Saga

October 4, 2023 Eleven

This has to be the most infuriating rescues I've ever taken on, the Graphite Green Metallic 9-5 Aero is absolutely intoxicating; the colour is just sensational, and with the modifications made to suspension, braking, and tuning have helped it to drive impeccably well. But, and there's always a 'but' with these projects, the oil light is back on yet again.

Even after a replacement engine had been fitted, it covered a few hundred miles and came on again, at higher rpm's the light stays off, but pull up at traffic lights or leave the car at tickover, the oil and warning lights flick on again. What's more concerning, is that the engine appears to be tapping, which could mean another replacement engine.

Of course, there's only so much I'm willing to do, but after spending a further £1500 on bodywork, cutting out the corrosion in the rear arches, welding, fully refurbishing the front bumper, side skirts and rear boot lip and all new genuine badges, I just can't quite give up on this one.

The numerous work gone in to this is almost too much to list, but with the replacement polybushed subframe, Bilstein B12 and Eibach springs, refurbished wheels, new Michelin tyres, upgraded intercooler, JT exhaust, upgraded brakes and callipers, not to mention replacement engine I, clutch, water pump etc, this has been a labour of love for sure.

I just wish we could identify the source of the oil pressure problem, without using an entirely new donor car, needless to say, the saga of the beautiful Graphite Green Aero continues...

Farväl

August 1, 2023 Eleven

Well, it’s been one hell of a journey, the Turbo X is a Saab I’d longed for, for a number of years and this one came along, the perfect spec with all options packages ticked, low owners and a great history. But it had its own agenda, dragging me through endless ups and downs and ending in a new engine.

Rather than be beaten, I focused on making it exactly like I wanted, lowered on Bilstein shocks and Hirsch springs, Hirsch grille, carbon dash, aluminium pedals and leather handles. Needless to say, it’s been a love hate relationship, it really is an iconic Saab and a definite modern classic, the combination of the smooth V6 Turbo engine, together with the XWD system is quite a powerful thing.

Almost a year after it had arrived, I tentatively put it up on Aeroriginal, unsure whether to sell of not, but just like the whirlwind, ownership has been, it had huge interest and this weekend, I waved goodbye as it was driven off by its new custodian.

I'm both relieved and proud I didn't let it win, another Saab lost to 'parts for sale', instead, it's found its way to a suitably deserving new owner who has just the right Saab background to ensure this Turbo X enjoys many more journeys, and one day, will easily be as desirable as our fabled 900 Turbos; the car it was designed to celebrate. I somehow doubt it will my last Turbo X, but for now, Farväl.

Built not bought

July 24, 2023 Eleven

Despite trying to persuade myself I’ll leave a car exactly as I buy it, it never seems to happen, once I have it, I begin to imagine my ideal version of it; sometimes subtle, sometimes less so. When I sold the very unsuccessful Volvo V70 R, I still wanted a wagon, a car that was just there all of the time, and it didn’t take me long before I needed to return to a Saab, they feel like home, a safe place I’m happy in, and so the silver 9-5 Aero arrived.

My imagination started to play its game and before long I was on the hunt for parts. I’d remembered a good friend who’d had a very nice Hirsch Performance Sportwagon, he’d bought a Viggen from me a few years ago, when I got in touch, it turned out he’d had to scrap his wagon but had had all of the Hirsch Performance package removed and stored and was willing to sell them as long as I gave him first refusal if I sold what I built, so a deal was done; intercooler, cobra pipe, ecu, full dual exhaust, roof spoiler and rear bumper.

I also put a call out for a set of the classic 18” Hirsch Wheels, and as luck would have it, a great guy in Wales had a set he’d been storing for a while and agreed to part with them, so a road trip was planned and wheels safely collected.

It went straight in to the bodyshop for the rear roof spoiler and bumper to be resprayed and fitted, and the terrible condition bonnet was given a bare metal respray too.Then down to Malcolm Miles Saab to have their usual once over; loose sump screws, leaking water pump, badly repaired hoses and a broken intake pipe all needed immediate attention before the fun part could begin.

