Circles of Trust

July 28, 2026 Eleven

My longstanding fondness for Hirsch Performance is no secret, I’ve always felt their ability to make meaningful modifications that actually enhance our Saabs was really special, especially when it came to wheel design.

'Hirsch Performance has developed alloy wheels in four outstandingly stylish and distinctive designs, enhancing the appearance of your Saab. The high-performance wheels are either flow formed (S-twin spoke) or manufactured using a low-pressure casting process (3-spoke and 6-spoke) and are both outstandingly lightweight and robust. The reduced unsprung mass improves both dynamic properties and comfort. What is more, perfect roundness has been ensured, minimising the need for balance weights. These characteristics may be hard to notice for the untrained eye, but you may notice the smooth, vibration-free ride.'

I’ve historically preferred the classic simplicity of the original 6 spoke, and also the clean lines of the 5 twin spoke, but have never been a massive fan of the larger 19” 3 twin spoke.

A recent opportunity made me take a little more time to admire the design, and decided to take a leap of faith and buy a set. They weren’t in the best visual condition, with a few minor buckles and kerb scars, so they’ve been lovingly refurbished by the team at Perfection Alloys to match my recent set of classic 6 spokes. To finished them off, they’ve been treated to a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres, which have performed admirably on my Sportwagon in 225/35/19 combination.

Now for the hard decisions; which Saab do they go on, the og 9-5 saloon or the dame 9-5 Sportwagon. Offering them up to the silver cars, they work equally well on both, the contrast in colour is absolute perfection, and offers each a new look, it won’t be an easy choice whatever I choose.

Anything but ordinary

July 14, 2026 Eleven

Sixteen years ago, Saab presented their all new 9-5 to the world, they'd become an independent company again, and as the brochure stated 'this move signals the start of a new era for us – we are all set to take our role as the unique premium brand even further.'

Although, behind the scenes, there were many issues, Saab managed to release a car that inspired hope and praise, it was a car that seemed to promote Saab's unique design perspective, quiet innovation and Swedish clarity. What made it all the more exciting, was that Saab had taken the decision to manufacture the new 9-5 in Trollhättan, their true home - 'We have regrouped all of our resources in the place where we originally started, Trollhättan, Sweden. By devoting ourselves fully to our unique heritage, the individualistic character of our brand will truly stand out in the future.'

I was lucky enough to be offered an extended road test of the 9-5 by my local Saab dealership; Bond Street Saab, an Arctic White Aero, manual with panoramic roof, harman/kardon audio and the wonderful Jet Black sports leather, perforated interior, at the time, it felt totally new, like no other car on the road, and a wonderful view in to the future of Saab as an independent manufacturer, but sadly, after just a few years of stop start manufacturing, this wonderful future came to an end for not only the new 9-5, but Saab entirely.

Over the years, I've always kept to the older generation 9-5 together with a number of 9-3 and also many more classic Saabs, this hasn't been a conscious decision, but more focused on my own knowledge of the older Saabs and my ability to maintain and modify them as I wanted. I've been lucky enough to have a great friend; Jason Miles, who's also an absolute legend with Saab mechanics and has helped me work on and improve well over 30 Saabs to date, but the new generation 9-5 is an unknown entity to us both.

This weekend however, that’s all changed, as I've purchased a 2011 9-5 Aero. Finished in Jet Black Metallic over Jet Black leather perforated sports seats, it has the manual gearbox, 10 spoke Edge Silver 19" optional allots, Xenon headlights and harman/kardon surround sound system with 11 speakers, Saab Bluetooth hands-free system and Pilot head-Up display. It also has a full service history and seems to be in reasonable health, although I'll reserve judgement until Jason has given it a good service and health check.

It's crying out for an oil change as now overdue, and it has numerous rattles from the suspension and chassis which will need investigating, there are some signs of early corrosion in the lower rear arch and door seams that need urgently sorting, but my initial feelings are very much the same as they were 16 years ago, and that just reminds me of how inspirational this 'new' Saab actually was back in 2010.

I like to return to the original brochures and read Saab's vision, and these pages still resonate with me today, I love their unwavering connection to the Scandinavian landscapes and nature, their belief in better - Anything but ordinary.

Simple Pleasures

July 9, 2026 Eleven

I know i’ve written about this before, and I’m sure I will again, but it’s a part of each project I adore, it gives me a huge amount of joy to see the front of these amazing Saabs literally light up again.

After the wonderfully robust headlights with glass lenses on the first generation 9-5, Saab moved to headlights plastic lenses, the light technology might have improved, but the longevity of the lenses didn't. After years of facing all kinds of weather head on, they often become cloudy and tainted yellow which besides restricting optimal performance, also isn't a great look for any car.

Fortunately, with a bit of effort and patience, they can be given a new lease of life and restore the personality of these amazing cars. I tend to use Autoglym headlight restorer as it has worked on many sets of lights for me in the past. The kit contains a range of sanding and polishing discs a drill fittings and polishing compound, I use this with my regular DIY drill as it's smooth and allows for delicate speed adjustments.

