Aero Rescue Mission

Not one to do anything by halves, I’ve jumped right in at the deep end with the second Aeroriginal, an iconic first generation 9-3 HOT Aero convertible, straight silver with (what used to be) black roof.

A Gumtree find and currently non running, it has been sitting sadly in a Welsh field for the past year, the rear brakes are completely seized, the engine is pretty much had it and requires replacing, and the interior has a velvet-like covering of mould.

Upside is, these things are truly stunning, the timeless Ian Cullum designed Aero body kit just never ages, and although the front bumper is badly ripped, it’s saveable and from initial inspection, the bodywork itself is exceptionally straight and rust free.

Interior wise I’m unsure if I can make the leather good again, deep cracks and a bad rip on the driver’s bolster seem make it seem unlikely, but I’ll reserve judgement for now, the original stereo unit has vanished, so has one door speaker, ashtray and even the leather gearknob, but again, all fixable.

Right now, the next stage will be to give the underneath a good inspection and make sure it’s solid, then breaks freed, engine out and begin the uphill battle to save another gorgeous Saab Aero.

Be Different

I've had this idea brewing for a while now, a personal obsession to rescue older Saabs, sort them out, add something unique and keep them on the roads for years to come. It always surprises me that folks are willing to spend thousands of pounds on terrible, middle of the road cars that are neither reliable or beautiful, it just so happens Saabs are both and offer exceptionally fantastic value too.

My obsession with Aero models specifically has led to me hunting out ones that are a little different, it might be they have some rare Hirsch Performance parts, or an unusual colour, or maybe just the wonderful heated and vented leather seats, but always something that makes them stand out from the crowd. Once I've had the amazing folks at Malcolm Miles ensure the mechanics are back on point, I set about adding more unique touches, subtle details that make all the difference, from handcrafted satin black and anodised mesh grilles to rare Hirsch spoilers or Nappa leather steering wheels.

Stance and sound are always important, so exhausts are changed to stainless steel Jetex sports ones and maybe paired with a commissioned APH Performance downpipe to really maximise the flow. Bilstein suspension together with MapTun, Eibach or Abbott Racing lowering springs and strut braces ensure drive is given a modern touch and all finished off with a decent set of alloys, usually Saab originals, but sometimes others that really give a unique touch to the overall style. Power wise, I aim for reliable but smile inducing, between Stage 3 and 4 with ecu upgrades by the very talented NoobTune, this is generally reinforced with upgraded intercoolers and filters to keep things beautifully smooth.

I genuinely do this to keep Saabs on the road, and much to my wife's upset, I usually lose money on each an every one, but if it works, other Saab folks will benefit from a unique desire to drive something a bit different, after all, why spend £5k on a boring car when you can drive a truly exceptional Saab - reliable, timeless and above all, individual?

SEE CURRENT AEROS FOR SALE

Shady Character

Each new day brings a reminder that Spring is well and truly underway, it’s one of the most amazing times of the year here in England - warm sun, cool breezes, trees, hedges and fields turning green again, a beautifully fresh scent in the air and of course the most important of all - dry, clean roads.

Drop the windows in the 9-5 and enjoy the sounds - the subtle turbo whistle as you accelerate, the deep bubble of the sports exhaust and the seamless power leading you on your journey, no destination in mind, just the joy of the drive.

On mornings like this, I take my trusty old Leica and head out looking for the perfect spots for a quick photo, the Saab isn’t clean and shiny, it’s dusty and enjoyed, but find a peaceful lane and the sun and shade create the perfect feel for a few photos of this timeless car. More and more I’m enjoying the Gen1 over most other 9-5’s i’ve owned, the Carbon Grey with the Matt Black Carlsson Turbo X alloys give it a menacing stance and with the updated interior, I can’t think of many other cars I’d rather drive through Spring in.

Obsession in Print

Loving Saabs is just the tip of the iceberg for me when it comes to an obsession, I find my passion for cars is all encompassing, yes the collecting, renovating, sourcing and driving of them is the primary desire, but being ever inspired by other folk’s car obsessions and projects is just as endearing. Recently us petrolheads have been given a series of exceptional printed car ‘porn’  to feed the passion that I just couldn’t resist sharing, not specifically Saab, but if you love cars as much as I do, they really are ‘must have’s.