All brakes freed up and checked, Abbott Racing lowering springs added, new Goodyear tyres all round, new water pump and a few remedial fixes, then all of the Hirsch parts added, the bumper needs some alignment tweaking and there’s a knock on the front suspension, but it’s all coming together as I’d hoped it would, it begins to create the Sportwagon I wanted it to be. Tunstyle have worked their magic once more and the interior feels complete with a beautiful nappa leather Hirsch steering wheel; the perforations enhance the perforated, vented interior to perfection.

The Hirsch ecu will be replaced with an updated remap from Karl at Noobtune, more tailored to this specific Saab and my search for a full Troll R bodykit will continue, but besides that, this is getting pretty close to my idea of wagon heaven, I can’t really think of anything, older or newer which I’d be more content with, Saabs just continue to make me happy, and this one is most defiantly built not bought.

Sacrifice

July 13, 2023 Eleven

The risks of buying a Saab without service history are high, buying one which had already been handed over to a breaker's yard are even higher, yet still, this one needed to be saved.

I spoke directly to the breakers, and in their words "It looks way too f**king good to crush it mate" gave me hope, I'd already done a full background check; no accidents, no theft, consistent milage and even the MOT history appeared to be excellent.

When it arrived, I was hugely relieved to see it looked as good as the blurred EBay images had lead me to believe, the forklift had damaged the exhaust system and Aero side skirts, and the footwell was covered in dirt and oil from the breaker's yard.

However, although the engine seemed to run ok, the oil light came on at low idle, we changed the oil pump, dropped and cleaned the sump and replaced all of the fluids, but sadly, after a few hundred miles, it returned but this time, it took out the engine too.

Now this is where the sacrifice comes in, I'd also found a nice Black 9-5 Aero for another project, bodywork tatty, but engine excellent, so I've taken the decision to break that Black one to save this beauty, a few hundred miles under it's belt and finger's crossed, all seems great.

I find the Graphite Green Metallic a real visual treat and so rare in the UK, that together with the fact that the bodywork is really clean, meant that this one would always win to me, the subframe had been changed and fully polybushed, the upgraded intercooler, intake pipes and brakes had all been upgraded, so had the suspension, all in, this is a car we've carefully built ourselves and now know it quite well.

I'm rather sad we've had to sacrifice another Saab Aero, but needs must, what it does leave though, is a number of excellent parts for others to make use of if anyone's interested :

Saab 9-5 Aero manual 5 speed gearbox FM55B05 Petrol £300
Saab ALU56 18" alloys (require refurb but straight and no cracks) £300
Abbott Racing 9-5 saloon rear boot lip (Rare) £150
Full black Aero interior with heated seats £200
Projector headlight units (need refurb) £100
Rear light clusters £100

Feel free to ask about anything else, we're currently stripping it down, so might be able to help, collection will be from Leicester, sorry, but I really can't arrange transportation, but happy if you arrange yourselves.

*Green always wins, I really can’t resist any car in green.*

Silver Linings

June 26, 2023 Eleven

Well, I waved goodbye to the Volvo V70 R after only a few months of ownership, for many reasons, I decided it just wasn't for me. However, my need for an estate still remained and this is its replacement; another Saab 9-5 Aero Sport Wagon.

The moment it arrived, I knew I'd made the right decision again, Saabs just feel like home, something that makes me feel at ease with them, what had been a bit of a dark cloud with the Volvo, soon turned in to a silver lining.

It's one of the more expensive 9-5 Aeros I've bought over the years, but wanted one that was a solid foundation for a bit of Aeroriginal modification, sadly, its not quite as good as the price led me to believe, some of the paintwork is extremely poor, with badly sprayed doors, scratched bonnet and even masking tape still attached to the driver's door, the aluminium wing mirror mountings are more corroded than I've ever seen, and there's vegetation growing out of the window rubbers. Really not what I'd have expected from a well respected Saab dealer; Hagstrom Saab.

