Saab 99 An Owner's Perspective

[@willig4692]

I had a '76 Saab 99GL. I loved it. Incredible in the snow. I remember going to a Winter party out out on someone's farm with a quarter mile drive up to the house in at least 6" of snow no one else could make it and I made it without any trouble whatsoever. It was lime green with a cool black "Starsky and Hutch" stripe. My second car was a 900EMS. I had all the bodywork done, painted a metal flake maple leaf green. Very cool cars.

[@KingCast65]

So you got there and partied with the homeowner who was stranded as well, nice. :)

[@ngauruhoezodiac3143]

@@willig4692 Yes, they were good in winter. They had 15" wheels when most cars had 13" wheels. And they had a big heater with a strong blower. And electrically heated seats.

[@willig4692]

@ngauruhoezodiac3143 The heated driver seat was awesome. Don't forget the ignition on the console, which would also lock the transmission in reverse. The windshield with no blindspots.... the 2nd car was a '79.... I loved my Saabs. ❤️

[@dazad1972]

i have a 1979 2 door 99 turbo in red, had it 20 years this year and i love it. Its not on the road at the moment needs a bit of work.

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Daz H sounds like a nice example ! Would love to see it - if you want to find my Facebook group for The Classic Saab Guy you can post pics there if you like - always great to see fellow Saab owners cars !

[@dazad1972]

@@theclassicsaabguy236 im hoping to dig it out of the garage this year get the wheel arches done and a bit on the floor and around the front end behind the bumper it only has 76000 miles on it, its just scruffy need cleaning up so shouldnt take to long.

[@Invisible_Socks]

My parents had a 1979 Saab 99 GLE and the body style of it looks like the 900 I clearly remember it

[@omnichords]

great to see some new 99 content out there, keep up the good work!

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

omnichords thanks very much for the support ! More fun Saaby content to come !

[@nathanielnicholson559]

Always nice to see others' SAABs and especially in a well done video (second to in person). I'm on my 9th, 8 900s and 1 99, a '76 4 door. Fell in love with them around 7 years old while traveling to ski areas with my dad who worked for LMC (formerly DMC of Delorean fame) and serviced snow groomers throughout the northeast. The closer we'd get to our destination the more SAABs, Volvos, Mercedes and Porsches I'd see and along with noticing how much better they looked I thought 'these people are on to something' and about 15 years later I'd buy my first '85 900S 3 door and understand what that something was. 40 years later I'm still in love.

[@andrewliu569]

Thanks for sharing. I’ve learnt more about Saab. I once owned a sliver Saab 900 which it was made in 1981. It was with me for my whole college life to my mid 20’s. Eventually I had to give it up because it was too expensive to keep it well which I deeply regret it. Now, I own a Saab NG 95 which is also a great car to have it. Yet, I somehow still miss my Saab 900 so much.

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Andrew Liu Hi Andrew ! Thanks for watching ! Yeah there is something very special about the 900 - I've owned the 99, the 90, 900, the newer 9-3 too but I think the 900 for me is pure Saab! Maybe you'll get another sometime in the future ! Take care and keep watching - I'll post a new video every week! Thanks and have a good weekend !

[@andrewliu569]

The Classic Saab Guy I can’t agree with you more...👍🏻 Look forward to watching more videos you will post. Happy weekend. Cheers

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Lasse Riise I totally agree !

[@howard51723]

Stable 99 the ultimate car

[@nicolasr.3843]

Bonjour , merci . J'adore la chute du toit et le coffre à l'arrière qui ressemble à la Renault 12 , surtout sur la 99 où l'arrière est tronqué . Bonne continuation et au revoir .

[@CTR207]

Great too see another EX - Pat enjoying the wonders of SAAB . Fantastic Quality cars worthy of its price tag back in the day as owning one proves today

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Thanks ! Glad you like the channel !

[@ryanjwalters]

great stuff, man. appreciate you producing this content for all us Saabistas in the world :)

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Ryan Walters glad that it's appreciated ! Lots more to come ! Glad that there are so many Saabistas in the world that can understand my Saabnerdom!!

[@saabrejsarN]

Love this video! I have a 1983 99 GL that's been my trusty winter beater for years. I've retired it as a daily driver now in favour of my newly restored Renault, but I could never part with my 99 as I've had it for such a long time and brought it through hell and back. The 99 is the most robust car I've ever driven, it's got so much personality and handles extremely well even by modern standards. Planning to restore it in the future with a new paintjob, rust repair and possibly putting a turbo engine from a newer SAAB in there.