A recent road trip to the wonderful Caffeine & Machine gathering space led to the discovery of the utterly beautiful Private Motor Club magazine which we avidly flicked through over a succulent handmade burger and ice cold beer. Bentley to Bugatti, classic Japanese street racers to the wonderful new Alpine and now on its sixth issue, Private Motor Club is an exceptionally elegant piece of print that warrants its very own bookcase space in any petrolhead’s library.

Secondly, The Road Rat, with a self confessed petrolhead philosophy, ‘A Thing for Cars’ which doesn’t disappoint. Immaculately curated spreads, beautiful photography, minimal fuss and even a stunning commissioned portrait of Lewis Hamilton on the first issue - it is a truly indulgent collection of stories dedicated to the love of cars.

Far from being dead, print has taken up the gauntlet of creating beautifully tactile inspiration that enhances my obsession - what will the next project be, the next change, the next road trip… We jumped in the Saab and headed off on a 100 mile journey to Calke Abby in Derbyshire, the perfect backdrop for an opportune photo of a timeless car.

Private Motor Club | The Road Rat

Förfina

Despite the ever distressing stories of Saabs being scrapped or used as donor cars for others, there also seem to be an ever growing number of folks who are more and more invested in keeping the Saab legend alive and fight fit. Not only that, but the ones that are passionate enough to keep them on the road are investing both time and money in them too.

I recently came across a new zine aptly named Förfina, literally meaning ‘refine’ in Swedish. It's dedicated to our global Saabs and the lives they touch, stories of intercontinental journeys, reimagined classic and gatherings in every corner of the world. The author, David, is asking Saab folks to contribute articles to build traction for Issue 2, and if all goes well with plenty of interest, he’ll be offering a lovely old school printed version too, and let’s face it, what’s better than a coffee and a quality zine in your hands at the weekend?

I for one will be offering the occasional post for him to share at his discretion, and hope other Saabists will do the same, contact him here.

Förfina | For Saab owners and enthusiasts around the world

Saab Youngtimers

I’ve long been rather jealous of the Netherland way of life, their laid back attitude, exceptional cuisine, beautiful cities, crisp clear air and endless driving roads, but reading about a company called Saab Youngtimer almost made me up sticks and move to the Netherlands.

Due to favourable company car tax schemes, any cars over 15 years old are only required to be taxed at 35% over their basic value, and as we all know, older Saabs are incredible value, so if you fancy a reimagined Saab for your company car, either leased or purchased, Saab Youngtimer might just be the perfect solution.

Youngtimer promotes an open conversation with their customers, what model, colour and spec do you prefer, fancy a 2nd generation 9-5 Sportwagon with 350hp, 480Nm and a Hirsch style steering wheel, no problem, oh, and you want that in Nardo Grey, no problem, yes, they’ll even repaint your dream Saab in the colour of your choice.

A 2004 9-3 convertible has been completely reimagined with full 2014 specification, and it really is a beautiful creation, and that colour.

Essentially, Youngtimer will source the perfect Saab for your needs and then put it through an impressive program for refurbishment and replacement, they use genuine Saab parts wherever possible and commission a series of bespoke parts when unavailable.

You end up with a nearly new Saab that has been subjected to rigorous testing to ensure longevity, reliability and enjoyment. Being a Saab of course, your young timer is pretty much a timeless design that you’re helping protect for the future and needless to say, it is a far more sustainable choice than opting for a brand new car.

They’ve left me dreaming about collecting my new youngtimer, experiencing the fresh, unique smell and comfort of a Saab leather interior as you climb in for the first time and heading out of Mappel towards Doosje on the N375, open countryside, trees, canals, the beginning of a new Saab journey

Saabs Reimagined in Holland | Saab Youngtimer Lease

The Morning After

The 9-5 has been under the knife for the past few days, the obligatory rust cut out on the rear wheel arch bases, welded and made beautiful again and some surface dents removed from the bonnet.

The front Aero bib had been broken and fixed poorly in the past, which has also been removed, plastic welded and resprayed again too.

