As a life-long, 50-year Pacific Northwesterner, I can vouch that Saabs are surprisingly well-represented region-wide even years after the demise of the marque. Here in Portland, Oregon, we continue to have a Saab dealer (who maintains a stock of gently-used cars that have been reconditioned to factory-new shape) with factory-trained Saab mechanics and a huge stock of Saab parts purchased from other (now defunct) Saab dealers. Thanks for this great video!
You said surprising, but if someone said "Hey, guess which US city still has an active Saab dealership" I'm pretty sure I'd say Portland. How are you guys doing for Volvos, as a matter of interest?
One of your best videos ever. Saab was indeed a fine and desirable brand in its day but unfortunately too small to survive as an independent. To me the Gen 1 900 represents the best of Saab and they lost something when the much less appealing Gen 2 arrived. I visited a Saab dealer in 2003 (two dusty cars shoved at the back of a tacky prefab Chevrolet showroom for a supposedly premium brand!) as I was interested in the new 9-3. It was obvious that they had all but given up so I went and bought another Volvo instead.
like me - much as I was a Saab man all my life, we always had at least one good (older) Volvo among our Saabs... the one I loved the most was my wife's 740 GL station wagon ... great car.
5:19 It’s a pity designers of modern cars don’t take note of SAAB’s philosophy for interior controls. Central touch screens that take ever increasing times to navigate around menus to perform even simple functions are definitely a retrograde step when it comes to safety. 😡
While ergonomics and designed user-interfaces were a big thing back in the 1980s, sadly, in the 2000s the concept of design has gone out the window. Just look at the user-interface on smartphone Apps, which you'd think was thrown together by a particularly clumsy (and dim-witted) ten year old. I was trained in user-interface design, back in the '80s, but haven't seen any job advertisements for those skills in many a long year.
Never use that shit while driving. Do not text and drive! Same principle. YOU are driving, YOU get the fatal accidents. Pull over somewhere safe. Are you all duh?!
Errata: "Descendants", not "Ancestors" in the intro. Alfa Romeo "Gweeya" should be "Julia". Bing Translate failed me! Also, there aren't many cars with "16 valves per cylinder"! Rather the 16V were spread out over all four cylinders. The photo that was supposed to be Erik Carlsson is actually of Per Eklund.
This is one of the most informative videos about Saab that I've ever seen.... incredible history of the entire manufacturing of the Saabs....I absolutely love it.... Thank you endlessly. Let's push the Saab engineers to Launch the new Saab Opening....They most bring back this extraordinary most advanced vehicle ever created.... please make your voice and ours heard!!!
My 1991 900S 3-door was without a doubt the best car I have ever owned. Anthracite grey. My current 2001 Viggen convertible (and other 9-3s I've had) is poor in the snow but a 0-60 of 6.0 sec and top of 160mph. I've owned eight SAABs, the first I bought at 16 was a 1972 99LE. 24:34 is exactly how it looked (except for the removed headrests). I'd love to put a Trionic 7 motor into a SAAB 90.
As a life-time SAAB aficionado, I appreciate your approach to the SAAB 99>900 evolution. The references to the Ricardo-Triumph engine are fine to a point. Once the Swedes developed this engine, it was far from the original, crooked head-bolts Ricardo design. All it maintained was the original architecture. My best tech could replace an N/A 99 or 900 clutch disc in 25 minutes!
Thanks for bringing that up. I was just going to write it. The Saab development of the old Triumph engine was a really good engine compared to the original Triumph engine. Ive owned both versions and many 99´s are still rolling here in sweden.
@@thomascatford2627 However, it can be done very fast. Less than 1 hour. And to change the disc you have to remove the complete clutch anyway. Its easy because the gearbox dont have to be removed at all.
@@TT.Hell. iim an old timer and worked on saabs 95/96/99/90/ 900 1978 till 2001, i would challenge you to fit a complete clutch including slave cyl to a 99 in under an hour, if you dont know how to change the clutch disc without removing the cover plate you should do some research
I’ve never even driven a Saab but I really had a respect for the brand with its innovations in safety and performance. It’s such a shame that it’s no longer in business
Buy a secondhand Saab. Why not? Take care you buy one that got great maintenance, do not buy a bad one. Nobody likes worn out this and worn out that, unless the price was low.
GM killed Saab by turning down the deal with the Chinese because of its fear of Chinese competition. Yet, GM now sells more cars in China than in the States since 2012. Go figure!
178k subscribers! I subscribed when there was only a few hundred, this channel is criminally undersubscribed. The content is extremely well researched and your choice of cars is excellent, so far.
The 900 shows what happens when a car is in production for too long. When it came out, its competitor was e.g the BMW 323i E21. Then the E30 came and went, and in 1993 you had the BMW 325i and M3 E36. Only a few people at that time prefered the Saab anymore, as sales numbers show. At least in Germany, from the mid 80ies onwards the 900 was seen as a quirky car, mainly bought by architects, intellectuals and people who didn't want a BMW or Mercedes. And of course the convertible as a second car for the wife or children of rich people. The 9000 had an even tougher time from the start and was rejected even by many Saab fans. At that time the Alfa 164 with its 3l Busso engine was a much more desirable alternative to a BMW 535i or Mercedes 300E. But fast forward to today and everybody smiles when seeing a 900 😃
I Agree, Why buy anything else When there was the BMW e30 in the Showrooms ? Even the e30 316 was a Brilliant car. Then Came the BMW e34, Way Better than the e30. Still Today i Run a BMW e34 525i SE Manual, with the M50 engine. from 1995, 26 Years old & no Probs at 130,000 miles. Great Car All round. My secret is :- I have an e34 520i SE manual & i Prefer My 520 to my 525, Same car Same Year. Same Engine less 500cc & 42 bhp. & Still a BMW 6 Cyl Inline 6. And the Merc 190E . another Great car.
The Volvo 240 stayed in production for just as long though, and the Mini, Beetle and Lada Niva & Riva even longer? :) It can lead to cars becoming iconic.
Great video ! Exactly 6 weeks ago I bought a classic 900 S Convertible 1992 (colour 'citrix-beige') that was imported fom the USA in 1999. I think from California, because the Saab is almost stainless (free from rust). It's a magnificent car and I'm proud of it !