Saying that, I quickly fixed the broken vented seats with a new switch, and the rest of the interior is exceptionally clean, besides the vented leather, it also comes with the beautiful dark mahogany dashboard and the Harman Kardon upgraded audio; AS3. I wanted this as a personal Saab, one to keep and enjoy, so plans are already in motion to give it a few touches that'll really bring it alive again.

Firstly some paintwork; bonnet especially, but then a new rear bumper, roof spoiler and wing mirror mounts, I'd ideally like to address the doors, but that might need to be a second visit. I'll be taking a road trip up to Wales tomorrow to collect the first part of the transformation, needless to say, the right wheels make all the difference, whilst a set of upgraded Abbott Racing springs have arrived this morning and there's a whole array of parts currently upsetting my wife in the conservatory.

Another Black Edition Aeroriginal

June 14, 2023 Eleven

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Whilst we concentrate on getting the stunning Graphite Green 9-5 Aero completed after a full engine rebuild, another, darker project awaits in the shadows; a Black Edition Aeroriginal, this time, a manual 9-5 saloon.

It’s currently looking a bit sorry for itself with poor paintwork, a few dents and a very musty interior, but underneath it’s utterly solid, and it benefitted from an engine rebuild a couple of years back too. Surprisingly, it comes with an almost identical spec to the Green Aero, although the interior is black, it has the third rear headrest, the 18” ALU56 alloys and even a rare Abbott Racing rear boot lip.

Once the green one is back safely on the road, we’ll begin to work out what to do with it, keep it standard, give it a similar sleeper appeal, or go for something completely different, I’m not entirely sure, but what I do know, is that these amazing 9-5 Aeros are becoming incredibly difficult to find, at least one’s without stellar miles, terrible interiors and non existent subframes, and I feel privileged the have the opportunity to rescue another one.

Updates and design thoughts will follow over the coming weeks, but wanted I’d share a few photos and make it feel a bit loved.

Mud, Rain and XWD

March 31, 2023 Eleven

Despite having owned over thirty Saabs, I'd always had a dream to own a Turbo X. To me, it represents the pinnacle of a modern Saab, a future classic, much like the 900 Turbo S has now become. It's a celebration of Saab innovation, bringing together their superior Turbo technology with a silky smooth V6 engine and an exceptionally intelligent AWD system Saab named cross-wheel-drive or XWD.

In the middle of last year, I found, what I thought looked like the perfect one. An unmolested, manual saloon with the entire options list thrown at it;

Convenience Plus Pack
Dual electric seats with driver’s 3-position memory, electric folding mirrors, auto dimming interior and exterior mirrors, rain sensor wipers

Business Plus Pack
DVD Satellite Navigation, 6.5" colour touch screen, TMC, voice control, Bluetooth phone integration system*, BOSE Surround Sound Audio

Performance Plus Pack
Bi-xenon cornering headlights, headlight pressure washers, 19” Turbo X alloy wheels

Premium Natural Leather
Sport interior trim with perforated seat bolsters and heated front seats

Added to that, it had just undergone a full refurbishment of the Haldex XWD system and came from a knowledgeable Saab family, sadly though, for the past 32 weeks, it's been one hell of a journey, as from the moment it arrived, it wouldn't start. A long story short, but the timing chain had failed and taken out some of the engine with it, so after sourcing another 2.8 engine, the team at Malcolm Miles set about rebuilding it all; new timing chain, water pump, followers, clutch, slave and endless ancillary hoses and gaskets, and finally, earlier this week, I got to drive it for the first time.

I've taken the opportunity to do a few, very subtle modifications, the suspension has been upgraded to Bilstien B8 shocks and Hirsch springs, it's had a Hirsch 3 piece grille, aluminium pedals and leather interior Hirsch handles. I have a feeling it's not running quite right yet and will require a few further snagging visits, but it's back home and it's survived.

