Perfect Imperfection

November 12, 2024 Eleven

I’ve always been a great believer in imperfection, I love these Saabs to be able to share their journeys, both good and bad, with imperfection, there’s a beauty that helps tell a story. The Graphite Green Aero is a great example, I could chase the ‘factory fresh’ route, but here’s the thing, it would lose its soul.

How did this exceptionally beautiful Saab end up at a breakers yard, no history, no V5C? How was it so nicely maintained and yet had a reoccurring oil light issue? Who added carbon fibre to the B pillars and front lower spoiler? I might not be able to answer these questions, but through its imperfections, I’m able to create a story in my mind, and to me, that’s priceless.

I don't confess to know everything about these cars, or be a mechanical genius, but with the help of a few fantastic people, I take huge pleasure in rescuing and restoring these amazing Saabs back to usable, everyday cars. To be driven and adored, not locked away for show days and weekends, yes, they might have a few marks here and there, but that’s what makes each and every one special.

Life is about the journey and the experiences along the way, these Saabs make wonderful companions and form endless memories, it’s time to embrace these imperfections.

The Dutch Collector

November 6, 2024 Eleven

I’ve known Ward for a number of years now, we’ve unfortunately never met in person yet, but we have a wonderful connection, we talk regularly and also have an enduring shared love for Saabs. A few months ago, he got in touch and told me about his new purchase, a 2010 Saab 9-5 Aero Exklusiv Turbo4 Hirsch. Needless to say, I think I was as excited as he was about it, and true to form, it turned out to be as beautiful as his other Saabs in the collection. One day I look forward to visiting the Netherlands to see his new addition, but for now, I asked him to share his thoughts on the last generation 9-5 and what he admires about it.

I’ve been admiring the new Saab 9-5 for many, many years. Actually, the wallpaper on my iMac is a picture by you, of the rear of a 9-5 NG when you had one as a courtesy car, with that proud SAAB wordmark standing between the stylish and subtle red lines of the LED-bar. The LED-bar that is another example of Saab always being way ahead, as this now seems to be almost a standard feature on cars of premium brands like Porsche, BMW, Audi and Polestar.

Every single time I saw one in real life, I felt a lot of very strong emotions. It always excites me, as I think it is a very impressive and gorgeous car that even now still looks absolutely timeless, a feature of Saab design we both appreciate so much. Next to the excitement, I also always felt a little sad, as it shows what could have been. I think Saab really made this new 9-5 very Saab again, that reassuring Saab feeling in a modern way. I’ve grown up in and around Saabs, but my deep love for the brand really took off around the time Spyker (as a small Dutch sports car manufacturer) under the leadership of entrepreneur Victor Muller took over Saab and made it an independent car company.

I further developed that deep connection with Saab around that period not so much because of nationalistic feelings (although of course it’s nice when, being Dutch yourself, a Dutch entrepreneur saves your favourite brand with a great tenacity and a lot of positivity), but because back then I had a course about branding and connection society has with brands. And as part of that course we had to delve into a brand we were fascinated by. I discussed it with my mother (from whom I have the Saab genes), and our clear conclusion was I had to choose Saab. I was already thinking about choosing Saab, but my mother helped me and made it very clear to me that Saab was the obvious choice for me, which immediately felt great. Since then, I got more and more intrigued by Saab and got involved with everything Saab.

I followed all the news about the brand, the exciting new developments coming up, the lovely branding, the always very clear press conferences and press releases, the company blog InsideSaab by Steven Wade, the social media channels of Saab, the international blog SaabsUnited for which I eventually also started writing posts, and of course the beautiful black 9-5 Aero from 2002 owned by my mother. That is the car in which I really learned to drive after getting my driver’s license, and I have driven many enjoyable kilometers in that amazing Saab, and sometimes still do. I’ve called it the idiosyncratic love affair, describing the deep connection between Saab and Saab enthusiasts. And I feel very privileged to be part of this special group of people worldwide, who all appreciate and love Saab so much.