Thanks for the historical video. I owned a 1990 900 S and was a wonderful car while in college. Many years later I bought a 2003 9-3 Vector and was probably one of the best cars I ever owned, Zero turbo lag and a head turner for compliments. I ended my Saab ownership with the 2011 family 9-3 wagon in AWD. Unfortunately, GM had ruined Saab by then and the quality was poop. I was able to get a buy back offer. I bought a 2013 buick Regal GS with a turbo. Miss those cars!
1:30 that was a great idea. When a friend got a used 9000 and showed it to me, he said: "Stroke the bumber here". When I did, I felt minor unevenness. And he said smiling: "Well the Polo that hit it is totally broke".
Another great video. I loved the 900 Turbo, always fancied one but never got to own one. It's amazing how often the Triumph Dolomite is referenced in stories on cars, it must've been ahead of its time!
the RHD offset pedals are something that you get used to after a while and stop noticing. What nobody ever mentions about the 99/900 is how the wiper blades freeze up in winter, making them solid and shaped to match the left-right curvature of the windscreen, so as soon as they move there's only the end points of them touching the glass. It doesn't matter really, but for something developed by a bunch of Swedish people it seems like a significant thing to ignore. i'm sure i read somewhere that when the 9000 was being developed and people were finding out it was going to have passive rear steering, Lotus asked if they could have a look at it, but i can't find it any more
I own a 9000, but I always drool over the 900 everytime I see them, would love to try them or own one someday, (it is getting really expensive compared to 9000).
Great video and a story well told. I have a 900 convertible now after 99 and 900 and virtually grew up in SAAB‘s. There IS something special about them and you managed to capture just that.
If only Saab had done a deal with BL. Both companies had an incredible ability to produce innovative designs on a limited budget and had a slice of the executive market. Then again, there would have been no Rover R8. I'm so sad that both these clever yet troubled marques no longer exist.
A very good and very clear explanation. I was always intrigued by Saab but lived where it wasn't sold. Then after moving to the Netherlands, my new dutch g/f had a Saab 900 hatch. It was very well put together and I found it innovative in a number of respects. It was nice and solid to drive too, but lacked oomph - speed and agility. BTW: Alfa Romeo Giulia: It's pronounced 'Julia' !
My first car was a Saab 90 - nice to see it featured in one of your videos! Also, here in Sweden, the 900 was always more of a peoples car than an all out luxury car - I still find it weird to think of it as one, however much I like the 900...
Exactly, when I moved to Scotland I noticed Volvo and Saab were like luxury cars. I mean, just like you, I'm a Swede and will always see Saab and Volvo as I see Ford and Vauxhall cars in the UK. Cars for the people as if you want luxury, you get BMWs or MB cars.
@@VinDieselS70 - made me remeber that I did a free-lance interview with the then Saab-designer Jason Castriota for Auto Motor & Sport at the 2010 LA Autoshow. I found it so strange and quite funny that he refered to the old Saabs (92, 93, 95, 96) as small premium/luxury cars! For me, they were allways the basic peoples-cars of Sweden. Sure, well built, but still at the bottom of the food chain...
I still have a '91 Saab 900 2.1i (3 door) and I really like it. However, I recently bought a Saab 9000 CSE 2.3t. And oh my, the level of over-engineering and build quality is next level compared to the 900.
Massive appreciation from a huge Saab fan and owner of the last gen 9-3 from Russia! Really looking forward to the announced video about the later models!
Good review! The Mk1 900 was the one & only true SAAB. Especially in it's latest facelift, before GM came in, was quite a stylish & individual car (exterior/interior )
Thank you for displaying my (then) 900 Enduro, and portions of my video. A mention would have been nice, but I’m not overly precious about these things. Great channel, thanks as always.
I put an attribution in the lower left corner of the video. I would have put a link but I seem to recall the original link in your video was no longer up. Sorry to cause offence, I try to attribute and link in the description when I can. Is there a link I can add?
Yes.... I had a saab 9000 h plate bought for 160quid. It was awesome with so many luxuries.... however the big ends were goin hence 160 quid. Then I went to the scrappy to find an engine due its ace condition. I found another saab 9000.... one I've never seen before . It was an f plate - wasn't a turbo but it was gold and black. Its lights were slightly smaller.... the grill black instead of silver. A black duck tail spoiler with the lights continuing through the length of the boot via a fake sticker thing... it had 170k on the same 2ltr engine and was auto. It had no mot but the scrappy let me have it for 100quid. It passed mot right out! I've never seen another one. Tried looking om the net. Nothing. Black and gold with gold wheels too.... sadly a white van man wrote it off.... his name "Mr grub!" How appropriate. Anyway I was gutted. Many years later running my channel a subscriber bought us a saab 93 convertible. I loved it....but guess what.... Big ends killed it.... a common problem from that engine. I have links on my channel should you wish to see me pick it up and blog with it via music vids etc. It was a turbo as well... Forever grateful for that from my subscriber who sadly passed away from cancer. Again I have links if you wish to view the blogs....anyone reading this. Just ask. Best wishes. Riley
Thank you so much! Makes me miss our dark blue 1983 900 3 door 115hp manual shift. The car my wonderful wife learned to drive a stick with - and enjoyed it!
The title is a bit misleading. The B engine from 1972 onward was no longer a Triumph engine and certainly not by the time the 900 came along. Saab thoroughly revised it, ironing out the inherent flaws the original Triumph engine was burdoned with, the major one being the construction of the cylinder head which was prone to warp when overheating and the bolts were partly slanted making it almost impossible to remove the head. For all intents and purposes, the B engine was of Saab's own construction, and by extension, so was the H engine.
@@johnburns4017 i owned and drove the Triumph engine. It was unreliable because it overheated. Suggesting that SAAB did a "few" tweaks raises the question as to why Triumph didn't do the "few" tweaks.
@@johnburns4017 And how many of the Triumph engines have you owned and driven? It was a very good teapot. Very stressful driving in summer with the heater on full to help cool the engine.