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Hi glad you like the vid ! I had a 1984 99 in a baby blue which was probably as you say the most robust car I've ever owned ! Lucky to be in the baby blue colour that tends not to rust so much ! I later had a Saab 90 in the same year and colour which was just as tough during the Swedish winters ! Thanks for watching !

[@tobbehall]

Great video! I bought my first 99 few weeks ago. Only had newer saabs since I got my license. Its soon going out on the roads!

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Good luck with the 99 - I don't think you'll regret it !

[@TheWiseTent]

Awesome interview! The Saab 99 (Turbo) is one of my absolute favourite Saab models. Another awesome video!

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

thewisetent thanks so much ! Glad to share my love of Saab's with others!

[@gfree4173]

I'll 2nd that. Especially the 5 door. Woof!

[@jamesclarkson3009]

​@@gfree4173nah 3 door looks way better haha.

[@ngauruhoezodiac3143]

The biggest mistake Saab made with the engine of the 99 was the gear driven water pump. Starting a frozen engine could damage the shaft that drove the pump and distributor which required engine removal to replace. Also the water pump required a special extractor to remove.

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Yeah you don't have to remind me how annoying that was ! So glad they updated it to a belt driven pump later

[@user-pt1ow8hx5l]

That was in the early days of the model, right? Later on they developed a legendary reliability, those engines, being able to do astronomical miles without rebuilds.

[@ngauruhoezodiac3143]

@user-pt1ow8hx5l They had the gear driven water pump at least until 1980, possibly until 1982. My EMS Combi Coupe was made in 1979.

[@howard51723]

I had one, I want another

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Find one !!😂

[@troyallen5806]

At 4:22 that was my car. Except it had a (factory)sunroof, 1975 Saab EMS, miss it everyday and will always regret selling it.

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

That's a lovely car ! I can understand you regret selling it ! It's a beauty ! Oh and we share a rare name - I"'m Troy too !

[@jimmyblues59m76]

Sold my 1976 SAAB EMS in 1985. Really miss that car.

[@greniepage5775]

Great interview ! Great cars ! I'm guessing you can get more spares from Sweden providing you have the contact .

[@SaabAtical2009]

99er are great !! i have one from '82 and i love it

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Der Troll glad you enjoyed it !

[@jimmygalle72]

Nice angle with owners perspektiv 👍 Good episode!

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Jimmy Galle thanks Jimmy !

[@lucybarney1]

Good point on weather related Saab’s , when I bought my 90 the owner insisted it went to a warm country and as I live in Spain 🇪🇸 , he let me buy it

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

paul torr yeah I do wish they didn't salt the roads here - it really kills cars ! But lucky for you getting to drive a 90 - love to see a photo of it - I'm actually doing an episode on the 90 very soon !

[@ronaldderooij1774]

My first car was a basis 99 GL two door four speed 1981 model. I loved it to bits. It drove like no other. I bought it at 166.000 km. I cannot say it was a cheap car to operate. It needed tons of repairs every year and lots of maintenance and sadly it was worn inside out at 250.000 km and 20 years old. Rust, oil consumption, interior falling apart, seats collapsed, roof lining came loose, gearbox broke, cooling system tore itself apart, etc. So, I had to scrap it. I must say, I had expected better quality from a premium car.

[@thomasgranatelli328]

I wish I had a 99 again I would love it I had 1970 green 99 Also had 1974 ems orange

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Nice !

[@tylernail2146]

The 99 was a great starter for the icon 900

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Indeed it was !!!!

[@stevelewis8394]

IMO the 99 was the best looking and best proportioned of all the Saab's. I had one for a few years back in the early 1990's, metallic bronze with turbo wheels and it was bullet proof. Took it on a 2000 mile round trip from South Wales to do a tour of Scotland and it didn't miss a beat. I've always fancied getting the turbo model but prices have been out of my reach.

[@yujiasano8679]

what brand of spoked wheels are on the rally Saabs? Even on Gustav's green 99.

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

yuji asano those would be Ronal alloy wheels !

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

yuji asano the Minilites that is !

[@ufooooooooooooooooo]

Interesting talking about the functionality of the car. Calling it a winter car with a summer feature is a real twist on the idea of a winter beater.

