Saab 9000 Turbo //Road Test

The curious case of an executive car made by Saab. In the 9000 T16 there's leather seats, a turbocharged engine, and a whole lot more. We take to the B-roads to find out what it's like. Thanks to specialists Two Stroke to Turbo for lending us this fine example of an early Saab 9000 T16.
We cover the performance, handling, braking, as well as the design, interior details and anything else that appeals to the driving enthusiast. Why not watch another? • Car Reviews
From full-on road tests of driver's cars to immersive tours of where to drive them. Espuela Grande is a place for proper driving, great scenery, and (hopefully) interesting details.
If you liked this video, don't forget to like, comment & subscribe.
Follow us:
Website: espuelagrande.com/
Instagram: / espuelagrande
Facebook: / espuelagrand
Twitter: / espuelagrande
Greg's Instagram: / gregory_owain
Aaron's Instagram: / amckayposting

[@MassiveTrackHunter]

Perfect explanation. "0-60 does NOT really explain what this car has." Just like my st3 Viggen, off the line is ok, but 20-90mph is where the real magic happens. Breaks em both loose up to 50. Highway passing 55-80 is hilariously fast, even 5.0 mustangs have no prayer of keeping up. Outran an 07 cobra the other day from a roll-on from 20 to 70. He was upset and would not even pull over to talk cars after that. Some Saabs are total sleepers.

[@pieterk4960]

The headrest is adjustable…just saying😂. Wonderful car…had two in the late 90’s early 2000’s. Still driving two Saabs today😉

[@marknelson5929]

Have just bought a 1997 9000 Aero 5-speed manual (225bhp). I'm only the third owner, the seller had it for 21 years, he in turn bought it from the first owner in 2002. It's in stunning condition, been very well looked after, garaged its whole life. It basically looks and still feels like a near new car - I feel very fortunate as I've been trying to find a half decent 9000 Aero for a good while.

[@cdl282]

Dad bought one of these in 1990. First memory of me as a kid was my mom showing us kids how bigbthe boot was by stepping inside. It was such a big change from our previous volvo 760! We used to carry other friends' luggage on holiday on top of ours when their BMW could not fit it! And for a 7 yera old kid that 16 valve logo well displayed at the back was such cause for pride!

[@SuperBigswede]

You cant hide it, but the 9000 is doing its MAGIC to you!

[@vibingwithvinyl]

9000 was an excellent car for it's time.

[@mds2465]

My favorite Saab of all time is this one featured right here!

[@dj_paultuk7052]

I used to have one almost identical to that. It was the 1988 / 89 BTCC Pace Car from Brands Hatch. Customised and tuned by Kentish SAAB. Was about 220bhp. Now have a 97 9000 Aero with 317bhp. 70 to 100 in just 3.5 seconds. Quicker than an Audi R8. Its FAST !. I own TheSAABClinic CO UK.

[@gameon2000]

Had it back then, it went off like a Porsche with that Turbo! I won numerous times against my bros with newer AUDIs and BMWs, while this car actually is a wonderful summer in the city car & Autobahn night tempomat cruiser with that cosy seats and with an 80s mafia movies design. ))

[@graemecorder4237]

I had an 1989 9000 turbo, it did 260k km, replaced the turbo with a rebuilt garret , new spark plug unit (forgot the actual term for it). And the stupid heater coil. My one was automatic,l purchased with 75k km, when l started looking at the logbooks l discovered it was on its third transmission. The first one from new had been replaced with a rebuilt Saab unit under warranty, at 70k km the third unit was installed, it was a brand new zoom, there must have been some fireworks between the first owner and Saab to achieve this. The new transmission was perfect all the way to the end. This was a fast car. Interesting in 1990s Sydney there was a criminal gang called the 5T, when they built the underwater Sydney tunnel it took them 6 months or so to install speed cameras, we used to race through the tunnel late at night to join the 5T club, “two ton through the tunnel “.

[@VBNicke]

Had a Saab 9000 turbo as my first car back in 2006. With a stage1 tune it could outperforme a Ferrari 348, still ratad as a very safe car by the Swedish ensurance company Folksam. Har to find a 9000 in good condition today.

[@jingomeme]

Lovely Hertfordshire roads!

[@Lot76CARS]

Enjoy this road tests of left field cars.. like this, or the Renault 25. What about the Lancia Thema?

[@justbarry587]

95 9000cse best handling car I've driven I miss her I had a front end accident suspension was trashed

[@bluerineimb1148]

A car I have been a fan of but never had one I think now I'm going to find a good one while there still buyerble

[@worawatli8952]

I own a 1993 9000CD with 2.3i-16 non-turbo, it is a bit different than this one with a slanted face. It has a lot of power, more than enough for me, give it full throttle and you can make wheel spin at stoplight. I can imagine the turbo version or the Aero would be insane for its time. Other than powertrain, everythings are just like the OG 9000, I'm surprised you uploaded this video, it's so hard to find someone talking about 9000, it's a forgotten car.

