It’s been a busy week for Saab vs; I watched the 9-3 TTiD Hirsch drive off with its new owner on Monday, and today, a new addition took its place.
The 9000 Aero has always had a very special place in my heart, and genuinely nice ones are getting a rather rare sight on UK roads, especially manuals. This particular late model 98 Aero was offered to me a few years back, but at the time, I’d already got 3 Saabs, so had to decline. Recently however, a fellow Saabist was relocating back to California, and had to let his precious 9000 go, it turned out to be the very same car.
I’m quickly finding out about its history, and at some point, it had been left standing for a number of years. Now luckily rescued and fighting its way back to life, it’s had a top end rebuild with new gasket set and hardware, a new TD04 Turbo, water pump, a beautifully ported throttle housing, and a healthy stage 3 map by the Saab Clinic. It’s reportedly running around 320hp, and from an initial drive, feels nice and lively.
It’s also benefitted from some excellent new metal fabrication underneath, new front wings, new windscreen and rubber whilst some small areas of rust were cut out and fixed on the A pillars. From a distance, the sparkling Silver paintwork looks excellent, and really is for its age, but the colour matching is a little out, and both bumpers could do with another full refurbishment and paint to make it really special.
Some 9000 interiors are looking worse for wear now, but this has had plenty of care and attention and feels exceptionally clean, the leather Aero seats; some of Saabs finest designs, are wonderfully supple and supportive, and I’m told the heating works nicely still too. The original tape unit is still in place, and with luck, I’ll be fitting further classic 9000 audio to it, although believe there is some issue with the wiring and fuses blowing, but I’m sure we’ll be able to find out why eventually.
It’s covered 250,000 miles, but with much work, feels tight and pretty well sorted, although it’ll need a longer test drive to reveal any areas that might need some attention. These Saab 9000 Aeros are quickly gaining the respect and attention I’ve always though they deserved, I’ve always maintained, I feel they’re equally as good as the classic 900, and might even be a better driver’s car, either way, they’re getting rare, and truly deserve to be rescued and enjoyed for many years to come.