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Yeah I guess it depends on where you live but here in Sweden you do need to decide if you drive one car all year round and just change the tyres or you have a second winter beater. Here Saab's have always been used all year round and of course now that the older classics are becoming rare they're being used less - however my Saab 90 is a solid beast and is still rust free after 36 winters !!!

[@marcoengelbracht4141]

I think they were engineered to withstand the swedish winter conditions. Rust precautions were not so good in former times. But at the end it is a question of how much interest the owne pays into his car(s) if they withstand the challenge of salty roads or not.

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Good perspective Marco !

[@gfree4173]

Kind of a weird question but do you remember SAAB 900 having a sticker on the lower back window that said "SAAB air conditioned"? I saw that here in the US.

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Never seen that but that's interesting ! Maybe others will jump in and confirm ! The US models had some unique features compared to European

[@gfree4173]

@@theclassicsaabguy236 It might of been at the top of the window but was definitely there. Maybe put on at the dealer.

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

g free would love to see one of those labels !

[@gfree4173]

Just joined a SAAB Facebook group. Already got 2 responses that their 79, 81, and 85 model had it. It had the coolest font to it.

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

g free would really like to see that !

[@lennartproost]

What's the fuel consumption on these 99's? Is there anything i should know before buying one??

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

2 litre 8 valve engine but if you keep the revs in the green econ area on the tach you'll see surprising gas mileage for an old car

[@lennartproost]

@@theclassicsaabguy236 but how many liters? Ive heard about 8l for every 100km but can it be lower?

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

@@lennartproost ooh I might need to do a test run myself in my mates 99 as its been a while and it can vary a little

[@lennartproost]

@@theclassicsaabguy236 that would be helpfull!

[@rickardwaara2130]

Great video! Different and really entertaining.

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Rickard Waara thanks Rickard !

[@frankdamen7875]

Beautiful 99

[@bombakdik]

Very very nice interview, I like the ease. Wonderful guy too. Edit: I saw towards the end of the video a picture of a Saab with a Belgian oldtimer license plate tucked away in the garage. Are you from Belgium perhaps? Greets from Belgium!

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

that was a friend's car he import from Belgium i believe

[@thomasgranatelli328]

That front was 1970

[@thomasgranatelli328]

there is the mags of the ems boy do i miss them, no power steering clutch master went 3 times on me also master clutch and sound

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

easy to fix though right ?

[@thomasgranatelli328]

@@theclassicsaabguy236 no way take the wole car apart to get the front end and the radator out to do a clutch !

[@thomasgranatelli328]

@@theclassicsaabguy236 i thought syker bought saab

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

@@thomasgranatelli328 oh yeah it's not a 900 where you have room at the front end !

[@thomasgranatelli328]

I LOVED MY 99 WITH I HAD IT NIW DESPITE NO POWER STEERING

[@tomasw22]

true elephant in the room, Volvo, they ruined everything, Saab is still the winner, nice video!

[@jamesdecross1035]

Who told you the cabriolet was a Summer Car? SAAB always stated it had better insulation than the solid roof.

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

James Cross I think this comes from the Swedish perspective - with their long harsh winters you don't see drivers using their "cabs" in the winter here ! Plus with all the salt etc. And of course the convertible 900 was mostly conceived due to demand from the American market with their Florida and California climates !

[@davidbauer1485]

@@theclassicsaabguy236 Many Swedish boys will come to California and what they find is never ending sun, beaches, girls, cheap booze, low taxes, lots of automatic rifles and loads of rust free Saabs. Only need to head home for moms cooking or to seek affordable health care. :)

[@thomasgranatelli328]

i had a 1970 99 brits Leyland engine and a 99 ems i had 3000,000 on my ems when i blown head and couldn't get it back together the 84 ems was the best car i ever had. i thought they are still making buses why not cars.

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Nice!

[@thomasgranatelli328]

No saab had freewheel in front

[@rod1148]

I thought the Saab 96 or maybe it was the 93 had freewheel.

[@MAL-Collector]

I just sold my saab 9-5 to hunt down a Saab 99 to buy. I got one in sights also red one 💪

[@theclassicsaabguy236]

Hope you get it !

[@MAL-Collector]

@@theclassicsaabguy236 I did. Tuesday I bought it. Ist in good shape. I wil make a short video soon.