I'll reserve a full review until I've had it back for a while, but needless to say, with this endless rain, wind and mud, the XWD system is feeling mighty reassuring.

The Joy of Road Testing

March 14, 2023 Eleven

Having the Graphic Green 9-5 Aero home has been a real pleasure so far, in-between snow, rain, wind and more snow, I’ve been making a start on the interior clean up; dashboard all done and now only requires a new SID, all door cards given a detox and have managed to remove the grease and oil marks from the A pillars. The glass has had a thorough clean inside and out, and the original Saab carpet mats deep cleaned too.

However, the main joy has come from being able to give it a few road tests. With all oil leaks fixed, a huge service, new oil pump, DO88 intercooler and the NoobTune stage 3 remap, it’s an absolute dream to drive. The torque is effortless and feels as though it just wants to push on constantly, the gears are impeccably smooth throughout the range, and the sport setting takes it all to another level on this one.

With the modified suspension setup, the handling is also sharp and refined, lowered around 30mm and running Bilstien B8 shocks, freshly balanced 18” alloys and new Michelin rubber, the overall feel is one of confidence and clarity. Along twisting country roads, the Aero is tight and has little roll, whilst on faster A roads and motorways, it cruises beautifully and feels relaxed and smooth.

It’s taken on everyday driver duties for now, and has already covered 500 miles without fault, the superb comfort of the Aero interior is really hard to match, it still manages to feel special, a touch of rare individuality that only a Saab can offer. As I add the miles, I’m also adding to the next work phase list, the upgraded brakes are a little weak, the front suspension needs tightening and possibly requires a new exhaust, but for now, I’ll continue to road test the hell of of this wonderful rescue Saab.

Clean Up

March 2, 2023 Eleven

It’s always an exciting time for me when we’ve finished the first phase of a rescue, it’s time to give it its first real shake down and figure out what still needs work. A few months ago, this beautiful Saab Aero was facing impending doom at a dismantlers, so I wasn’t sure what to expect; are the engine and gearbox good, and do all of the electrics work are my main concerns, most things can be fixed of course, but it’s always a worry when you rescue a car like this.

It seems we have a seriously great Saab, after the extensive mechanical refresh, the engine is exceptionally smooth, the new DO88 intercooler and remap have given it their usual boost and the gearbox is as crisp as any Aero auto I’ve had previously. After 40 of so miles, I got the red oil warning light, which is always nerve wracking, but after a quick inspection, it’s a faulty oil sensor that needs replacing. It needs a full alignment, a new SID and the alarm resetting, but for first phase, I’m impressed.

For me, this is when the fun starts, it gives me the opportunity to begin the clean up, and this one needs a lot. A few hours spent with the pressure washer removing the moss and greenery, a full detail of the glass, inside and out, and a first feed of the faded black trim with Autoglym trim and bumper care.

I also spent a rewarding few hours removing all of the terrible badges and carbon look vinyl from the B pillars, bonnet and front spoiler, the heat gun helped remove most of them, but a bit more effort will be required to remove the rest of the adhesive.

Happy to have this one home and looking forward to getting to the interior over the next few weeks.

Project Graphite Green Progress Report

February 24, 2023 Eleven

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The 9-5 Aero in super rare Graphite Green is quickly rising from the ashes after being rescued from a dismantlers back in January. We noticed a lot of oil leaking from both the head gasket and sump, so they've been removed, cleaned and refitted with new gaskets and bolts. A complete overhaul has also been done with new oils, filters and hoses where required, we've also fitted an upgraded intercooler, 3.5 bar fuel pump and got Karl at NoobTune to do a Stage 3 remap.

It's been polybushed all round together with Bilstien B8 shocks and Eibach lowering springs, upgraded big brakes and callipers. All finished off with a refurbished set of 18" ALU56 wheels in a metallic Satin Anthracite to compliment the stealth look of the gorgeous dark green paintwork and Michelin Pilot Sport 4

It now needs running for a while and the obligatory snagging starts, then we'll concentrate on getting the bodywork up to scratch, it needs the rear arches doing, a new side skirt and a bit of elbow grease and time to get rid of the horrendous carbon look vinyl that's been applied to the B pillars and the lower front spoiler, but it's coming back to life beautifully.