Great video. I had a 1984 900 Turbo which was only just run-in when the company sold it at 90,000 miles. Followed it with a 9000 Turbo. Smoother turbo response, quieter, roomier, but the change from double wishbone front suspension to Macpherson strut did affect the handling - you always knew exactly where you were in the 900. Also, I loved the hefty clunk of the 900 doors. My wife, after nearly 40-odd years sometimes remarks on that feeling of safety that gave her. There were so many thoughtful and brilliant design features in that car, like locking the transmission in reverse when parking (this stopped a London car compound copper in his tracks once), and the ability to deliver fresh air to the face and warm air to the feet. Just looking at the shots of the dashboard makes me feel very nostalgic (today I drive a VW Touran, still going strong at 120,000 and with a bit of the same driver appeal). But it's not the same.
Enjoyable video. I learned to drive in my mother's 99 and drove my father's 900 turbo during the late 70s/early 80s, so I have a soft spot for these cars. Touching on the Fiat partnership, a Saab 600 was marketed in the Nordic countries, basically a badge-engineered Lancia Delta, with all the rust issues associated with Italian cars of that era. Not sure if any survive up here now! However I think it was a foretaste of what was to become of the Saab brand under GM ownership,
Good video. I owned and drove a 96, a 900 flat front turbo coupe, a 9000 and a 93 convertible. The 900 was rock solid, charismatic and fun. I did 300.000 km+ with it, sometimes on terrible roads, camping out in the back, but no major problems. It never let me down, the original gearbox, engine, turbo, steering rack, springs etc all doing fine. The 9000 was smooth and civilised, but more fragile and suffering expensive electronic bugs. The 93 is a pleasant, easily loved, understated convertible, though more mainstream and missing the independent character of the original 900.
Honestly I think it's unfair to say that GM was the death of Saab. Hear me out. Because if GM hadn't bought them in the nineties, Saab would've probably stopped existing right there and then. Saab was just a difficult company to keep afloat. The quirky way the cars were designed meant they cost a lot of money during development. But the low sales numbers meant that getting your investment back was difficult. GM at least tried to cut development costs by building Saabs on a shared platform, like the Volkswagen is now doing with its MQB platform (which has Skoda, Seat, Audi, Volkswagen, you name it on it). GM gave us the (pretty terrible) 900NG. But also the much more loved 9-3 and 9-5. The 9-2X and the 9-7X are some weird last ditch efforts to boost sales and, well, at least they tried 'something'. The last 2010 9-5NG and 9-4X SUV were serious contenders. But in the end Saabs were just a tough sell. Because they were asking Audi money for what people saw as a modified Opel. And they sold them in Porsche numbers. Combined with the fact that the only people who would buy Saabs were not regular customers, but rather just the Saab enthusiasts, made that GM ultimately had no option but to sell Saab when the 2008 recession hit. Of course the Americans from Detroit weren't the best parents for the weird, quirky Swedish car brand we all love. But without them Saab's final model would've been the 900 we all just looked at.
My first "real" car was a 4 year old SAAB 900 & it was so reliable that I had it for 12 years, the only reason I got rid of it was the end of leaded fuel. I had it so long that some people thought I'd bought another that was exactly the same! I could drive it all day because it was so comfortable & ergonomic. I'd have kept it years longer if it could have used unleaded.
@@DrRock2009 Once I had to use unleaded mine knocked no matter what & fuel consumption went through the floor. Performance dropped, too. I wasn't the only one that this happened to & SAAB dealer told me that my engine wasn't going to last long like this.
And Yes I miss SAAB. I owned a couple and at one point in the Late 1980's when just out of school I sold SAABs at the San Francisco Dealership which at the time was located on the site of the old Seal Stadium. People loved their SAABS!
Missing Saab; in Spain were very rare and only 3 door till mid 80s; the local dealer in Barcelona was on my way to Arts School and I've got fascinated in spring 1981 when I saw a black Saab 900 Turbo 4 doors for the first time; I even took friends over.
Great video! This one of the hero cars of my youth and I love it how you talk about rather normal cars, while the internet is already full of exotic stuff. And let people talk about minor mistakes or whatever. Your vids are something I am really looking forward too! Those vids will be a source of information for many years to come and people will still watch this in many, many years.
My first new car was a 1985 Saab 900 Turbo. I was a lieutenant in the US Army stationed in Germany. I miss driving that car down the Autobahn. Few cars passed me, usually Porsche 911's and high end Mercedes, Audi, and BMWs. I still dream about her.
I had no idea you live in the PNW. Same here, although I’m about 180 miles south of you, if your photos indicate anything! And I owned an ‘89 900 sedan I bought used for $900. Loved it until it became unreliable. I still miss it. Everyone joked about New England college professors owning them, but they were extremely common here in our corner of the country, as well.
Thanks for this retrospective of this very important model for Saab ! The Saab I remember from my teenage years! The sound of the Turbo on this big engine! Love it!
Great video. Currently driving my 4th (black) Saab, a SportCombi from '08. Holds all my music gear, most notably my orchestra bass. Gotta fit that or the trio of keys plus amp (piano, organ, synth), or the drum set and eBass rig, gotta be manual trans, gotta have HP, gotta be relatively small and sit as a car. Also just love the way they look and drive.
When i was younger , i was thinking to own a Saab at 1 time , loved the way they looked , but i was too young for it back then .It is sad they are gone , because some ideas really good and different ideas .
Agree with Chris D (below): I still have a '94 9000 V6 3.0L Griffin as a 'daily driver' and it hasn't missed a beat. Lives outside but still no rust and the original paint still shines in the Australian sun. Superb build quality and almost everything still works as it did when new. Massive boot (trunk) and great suspension. My most reliable car - ever. And I've had a few...!
I had Leyland Princess 2 with 2-litre engine as well as Saab 99. I needed to replace cluch parts on the Princess, and surprisingly the Saab parts did fit.
I always liked the Saab 900 (especially the convertible), from it's looks, to quirky but innovative features. Another car on my bucket list that I'll probably never get. I remember in the mid 1980s to mid 1990s, they seemed to be everywhere, but now they are a rare sight, even in the Okanagan Valley of BC, which many consider to part of the Pacific Northwest. I know they were big in Toronto, Montréal and the New England states too.
Had a 1980 900 Turbo for a while. Loved it. Accelerated like a rocket sled on rails and stuck to the road. A big heavy beast to throw around English roads, but never felt like one.