The first P800 sand is possibly the scariest, as it removes the surface of the lens and leaves you with a completely opaque finish, but work carefully through each stage and this will slowly become finer and finer until the last, final wet and dry stages. Being meticulous about checking for sanding swirls is important, and I tend to repeat stages when I'm not happy with the finish. Once all of the sanding stages are complete, I use a micro cloth to wipe any reside off and then apply the compound with the soft sponge pad provided, the lenses are left with an as new finish, a crystal clear surface that allows 100% of light to shine through again.

I can't help but love this process, after a few hours work, you've transformed the front of your Saab, it's a simple pleasure I almost look forward to doing on each project. I might not get them quite as good as the professional detailer, but the result always makes me smile, and that's what rescuing these Saabs is all about for me - the pleasure in bringing these amazing cars back to life, one stage at a time.

6 x 9000 = T18

June 9, 2026 Eleven

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I recently spotted a Facebook Marketplace ad for a 1996 Saab 9000 CSE that was being broken, I noticed that it had its original Clarion audio units still fitted, both the radio / tape unit and also the separate CD unit. I messaged the seller, and he confirmed they 'should' still be there, what's more, it wasn't just one car being broken, it was 6.

I decided to take the 9000 T18 on a parts sourcing road trip over to Lincoln where the cars were being kept, it's a good 150 mile round trip, so the perfect opportunity to give the T18 a proper drive.

I arrived only to find that the 9000 with the 2 units in, actually weren't together any longer, but after an initial walk around the various cars, I noticed I could source them from a couple of different breakers, I also managed to rescue a number of other interior parts, 2 climate control units in great condition, switches including the central window unit, and a few temperature sensors - all items that might come in useful to keep the T18 in great shape for many more years.

It's always a sad sight the see so many amazing Saabs being broken, but for numerous reasons, they might not have been in good enough shape to rescue, I don't know their full history, or why they ended up as breakers, but from a part story, they were purchased as a lot together from an old gentleman who'd also collected them for parts.

Besides leaving with a box full of finds, the drive was hugely enjoyable, the T18 has the ability to cover vast miles in true Saab comfort, and for a 30 year old, can really move at great pace. It is also a great pleasure to experience what Abbott Racing believed to be the best version of the mighty 9000 Aero, the amount of torque, smooth, decisive gearing, fettled handling and capable braking makes it a seriously special Saab.

An optimistic way of looking at these 6 cars being broken, is that in some part, they are helping other, luckier Saabs thrive for the future, without them, we'd be starting to loose many more, and that'd be a crying shame, as I truly believe the Saab 9000's are one of the best Saabs ever built.

A few valuable parts remain; rear lights and central reflector panels, rust free front wings, a full set of super rare veneer door caps, (although in dire need of full renovation), Turbo grilles, badges, wheels, glass - all parts that sadly, will become harder to find in the next few years, I wish I had the time to strip them all down and store the parts, hopefully someone else will, and what a treasure trove.

All in the details

April 27, 2026 Eleven

For me, part of the joy of rescuing these Saabs, is in the small details, sourcing and replacing warn or broken parts that get left and forgotten over time. Look at many ads for Saab 9-5’s for sale, and if it’s an auto, it will most likely have a broken gear selector skirt - a gaping hole in to the hidden mechanics. Also, the MY02/03 handbrake gaitors are made of inferior quality fabric material rather than the original, earlier leather, they tend to crumble and look messy, whilst the leather version ages beautifully with attractive patina.

All small details to most people, but they add up, fix them, and these Saabs react beautifully to a bit of care, in fact, I’m always surprised at just how fantastic these 20+ year old interiors scrub up.

Jason; friend and Saab master, manages to remain calm even with all of my random requests, he knows these 9-5’s inside out, and how best to approach each and every job. Whilst we were replacing the gear selector skirt, we’ve fitted an entirely new handbrake assembly with leather gaiter, and we’ve also fitted a new old stock Saab carbon fibre dashboard to give the interior a facelift. We managed to untangle a load of nasty phone wiring and an unsightly cradle at the same time too.

With the interior stripped out, it allowed us to give the under carpets a good clean, and the seats treated to a Gliptone refresh and moisturiser, leaving the beautiful Saab sand leather almost like new.

All back together again now, and the overwhelming sensation that these cars really are a bit special, everything feels a little more showroom fresh and the perfect backdrop for a few more modifications to follow.

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Settling In

April 22, 2026 Eleven

When I first spotted this rare 9000 Aero T18, I immediately thought that it would become a long term resident, one of my stable Saabs. I’d been searching for a car that provided a level of uniqueness amongst other 9000’s, and being only 1 of 21 global builds, it certainly had the rarity.

I’ve now owned it for a few months, and have fallen for its modified performance, its firmly routed 90’s aesthetic, and its single owner, low milage provenance. Let’s face it, 9000 Aeros are a very special breed of Saab already, but add the special edition collaboration between Abbott Racing and Saab City, and you have a bit of a unicorn.