And of course the icing on the cake - the rare Saab boot lip spoiler has now been renovated, resprayed and attached. Cosmetically it makes a world of difference to the look and style of the car, it adds a purposeful touch to the rear, discreet but a bit edgy, it really adds the finishing touch to the Saabs exterior.

The folks I use, Leicester Autobody, really are fantastic, they care about perfection and although the Saab was possibly the 'cheapest' car in the workshop, it felt every bit as pampered as the Porsches, Ferrari and wonderfully rare, early Subaru also their for a touch of cosmetic surgery.

The morning after collecting it, I returned to a car park and seeing the Saab felt proud to own such a stunning car, the details have made a huge difference to the overall style and in my eyes, is no a pretty much perfect 9-5.

Driven by Beauty

Back in 2011 I took delivery of a new Carbon Grey 9-3 TTiD Turbo Edition, it not only featured plenty of lovely Saab options including premium leather and navigation, but I managed to squeeze virtually every available item from Hirsch Performance, including the exceptional Nappa leather steering wheel.

More recently in 2017, I rescued a beautiful 9-5 Aero that also had a Hirsch steering wheel, and once you’ve had one, it’s very difficult to forget how beautiful they look and feel. Sadly, Hirsch no longer manufacture these steering wheels, but the kind folks at cardyourcar commissioned a number of exclusively crafted replicas, I’m not entirely sure if they came from the same factory, and some contouring it different from the Hirsch version, but non the less, it looked beautifully made.

I made the leap and ordered one on Monday from Germany, it arrived Wednesday and was on the car that same day. First impressions are excellent, the contours are different, but have been carefully considered and provide exceptional grip, materials seem to be equal to the Hirsch ones, and has definitely given a final bit of luxury to my newly refreshed Aero interior.

An early morning country drive with glowing sunlight seemed like an ideal opportunity to snap a few photos, I still can’t praise the Saab’s interior enough, it really is timeless, it just makes me smile every time I drive it, and with the new steering wheel, it really is pretty much perfect.

A Saab Life

If there’s one single thing I love about Saabs above all else, it’s how they bring people together, locally, nationally and globally, people are interested in talking about them, asking questions and sharing Saab stories. Whether you drive a modern 9-3 or a rare Sonett, a quirky 95 V4 or an iconic 900, they seem to inspire friendliness and conversation - a shared love.

Many marques have a similar following, but what separates Saab is the inclusivity and affordability to be a part of a lifestyle, young and old, families and teenagers are all able to share the Saab vibe. What usually starts as a connection to Saab through generations, becomes a life long affinity that’s sometimes hard to explain or reason with.

I recently happened across an Instagramer who clearly shares this feeling, she not only drives an exceptionally beautiful Ambassador Blue 900 classic, but also explorers every corner of Europe in it. She’s taken road trips to Sweden, Italy and Austria and in her words “My little Saab really made me connect with so many new people”. Having covered hundreds of miles, she returns safely to her home in the German Alps.

She also loves nature photography and videography and her page is a beautifully curated collection of everything that encapsulates her life passions, and her trusty classic Saab is very much centre stage "The best decision ever I made on my own against every other opinion was to buy this car".

As our Saabs get older and rarer, it's exceptionally heartwarming to see people like Janina not only take care of them for the future, but enjoy every moment and every journey, just as Saab imagined.

Janina Elisa | Instagram

The Boss

Almost anyone who's followed and read this blog over the past 8 years will know I've had a fair few Saab projects. Some have required just regular care and maintenance, whilst others have required not only a leap of faith, but also implicit trust in someone who understands the beauty and complexity of Saabs, someone who's knowledge is second to none.

That someone is Jason Miles down at Malcolm Miles Saab in Leicester, he's been truly exceptional at understanding what I've wanted to achieve with each Saab, and has also never allowed anything to defeat us, it can always be fixed.

So, when Jason told me he was selling his 2009 Saab 9-5 Turbo Edition Sportwagon, Stage 5, I said I'd be more than happy to feature it on SvsS. Needless to say, if I hadn't already got 3 other cars including my current 9-5 Aero, I'd have been the proud owner of one of the most unique Saab Sportwagons I've ever seen or driven, it is truly stunning.