Great video - very well researched and presented. The SAAB 900 classic is one of my favourite cars - especially in 3dr Aero form - I would have loved to have owned one!
Really loved my two Saabs, both 99 and 99EMS. My wife had an older 96 which was very good, had so much character. I was passionate about the brand. As time passed it seemed the company were producing ever more expensive cars, chasing the executive market that BMW, Audi etc we’re having so much success with. With hindsight I often wonder whether this may have helped contribute to their woes. Perhaps they may have done better producing a good quality bread and butter vehicle instead of moving into the exec market.
Never knew you lived in the USA.... Despite being an avid watcher of your videos .. . Saab 900 classic had a few ...brilliant and characterful cars ...
I've had 2 900's and a 93 Convertible. Fantastic cars that eventually became too expensive to run due to constrained part availability. Such a shame they couldn't have been saved. Oldsmobile, I could live without. Saab? A gem that fell into the ocean.
As an Finnish i remeber Saab 90/99/900 models where everywhere, but quite rare sight today 😪 Always liked them, especially combi-coupe body-style models 😎 I live about 30 miles from former Saab factory, today they build some Mercedes Benz models there. After Saab and Talbot there was also built Lada Samaras, Opel/Vauxhall Calibras, Fisker Karmas and Porsche Boxters and Caymans, quite a selection for one factory... 😁
Hello from Sweden! These videos are most impressive, all the facts and details make the videos very instructive and entertaining. Two thumbs up! Keep up the great work.
don't let the keyboard warriors grind you down about having to be so exact about which generation of a car you're presenting. by default it will be the original. your presentations are excellent and follow the evolution of each car. when a manufacturer decides to badge engineer/adapt a different car/platform it is no longer the same car and deserves it's own presentation, as you do. it's not easy making quality presentations but it's easy as a viewer to dismiss them. keep up the good work my friend. I like many others look forward to the next video. thankfully they're no longer about cars I've owned lol
Being an old Swedish SAAB mechanic I remember that the Triumph motor was only put in the first model of the 99 series. The cylinderhead bolts where angled in a strange way the older mechanics told me so sometimes they had to use a tool to pry it up a little from the engine block so they could saw of the bolts to get the head of when they had to. Then came the 2 liter motor with electronic ignition, I believe this was in the 70ies. After that I believe they released the turbo models and towards the end the twin cam 16 valves motor and then the Swedish politician Maud Olofsson killed SAAB.
I live in the PNW and am of Swedish descent, I drove my red SAAB 99 for years. After buying a 93, I was very disappointed. After a couple of years, I finally bought a Volvo.
To own one is to really appreciate how great DAABs were. Particularly in bad weather PNW and for big people. Once GM bought them, the end was in sight. Both my 99 EMS and 900 turbo were fantastic cars. Would love to drive either one today.
Thank you for your videos! I really like this storytelling, you are always choosing interesting cars and telling about them with so many details, and also I can't forget to mention your calm and clear voice and refined manner of speech: watching your videos greatly helps to train my English hearing, even my father started to watch your videos for practice. Best wishes from Moscow, Russia, keep doing this!
As a life-long, 50-year Pacific Northwesterner, I can vouch that Saabs are surprisingly well-represented region-wide even years after the demise of the marque. Here in Portland, Oregon, we continue to have a Saab dealer (who maintains a stock of gently-used cars that have been reconditioned to factory-new shape) with factory-trained Saab mechanics and a huge stock of Saab parts purchased from other (now defunct) Saab dealers. Thanks for this great video!
Whatttt? Where is it? I’d love to check it out next time I’m in Portland!
Down here in the South they’ve significantly thinned out. Still have a lot of Oldsmobile cutlasses though
You said surprising, but if someone said "Hey, guess which US city still has an active Saab dealership" I'm pretty sure I'd say Portland. How are you guys doing for Volvos, as a matter of interest?
@@andrewkatz3845 twin cities MN also still has a Saab dealer and several qualified repair garages
Never used Gary small, but there are still some good Saab service providers here. T-Scandia is my current go to shop.
One of your best videos ever. Saab was indeed a fine and desirable brand in its day but unfortunately too small to survive as an independent. To me the Gen 1 900 represents the best of Saab and they lost something when the much less appealing Gen 2 arrived. I visited a Saab dealer in 2003 (two dusty cars shoved at the back of a tacky prefab Chevrolet showroom for a supposedly premium brand!) as I was interested in the new 9-3. It was obvious that they had all but given up so I went and bought another Volvo instead.
Much as I love my Volvos, there will always be a place in my heart for Saab. Have driven quite a few 900s; super comfortable cars. Great video!
Same here.
like me - much as I was a Saab man all my life, we always had at least one good (older) Volvo among our Saabs... the one I loved the most was my wife's 740 GL station wagon ... great car.
that makes 2 of us !
240 4cyl red lock for ever
@@CaptainZG 740 great car if you never have to replace heater core. My daughter has a 740 turbo and I have to admit it's a good car except for that.
5:19 It’s a pity designers of modern cars don’t take note of SAAB’s philosophy for interior controls.
Central touch screens that take ever increasing times to navigate around menus to perform even simple functions are definitely a retrograde step when it comes to safety. 😡
I can't believe they are like that today but they are. For example Tesla having the speedometer in the middle and not in the sight of the driver!
Exactly. Knobs that you can use without looking at them are much safer,.
While ergonomics and designed user-interfaces were a big thing back in the 1980s, sadly, in the 2000s the concept of design has gone out the window. Just look at the user-interface on smartphone Apps, which you'd think was thrown together by a particularly clumsy (and dim-witted) ten year old. I was trained in user-interface design, back in the '80s, but haven't seen any job advertisements for those skills in many a long year.
It baffles me that gm doesnt use saabs connectors. Its far better than the crap they have now.
Never use that shit while driving. Do not text and drive! Same principle. YOU are driving, YOU get the fatal accidents. Pull over somewhere safe. Are you all duh?!
Errata: "Descendants", not "Ancestors" in the intro.
Alfa Romeo "Gweeya" should be "Julia". Bing Translate failed me!
Also, there aren't many cars with "16 valves per cylinder"! Rather the 16V were spread out over all four cylinders.