Although it was in great condition, it had plenty of niggling faults and areas for improvement. As you use these older Saabs, you get to know how they drive, and what might need attention, this one having a number of modified parts, means that some would need to be sourced and purchased for future security, the brakes and suspension for instance, these are luckily still stocked by Abbott Racing, but other parts, such as the exhaust and interior parts can’t be bought or possibly even replicated.

We found a number of initial issues; link rods, CV boot, thermostat and exhaust hangers, all worn and needed replacing. We’ve given the car a good service with fresh oil and filters, we’ve freed off the brakes and generally given it a reset. Far more work will come, possibly to include a suspension and brake refresh, but we have time, this one will remain in the collection for the foreseeable future.

Internally, the Saab is in wonderful condition, but some of the instrument cluster bulbs needed replacing, and a new vent and switch installing, we took the opportunity to also replace the dashboard speakers to a set of heavy duty, 2 way Alpine units.

Last Sunday also gave me a good opportunity for a quick clean, a gorgeous sunny morning and a local classic car gathering was the perfect platform for showing off this unique Saab. It gets a lot of admiring glances and inspires conversation, usually around someone, knowing someone who once had a Saab 9000 Aero ‘ super fast cars, wonderfully comfortable, wish I’d never let it go’, but very, very few would know what this specific T18 actually is besides dedicated Saab folk, and that’s a great feeling.

The Viggen

March 17, 2026 Eleven

Once classed as the fastest production car Saab had ever crafted, the 9-3 Viggen holds a special fondness for most Saab folk. Whilst only an estimated 4,600 Viggens were ever built and sold globally, the UK got approximately 200 convertibles across all four colour ways.

It’s a genuine Saab icon, a truly ludicrous car that has many qualities as well as a few flaws, and I for one, can never resist its charms, especially as a convertible.

‘At a glance, the 9-3 Viggen resembles other Saab cars - and yet it doesn’t. It radiates even more stability and force, and the trained eye recognises that this car is built for a purpose.

The shape of the body is classic and an aerodynamic success. Spoilers and side skirts have little to do with decoration; they are carefully shaped to reduce lift forces and drag. Wheels and brakes, stance and profile are all statements about the intended usage. And under the bonnet you will find and upgraded turbocharger feeding the modified 2.3 litre engine.

The Saab 9-3 Viggen has been created for active, effective driving.’

1999 SAAB 9-3 VIGGEN BROCHURE

This one came to me as a bit of a surprise, I wasn’t looking for one, neither do I need it right at the minute, but it’s a wonderful example of a Lightening Blue Viggen with Rocky Black and Deep Blue interior, it’s also been meticulously maintained and cared for all its life with a flawless history I’ve rarely seen. It’s also only covered 71,000 miles. It’s almost showroom condition inside and out, with only a few areas I need to address.

I’m looking forward to enjoying it for a few months, hopefully to fully embrace the best of an English Spring and Summer - roof down with the intoxicating soundtrack of a modified engine and exhaust to enrich every journey.

Nocturnal Instincts

March 10, 2026 Eleven

The dark beauty of a Nocturne Blue 9-5 Aero is always alluring, it’s a colour that feels both sophisticated and purposeful, that paired with the quiet luxury of a full sand leather interior gives you a wonderfully timeless Saab. To me, this is the 9-5’s most endearing generation, with its more aggressive front shark tooth bumper, bi-xenon headlights and scooped rear bumper - it’s a Saab that always feels rather special.

This isn’t my first Nocturne Blue Aero, but the last one was exceptionally tired and rust had taken over, so it became the donor car for the Sportwagon build instead. However, it left me with a longing for another Nocturne project car. With only a few previous owners and low miles at 129,000, it’s lived most of its life in the Norfolk area.

It’s arrived with a few issues to diagnose and sort out, the obligatory engine light is on, but easily solved, as I believe it’s an ongoing lamba sensor issue, we’ll be changing the entire exhaust system, so this will also help rectify that. But early signs are good, it’s in wonderful condition with only minor bodywork issues to resolve. We’ll drop the sump for good measure, replace the DI pack and plugs, and generally give it a thorough service before setting out on the modifications list.

However, there was one immediate aesthetic modification I couldn’t resist; changing the wheels. It came with the gorgeous 17” double Y alloys, which always look a little underwhelming on a 9-5, so the search was on for something altogether fresher for this project. I always like to keep things OE+, changes that Saab or Hirsch might have done themselves, and think these wheels really suit the 9-5 aesthetic. Crafted by Irmscher; the tuning house for Opel back in 2004, they have a matching bolt pattern and offset to suit our Saabs. Called the Sigma, they’re 18 x 8 with a stunning concave, multi spoke design and finished in hyper silver. It’s always a rick to put non Saab wheels on a project, as they rather decisive, but in this case, I couldn’t be happier with them, they almost inspire an Alpina vibe.

It’s waiting patiently for Jason Miles to cast his eyes over before we create a works list, but couldn’t resist a few initial visual enhancements, so besides the wheels, the Hirsch grille has been fitted, and thanks the my friend, James Vey, it’s now got the subtle addition of a third rear head restraint to complete to feeling of quiet luxury.