The ultimate sleeper, Jason's Carbon Grey 9-5 is subtle but menacing - the stance is perfect and rests on rare 18" Hirsch double 5 spoke alloys, the huge MapTun 4 pot front callipers and vented and grooved discs giving just a hint that this is no ordinary estate car, and as most people will always be behind this thing, the twin exhaust is another discreet touch that finishes the rear off to perfection.

Imagine searching for the perfect estate car, discreet but with a bit of attitude, supreme comfort for any journey no matter what distance, individuality and exclusivity but as reliable as a Saab (of course) and something that has enough power to embarrass pretty much any other car on the road, this is it, you've just found it.

Need to know:

Registered December 2009 / One previous owner / 2 keys
Carbon Grey / tinted windows / rear spoiler
Heated front and rear seats / electric front seats / drivers memory
Parking sensors / rain sensing wipers / xenon headlights / black perforated leather
HK music / DAB/CD/SAT NAV/ hone enabled / Pioneer head unit

102,000 miles / engine rebuilt at 70,000 miles including:

Wossner pistons
New big end bearings
New main bearings
New thrust washers
New timing/balance chain kit
All genuine Saab
Maptun TD04 19T Turbo with forge actuator
Alloy dump valve
Green giant injectors
T5 cams
Silicone water and boost hoses
Maptun intercooler
ITG maxogen open air filter
Abbott Racing alloy flywheel
Apec 2 clutch and genuine slave cyl (both fitted Sept '17)
Quaiffe diff
Bilstein B8 shocks with Eibach springs
SAS anti roll bars
Poly bushed front subframe / front wishbones / rear trailing arms
3" front pipe,
Jetex cat back twin exit exhaust
Maptun 4 pot front brakes (new pads July '18)
New rear discs and pads July '18,
Oil and filter changes every 3,000 miles (sometimes less)
Hirsch 18" wheels / Goodyear tyres

Car was dyno’d December 2017 340BHP / 515NM

As you can imagine, it's got an impeccable service history too, oil has been changed every 3,000 miles or less, and with the shear amount of Saab experience Jason and his team have, this has got to be one of the most desirable Saab Sportwagons available.

Anything so unique or exclusive, think Mercedes E43 AMG, Audi S6, Alpina B3 comes with a massive price tag, but Jason's 9-5 is for sale at £7,500.

I truly can't think of another car that could offer quite so much at this price. Someone's going to be massively privileged to own this Saab.

Anyone interested, call Jason on 0116 283 9044

Club Class

I believe it’s pretty widely acknowledged that Saab have designed and crafted some of the comfiest seats in the world, take a journey in pretty much any Saab and I’m sure you won’t be in any hurry to jump out at the end, they really are that good.

Over the years I’ve had my favourites, certain models that have featured the epitome of Saab seats. Take the 9000 Aero for example, their design is almost legendary, perfectly sculptured to hold you in place on a spirited drive and yet comfortable enough to while away the hours on any motorway, and the 9-3 HOT Aero seats, smaller and harsher in design but no less comfortable.

And then there’s the 9-5 Aero seats which are truly exceptional, a perfect combination of the 9000 Aero and 9-3 Aero ones. The 2002 - 2009 model ones have more bolster support and are wider towards the top than the first generation 9-5 ones, and that’s exactly why I’ve had to search long and hard to find a full interior for my latest 9-5 project.

I’ve been lucky enough to find a set of the rare Anniversary seats from a 2007 Aero, they feature a discreet SAAB stamp in the backs, a subtle two tone leather structure and highlight stitching. They have literally transformed the car’s interior, together with the carbon dash it feels beautifully timeless, the quality of all materials is everything you’d expect from a Saab and hardly shows any sign of wear, despite being 17 years old.

Having been through many, many marques, I can genuinely say that Saab interiors are in a class of their own really, the comfort is second to none, instruments clear and highly considered, the aviation style map light and of course, the now famous intelligent cup holders all combine to offer something utterly unique, Club Class.

Phase 2 _ Stage 4

Excess noun An amount that is more than is needed, expected, or acceptable. I question the 'acceptable' part, but excess possibly describes the last few weeks with the 9-5 very accurately.