The photo that was supposed to be Erik Carlsson is actually of Per Eklund.
Here is an idea: get in contact with Doug DeMuro and do a video together. That should be fun to see.
I must say, I did shudder when I heard you pronounce it like that lol
I believe it is called Giulia (pronounced Julia )
😅😂🤣🤣
That and the Swedish ö is like the German one( think "Hermann..."). or the œ in hors d'œuvre.
This is one of the most informative videos about Saab that I've ever seen.... incredible history of the entire manufacturing of the Saabs....I absolutely love it.... Thank you endlessly. Let's push the Saab engineers to Launch the new Saab Opening....They most bring back this extraordinary most advanced vehicle ever created.... please make your voice and ours heard!!!
My 1991 900S 3-door was without a doubt the best car I have ever owned. Anthracite grey. My current 2001 Viggen convertible (and other 9-3s I've had) is poor in the snow but a 0-60 of 6.0 sec and top of 160mph. I've owned eight SAABs, the first I bought at 16 was a 1972 99LE. 24:34 is exactly how it looked (except for the removed headrests). I'd love to put a Trionic 7 motor into a SAAB 90.
Poor in snow with Michelin Pilot summer rubber. Lol, quite the opposite with proper winter tires.
As a life-time SAAB aficionado, I appreciate your approach to the SAAB 99>900 evolution. The references to the Ricardo-Triumph engine are fine to a point. Once the Swedes developed this engine, it was far from the original, crooked head-bolts Ricardo design. All it maintained was the original architecture.
My best tech could replace an N/A 99 or 900 clutch disc in 25 minutes!
Maybe replace a 900 clutch disc in that time, certainly not a complete clutch and certainly not a 99 clutch
Thanks for bringing that up. I was just going to write it. The Saab development of the old Triumph engine was a really good engine compared to the original Triumph engine. Ive owned both versions and many 99´s are still rolling here in sweden.
@@thomascatford2627 However, it can be done very fast. Less than 1 hour. And to change the disc you have to remove the complete clutch anyway. Its easy because the gearbox dont have to be removed at all.
@@TT.Hell. iim an old timer and worked on saabs 95/96/99/90/ 900 1978 till 2001, i would challenge you to fit a complete clutch including slave cyl to a 99 in under an hour, if you dont know how to change the clutch disc without removing the cover plate you should do some research
@@TT.Hell. the triumph type engine was originally a 1709cc then 1854cc they were good reliable units if maintained properly.
I’ve never even driven a Saab but I really had a respect for the brand with its innovations in safety and performance. It’s such a shame that it’s no longer in business
Buy a secondhand Saab. Why not? Take care you buy one that got great maintenance, do not buy a bad one. Nobody likes worn out this and worn out that, unless the price was low.
GM killed Saab by turning down the deal with the Chinese because of its fear of Chinese competition. Yet, GM now sells more cars in China than in the States since 2012. Go figure!
178k subscribers! I subscribed when there was only a few hundred, this channel is criminally undersubscribed. The content is extremely well researched and your choice of cars is excellent, so far.
Glad you've been here so long Marky!
The 900 shows what happens when a car is in production for too long. When it came out, its competitor was e.g the BMW 323i E21. Then the E30 came and went, and in 1993 you had the BMW 325i and M3 E36. Only a few people at that time prefered the Saab anymore, as sales numbers show.
At least in Germany, from the mid 80ies onwards the 900 was seen as a quirky car, mainly bought by architects, intellectuals and people who didn't want a BMW or Mercedes. And of course the convertible as a second car for the wife or children of rich people.
The 9000 had an even tougher time from the start and was rejected even by many Saab fans. At that time the Alfa 164 with its 3l Busso engine was a much more desirable alternative to a BMW 535i or Mercedes 300E.
But fast forward to today and everybody smiles when seeing a 900 😃
Imo, the 9000 CS is the better 'saab' tough. The level of over engineering is unreal. Plus that B234zl engine.. ❤
I Agree, Why buy anything else When there was the BMW e30 in the Showrooms ?
Even the e30 316 was a Brilliant car.
Then Came the BMW e34, Way Better than the e30.
Still Today i Run a BMW e34 525i SE Manual, with the M50 engine. from 1995, 26 Years old & no Probs at 130,000 miles. Great Car All round.
My secret is :-
I have an e34 520i SE manual & i Prefer My 520 to my 525, Same car Same Year. Same Engine less 500cc & 42 bhp. & Still a BMW 6 Cyl Inline 6.
And the Merc 190E . another Great car.
too long ? How about the Beetle ?
@@A1DJPaul In Sweden of course BMW was not the enemy, but the excellent Volvo 850 which outclassed the 900 in every way.
The Volvo 240 stayed in production for just as long though, and the Mini, Beetle and Lada Niva & Riva even longer? :) It can lead to cars becoming iconic.
Great video ! Exactly 6 weeks ago I bought a classic 900 S Convertible 1992 (colour 'citrix-beige') that was imported fom the USA in 1999. I think from California, because the Saab is almost stainless (free from rust). It's a magnificent car and I'm proud of it !
Thanks for the historical video. I owned a 1990 900 S and was a wonderful car while in college. Many years later I bought a 2003 9-3 Vector and was probably one of the best cars I ever owned, Zero turbo lag and a head turner for compliments. I ended my Saab ownership with the 2011 family 9-3 wagon in AWD. Unfortunately, GM had ruined Saab by then and the quality was poop. I was able to get a buy back offer. I bought a 2013 buick Regal GS with a turbo. Miss those cars!
Very interesting about the "AUSTIN" and "TRIUMPH" connection. Never knew that!
1:30 that was a great idea. When a friend got a used 9000 and showed it to me, he said: "Stroke the bumber here". When I did, I felt minor unevenness. And he said smiling: "Well the Polo that hit it is totally broke".