The Saab 9000 Aero T18

March 2, 2026 Eleven

The Saab 9000 Aero T18 was an exclusive collaboration between Saab City and Abbott Racing, inspired by the stealthy 1947 Saab T18 Torpedo Bomber, only 21 full conversions were ever produced, an exceptionally rare Saab, created to be the ultimate 9000 Aero. Back in 1996 when this specific T18 was converted, it cost a not insignificant £48,000, and came with every conceivable Abbott Racing modification.

I’ve admired these builds for many years, but never really seen a suitable one for sale, until recently; a single owner car with low mileage. What makes it even more special, is its provenance. It was ordered new by a close friend of Mike Powell, the Managing Director of Saab City, then owned and maintained by the same family ever since.

Talking the Giles Fairweather (ex Abbott Racing); who can be mostly accredited for the concept and creation of these T18 Aeros, he remembers these amazing cars with great fondness - ‘I was involved in that car from start to finish, from the initial fax from Mike at Saab City, to becoming friends with the owners during their ownership. I remember the Speedo heads were done by Reap Automotive Design by Julian who also does Porsche dials. They then go off to Speedy Dials for re-calibration as they went to 180mph, rather than the standard Aero 140mph. Many happy hours spent in his studio getting these done, he was a skateboarder as well, bit of a duuude, and let’s not get into the heads, diffs, side sills, I remember it all, as it was mostly my idea and Mike Powell having the confidence to go with it’

As everyone knows, I’ve been a huge advocate of Abbott Racing over the past 20 years, from memories of the first 9000 Aero I saw modified for an old boss, to a rather special 9-3 convertible I purchased directly from Abbott, and the renovation of my 900 classic convertible. They have always had a passion for Saab that has driven their specialised modifications and products. The T18 is much like a showcase for their passion, an example of refining and fettling, a vision of their winning track cars, but for the road, this was the original T18 spec back in 1996:

18 x 8 6 spoke T18 alloys wheels 225/40 tyres
Gas flowed cylinder head with 31mm exhaust valves
Limited slip differential
55mm high flow intercooler
Engine management upgrade to 1.35 bar boost
Full lowered sport suspension - including springs
Stainless steel twin T18 exhaust with DTM tail pipe
4 pot AP racing calibers (Aluminium & power coated)
Front ventilated discs (330mm / 13”) and slotted rear discs
Competition front pads
Aluminium polished ‘Special Reserve’ gearknob
Stainless steel ‘Special Reserve’ door kick panels
Colour coded grille
White dials with T18 numbered speedometer
T18 Badges
BHP - 310

I can only imagine what it would have felt like to have collected one of these special Aeros back in 1996, but Giles’ final memory gives us a wonderful insight - ‘We did a beautiful black T18, and the owner used to go home under the LimeHouse link in 2nd gear on the rev limiter for the intoxicating pops and bangs at 70mph, 32mph through there and you had 3 points heading your way, good old days I must say’.

I’m sure I’ll be calling on more of Giles’s knowledge as I look to refresh this special Saab Aero T18, but for now, I’ll just let myself enjoy the moment.

Rise of the Sportwagon

February 24, 2026 Eleven

After a busy week of changes in the Saabvs collection, I’m briefly down to only 2 Saabs - the beautiful 9000 Aero, and the mighty 9-5 Sportwagon.

As i’d focused my attention on refining and driving both the 9-3 HOT Aero convertible and Vector Sport, I’d been neglecting the others, not to mention the shocking weather we’ve been having here in the UK. Over the weekend, however, we were blessed with no rain and a few rays of much needed sunlight; the perfect opportunity to take the 9-5 Spotwagon for a blast.

Why do I love these Sportwagons so much?

Design alchemy - utilitarian ability and spirited performance, stealthy profile and relaxed touring capabilities, especially in the 9-5 Sportwagon. They manage to combine everything you’d need and more, not only that, but side by side against so many modern SUV’s they just ooze elegance, they aren’t needlessly bloated, they don’t have garish LED illumination or touchscreens, they just get on and do their job in complete style.

With this particular build, we’ve heavily focused on its performance side, enhancing its drivability and handling. It’s an exciting car to drive, and you could be forgiven for forgetting you’re in an estate car, it has the ability to transform any journey in to a smile inducing few hours with the added benefit of the legendary Saab comfort and safety.

I get numerous messages asking if I have any future rescues or projects in line, and they’re often looking for a 9-5 Sportwagon or 9-3 Sportcombi. it’s a trend I’ve been happily watching and truly feel they’re gaining popularity again, and they really do deserve it.

Regret

February 11, 2026 Eleven

I understand the order of things, the house rule that I'm only allowed a certain amount of Saabs at any one time, and to make room for more projects and rescues, some have to inevitably leave the stables - but it really doesn't make it any easier to let them go.

I purchased this absolutely gorgeous 9-3 HOT Aero convertible in the super rare combination of Merlot Metallic and Sand leather, I'd known about it previously when Peter Raw owned it, and had severe colour envy, but at them time, I had too many other Saabs, so it slipped me by. Then in August last year, I spotted the very same one for sale, except it had found its way closer to me; how could I resist?