[@Isuzusaab]

Best Saab ever made with 9000 Aero

[@richardhoner7842]

Had a 1995 Aero black on black manual trans. What a car. So underrated.

[@deanwild4971]

I had an '89 2.3 turbo when I was student about 12 years ago. It was a bit of an animal. I agree about the lack of puff at higher revs, the 2.3 was the same. Still a great motor.

[@KennyZombie]

I'm very happy to find this channel. Real driving enthusiast that know how to drive and what to talk about and how to talk to express the feeling of the car. Spot on what i need to hear! You have made one saab fan in siberia wery happy :)

[@dutchcculture]

Again a nice video!! The 9000 turbo is on my list of cars that I just have to drive. Greetings from Holland

[@MandusahRamirez]

One Of My New Favorite Channels! Appreciate The Content!💚

[@EGMedia1]

Cheers Justen, more on the way!

[@AllMy78s]

Nice motor... Good video...

[@martinvasilev16]

The Saab 9000 is the rarest Saab model

[@Aquarious]

Nice vid and some good driving!

[@stevel9914]

The 9000 and c900 had very similar rear suspension both to potentially induce rear wheel steer. Springs, rear axle etc are very very similar. Hence (I suspect) why the wheels look like they could do with being a little wider to fill the arches. In my opinion 9000 is actually the better car overall ... but doesn't carry the character the c900 has.

[@TheSeventhSeal]

I've owned both, and you're right. The 900 is full of character, but the 9000 (while still retaining plenty) is the car you'd want to take on a long journey.

[@Psychedelicbananas]

Do a review on the E36!

[@EGMedia1]

Done the Z3 1.9, guess it has to be an M3 next then...

[@zm321]

E36 used the rear Z axle, Z3 did not, so completely different characteristics. A vid about the E36 325i would be worthwhile given the gamechanger that it was.

[@edgargranados8524]

I’ve had 3 900s. SPG, cabrio, and sedan. I’ve also had a 9000 and a 9-3 cabrio. The 900 is by far the more stylish of the bunch! But the 9000 and 9-3 where much better cars.

[@TheSeventhSeal]

Later cars had balancing shafts in the engine, making it far smoother.

[@EGMedia1]

What's your Type Four top choice? Saab, Lancia, Alfa, Fiat?

[@stefanimarkova1344]

Lancia dedra

[@TheBTG88]

Too bad he didn't take it on a highway. This is a great high speed mile-eater and does indeed get excellent fuel economy. I regularly saw 35 mpg at 75 mph.

[@TheSeventhSeal]

Mine gets 40.

[@bumfluffmcregor3730]

My dad had one of these crashed into a wall the wall is no more Saab had small bumper scratch

[@jackphilips9526]

*Fiat Croma... not Lancia.

[@goodyan4453]

Windshield?? Wtf

[@Theagchm]

This is way more boring than I thought it would be. I owned a 2.3 16v Turbo, it was very quick. Lets ignore the presenter, at the time the SAAB 9000 2.3 1.6v turbo was the fastest 4/5 door car for overtaking in the world. The only car that could beat it was the Westfield 7. That does include Ferrari, Porsche, etc. An incredibly quick car, if you are in the right gear. "Heel and toeing", what a twat - on a main road, why would you! Interior was really nice, I really like it, as did my family. Fuel consumption was crap, 27mpg with a light foot. Saying that, I'd still buy one of they were available.

[@paulanderson7796]

Pretentious. Talking about trail braking whilst driving a Saab. It's not that kind of car.

[@pistonburner6448]

To be very blunt and negative if you allow in the comments section (which hopefully is for us to give out opinions, positive or negative on the subject matter): Who really cares about yet another pretty abysmal, mediocre front-wheel-drive A-to-B car that isn't really exciting, good or remarkable except at most against its other low-price basic contemporaries which are similarly uninteresting? There are so many car like this: basic fwd grocery getters that can only have some 'excitement' manufactured about them through far-fetched marketing and some 'unique' and 'quirky' things that can be made up about pretty much even the most boring cars. Horrible sounding 4-pot engine, fwd with 61% of the weight on the front wheels, horrible steering, solid rear axle...come on! It's not even quiet or comfortable compared to rivals. It was even the only one of its platform-brothers to have the inferior solid rear axle, the Fiat Croma, Lancia Thema and Alfa 164 all had fully independent suspension! (Alfa even offered an awd version on that platform...not that it changes the fwd-construction of that platform, but it's something)

[@stevel9914]

oh dear ...... what a shame ... never mind.