Another great video. I loved the 900 Turbo, always fancied one but never got to own one. It's amazing how often the Triumph Dolomite is referenced in stories on cars, it must've been ahead of its time!
the RHD offset pedals are something that you get used to after a while and stop noticing. What nobody ever mentions about the 99/900 is how the wiper blades freeze up in winter, making them solid and shaped to match the left-right curvature of the windscreen, so as soon as they move there's only the end points of them touching the glass. It doesn't matter really, but for something developed by a bunch of Swedish people it seems like a significant thing to ignore.
i'm sure i read somewhere that when the 9000 was being developed and people were finding out it was going to have passive rear steering, Lotus asked if they could have a look at it, but i can't find it any more
Great timing with Jason Cammisa's review :)
I own a 9000, but I always drool over the 900 everytime I see them, would love to try them or own one someday, (it is getting really expensive compared to 9000).
Great video and a story well told. I have a 900 convertible now after 99 and 900 and virtually grew up in SAAB‘s. There IS something special about them and you managed to capture just that.
If only Saab had done a deal with BL. Both companies had an incredible ability to produce innovative designs on a limited budget and had a slice of the executive market. Then again, there would have been no Rover R8. I'm so sad that both these clever yet troubled marques no longer exist.
You can now buy a Donkervoort. If you dare.
Will never forget my dad's SAAB 9000CSE! Such a shame SAAB aren't still around today, another tradgedy along with Rover.
A very good and very clear explanation. I was always intrigued by Saab but lived where it wasn't sold. Then after moving to the Netherlands, my new dutch g/f had a Saab 900 hatch. It was very well put together and I found it innovative in a number of respects. It was nice and solid to drive too, but lacked oomph - speed and agility. BTW: Alfa Romeo Giulia: It's pronounced 'Julia' !
I drove several Saab 99's in Finland, I loved them. Even got to drive several 2 stroke noticed ones. They had some nice curves on them
My first car was a Saab 90 - nice to see it featured in one of your videos! Also, here in Sweden, the 900 was always more of a peoples car than an all out luxury car - I still find it weird to think of it as one, however much I like the 900...
Exactly, when I moved to Scotland I noticed Volvo and Saab were like luxury cars. I mean, just like you, I'm a Swede and will always see Saab and Volvo as I see Ford and Vauxhall cars in the UK. Cars for the people as if you want luxury, you get BMWs or MB cars.
@@VinDieselS70 - made me remeber that I did a free-lance interview with the then Saab-designer Jason Castriota for Auto Motor & Sport at the 2010 LA Autoshow. I found it so strange and quite funny that he refered to the old Saabs (92, 93, 95, 96) as small premium/luxury cars! For me, they were allways the basic peoples-cars of Sweden. Sure, well built, but still at the bottom of the food chain...
Exactly, I knew several people who had the 900 working on building sites and just the average shopping car 😅
I also had a 90, didn't know they were built for only 3 years. 😮
Thank You So Much for keeping the Sweden 🇸🇪 made SAAB legacy alive! Many Happy Good Blessings in Return! 🌷🌿🌍💖🕊🇸🇪🇺🇸
I still see a few old 900's out on the road. Saab's definitely had a distinctive Seat Headrest style.
Check out the early 99 headrests, like 1972.
Saab 900 Turbo was an amazing car. I remember them well in the 80s.
I still have a '91 Saab 900 2.1i (3 door) and I really like it.
However, I recently bought a Saab 9000 CSE 2.3t. And oh my, the level of over-engineering and build quality is next level compared to the 900.
This. I have a 97 9000 CSE, I think the 9000 was the peak of engineering for Saab!
Massive appreciation from a huge Saab fan and owner of the last gen 9-3 from Russia! Really looking forward to the announced video about the later models!
Good review! The Mk1 900 was the one & only true SAAB. Especially in it's latest facelift, before GM came in, was quite a stylish & individual car (exterior/interior )
From Sweden I would say that the SAAB 96 was the only true SAAB
Thank you for displaying my (then) 900 Enduro, and portions of my video. A mention would have been nice, but I’m not overly precious about these things. Great channel, thanks as always.
I put an attribution in the lower left corner of the video. I would have put a link but I seem to recall the original link in your video was no longer up. Sorry to cause offence, I try to attribute and link in the description when I can. Is there a link I can add?
Yes.... I had a saab 9000 h plate bought for 160quid. It was awesome with so many luxuries.... however the big ends were goin hence 160 quid. Then I went to the scrappy to find an engine due its ace condition. I found another saab 9000.... one I've never seen before . It was an f plate - wasn't a turbo but it was gold and black. Its lights were slightly smaller.... the grill black instead of silver. A black duck tail spoiler with the lights continuing through the length of the boot via a fake sticker thing... it had 170k on the same 2ltr engine and was auto. It had no mot but the scrappy let me have it for 100quid. It passed mot right out! I've never seen another one. Tried looking om the net. Nothing. Black and gold with gold wheels too.... sadly a white van man wrote it off.... his name "Mr grub!" How appropriate. Anyway I was gutted.
Many years later running my channel a subscriber bought us a saab 93 convertible. I loved it....but guess what.... Big ends killed it.... a common problem from that engine. I have links on my channel should you wish to see me pick it up and blog with it via music vids etc. It was a turbo as well...
Forever grateful for that from my subscriber who sadly passed away from cancer. Again I have links if you wish to view the blogs....anyone reading this. Just ask.
Best wishes.
Riley
The most beautiful product ------ 1987 Saab 900 Turbo 16
A really fun car to drive, especially with the turbo engine.
Thank goodness you explained where the Pacific Northwest is!!
Everybody has been looking everywhere for it!
Thank you so much! Makes me miss our dark blue 1983 900 3 door 115hp manual shift. The car my wonderful wife learned to drive a stick with - and enjoyed it!
The title is a bit misleading. The B engine from 1972 onward was no longer a Triumph engine and certainly not by the time the 900 came along. Saab thoroughly revised it, ironing out the inherent flaws the original Triumph engine was burdoned with, the major one being the construction of the cylinder head which was prone to warp when overheating and the bolts were partly slanted making it almost impossible to remove the head. For all intents and purposes, the B engine was of Saab's own construction, and by extension, so was the H engine.
The Triumph engine was an absolute disaster. It overheated. I owned a TR7 and was glad to see the back of it. SAAB had to rework it .
@@tryagain.k1821
The Triumph engine was superb. Ask SAAB, they used it for three years in its original form. Still made today in China.
The SAAB engine from 1972 onwards were Triumphs tweaked a little here and there.