What's been done? Performance first, an amazing handcrafted stainless steel 3" downpipe by APH Performance together with a Jetex full system exhaust has been fitted, a DO88 Intercooler, intake pipes and all hoses, a BSR performance filter, Abbott Racing top strut brace and a Stage 4 ECU by the very talented Karl at Noobtune all lovingly installed by the guys at Malcolm Miles (again).

Having jumped straight into Stage 4 rather than staggering the upgrades, you realise the shear change in power and driving ability of the Aero, together with the Bilstein B8 shocks and MapTun springs, the 19" Turbo X alloys and the Pirelli P Zeros, it becomes the sports saloon it always had the potential be.

Producing around 300hp, the power delivery is smile inducing, put your foot down in 3rd and you'll easily get those 19" wheels upfront spinning briefly before grabbing control and surging forward. The 9-5 in contrast to my old HOT Aero, doesn't feel as out of control, it handles the extra power admirably, it gives you the reassurance to really push it to the limit and make the most of every kind of journey.

Inside, things are changing too, the early 9-5 Aero leather, although beautiful quality, does not have the structure or support of the later Aeros, I've managed to source an immaculate 2 tone Anniversary leather interior for a 2007 model, happy to stick with manual operation, the transplant has been seamless, the seatbelt warning light still does its thing, and even the 3 stage roller works perfectly for the heated seats, they really have lifted the interior to the next level - the ultimate spec for a 1st generation 9-5 Aero in my opinion.

Next stop, some subtle cosmetic work to bring the 9-5 back to glory.

Black Edition

Imagination, creativity and craftsmanship have long been associated with Saab, but in recent years, these skills have had to be lovingly upheld by the owners and diehards instead, the ones that can make things happen themselves.

When any car becomes a 'modern classic' it takes people like that to keep them alive and on our roads, parts might become rarer and difficult to find, but it also empowers us to be a little more creative in finding alternative solutions.

Obviously, the foundations are usually in place for us to be inspired by, folks like MapTun and Hirsch, Nordic Tuning and Abbott Racing have all given us desirable enhancements for our Saabs in the past but all too often these are no longer available.

This is where a bit of Saab craft comes in. I recently started to discuss a bespoke mesh grille with a lovely guy and a fellow Saabist. Turns out he's been reimagining Saab grilles for a while now, he sources perfect original plastic and chrome frames and then proceeds to adapt them, adding chrome mesh similar to Abbott Racing and Hirsch ones of the past.

I wanted to go a little further and create a satin black frame with a louver style anodised black mesh for my 9-5 Aero instead. After a few weeks, my bespoke grille has arrived and what a difference it's made, the Aero front feels updated yet timeless, it enhances the 'black edition' look and gives a subtly aggressive stance to a 17 year old Saab.

Whilst we have folks like this around, our Saabs have very bright and exciting futures, imagination leads to unique and interesting Saabs for us all to enjoy and admire, and allows to share them with future generations.

Need a bespoke grille handmade in the UK? Contact the craftsman here.

Inside Information

Despite all of the ‘Born from Jets’ clichés that surround Saab, there can be little argument that the interiors share similar design details. From the green and orange illumination, beautifully crafted switchgear and toggle operated air vents to the genuinely unique ‘night panel’ function, ball joint map light, simple but effective ‘fasten seatbelt’ and the wonderfully functional fold out cupholder - a Saab interior can never be mistaken for any other marque.

Investing time and energy in to refreshing the interiors of all of my Saab projects has been an enduring love affair, worn buttons and blown bulbs replaced, leather cleaned, dyed and fed, carpets thoroughly cleaned and mats replaced with factory originals, hinges and locks lubricated and any squeaks and rattles detected and resolved.

Above all, I’m always amazed at just how hard wearing and timeless these interiors are, this 9-5 for example, was manufactured in March 2001, some seventeen years ago, it’s covered nearly 100,000 miles, had 3 previous owners and yet the interior could easily be mistaken for that of a new car, even the leather seats still offer an entirely unique aroma, one that is just so Saab and is an absolute joy to spend time in, it’s both relaxed and reassuringly refined.

I’ve sourced and fitted an original Saab carbon fibre dashboard rather than the plain grey one, and am currently searching for a 2001 sat nav head unit and rear parcel shelf bass speakers, but other than that, I can’t wait to just sit back and enjoy this unique and timeless interior a little more.