Turbo X

February 1, 2023 Eleven

It's been a long six months since the illustrious Turbo X arrived. From the moment it was pulled off the transporter, it became evident that something was very wrong; it just would not start. After endless advice from the Saab community, sadly, none of which worked, we finally came to the realisation that it was something more than a failed fuel pump, weak battery or faulty electronics.

The engine came out and the diagnosis of a slipped timing chain came to light, an entirely new chain kit and followers were sourced together with a new upgraded clutch, gaskets and hoses, and today, the engine has gone back in place. A load of work still to do, a 'spare' 2.8 V6 lump by its side and various modifications yet to be done, but it shows vital signs of life again.

Any other Saab might not have warranted such financial pain, headaches or time, but the Turbo X, especially a manual, is one that deserves the extra effort.

I'd been searching patiently from an unmolested example for a long time, and the original Turbo X brochure words capture the reasons why so perfectly :

Black is back. Thirty years ago, Saab stunned the automotive world by revealing its first turbocharged model. Now, with the Saab Turbo X, Saab for the first time unleashes its jet-inspired turbo power through Saab XWD. It’s not just all-wheel drive, it’s an innovative cross-wheel drive system. Thanks to 'rightsizing', the 280 bhp, 24-valve, 2.8 V6 turbo engine has the characteristics of a V8 engine: 295 lbs-ft of torque and an acceleration of 0–62 mph in 5.7 seconds. As if this wasn’t enough, the sport-tuned chassis, brakes and electronic control system combine to give you the ride of your life. The Saab Turbo X is the true heir to the classic Saab Turbos of the 70s and 80s. It is available in a limited edition and only comes in jet black as an homage to the original Saab 900 Turbo. So take a good look, a car like this only comes around every thirty years.

The jet black limited-edition Saab Turbo X is the extreme performer of the new Saab 9-3 range. Descended from the iconic Saab 900 Turbo, it introduces Saab’s innovative XWD technology that delivers an impressive level of driver involvement and dynamic chassis control never seen before from Saab. Quite simply, the Turbo X is Saab’s ultimate driving experience. We lowered the sport-tuned chassis by 10 mm and optimised the springs and dampers to minimise body movement. Larger internally ventilated disc brakes at the front and externally ventilated rear discs increase stopping power. 30 years in 5.7 seconds. The heart of the Saab Turbo X is, of course, the engine. A 24-valve, 2.8 V6 turbo powerhouse that generates 295 lbs-ft of torque between 2,150 and 4,500 rpm and maximum power of 280 bhp at 5,500 rpm. Press the pedal and it takes you from 0–62 mph in 5.7 seconds. Just like that, Saab’s 30 years of turbocharging experience flashes by. This has to be the fastest history lesson ever. And the most enjoyable.

We've got a way to go yet, but hopefully, over the next month, I'll finally get to drive the Turbo X. I'm truly hoping it lives up to it's reputation as Saab's ultimate driving experience. Finger's crossed.

Guardians

January 23, 2023 Eleven

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Every time I watch another Aeroriginal Saab drive away with its new owners, I can't help but think that we're only ever guardians, tasked with not only enjoying these Saabs, but also maintaining them for the future too. There appear to be so many that are constantly being scrapped, even when they might have a chance of being saved.

This weekend, a lovely family arrived to collect the 9000 Aero, the children with huge smiles on their faces, happily jumped into the cosseting Recaro back seats and pulled their seatbelts around them, whilst their father dreamt of future family road trips and cross European travels. It was my reward, all that I really need to see at the end of a rescue.