@@johnburns4017 i owned and drove the Triumph engine. It was unreliable because it overheated. Suggesting that SAAB did a "few" tweaks raises the question as to why Triumph didn't do the "few" tweaks.
@@johnburns4017 And how many of the Triumph engines have you owned and driven? It was a very good teapot. Very stressful driving in summer with the heater on full to help cool the engine.
Great video - love the structure of the first section but then the opinion section took it up to an even higher level. Well done indeed
Seen a sticker on a 9000: "Born by airplanes, killed by as***les". Nailed it!
Alfas 8,32 ought to be a fairly safe swap. If you're a fan.
Great video. I had a 1984 900 Turbo which was only just run-in when the company sold it at 90,000 miles. Followed it with a 9000 Turbo. Smoother turbo response, quieter, roomier, but the change from double wishbone front suspension to Macpherson strut did affect the handling - you always knew exactly where you were in the 900. Also, I loved the hefty clunk of the 900 doors. My wife, after nearly 40-odd years sometimes remarks on that feeling of safety that gave her. There were so many thoughtful and brilliant design features in that car, like locking the transmission in reverse when parking (this stopped a London car compound copper in his tracks once), and the ability to deliver fresh air to the face and warm air to the feet. Just looking at the shots of the dashboard makes me feel very nostalgic (today I drive a VW Touran, still going strong at 120,000 and with a bit of the same driver appeal). But it's not the same.
My first car was a 1985 900 non-Turbo. It was reliable, easy to work on, made decent power and a unique sound.
Enjoyable video. I learned to drive in my mother's 99 and drove my father's 900 turbo during the late 70s/early 80s, so I have a soft spot for these cars. Touching on the Fiat partnership, a Saab 600 was marketed in the Nordic countries, basically a badge-engineered Lancia Delta, with all the rust issues associated with Italian cars of that era. Not sure if any survive up here now! However I think it was a foretaste of what was to become of the Saab brand under GM ownership,
Good video. I owned and drove a 96, a 900 flat front turbo coupe, a 9000 and a 93 convertible. The 900 was rock solid, charismatic and fun. I did 300.000 km+ with it, sometimes on terrible roads, camping out in the back, but no major problems. It never let me down, the original gearbox, engine, turbo, steering rack, springs etc all doing fine. The 9000 was smooth and civilised, but more fragile and suffering expensive electronic bugs. The 93 is a pleasant, easily loved, understated convertible, though more mainstream and missing the independent character of the original 900.
Honestly I think it's unfair to say that GM was the death of Saab. Hear me out. Because if GM hadn't bought them in the nineties, Saab would've probably stopped existing right there and then. Saab was just a difficult company to keep afloat. The quirky way the cars were designed meant they cost a lot of money during development. But the low sales numbers meant that getting your investment back was difficult. GM at least tried to cut development costs by building Saabs on a shared platform, like the Volkswagen is now doing with its MQB platform (which has Skoda, Seat, Audi, Volkswagen, you name it on it). GM gave us the (pretty terrible) 900NG. But also the much more loved 9-3 and 9-5. The 9-2X and the 9-7X are some weird last ditch efforts to boost sales and, well, at least they tried 'something'. The last 2010 9-5NG and 9-4X SUV were serious contenders. But in the end Saabs were just a tough sell. Because they were asking Audi money for what people saw as a modified Opel. And they sold them in Porsche numbers. Combined with the fact that the only people who would buy Saabs were not regular customers, but rather just the Saab enthusiasts, made that GM ultimately had no option but to sell Saab when the 2008 recession hit. Of course the Americans from Detroit weren't the best parents for the weird, quirky Swedish car brand we all love. But without them Saab's final model would've been the 900 we all just looked at.
My first "real" car was a 4 year old SAAB 900 & it was so reliable that I had it for 12 years, the only reason I got rid of it was the end of leaded fuel. I had it so long that some people thought I'd bought another that was exactly the same! I could drive it all day because it was so comfortable & ergonomic. I'd have kept it years longer if it could have used unleaded.
All Saab’s can use unleaded since 1979…
@@DrRock2009 Once I had to use unleaded mine knocked no matter what & fuel consumption went through the floor. Performance dropped, too. I wasn't the only one that this happened to & SAAB dealer told me that my engine wasn't going to last long like this.
And Yes I miss SAAB. I owned a couple and at one point in the Late 1980's when just out of school I sold SAABs at the San Francisco Dealership which at the time was located on the site of the old Seal Stadium. People loved their SAABS!
I loved my 3 classic Saab 900s, my T16s was possibly my favourite car I've owned.
Very nice! My dad had a 1992 900 and I owned a 900-2. Both very different of course but loved and still love and miss Saab.
Missing Saab; in Spain were very rare and only 3 door till mid 80s; the local dealer in Barcelona was on my way to Arts School and I've got fascinated in spring 1981 when I saw a black Saab 900 Turbo 4 doors for the first time; I even took friends over.
Pacific Northwest mentioned. Immediate thumbs up
Great video! This one of the hero cars of my youth and I love it how you talk about rather normal cars, while the internet is already full of exotic stuff. And let people talk about minor mistakes or whatever. Your vids are something I am really looking forward too! Those vids will be a source of information for many years to come and people will still watch this in many, many years.
Oh and I can't wait for part II about the new 900/9-3 cos that's a brilliant story too! I know a bit about that!
My first new car was a 1985 Saab 900 Turbo. I was a lieutenant in the US Army stationed in Germany. I miss driving that car down the Autobahn. Few cars passed me, usually Porsche 911's and high end Mercedes, Audi, and BMWs. I still dream about her.
I had 1988 turbo ragtop. The turning circle for that car was amazing. Very comfortable and engaging car.
I had no idea you live in the PNW. Same here, although I’m about 180 miles south of you, if your photos indicate anything! And I owned an ‘89 900 sedan I bought used for $900. Loved it until it became unreliable. I still miss it. Everyone joked about New England college professors owning them, but they were extremely common here in our corner of the country, as well.
Then you'll be pleased if I say "Go Sounders!" (or not!)
@@BigCar2 Haha! Never! #RCTID
Thanks for this retrospective of this very important model for Saab ! The Saab I remember from my teenage years! The sound of the Turbo on this big engine! Love it!