Saab Alchemy

Is it just me or have you ever dreamt of how the Ian Callum designed 9-3 Aero bumpers would look on a 9-5, or how a late 9-3 one would suit an earlier 9-3.

Well, recently I came across the personal Instagram of one very talented Rickard Karlsson from Sweden, it seems there's nothing he can't do to perform cosmetic surgery on a Saab. What makes it even more impressive is the quality of the work, it looks completely factory fitted.

Rickard retro fits different components to various Saabs giving them subtle facelifts, uses ng colours on og cars and seems to be able to get stance perfection with just the right choice of alloys, even fitting 20" to his divine and exceptionally individual 9-3 Sky Blue 308 Sportwagon, in short, Rickard performs Saab Alchemy for family and friends

If we're going to keep our Saabs on the road and looking mighty fine, we need more people like Rickard around, I just wish I lived in Sweden, my 9-5 Aero would be going under the knife right now.

Rickard Karlsson Instagram

Ice White

For years I’ve collected photos of Saabs, mainly for inspiration and future projects yet to be realised, but some are just too good to not be shared, like this exceptional white 900 T convertible from Poland.

It started life a basic looking ng 900, but went through a massive facelift at some point in its life -  Viggen bodykit including front and rear bumpers and side skirts, later 9-3 grille and central reflector blanking plate. It’s also been beautifully stanced and sitting on an immaculate set of 18” Volvo T5 R alloys.

Wish I knew more about this 900 convertible, but from a visual point of view, this is one gorgeous, ice white Saab for us all to enjoy. Photographed by the talented Grzegorz Baranowski and features an equally talented Polish blonde.

Phase 1 _ Complete

It’s been a real whirlwind first few days for the Aero, it’s been in for an intensive health check and emerged in fine fettle, it drives like an absolute dream, ridiculously smooth and the hugely irritating clutch pedal squeak just a distant memory.

I’ll drive it as ‘standard’ for a month or so now, but plans are well underway for Phase 2 early in 2019, the 3” de-cat downpipe is on order from Alan at APH Performance, Karl at Noob Tune is currently working on a Stage 3 ECU and a filter is on it’s way from BSR.

Whilst all of these things are great, it’s always nice to change something visual about the car, so it’s had a set of Bilstein B8 shocks and MapTun springs added together with these amazing 19” Carlsson alloys, to say I love the look and stance is an understatement, I can’t stop staring at it, such an incredible change and suits the 9-5 Aero perfectly. A new set of 225/35/19 tyres are on their way, just to negate the slight rubbing on the wheel arch liners with the existing 235/40/19 tyres, other than that, stance sorted.

Aero Rising

Just a couple of weeks ago, I became the proud owner of a 2001 Gen1 9-5 Aero, more to the point, it’s the first Gen1 i’ve owned, the other 6+ have been later models. Always loved the Saabness of these, the iconic front grille, the large, clean rear lights, and an interior that always looks and smells just so Saab. After over a year of Saablessness it’s a huge welcome return.

This one’s got some great heritage, originally the demo Aero for Adrian Smith Saab, then under the careful ownership of the Chief Constable of Cumbria until being purchased again by the old Director of Adrian Smith Saab again. Carbon Grey with Rocky Black interior, it’s a timeless combo i’ve always loved, the all important manual gearbox tops the spec to perfection for me.

After driving it for 2-3 days, it went in to the amazing folks at Malcolm Miles for its inaugural thorough health check - sump drop, new oil, filters, new brake pipes, vac pipes, handbrake springs and various other refreshers, but as ever, not content with leaving things standard, we started to undertake my fast growing list of individualism:

Bilstien B8 suspension
MapTun Springs
Poly bushes
Noob Tune Stage 3

What next? An APH Performance downpipe coupled to a full BSR stainless steel system, BSR Filter, carbon fibre dash, bespoke mesh grille and set of uber rare 19” Carlsson Turbo X alloys for starters, the bodywork isn’t perfect either, so will be given a bit of tlc to get back on top of things. It’s a baby with only 93,000 miles on the clock, so worth a bit of indulgence, above all, it’s another amazing Saab Aero kept on the road for years to come, giving me new lease of Saab life and the ability to get this blog going again.