That’s me getting carried away a bit when talking about Saab, but that’s the period the all new Saab 9-5 was launched. Like the advertising states, ‘Anything but ordinary’. And I think that’s very true, as it in my opinion really matches it’s premium counterparts from Germany, the UK and Sweden in being a premium modern large sedan, but then, like Saab does (and one of the reasons we love Saab so much), in a different way. So when seeing a 9-5 NG both happy and at the same time a little sad emotions, but the happy emotions always are far more present and the Saab just gives much more reasons to be positive than anything else. Thankful that more than 11.000 of them are made, giving us the opportunity to truly enjoy them and wave the Saab colors with pride. Every time I saw one I knew I would eventually really love to own one myself. In that case, it would ideally be a black Turbo4 Aero with beige interior, automatic and FWD.

When I saw a blue Aero earlier this year being parked in my hometown Maastricht, with its gorgeous beige Aero interior, I just knew I really wanted one. I started searching more seriously (as I had been looking at the market on and off throughout the years) and then I eventually found this lovely 9-5 which I can now call my own. Something that is, also when admiring this one from up close, sometimes still baffling to imagine. That amazing Saab I’ve been admiring for years is now my own Saab. When I found this one, I was immediately very happy with the specifications. It’s almost exactly how I would have ordered one myself if I had the chance back then. A Jet Black Aero with beige interior, the 2.0T Turbo4 with FWD (as the XWD was not recommended to me by multiple Saab specialists whose advice I value and it’s something which I also don’t need and is an extra (complex) system which needs extra service etc), no DriveSense (another more complex and costly system which I don’t really need) and Hirsch optimised, giving the Saab 260hp which I think really suits the car. It also has the great Head-Up Display, the colorized sat nav screen, the colorized Graphic Info Display which shows the speedometer as an altitude meter inspired by the aviation heritage and the swivelling headlights.

The Saab is originally delivered at the Saab dealership of Boy Heijnen in Roermond, the Province of Limburg where we live as well. After that, it has been maintained for many years by Saab dealer Van Dongen in the province of Brabant (the neighbouring province of Limburg) and after that it returned to Limburg again where it has been maintained in the same area as where it was originally sold. The previous owners must have taken good care of it, as it still is in very good shape. The interior almost feels like new (which I can really appreciate a lot), and also the exterior still is in very good shape.

From the beginning, the Saab already feels very familiar and good. Very Saab. It drives great and in my opinion looks absolutely gorgeous. I might eventually get the lovely 19 inch Turbine wheels back to original silver again, and maybe eventually fit the original boot spoiler to give the overall design that little original extra, but in general, I think it’s just perfect. To top it all off, I recently found out via Henrik Zaar who puts together the production reports of the 9-5 NG and 9-4X, that my 9-5 and I have the same birthday. The 9-5 is built on the 16-17th of July, and my birthday is on the 17th of July. I think that’s really special. I genuinely love this Saab and this certainly is one to keep.

A Saabspotters Guide to 9-5 Spoilers

September 25, 2024 Eleven

Over the years, I’ve been asked numerous times about the different boot spoilers I’ve had on various 9-5 projects. I’ve always tried to stay authentic, and go for ones that feel appropriate for the car, these are the ones that were generally offered either by Saab or their immediate styling partners. There are, of course endless options available on eBay, however, I can’t vouch for their fit or quality as I’ve never tried them. I thought this might help other’s identify a few of the more period correct ones.

Saab

Let’s start with the genuine Saab offering, this was the only boot lip available direct from manufacturer. The Bridge Spoiler ‘Improved aerodynamics and give the car a sportier appearance’ according to the 2005 brochure. It’s actually my least favourite, I don’t feel it flows harmoniously with the contours of the car, saying that, they’re well made, robust and give the 9-5 a different aesthetic.

Hirsch

Now, the official partner for Saab; Hirsch. A much more discreet boot lip, that could be specified and fitted by the dealer or retrofitted after purchase. 'With Hirsch Performance’s aerodynamic boot spoiler, you kill two birds with one stone: improvement of the aerodynamics and a clear reduction in the lift values. At the same time the bullish look of your Saab makes it unmistakeable'. The distinguishing feature to me on the Hirsch spoiler, is the overhang, it effectively angles out over the back of the boot slightly, as you’d expect, excellent quality and superb fit.