It had had a huge amount of care and attention lavished on it, the paintwork is some of the nicest I've ever seen on one of these early Aeros, the engine had been maintained beautifully and initially, it seems to drive well.

After a few hundred miles of driving, I realised that the handling was far from perfect, there were knocks from the chassis and the suspension felt exceptionally tired. Aesthetically, this Saab really didn't long for much, so focus was put into refining the handling and getting back on track. We've fitted a new set of Bilstien B8 shocks together with Eibach lowing springs making it a B12 suspension kit, we've doubled up the rear torsion bar, fitted new rear discs and pads, tightened all of the drop links and arms up, and it now drives beautifully again; no knocks, just a more dynamic and crisp drive.

We've also given it a good full service, with a sump drop and clean, new oil and filters, fitted an Abbott Racing Cobra pipe, cleaned the throttle body, and new brake fluid. I've removed the chrome mesh front grille and taken it back to the genuine Saab one, and fitted a Nappa leather steering wheel by Turnstyle, giving the interior just to touch of discreet style it deserved.

The original generation 9-3 has always been one of my favourite Saabs, and this one has captured my heart again, I planned to keep up this year and enjoy the Spring and Summer, but I've been busy looking at other projects, and to ensure the house rule is adhered too, at least 2 have to go.

I'll miss this one, it's an absolute beauty, and hope it gives someone endless enjoyment with its old school style, it really is rather mesmerising.

Crystal Clear Eyes

February 10, 2026 Eleven

As the old saying goes, the eyes are the window to the soul, and in the case of the 9-5 Vector Sport, they needed a little love to make them sparkle again.

I’ve always used the Autoglym Headlight Restorer kit, as it seems to work exceptionally well and also has decent longevity, follow each step carefully, and take time to mask around the headlights, and you’ll steadily see them getting progressively clearer. The final polishing compound leaves a perfectly transparent finish on the lights, and literally transforms the quality of their function leaving them brighter and with more direct focus on the road.

I’ve often found that these essential pieces of kit have been overlooked, especially on the 9-5 projects I’ve had in the past, these Bi-Xenon lights are wonderful, and deserve the care and attention to ensure they provide their optimal function. From an aesthetic point of view, they really are pieces of art, jewels that shine brightly and enhance the Saab’s individuality.

Comfort Edition Progress

January 20, 2026 Eleven

With every Saab rescue comes the challenge of what I imagine a specific project to look and feel like. At its core, it's always been about getting a Saab back to a place where it can continue its journey, make people happy, and keep another Saab around for many more years. Generally, my largest hurdle is correcting things others have neglected to do; the difficult or expensive tasks that most will shy away from, probably because it is difficult and might not make financial sense. These hidden fixes, not only make the car less tired, but also give you a solid foundation on which to create your imagined Saab.

Towards the end of last year, I found this wonderful 2005 2.3t Vector Sport, being the late model, it had the highly desirable shark tooth front bumper, Aero side skirts and rear bumper, and best of all, was Smoke Beige Metallic, a Saab colour I've absolutely adored for many years - it changes as the weather and sunlight changes, one day it can feel like a pure grey, other days, it gives you a golden hue and metallic shine. It came with Saab Performance suspension featured on the Sport and Aero models, and also the half leather Sport seats. It felt a wonderfully comfortable and welcoming car to drive, and together with the more relaxed, automatic gearbox gave me the idea to keep this one as a comfort edition Aeroriginal, rather than the more performance focused 9-5 I've done in the past.

Of course, the lesser power felt a little underwhelming to me, and needed addressing, as these have exactly the same engine set up as the Aero besides the Turbo and map, it seemed logical to convert the Vector to an Aero, and also give it a little boost on top, so we set about upgrading it with a Mitsubishi TD04 and a MapTun Stage 1 TD04 map, taking it to a very stealthy 270hp. It will also have a subtle Jetex stainless steel exhaust to give it a discreet but purposeful soundtrack too.

I've considered swapping the interior for a full leather Aero one, but in all honesty, they're the same shape as the Aero, have the same level of support and sculpting, but are supremely cosy, so will remain as it left the factory. I've already added the BlueSaab module, and this paired with the upgraded Harmon Kardon AS3 audio, allows you to steam music without taking away from the factory aesthetic. We took on the daunting task of replacing the gear skirt; which is a visually upsetting but very common problem, meaning the entire interior has to be removed to fix it correctly. I'll also be commissioning another Nappa leather sport steering wheel from TunStyle to enhance the interior feel of comfort and quality.

The exterior will also remain subtle, with small visual enhancements. The front and rear bumpers with get a full respray, as will the bonnet and lower rear arches; these are actually superb on this car, but to negate any future issues, the skirts will be removed and any minor corrosion addressed. I've also sourced another rare Abbott Racing rear boot lip which will be refurbished and added. The overall condition of the paintwork is good, it has marks and a few scratches, but to me, these are just part of its journey, I have no desire to renovate the cars until they become showpieces, I want them to be drive and loved, becoming a valuable part of a family, as they have done for me.