A little over a year ago, the 9000 had been looking exceptionally sorry for itself, panels needed changing, covered in moss and dirt and running poorly, the exhaust was falling off, it had oil leaks, a broken heater matrix, the windscreen was falling out and the wheels and tyres had seen better days. With time and effort, the folks at Malcolm Miles worked through my list of niggles and we fixed each and every one of them. The 9000 was transformed back in to a car to be proud of.

As with each Saab, it had it's own stories, a journey through the years that leads it to where it is today, this one happened to have a very clear and simple story, and even came with a bit of Saab history I haven't seen before, the original factory keys and identity fob - 9000, Location 2, Parked by 36, Stock ID 430279

Graphite Green Aeroriginal

January 12, 2023 Eleven

Graphite Green Metallic over Sand leather Saab Aero, how could I resist.

A bit of a risk, as I found this at a dismantlers, it seemed too good to break so they put it up for offer, it has no service history or owner's manuals, but after a thorough check, it has a wonderful MOT history with almost 100% pass rate, exceptionally low milage at 75,000 and just 5 previous owners; so how the hell did it end up at a scrapyard?

Rust? Well no, it's been up on the ramp and besides the usual rear arch corners, the bodywork and underneath are solid. Engine? It has a large oil leak and the cam cover has been fitted badly, but seems to have a new Turbo, runs beautifully and absolutely no knocks or smoke. Accidents, theft? Again, no, completely clear history.

Although I was sold on the colour combination, I also noticed it had a Hirsch boot lip, a rare central rear headrest and mahogany gear selector, not only that, but it had visibly been cherished in the past; numerous polished components in the engine bay and even a faded Saab Owners Club sticker. It also happens to be a gen 2 Aero with shark nose bumper and Bi-xenon headlamps.

Needless to say, it'll have a full mechanical shakedown, we're removing the sump to clean and fit new gaskets, the cam cover will new gaskets too and a huge service; oils, filters, fluids etc.

Modifications incoming will be a DO88 intercooler, Jetex stainless exhaust, NoobTune Stage 3 remap, Bilstein B8 shocks, Eibach springs, upgraded brakes, Saab ALU56 wheels, Michelin PS4 and plenty of other Aeroriginal touches.

Saab Interior Design

January 9, 2023 Eleven

When it comes to Saab interior design, the 9000 Aero has to win hands down, it is quite honestly, a work of art. Both form and function have been taken in to consideration in this sublime space with some of the finest seats ever crafted by Saab, not only that, but the quality, clarity and layout of the instruments is hard to beat.

But what has 26 years and 107,000 miles done to it, has it held up to the test of time? Well, put simply, damn right it has. With these Aeroriginal rescues, I have to rely heavily on the people around me to do the mechanical and body work, but the interior is one element that I absolutely love to do myself, it’s the icing on the cake of each project, the reward at the end of a long hard slog to save a Saab.

I can take my time and give the interior the attention it deserves, I use an Autoglym foam cleaner for the plastics and instruments, leaving it to do its magic and them using a toothbrush, I clean up each and every button and screen, I then use a micro cloth to remove any residue dirt and give any surfaces a coat of a refresh oil. The leather is treated to an intensive cleaner, followed by a touch of Mr Scuff where required and finally a few coats of moisturising liquid Leather, all by Gliptone.

It’s not always possible but any illumination bulbs and broken buttons are replaced, original audio equipment is repaired and reinstalled and finally, I give the glass a clean, inside and out with Autoglym glass cleaner. A Saab interior offers way more than the sum of its parts, it’s a feeling a recognition that you’re driving something a little more individual than other cars, it surrounds you in both comfort and style and quite simply, just feels like home to me.

Dirt don’t slow you down

December 19, 2022 Eleven

As the legendary Porsche guy; Magnus Walker, says, “Dirt don’t slow you down” and he’s right, we tend to like showing our Saabs looking as clean as possible, Sundays spent polishing rather than enjoying. I learnt many years ago that I just don’t have the time to waste making them look immaculate, I want to be out there, driving and enjoying every spare moment I have.