Abbott Racing

Moving on to the rarer one, the Abbott Racing boot spoiler. Again, not dissimilar to the Hirsch offering, but with one very visible difference, the larger rise toward the centre of the spoiler. I've been lucky enough to own a few of these, and the build quality and fit are fantastic. I don't have any specific description on this, but aerodynamically it seems to hold the rear of the car nicely at speed and really suits it.

Tunstyle

As it became difficult to locate either the Hirsch or the Abbott spoilers, I went on a mission to find a genuinely good alternative, and this is it, the Hirsch Style Rear Spoiler by Tunstyle. Luckily this one is readily available and again, well made and perfectly fits the 9-5 boot line. It's a little smaller that the Hirsch or the Abbott ones, but really enhances the car when fitted and painted. Currently available here.

I've always been a fan of subtle OE+ modifications, and the boot lips just add the finishing touch to me. It is of course, a very personal opinion, but the 9-5 feels sharper with them on. I hope this helps others identity the individual spoilers, it took me a while before I knew them all.

Just a few more miles

July 17, 2024 Eleven

For the past month, I’ve been putting the Graphite Green Aero through its paces, over 1000 miles covered, and what an absolute pleasure it’s been. I’ve taken it up to the beautiful Northumberland coastline, through rush hour traffic in Nottingham, in and out of London, and many, many B road blasts around Leicestershire and Rutland. It’s given me time to not only work out a few of the niggles after the second engine rebuild, but to also get fully aquatinted with the car again.

As much as I love a manual 9-5 Aero, there’s something exceptionally rewarding about the auto in these Saabs, it compliments its luxurious, comforting cruiser mode so perfectly, and when called upon, the torque and acceleration are still smile inducing. Over the years, I’ve learnt to not give the car full throttle, but to tease the power out more steadily, it rewards you with a growing surge of Turbo boost and doesn’t down gear or scream at you. Its smooth changes enhanced by the NoobTune Stage 3 remap, and even on hot days, the power is constant thanks to the upgraded intercooler.

It needed a new alternator as there was a constant whine that got worse over a few hundred miles, so a new one has been fitted, and not directly associated to the car’s drivability, but a new set of boot struts have been added to stop it slamming shut, other than that, the 1000 mile road test hasn’t thrown up any other concerns and more importantly, the reoccurring oil light issue seems to be well and truly fixed.

An obvious fascination with this car for me was the beautiful Graphite Green Metallic paint and Sand leather interior, it’s a combination that is so endearing and really suits the 9-5’s elegant form. The satin anthracite 18” wheels and Michelin tyres have enhanced the overall aesthetic, and the usual Bilstien / Eibach suspension combo has transformed the handling of this car. The wonderfully low 75,000 miles it’s covered over its 21 year life means it also feel really tight still; it gives you a small glimpse in to how it might have felt to pick up a brand new 9-5 Aero back in 2003.

Top Gear recently classed the 9-5 Aero as one of their top Saabs of all time "The first generation 9-5 Aero may have had the greatest driver focused, button filled interior of all time. It also looked fantastic, was hugely reliable and could do 0-62mph in under 7.0 seconds. All the car you would ever need".

I'm not really sure I could put it better myself, these are truly fantastic cars, and have been underrated for far too long, saying that, I'd prefer them to stay under the radar. Is the road testing finished yet? Hmmm, just a few more miles please...

More than the sum of its parts

March 5, 2024 Eleven

The decision has been made (for now) to work on the Nocturne Blue Aero and see if we can get it fighting fit again. As many of you will know, this was bought as a donor car to save the beautiful Graphite Green Aero, but needless to say, it has won me over and I can’t bring myself to break it for parts. After an initial inspection, it needs plenty of maintenance items; genuine DI pack, starter motor, spark plugs, oil trap hose assembly, discs and pads, tyres, handbrake return springs, a good service and stopping the power steering fluid leak.