It came with the 17" ALU39 wheels, but to elevate the look, I've fitted the classic 18" Hirsch 6 spoke allows with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, as these perfectly compliment this generation 9-5. I've also added the 3 piece Hirsch grille, giving the front a distinct difference from the standard 9-5.

It's always a pleasure to give these Saabs a freshen up, and this one has been a joy so far, having had just one owner for it's entire life and less than 100,000 miles, it's a Saab that felt a bit special, and with the modifications so far, is slowly transforming in to the comfort edition I've imagined it being.

MapTuner Nano NX3

January 8, 2026 Eleven

One of my current Saab rescues, is the 2005 9-5 2.3t Vector, I can't deny my fondness for the Smoke Beige Metallic saloon, it's one of my all time favourite Saabs, and there's not many of them around in this condition. Add to that, it's only ever had one owner, it's got a lovely specification, and also low miles, but it had one obvious flaw - not having the higher output Turbo of the Aero.

Alongside various maintenance required, it's also had the larger Mitsubishi TD04 Turbo installed, this immediately takes it to the same engine setup as the standard Aero besides the mapping of the ECU; the standard Vector was 185hp, whilst the standard Aero was 250hp.

However, thanks to the support and generosity of MapTun, Sweden, they sent over one of their clever MapTuner Nano NX3 units, together with their connecting cable for me to try. I've been wanting to try one of their maps for a while now, and this gave me the perfect opportunity. For this particular 9-5, I wanted a subtle remap to enhance, rather than dynamically change its overall driving characteristics; it's an auto gearbox twinned with the Saab lowered performance suspension, so a lovely, comfortable cruiser, the Nano NX3 with the Stage 1 TD04 - 270 Hp/380 Nm map was exactly what the car needed.

Install was as simple as MapTun described, and as long as you have a decent wifi signal near the car when you perform the upgrade, it works flawlessly. I installed the accompanying app on my iPhone, paired that with the NX3, downloaded the relevant TD04 270hp file and prepared the car for the upgrade. We had to disconnect a few fuses turn all electrics off, and keep the battery on charge during the process. Thomas at MapTun was absolutely fantastic at being on hand for a few 'user errors' and advice along the way, but within 45 minutes, the file was installed and the Saab ready to test drive.

Immediate feedback - it felt quick, Stage 1 Aero quick, on acceleration, the new TD004 boosts instantly and the gear change clean and smooth; I never tend to hold the pedal to the floor in the autos, as they react beautifully to steady acceleration, building power through gears, rather than kicking down and screaming.

I've driven the 9-5 for a good 500 miles now, and been hugely impressed with the remap. I will be trying the various diagnostics and readings available on the app in the coming weeks, but wanted to share some initial thoughts. As less and less decent Aeros are available, this is an exceptionally viable way of transforming a Vector 2.3t into an Aero.

Thanks go out to Jason Miles for his endless wisdom on these Saabs, and Thomas at MapTun for his generosity and support. I've been hugely impressed by MapTun and their Saab products, they continue to invest in the research and development of many more products for our Saabs, it's people and companies like MapTun that genuinely make Saab ownership viable, their dedication to the brand is hugely appreciated my myself and many other global owners; please keep going.

Saab Week

December 16, 2025 Eleven

Thanks to the endless help and guidance of my friend, Jason Miles; a genuine Saab genius, we’ve spent an entire week going through a works list for the Saabs.

I currently have 4, all at various stages and all needing Jason's attention. They have varying degrees of work required, some small, standard maintenance and routine, others more transformational.

Saab 9-5 Sportwagon

This was last year's complete build, the fantastic Saab 9-5 Sportwagon, which has been a mainstay of my collection, and has performed impeccably all year. It's covered around 4,000 miles, and just oozes quality and style. Because of the amount of work done to this car already, it really didn't need much, a service with fresh oil and filters, and a new battery. Perfection restored.

Saab 9-5 2.3 Vector

This is the most recent addition, a Smoked Beige Metallic saloon with a gorgeous specification, but being a Vector Sport, only came with 185hp and the smaller Garret Turbo.

My plan is to keep the relaxed, comfortable personality of this Saab, with it's Sport leather and fabric interior, optional sunroof and automatic gearbox, but give it enough subtle modifications to give it standout; a little more Aero.

We've set about upgrading to Aero spec mechanics with a Mitsubishi TD04 and a MapTun Stage 1 TD04 map, taking it to a very stealthy 270hp. It’s a huge increase from the standard 185hp, and totally transforms the driving dynamics of the 9-5. I'll be featuring the MapTuner Nano NX3 in a separate post soon.

Other work has included:
Sump drop
Full service
Original Saab DI pack
NGK Performance plugs
All new discs and pads
Polyflex torque rod gearbox to engine bush
Boot pistons
Hirsch classic 18" 6 spoke alloys and Michelin PS4 tyres
Hirsch front mesh grille
BlueSaab bluethtooth module

Saab 9-3 HOT Aero

The gorgeous Merlot Red Aero convertible has been patiently waiting for attention since purchasing it back in August, as although the bodywork and mechanics are immaculate, the handling, suspension and braking had been left untouched. The shocks were in a very poor state and little recovery left in them, the rear brakes were pretty much metal on metal, and numerous knocks and noises needed identifying and corrected.