Yes, it was great to see the 9000 Aero looking so lovely when it finally emerged from the bodyshop, but given a few days on the UK roads in Wintertime, and it’d reverted to type, looking purposefully dirty and very much enjoyed. We have salt on our roads of course which has to be constantly removed, but it really won’t harm them for a few weeks without a clean.

I take immense comfort in a dirty car, I don’t have to worry about steering around puddles or avoiding our inspiring country roads, in fact I take the time to actively search them out to truly enjoy the Aero’s wonderful comfort and handling. The fat Michelin Primacy tyres do their job well and soak up plenty of dumps and potholes with ease, whilst the embracing comfort of the interior allows you to sit back and enjoy every moment of the drive.

Get out there and drive I say.

How Much?

November 17, 2022 Eleven

After recently finishing off these 2 stunning Saab Aeros, I carefully calculated how much I’d spent, took a chunky percentage off that cost and added them to the Aeroriginal page. I’ve had a lot of initial interest and questions about both cars, but no immediate sales. This always gets me to thinking about how much people think they’re really worth?

Am I flogging a dead horse trying to rescue these Saabs, does no one really want to pay more than a couple of thousand for a genuinely great car, or am I just bias and believe that these are a far better investment than many newer cars available at this sort of figure?

I’m genuinely interested to know people’s thoughts, I’m coming to yet another crossroads in my journey and feel I might just be taking these on for my personal enjoyment only. Although I feel Ebay is a poor auction site for anything out of the ordinary, it does give high visibility to a larger audience, so will end up listing these 2 beauties on there shortly.

In the meantime, I’d love to hear what others think they’re worth.

Modern Classic

November 8, 2022 Eleven

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'Modern Classics are typically aged between 10 and 30 years old, cars that were good in their day and seem to get better with age'.

Thanks Autocar for making that clear, I've long thought both the Saab 9-5 and 9000 are perfect examples of a Modern Classic, the 9000 especially epitomised Saab as a brand and an innovator of rather special cars that have just got better with age.

What is so sad, is that many of these Saabs have now been either left to deteriorate so much that they're beyond economical repair and get broken for spares, or have vast amounts of miles and have definitely seen better days.

Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, and the ones that have been looked after and cherished, are now seeing increased admiration and praise which they totally deserve. The build quality has proved to be superb, when compared to other prestige marques of the same generation, the Saabs have faired incredibly well, the materials used, overall reliability and safety puts many others to shame.

The 9000 rescue has taken some time, but instantly feels incredibly sorted and comforting on its first few road trips. Saying a car feels like home might be an odd analogy, but a Saab has that effect, it just feels right, I'm just glad that other's are beginning to see just how special the 9000 is, a genuine modern classic.

1997 Silver 9000 Aero £5000 | Aeroriginal

Road Trip

November 2, 2022 Eleven

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As with every Saab Aero I rescue and modify, I like to get a good amount of driving time and enjoyment in before they continue their journey with a new family. It gives me a chance to really feel the car and discover if there's anything I'm not happy with; handling, noises, electrics etc.

I decided to take the Silver 9-5 Aero on a road trip to the inspirational Peak District, all in, around 250 miles and a good balance of fast motorway and winding country roads, the Saab performed faultlessly as I'd hoped. I have to remind myself that I'm sitting in a 22 year old car with 140,000 miles under its belt, not only that, but less than six months ago, it was a non runner with a broken oil cooler and burst pipes.

This is an agile process, one of repetition, chunks of work followed by a shake down, more work and then the same again until I'm happy with how the car looks, feels and drives. A long road trip tends to bring out the best and worst in a car, you begin to learn its idiosyncrasies, its strengths and weaknesses.

A longer drive gives the Saab an opportunity to properly warm up, the auto gearbox becomes silky smooth and quickly learns to use its newly acquired 275hp beautifully, responsive yet relaxed and when the mood takes you, effortless power to quickly and safely reach any destination with a smile on your face.