However, amongst its long list of modifications and equipment, it came with a number of Hirsch parts, one being a Hirsch front grille, sadly though, the two side kidney grilles were missing. After a catch up with a Saab friend in the US, he happened to have a pair of them spare, a few weeks later, the entire 3 piece grille has now been reunited. It’s a small detail, but one that fills me with joy, apart from the kindness of the person who helped me out, it provides a positive step forward to bringing this Saab 9-5 back up to the level it deserves. In the next few weeks, I’m hoping to get the headlights de-misted, the maintenance work done, and maybe even repair the heater and uneven dual exhaust pipes.

Although I’ve been used to modified 9-5 Aeros in the past, most have been running around 300hp, this one however, is 350+hp. It really is a weapon to drive, especially on quiet country roads where it’s refined handling really proves its worth, the limited slip differential also transforms the traction and gets the power down rapidly and confidently.

I wasn’t entirely sure about the 18” Team Dynamics wheels, but again, they’ve grown on me and suit the car’s aesthetics perfectly, in fact, once some of the more urgent work is done, I’ll be refinishing them and treating them to some decent new types; I’m not convinced the Landsail rubber is up to coping with the amount of power, although so far, I’ve been surprisingly impressed with their performance. Now all I have to do, is find yet another engine and gearbox for the Green Aero.

Saab dilemmas

February 19, 2024 Eleven

I currently have yet another Saab dilemma playing off in my subconscious mind; to break or not to break?

I purchased this 9-5 Aero from Peter Raw a few months back with the intention to use its considerable list of parts to finally rescue my Graphite Green Aero, which is basically a gorgeous body with a knackered engine.

Such is the draw of the 9-5 Aero to me, that I’m now struggling to let this one go. The bodywork is tatty, it needs some rust taken care of, holes in the bonnet, dents on the front wing and boot, and numerous other areas of aesthetic attention. However, despite it’s 200,000 plus miles, mechanically, it’s been lavished with attention, the engine completely rebuilt a few years back; forged, Wossner pistons, massive turbo, intercooler, Noobtune 260 map etc, together with a manual gearbox fitted with a limited slip diff, upgraded clutch and endless modifications, all making it a pretty riotous Saab.

The interior is also tatty, it smells of stale smoke and has plenty of burn holes in the A pillar covers, the Hirsch steering wheel and pedals will need some love, but it feels as though it could be turned around still. The huge, 4 pot Maptun brakes desperately need new discs and pads, and there’s no heating either.

And yet with all that in mind, I can still see this as a usable and exciting Aero, the Nocturne Blue Metallic is a colour I’ve rarely seen before, and the overall look and stance of the car is pleasing. The dual stainless exhaust system, Racing Dynamics 18” wheels, rear bridge spoiler and Hirsch front grille all give the car a rather strong allure. Does the search continue for an engine and gearbox for the Graphite Green Aero, or do I push on with my original plans to use this one?

Made in Sweden. Powered in Switzerland.

November 20, 2023 Eleven

Hirsch Sportwagon Landscape__0001_Layer 4.jpg

Hirsch Sportwagon Landscape__0000_Layer 5.jpg

Hirsch Sportwagon Landscape__0003_Layer 2.jpg

I promised myself, that when I bought this 9-5 Aero Sportwagon back in June, I wouldn't modify it, I'd keep it completely standard and use it as a Saab daily driver. Needless to say, my will power is terrible when it comes to Saabs and almost 6 months later, I've just added the final touch to the transformation; the fully refurbished, Hirsch 18" six spokes alloys.

The trigger was access to a full Hirsch performance upgrade which included intercooler, exhaust, cobra and ECU, the original mods that took the standard 250hp to a conservative 280hp. However, we all know how addictive Noobtunes maps are, so the ECU was overwritten with one of Karl's 295hp maps together with an upgraded fuel pump and a sport cat downpipe.

Areas of the bodywork didn't come up to scratch, so it's had the front and rear bumpers, bonnet, rear lower arches and 2 doors repainted, the aluminium wing mirror casting refurbished and the wiper arms refreshed.