For peace of mind, we've also dropped and cleaned the sump, and done a full oil and filter service, and besides needing an Air Con regas, it's running beautifully, and feels very tight again.

Sump drop
Oil and filter service
Bilstien B8 shocks
Eibach lowering springs
Twin rear torsion bars
Rear discs and pads
Abbott Cobra pipe

Saab 9000 Aero

Again, this one's been around for a few months now, an apart from an annoying HOT or COLD ACC system, it's been an absolute joy to own and drive. Whenever I have a manual 9000 Aero, I realise just how epic they are, underrated compared to the iconic 900, but in my opinion, a far, far better car. We've been on the hunt for a better stainless exhaust system to pair with the existing Abbott 3" downpipe, it needs the tyres replacing sit currently has the wrong profile fitted, and we've replaced the interior and exterior temperature sensors.

It's only done a few extra thousand miles since the last oil change, so that will be a job for the new year.

Overall, the Saabs are in a good place now, the 9-5 will be heading for bodywork in the new year, but after that, I'll be adding a few to Aeroriginal for sale, and see what new Saabs appear in 2026. I can't thank Jason Miles enough for helping out, his Saab knowledge is an absolute godsend, and allows me continue to rescue and modify these amazing cars for the future.

The Hidden Costs

November 20, 2025 Eleven

Since 2011, I’ve been quietly rescuing Saabs, mainly the 9-5, but also 9-3 and 9000, I’ve occasionally done a quick ‘man maths’ sum of what I’ve spent on them, and let’s just say, it’s absolutely not a financially sound model. But what I haven’t done, is add in all of the little hidden costs that make each Saab feel properly sorted, so as I begin work on the new Vector Sport, I thought I’d attempt to list all of them - no stone unturned.

After the first few drives, and a good clean, you feel and notice things that need attention, small details most garages and sellers tend to ignore, the list isn’t long (yet), but you can easily see how they all add up:

Jetex stainless steel exhaust £419.00
Genuine Saab DI Pack £185.00
Genuine Saab boot decal £56.00
NGK Performance plugs £18.00
Hydraulic boot pistons £28.00
Auto Gear selector sliding £34.00
Replacement window switch unit £50.00
SaabBlue V6 Bluetooth module £80.00

That’s already £870 spent, and really on things most people generally won’t notice, they’ll feel it in the way it drives; it won’t feel tired or old, it’ll just feel like a Saab should - confident and reassuring. Most of my rescues start with a list like this, the next stages will be sorting the knocking out underneath, the bushes and drop links will need changing, the sump will be dropped for precaution with new gasket, fresh oil and filters.

I’ll do my best to keep a note of these hidden costs as work progresses, but it’s just so easy to underestimate the effort and expense that goes in to keeping these Saabs well maintained and enjoyable to own and drive. They truly are exceptional cars, and 20 years on, feel more rewarding than most modern cars, they just need a little more care.

The Comfort Edition

November 18, 2025 Eleven

A few weeks ago, the new 9-5 Smoke Beige Metallic project car arrived, and it’s a truly intriguing Saab.

Purchased from Williams Automobiles, Bristol in June 2005 by Mr G Ross who kept the 9-5 for the next 20 years, selling it in 2025, it has no previous owners, a full service history and only 99,000 miles, it really is an absolutely wonderful car.

One of the very last of the shark tooth 9-5 to be manufactured, and arguably the most desirable, but it’s a bit of an enigma, it has an Aero level spec, and yet some options are missing.

It’s a Vector Sport 2.3t saloon, and options include sunroof, folding mirrors, bi-xenon lights, rain sensors, Harmon Kardon AS3 with Sat Nav and the Aero performance suspension.

It comes with the exceptionally comfortable, Obsidian Black Sport Leather / Apollo textile seats, but unheated, my initial thoughts were to add the full leather, but I’m already in love with how quiet and comfortable the interior is. It also has the ashtray delete; a rare option I haven’t often had in previous 9-5’s.

Whilst the interior is almost immaculate, the Smoke Beige paintwork has a few marks and scratches, the notorious rear arch bases are superb, and only require the lightest of attention, the front and rear bumpers need repainting, as does the bonnet, it needs new badges and a professional detail, but overall, is exceptionally honest.

It’ll get the larger TD04 added and stage 1 map, allowing it to benefit from the Aero performance, a new stainless exhaust system and upgraded brakes. I’m rather sold on the wonderfully comfortable drive enhanced by the super smooth auto gearbox, so the suspension might stay standard, but a number of other discreet modifications will make this a rather special 9-5.

Saab vs. Artificial Intelligence

November 12, 2025 Eleven

I've always had a bit of a soft spot for the original Saab vs. ad campaign - understated yet super stylish Saabs featured in wonderful Nordic landscapes full of adventure, beauty and dreams. Sadly, we don't get to see what they'd have done now, but there was an original Saab vs. Artificial Intelligence ad which I couldn't resist updating with a slightly newer image variation.

