

Would love to see the 95 Aero or 93 Viggen

[@CeeStyleDj]

I know this comment was written four years ago, but this morning, I just watched a video of the 9-3 Viggen. Not sure if they have the 9-5 Aero.

[@audvidgeek]

anyone notice how they are driving the HECK out of this car in the handling tests starting a 4:55! I thought they were going to loose it the way they were flinging it around, but it held to the road like it was bolted down to rails!!! Any lesser car would have been way off the road into the grass going that fast

[@nutsackmania]

That rear live beam can catch you up, though. Once is starts going you better be ready to throw the wheel to the lock and hope.

[@rodmunch69]

They literally do that with every single car they test - and none of them have ever broke free that I've seen.

[@rodmunch69]

@chris younts That's not a car.

[@michaelheimbrand5424]

Proud Swede here. Merry Xmas to y´all.

[@MrNuggetface]

Nothing like a nice Slaaab.

[@TheVagolfer]

I'm currently restoring a 1993 9000 Aero.

[@finefriendzz]

So glad to own a 9000 LPT

[@cipherthedemonlord8057]

This is when Saab stopped being all Saab sadly. That said I do like the NG900 and 1st gen 9-3.

[@Kdubzlovescars]

Best saab ever

[@JEMHull-gf9el]

that rear seat cup holder didn't seem to holdery

[@maddesi2709]

I'm sure the original buyers caught some V8s of the time by surprise at stoplights.

[@deloreanman14]

My dad had a '93 9000 Aero that went like absolute stink and the local Saab dealer's service guys swore it was special, claiming it was quicker than any other Aero that ever darkened their doorways. It's interesting to see that in between 1986 and 1993, Saab omitted the telescoping steering column (dad's didn't adjust at all) but added a rear wiper to the hatch and altered the climate control with an 'OFF' setting. I also recall that due to the special Aero sports seats, you couldn't fold down the back seats and lost some of that hatchback versatility.

[@nutsackmania]

Early '93 had some different engine internals--the early 93 motor was the strongest bottom end Saab ever built.

[@777jones]

We had a 1995 Aero. Great car. You are right about the folding rear seats! The car in third gear was a beast!

[@TBfilms657]

Great videos! I drive a 2005 9-3 right now and have owned a 1983 900 turbo. Do you have any car review in which the car was really bad? Cadillac Cimarro or whatever it is called springs to mind

[@justinmccutcheon1973]

Funny gm is what killed Saab oh your driving one that's not a real Saab I've owned four real ones all 80,s and all cats deleted bigger intercoolers bigger turbos and tunes glad I still have pictures anyway if gm didn't ruin them starting in 90,s and all mine lasted over 200000 miles all close too 3 before I sold them ahh sweeden

[@TBfilms657]

@@justinmccutcheon1973 Well the SAAB actually broke down haha so I bought an Alfa instead. I've had a 900 turbo 1983 though so I've had the real deal aswell. They are not really seen as reliable cars as for example Volvo in Sweden but still fun though. The NG 900 and the 9000 were pretty lame cars though

[@dougsmith7908]

Advanced car for 86. Nice

[@ek1414_]

God I miss these cars...

[@schlomoubermann]

I would be happy with this car.

Hatchbacks are the best looking cars. PERIOD!

[@adamv242]

Always wanted a 9000.. I've owned more 80's European cars than I can remember, but somehow this one escaped me.

[@compaqdeskpro5770]

Holy shit those brakes.

[@theodor12]

"super duper stereo" lmao

[@SolamenteVees]

Saab Solidity is my favorite Queensryche song. 5:07

[@johnshinners9746]

Ssab FTW!

[@alextsahalis6984]

Odd...it doesn't seem to have a sound system. There are empty spaces where the interface ought to be.

[@VBNicke]

My favorite SAAB, the first model in automotive history to utilize boron steel in the passenger protection cell. SAAB had to make the body weaker, to avoid cannibalize on other cars crash protection in an event of crash. The climate control system didn't only measure outside conditions, but also an inside temperature and a windscreen sun senor. SAAB has also been modest about engine output. The Aero model for example had a claimed output of 225 hp, but non of the tested cars in a major swedish motor magazine had less than 240 hp on the front wheels.

[@777jones]

Niklas Krantz the sun sensor also activated a fuel cutoff so the car would not drive on sunny days. The Aeros were fast as hell. You would get tunnel vision when you hit the gas.

[@VBNicke]

777jones Sun sensor is only connected to climate control system, how can fuel injection (fuel cut) stop?

[@777jones]

Niklas Krantz then maybe a fire sensor in the engine would be activated by the sun on black cars. Saw it happen to our car many times

[@TheKEF]

while parked in the woods: hazards on!

[@02ujtb00626]

Radio??

[@joshuac4772]

"Cup holder" lmao

[@gxdjoeybaby07]

any 900 SPG's from the 90's?

[@Motorweek]

I'll take a look. I had a black SPG convertible with a 5-speed in '91. Loved it.

[@demarcos69]

Loved the 900 Had one in High school, Hated the 9000

[@MasterMalrubius]

Snaabs!

[@Skyhawk1987Turbo]

It's a Saab story now that they are no longer in business here

[@pbfloyd13]

booooo!

[@supertrooper73]

LOL

[@alfamonk]

damn....that's a lot of fashion faux-pas at 1:25. My eyes!

[@vector6977]

alfamonk that jacket though!

[@alfamonk]

vector6977 electric!

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Man those where such beautiful premium cars! When GM took over Saab! They screwed it up!

[@bwest6275]

💯

[@tiadaid]

Am I the only one who thinks the Saab's looks to be nice even today?

[@camryse]

***** Can we get a 9-5 review? Pretty please :)

[@blackericdenice]

160hp, I think the engine was under rated. I took an 87 9000 Turbo up to 135mph with 3 other friends n the car. I had a 75 280Z with 170hp and it only ran 125mph with me alone. The 9k was not much fun driving around the city n 3rd gear because if I put it n 4th. The turbo lag and it had no power.

[@blackericdenice]

@chris younts Car & Driver got the 87 9000 to run 135 mph. It run 135 mph with me.

[@db7nrs649da8]

👌

[@blackericdenice]

How many people know the 900 had front parking brakes?

[@ojheikki]

***** after year 1987 it has been on back

[@blackericdenice]

ojheikki On the 900?

[@nutsackmania]

***** yus front parking brake was holdover from 99

[@audioisgood]

***** A previous owner of my 900 had the parking breaks modified to the rear wheels. Such a weird car!

[@rjft7003]

No handbrake turns or else... 😊

[@bwest6275]

RIP Saab 😢

[@hellbenderhoghog]

Ignition key in the wrong place, otherwise, a splendid car.

[@lowlow643]

Too bad they dont make cars like this any more

[@moi01887]

They're starting to again... sort of. I just recently looked at Audi's website and they're now offering a lot of their car (as opposed to SUV/crossover) models as hatchbacks. Personally (and as a former Saab guy) I'm lusting after the S5 sportback. It checks many of the same boxes as the 9000 plus it has AWD!

[@gfree4173]

The Swedes should of never let this one go.

[@theknubbles5075]

2:47 so driver cant have right armrest while backseat has a drink? LMFAO

[@RocketFast321]

Arlo Pear!

[@halohunter5217]

It's a Fiat. Now the 900, that's a real Saab.

[@The_Maine_Card_Guy]

RIP Saab

[@Porsche996driver]

2:44 Look Kids! A steel can!! 🧐🤨😝

[@hausmeisterengineering5952]

quality went down with the 9-5 for sure

[@hewasdeadwhenigotthere7109]

Super duper stereo