Aesthetically, the Hirsch boot spoiler and rear bumper diffuser have been added, the suspension upgraded with lowered springs and after a road trip up to Wales, a set of iconic Hirsch 18" six spoke alloys fitted. These have just been fully refurbished by Perfection Alloys and treated to new Saab centre caps, black Hirsch rim stickers and new Goodyear tyres.

Internally, it came with a superb factory specification, with full black heated and vented leather, the AS3 audio upgrade and beautiful dark wood dash, the only addition I’ve made here, is the perfectly crafted, Nappa leather steering wheel by Tunstyle. I’ve even kept the original Saab phone mount accessory, as it just felt period correct for the car.

It is indeed, Made in Sweden, but with the Hirsch Performance pack, it’s not only powered in Switzerland, but give it the style and precision it truly deserves.

Fettling

October 23, 2023 Eleven

Saab Sportwagon Hirsch-Landscape__0001_Layer 1.jpg

Saab Sportwagon Hirsch-Landscape__0000_Layer 2.jpg

Anyone who knows me, will agree that I have strong views on aesthetics, I'll get an idea in my mind and will do everything possible to get it to that stage; homes, graphics, photography and of course, cars. Often, I like to modify them just enough to know something's been changed, but could easily be OE+, on other occasions, I feel a certain look was perfect already.

Hirsch managed to modify the Saab 9-5 Sportwagon in to something close to perfection in my view; a more aggressive stance, but not too low, a unique dual exhaust, iconic wheel design and engine upgrades that somehow enhanced the already impressive 9-5 Aero.

Having been lucky enough to source a full Performance upgrade pack from a friend, I then had to find a set of original 18" wheels and modify the suspension to recreate their masterpiece.

It's been through a few rounds of work, and it has just come back after more fettling, it's had the front bumper fully refurbished and resprayed, it's had a noisy air conditioning condenser replaced and system regass, a handmade 3” downpipe with sport cat, and also the front suspension changed again; we still had some knocking from the driver's side. It’s now running Bilstein B8 shocks and Eibach springs up front.

Overall, it's pretty close to what I wanted to achieve with this one, of course, there's always more to do, details to change and refinements to be made, but I have to keep reminding myself, these are daily drivers, cars to use and enjoy, they're not show cars and probably never will be. They're relatively low value compared to a lot of cars and investment in further fettling becomes pointless.

These Saab Aeros are exceptional value for what you get, increasingly rare, they offer wonderful comfort, enjoyment and individuality, they still feel quick alongside more modern comparisons and give you a wonderful sense of contentment, add the superb Hirsch touches, and it becomes something rather special in an everyday way.

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

Black Edition_Landscape_0000_Layer 2.jpg

Black Edition_Landscape_0001_Layer 1.jpg

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.

Guardians

January 23, 2023 Eleven

Saab 9000 Guardians_Landscape__0003_Layer 1.jpg

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.

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

Saab 9000 Aeroriginal Landscape__0007_Layer 1.jpg

Saab 9000 Aeroriginal Landscape__0000_Layer 8.jpg

Saab 9000 Aeroriginal Landscape__0002_Layer 6.jpg

Saab 9000 Aeroriginal Landscape__0005_Layer 3.jpg

'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

Saab 95 Aero Road Trip_Landscape_0002_Layer 3.jpg

Saab 95 Aero Road Trip_Landscape_0004_Layer 1.jpg

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

Griffin from the flames

August 22, 2022 Eleven

Griffen from the flmes__0007_Layer 5.jpg

Griffen from the flmes__0009_Layer 3.jpg

Griffen from the flmes__0004_Layer 8.jpg

It’s safe to say that if this gorgeous 9-5 Aero had been left for much longer, it would have been a very different outcome and might never have shone again. Mechanically, the sump had never been dropped and cleaned, the gearbox and engine oil were filthy (what was left of them) and not only had the oil cooler hose and unit been damaged, but the gearbox oil pipes had also deteriorated. Also the timing chain XX had almost worn through, and if it had gone completely, would have damaged the engine beyond sensible repair.