I’ve taken my own 2010 Snow Silver Sportwagon, and used AI to feature it in a Nordic Winter landscape, it’s a scenario I’ve imagined a thousand times, but never got to enjoy yet. It’s not an entirely real photograph, but is a wonderful way for us all to imagine and dream, just as Saab would have wanted.

The context of the ad was to highlight Saab’s dedication to safety, real world experiences learnt from humans to then enhance the features on a Saab to achieve peerless safety, Artificial Intelligence might be wonderful at creating inspiration, but I’m glad Saab relied on reality to craft our protective Saabs.

A 70 year love affair

October 23, 2025 Eleven

This is a story about a Swedish lady named Inga who owned just one car for her entire lifetime; a Saab 92B purchased in 1955, and she owned it for 70 years.

It was a story I came across recently, and had to share it. Sadly, Inga passed away last year at the wonderful age of 98, but had owned, loved and driven her Saab since she was just 28 years old. It's a story that most of us can only dream of happening to us, and I hope, by sharing this lovely story, it manages to create another small, lasting memory of Inga.

Ingrid and Göte Sundin never had any children. However, they adopted a Saab that became their darling. They bought it new, and over the years, Ingrid and Göte took great care of the car.

The story began one summer day in Stockholm. Ingrid was 19 and Göte a couple of years older. They were newlyweds and had their whole lives ahead of them. They were not very well-off. Göte had just finished his studies. He would later graduate as a construction manager. That's why they were looking for a practical car that didn't cost too much money.

"I think it cost about 10,000 kronor at the time, it was my husband and I's first car. And I remember we also looked at a Morris Minor. My uncle joked about it and said that a Saab that only has five moving parts would suit us better. So we bought it at the fancy car palace Philipssons on Sankt Eriksgatan in Stockholm. And of course it's much nicer than the Morris" Ingrid told a journalist at Vi Bilägare almost twenty years ago.

Ingrid owned and drove her Saab 92B with a 28 horsepower two-stroke engine for as long as she could. She attracted attention and received happy shouts wherever she arrived with her old Saab. "It rolls so easily on its freewheel. The only problem is that the engine gets a little hot in the Stockholm traffic sometimes. But then you just have to stand aside for a while so it can calm down".

Last year, Ingrid Sundin passed away at the age of 98. The family gathered to review the couple's life's work and all the things they had collected over the years. "This car is nice, we understand that there is something special about it. But none of us have the right skills to own it. Ingrid was a very good person, both she and Göte were kind and pleasant. I hope the car ends up in the right hands" says Anders Österlund.

Inga's Saab 92B was being sold by Bilweb Auctions, who have a reputation for finding new owners for vintage and classic cars, "It looks to be in good working condition, I think it is worth at least 100,000 kronor, maybe more considering its history" said Michael Luft from Bilweb.

I hope her memory lives on in the Saab for many more years, and that the new owners take pride and pleasure in its wonderful story do far.

Imagine it’s 1993

October 16, 2025 Eleven

You’ve just been to collect your brand new Saab 900 S convertible from the dealership, it’s your dream colour combination of Nova Black over Beige leather, you turn the key and the legendary 900 burble comes to life, you put the top down and experience your first exhilarating drive in your new Saab, wind in your hair, endless road trips ahead. Now imagine being able to recreate that moment, 32 years after that first, unforgettable day.

My great friend Ward, just had the rare privilege of recreating that exact moment, his already immaculate 900 S has been subject to a no stone unturned detail, inside and out recently, Lennert and his team at Vermijl Car Detail, gave the iconic Saab the attention it truly deserves. Their multi day process included a slow foam wash, two step polish and a final, ceramic coating. Inside, the Saab also received a full detail together with a recolouring of the steering wheel to give it that showroom freshness we all long for.

Ward discovered his ultimate Saab 900 convertible; a fitting addition to his impressive collection in the Netherlands, following an extensive search. Although it came with a host of subtle modifications like upgraded intercooler, larger DO88 radiator, Primary 7 for the LPT and a new AC condensor, he set about progressively improving it further. For future reliability, Ward replaced the waterpump, AC compressor, dynamo, clutch cylinders with hose and bearings, a new fuel pump and even a new windscreen.

Ward already owns an immaculate 900 T16S coupe, and wanted to create a similar driving experience in his convertible - ‘As the car already had quite some elements of the Full Pressure Turbo specifications and I really like the driving characteristics of my coupe which also has the T16S specs with the engine and gearbox of a T16S red box APC, I decided to let the professionals of Haaima turn the convertible to full T16S spec. This included the installation of the red box APC system (with everything that comes with it), a time period correct turbo gauge and an original Turbo S badge to rightfully represent the professional changes that had been made in accordance with the original specifications fitting to a T16S.’

He then added the finishing aesthetic touch, with a set of Aero alloys refinished in his signature dark grey with polished rims.

Saab should also be praised for designing and manufacturing a car that 240,000km / 145,000 miles and 32 years on, can still look and feel so immaculate. A real gem of a Saab, and one any of us would love to own.

Although this has been shared by numerous folk already, this is a link to the Saab 900’s detail in progress.