The 9-5's unique gift though, is its ability to sooth and comfort its passengers, the seats are supremely soft and luxurious, in Winter it provides heat and when Summer comes, the Prestige leather option offers cooling too. The dashboard always feels right, a familiar layout with everything accessible, the buttons and instrument cluster bright and clear and when night falls, the Night Panel boosts concentration to help you arrive home safely.

Given that the factory audio is also 22 years old, it still pleasantly surprises with its clarity and depth. An upgraded Harman Kardon system with 3 powerful amplifiers feeding 9 perfectly positioned speakers. No, it doesn't offer Bluetooth or even Aux In, but there's a real beauty in choosing your set of CD's for a long journey.

I arrived home in the evening after spending several hours in the 9-5, I just can’t help falling for them, they’re understated, comfortable, safe and above all, becoming exceptionally rare, and all of this for less than five thousand pounds, yes please.

2000 Silver 9-5 Aero £4500 | Aeroriginal

1/100

October 24, 2022 Eleven

According to How Many Left, genuine Saab 9000 Aeros are getting rarer each and every year, with the Autos down in to their 20's this year in the UK. That's not counting the one's currently SORN, but even then, we're talking very low numbers.

Along with the Saab 9-5, the 9000 Aeros have always been a personal favourite of mine, the understated luxury and quality of build still surprises me today, beautifully solid composure and one of the best Saab interiors of all time, but they're getting old and tired and most have covered hundreds of thousands of miles.

It's one of the reasons I find it hard to turn down a genuine Aero, I just feel they deserve to be kept on our roads and the reason I'm so proud of this Silver 9000 Aero.

It's been a slow process, almost a year since I was offered it, but time has been well spent, the integrity of the rear half has been cleaned, welded and protected, new suspension, new brakes, wheels refurbished, new Michelin tyres and new stainless exhaust, whilst mechanically, it's been given a good overhaul with numerous parts replaced, and is now running as smoothly as I'd hoped for.

Whilst I love the manual gearbox, I also feel that the Auto suits the big 9000 to perfection, a genuinely capable cruiser with 275hp on call to keep up with modern traffic. Shift is smooth and refined for a 90's car and happily sits for hundreds of miles at high speeds for road trips in style and comfort.

The interior remains flawless, every dial and every switch remains working and the more you're in a 9000, the more you become addicted to its simplicity and form. The Recaro designed seats still haven't been bettered in my eyes and feel both supportive and comforting to spend drive time in.

It has just come out of the bodyshop, where they've managed to remove a large dent in the door, a nasty crack in the rear bumper and also resprayed a number of panels including a replacement front wing and rear spoiler and truly looks exceptional again.

With these rescues, I'm never after perfection, I don't look to build them 'as new', far from it, I love the integrity of time, preservation rather than renew, it produces a Saab with more stories to tell and enjoy, a Saab that remains affordable, yet reliable and ready for many more journeys. With numbers dwindling, these Aeros offer rare and individual ownership, a chance to enjoy what Saab called their ultimate specification.

No Place Like Saab

September 20, 2022 Eleven

A rather productive weekend in terms of getting things done, I’ve managed to spend the time required to give the spare 9000 Aero interior a total refresh. Doing this kind of detailed refresh really does give you a chance to see just how beautiful older Saab interiors are, this one for instance, came from a 1996 Aero, that makes it 26 years old. The undeniable quality of the leather, stitching detail, handles that just don’t show any signs of wear and the overall quality of design and form, all exceptional.

Then there’s the Saab smell of course, a smell that only older Saabs have, the interior has been deep cleaned, coloured where required and moisturised, all with the wonderful Gliptone range. It’s currently taking over my home office, but even there, it has the undeniable Saab smell.

I now have a difficult decision to make, do I fit this almost immaculate interior in to the Silver Aero, or hold on to is for another Aero rescue? With the same amount of time, I imagine I can get the current interior up to the same level, so maybe this one should be kept on the shelf for a rainy day project, I can’t quite decide, all I know, is that there really is no place like a Saab.