As it is, we’ve replaced everything that needed doing and the Saab undertook a 200 mile journey over the weekend and performed flawlessly. We haven’t added a Stage 1 remap from NoobTune yet, but the standard Aero boosts beautifully and exceptionally smoothly too. The cleverly utilised 9-3 Hirsch back box that Malcolm Miles fabricated together for me, looks and sounds great and adds a lovely touch of style and the new brakes and Abbott suspension feel as tight as the day it came out of the factory.

Whilst the interior is immaculate, the bodywork has plenty of patina; stone chips, dents and numerous marks, some of these we’ll address, but some will remain, this is an economy rescue and the original paint deserves to be honoured. We’ve given areas of corrosion underneath a good clean up, taking off surface rust and giving it a protective coat of Waxoil, we’ve also replaced one of the petrol tank straps that looked a little worse for wear.

To celebrate it’s rising from the flames, I gave it its first proper clean down and hugely excited by how it’s turning out, the 19” VXR alloys, although controversial to some, give the 9-5 a fantastic style and together with the Abbott springs, make the stance absolutely mesmerising.

I’m slowly machine polishing the entire car and once I’m done, it’ll go in for the worst panels to be repainted, most notably the passenger side rear arch, but overall, the Silver paintwork presents well.

This 9-5 Aero captures the reason I love rescuing Saabs, with the right mechanical work and with a few subtle modifications, they can be saved for many years, not only that, but they look spectacular, put a smile on your face and are becoming a rare sight on our roads. This one will be added to the Aerorignal pages very soon and will make someone very happy I hope.

Silver Linings

August 16, 2022 Eleven

Saab 9-5 Silver-Landscape__0002_Layer 3.jpg

Saab 9-5 Silver-Landscape__0004_Layer 1.jpg

Saab 9-5 Silver-Landscape__0001_Layer 4.jpg

Saab 9-5 Silver-Landscape__0000_Layer 5.jpg

Saab 9-5 Silver-Landscape__0003_Layer 2.jpg

The silver 9-5 Aero arrived last weekend and was pulled off the transporter looking rather worse for wear, it had been standing for a number of months and really had started to decline. Alongside the split oil pipe, it became clear that not only was the oil cooler damaged, but the gearbox oil pipes were also in need of replacement. Malcolm Miles set to work and changed them all, fitting a replacement cooler and a set of new, old stock hoses, dropped the sump, flushed it all out, and added new engine and gearbox oils and filters.

All discs and pads have also been changed, together with a new set of Abbott Racing lowering springs, surface rust removed and a coat of Waxoil applied to required areas underneath. Broken parking sensors have been replaced, a new battery has been fitted and the Aero has already started coming back to life, the engine runs and sounds beautifully smooth again. I'd also found a set of stunning VXR 19" alloys and these have been fitted, transforming the look of the Saab and given it a more purposeful stance.

I'm hoping to show that we shouldn't give up on these early Saabs that are so often scrapped or broken up, especially ones that have so much potential. Yes it takes time and dedication, but parts are free flowing and with an experienced team to help identify issues, they can be rescued and returned to their former glory on a budget too.

The dashboard is currently in bits and having the gorgeous light satin wood one fitted today, this will again change the overall style and feel of the interior and compliment the prestige leather seats to perfection. The Audio and SID units are in great condition and will just require a deep clean to bring them back again, but the exterior bodywork will require a little more; a number of dents will need addressing as will the general overall finish, but the silver lining is beginning to shine through again on this Aeroriginal and that makes me very happy indeed.

Eco Aeroriginal

August 15, 2022 Eleven

I stumbled across a listing for a 2000 9-5 Aero in need of rescuing recently, it had a split oil pipe and couldn't be driven, it's owner was also in the process of moving to Albania so wanted it to go to another Saab fan.

I've been looking to do a budget build for a while now, but never found the right Saab, I think this could be the one. The listing said it had been well looked after and owner maintained for the past few years, receipts for parts seem to suggest this is true, however, the sump hadn't been dropped and cleaned as listed and the new exhaust from Sweden, wasn't actually the correct one for an Aero.