THOUGHT

Why the hell don’t more people buy older Saabs, they’re stupid value, hugely reliable, more luxury than most modern exec barges and have an unnerving ability to be tuned to embarrass most so-called sports saloons, all for sub £5k. I don’t get people, 100,000 miles is literally nothing on these things, parts are still readily available, and find a great Saab specialist like Malcolm Miles and your sorted, there’s nothing they can’t fix, do it…

Saab vs. Porsche

So, for my Saab Sins Confession, I also drive a classic Porsche 911, a while ago, this got picked up by a fellow Saabist who asked if it would be appropriate to compare the experience? So, here we are, Saab vs. Porsche. This is repost from 2017.

The Porsche is ’91 964 Carrera 4, 3.6 flat six, air cooled, modified and tuned to kick out some 280hp, in my eyes, it’s one of the most iconic cars ever crafted, I used to dream of owning a 911, and this was the model that did it for me when I was younger.

I don’t own the Porsche to have it sitting around, it was bought to use and abuse, all year round, in all weathers, and that’s what I do on a regular basis, I don’t need a destination in mind, I just jump in and head out, often for a 50 – 100 mile B road blast, this is a car bought purely for pleasure.

Midway through a recent drive, I got a phone call to collect my son from an estate he works at, the Porsche isn’t the car to go in, so I made my way home, hopped out of the Porsche and in to the Saab 9-3 convertible, with a similar bhp of 300 – it seemed like the perfect opportunity to compare 2 very different (but similar in many ways) cars.

I won’t waste time debating the aesthetics of either car, both are beautiful, and imho, neither have ever been bettered, which brings me directly to the driving experience.

The Porsche is raw, I mean really raw, I like to call in an analogue experience, although it has PAS and ABS, we’re talking minimal intrusion, it manages to connect you directly to the road, you become part of the car quickly and with ease, you feel every trace of the road, every curve. It also feels exceptionally low and rather small compared to most modern cars.

The 3.6 air cooled, flat six produces a very distinct soundtrack, the shear noise is heavenly – although reasonably subtle at lower rpm, at around 4000 rpm it breaks in to the purest scream which keeps on building and building right through to 6500 rpm, it really is captivating. The steering is so on point it’s hard to imagine anything better, the gears are again, pure analogue, you feel the beautifully engineered H box as it slips from gear to gear, and the handling gives you the confidence to power on through corners in pretty much any weather.

I did a 1000 miles in a week recently, I drove it up to North Wales, through Snowdonia and to the coast, I took it in to the city, to meetings and home again, not once did I get bored. The Porsche is a real, time honoured driver’s car, it has earned its reputation as one of the finest sports cars ever made, and I for one feel completely privileged to be the keeper of one, even just for a little while.

Hop straight in to the Saab 9-3 and I realise just how high it feels, not just its stance, but its general seating position too, high, but also ridiculously comfortable. Everything is easy, the gear change is light and smooth, the steering sharp and accurate, with the suspension work it’s had done, the Saab also handles amazingly well, less analogue, but still manages to feel involved.

The power delivery seems utterly immediate, rather than building like the Porsche, foot down and it continues to endlessly pull until it hits 6000rpm, it needs control and attention to drive, less stuck to the road, but equally exhilarating, the Saab feels faster than the Porsche, and although less involving never fails to make me smile. The 9-3 can never compete with the Porsche for sound, although with the addition of the APH downpipe, full stainless steel exhaust and BSR induction kit, it still has a hugely pleasing one with enthusiastic driving.

By no means a full comparison, but one that might give an insight in to both cars. Which do I prefer? both. If I’m honest it really depends what mood I’m in, the Saab provides exceptionally fast, easy driving and with the roof down really can’t be beaten for style and pleasure, but the Porsche, the Porsche still offers a unique and uncompromising experience that modern cars just don’t offer.

The Porsche on Instagram

Saab vs.

A few years ago, SAAB created a series of ads based on the theme Saab vs. When I first saw them, they somehow reflected how I felt about SAAB; stylish, elegant, individual and timeless, they also became the inspiration for naming the blog Saab vs. Scepticism.

To this day i’m always happy to flip through and see them all again, from the exquisite Puritans to the beautifully simple Vivaldi and Nakedness.