However, it's original owner had specified the Aero beautifully in my eyes; rare heated and vented 'prestige' leather interior, upgraded audio and even a rare glass sunroof, all in immaculate condition too. The dark wood dashboard was beginning to delaminate, so a beautiful, light wood replacement in a satin finish has been food to really enhance the retro feel.

It also arrived with a set of Saab Double Bridge 17 x 7.5 alloys fitted, although I like them, the build calls for something a little more special, so a set of 19" Hyper Silver VXR alloys have been sourced which look absolutely stunning on the 9-5.

The metallic silver paintwork is generally in good condition, although one of the rear arches has suffered a large scrape and one of the doors has a nasty scratch on it, but overall I think it’ll clean up beautifully. The underbody has a few areas that will require a bit more work; around the drain holes mostly, but other than that, a good wire brush and Waxoil will get it back to a good standard again for an early gen 1 9-5. It also has a 100% MOT pass rate; 17 MOT's with not a single fail.

I'll bee listing all costs at the end of the build, but wanted to prove to myself that a beautiful Saab Aero could be created on an economy, I'll be scrounging a few parts where I can and also utilising some of my finds, including a Hirsch rear boot lip, Hirsch back box and a few other goodies to make it feel a bit special again.

Stop and stare

February 17, 2022 Eleven

When I purchased the 9-5 Hirsch Aero I noticed that the front brakes weren’t the upgraded Hirsch ones but the standard Aero specification. The previous owner had included the refurbished Hirsch callipers, larger discs and performance pads in the sale, but had never tried to fit them.

On the car’s first inspection, we tried to install them, but realised the callipers had become seized so left them off, and instead, replaced just discs with Tarox drilled and grooved ones. Over 1000 miles of so, these just haven’t been up to the standard required for the 305hp and weight of the car so we thought we’d try again.

The Hirsch callipers have all been dissembled, freed up and installed and signs are looking positive, although they are huge. To increase wheel clearance slightly we’re installing a set of 5mm MapTun spacers front and back which will also increase the overall track of the car by 10mm.

Another stunning Nappa leather sport steering wheel is also on the way from TunStyle just to finish off the interior properly. The craftsmanship is absolutely superb and really transforms the look and feel of the car which is quietly for sale here.

Reassuringly Reassuring

January 24, 2022 Eleven

As the years pass and we watch our Saabs getting older, I find it reassuring that there seems to have been a real surge of interest in the brand of late; people are becoming more aware of their innovation, beauty and longevity. This will hopefully help to keep more of them maintained as they should be and ultimately, keep more of them on the roads for the future.

It’s been 10 years now since Saab manufactured a single car and yet their desirability doesn’t seem to have been lost. There are ones that have always been universally praised of course, the classic 900 for instance, but what’s reassuring is the appetite for other, later model Saabs too. The 9-3 and 9-5 are equally desirable and have seen asking prices increase recently, the 9000 is finally getting some of the attention it deserves and any model boosting ‘Aero’ is commanding even more of a premium.

As I’ve continued to source, rescue, drive and enjoy many Saab Aeros, one has consistently surpassed my expectations; the 1st and 2nd generation 9-5 Aeros. They’ve proved themselves to be not only exceptionally reliable and an absolute joy to drive, but with minor work to the handling, these Saabs can outshine many modern cars, for comfort, style and performance. Looked after, they show little sign of wear and equal iconic modern classics such as the Mercedes W124 and BMW E39, in fact, in many ways, better.

As new cars quickly change to alternative modes of fuel, be it electricity, hydrogen or other, I can’t help but think how important it is to maintain our Saabs. After all, they won’t be crafting any new cars, so what we have now, is what we’ve got.

Being somewhat of a collector has allowed me to compare my Saabs with plenty of other marques. I currently own several, and I find it reassuring that I’ll happily choose the Saabs over them and will continue to look after them for as longs as I can.

This exceptionally special 9-5 Aero, Hirsch upgraded from factory is currently for sale to make way for others to be rescued. Find out more.