Great video. Currently driving my 4th (black) Saab, a SportCombi from '08. Holds all my music gear, most notably my orchestra bass. Gotta fit that or the trio of keys plus amp (piano, organ, synth), or the drum set and eBass rig, gotta be manual trans, gotta have HP, gotta be relatively small and sit as a car. Also just love the way they look and drive.
I've been waiting for this story! Wonderful, well done.
Have you done one on the
Panhard PL17? A very interesting car from one of the very FIRST automobile manufacturers. One of Jay Leno's favorites.
I love your videos. I rode in in a Saab 900 with a friend when I was 14 years old. Incredible, quirky car.
When i was younger , i was thinking to own a Saab at 1 time , loved the way they looked , but i was too young for it back then .It is sad they are gone , because some ideas really good and different ideas .
I had a 99, one of the finest cars I've ever owned, I'd love to have one now
Agree with Chris D (below): I still have a '94 9000 V6 3.0L Griffin as a 'daily driver' and it hasn't missed a beat. Lives outside but still no rust and the original paint still shines in the Australian sun. Superb build quality and almost everything still works as it did when new. Massive boot (trunk) and great suspension. My most reliable car - ever. And I've had a few...!
I had Leyland Princess 2 with 2-litre engine as well as Saab 99. I needed to replace cluch parts on the Princess, and surprisingly the Saab parts did fit.
Last year i inherited a 33 year old SAAB 900 turbo four door Sedan from my father.
Damn'! That's a really nice and comfortable car. Love it. 😍
Greetings fellow car nerd enthusiast, Mr Big Car! Saying hello from a cozy corner in Seattle with my '01 Subaru Forester 5 spd 2-tone green & tan.
My family had 2 Saab convertibles at the same time in the 90s when I was in high school. Really high quality cars
I always liked the Saab 900 (especially the convertible), from it's looks, to quirky but innovative features. Another car on my bucket list that I'll probably never get. I remember in the mid 1980s to mid 1990s, they seemed to be everywhere, but now they are a rare sight, even in the Okanagan Valley of BC, which many consider to part of the Pacific Northwest. I know they were big in Toronto, Montréal and the New England states too.
Looking forward to the 9-3 video. I owned one, and wish I still had it. It's a shame SAAB is no longer around.
Brilliant video! 👌🏻🤩👍🏻
Such a shame Saab is not alive anymore... 😢
16 valves per cylinder! Now that would have been something for British Leyland to consider :-) ...
Great episode as always!
Now you know why I need a script!
@@BigCar2 ❤️
Had a 1980 900 Turbo for a while. Loved it. Accelerated like a rocket sled on rails and stuck to the road. A big heavy beast to throw around English roads, but never felt like one.
always a pleasure to watch one of your videos
Great video - very well researched and presented. The SAAB 900 classic is one of my favourite cars - especially in 3dr Aero form - I would have loved to have owned one!
Again...a great video! 👍🏼
Really loved my two Saabs, both 99 and 99EMS. My wife had an older 96 which was very good, had so much character. I was passionate about the brand. As time passed it seemed the company were producing ever more expensive cars, chasing the executive market that BMW, Audi etc we’re having so much success with. With hindsight I often wonder whether this may have helped contribute to their woes.
Perhaps they may have done better producing a good quality bread and butter vehicle instead of moving into the exec market.
I love the vibe of the Saab at 14:30. Nice colour and interior. 🙂🙂
Never knew you lived in the USA....
Despite being an avid watcher of your videos .. .
Saab 900 classic had a few ...brilliant and characterful cars ...
I had a few of these. A 99 and 900 Excellent quality.
Loved my Saab 93s, had four of them! My Dad test drove a Saab 99 turbo, decided it was almost lethal on a wet road!
The original 900 was, in my opinion, the best SAAB ever. I had 2, a 1982 900 4-door and a 1984 900S hatch. I truly love and miss them...
Never knew that, about the Triumph engines being used in these cars!
I've had 2 900's and a 93 Convertible. Fantastic cars that eventually became too expensive to run due to constrained part availability. Such a shame they couldn't have been saved. Oldsmobile, I could live without. Saab? A gem that fell into the ocean.
Great video. Thanks. (1st owner 1996 900S convertible, non-turbo)
As an Finnish i remeber Saab 90/99/900 models where everywhere, but quite rare sight today 😪
Always liked them, especially combi-coupe body-style models 😎
I live about 30 miles from former Saab factory, today they build some Mercedes Benz models there.
After Saab and Talbot there was also built Lada Samaras, Opel/Vauxhall Calibras, Fisker Karmas and Porsche Boxters and Caymans, quite a selection for one factory... 😁
Had two saab 900s. Both saw high millage with no trouble. Comfortable good performance. Only downside was it's fuel consumption.
Hello from Sweden! These videos are most impressive, all the facts and details make the videos very instructive and entertaining. Two thumbs up! Keep up the great work.
Glad you like them!
SAAB 900 CD (Compact disc player standard in that trim). Obviously IMHO and with all due respect 👌
Can you do 'The Holden Commodore Story', or the 'Ford Fiesta Story'?
don't let the keyboard warriors grind you down about having to be so exact about which generation of a car you're presenting. by default it will be the original. your presentations are excellent and follow the evolution of each car. when a manufacturer decides to badge engineer/adapt a different car/platform it is no longer the same car and deserves it's own presentation, as you do.
it's not easy making quality presentations but it's easy as a viewer to dismiss them.
keep up the good work my friend. I like many others look forward to the next video. thankfully they're no longer about cars I've owned lol
I live in Wisconsin and have also hit 8 deer, but with 4 different cars. I did it in less than 500,000 miles over the past 20 years though.
Being an old Swedish SAAB mechanic I remember that the Triumph motor was only put in the first model of the 99 series. The cylinderhead bolts where angled in a strange way the older mechanics told me so sometimes they had to use a tool to pry it up a little from the engine block so they could saw of the bolts to get the head of when they had to. Then came the 2 liter motor with electronic ignition, I believe this was in the 70ies. After that I believe they released the turbo models and towards the end the twin cam 16 valves motor and then the Swedish politician Maud Olofsson killed SAAB.
Cant wait for the 9-3 video!
To bad Saab is gone, I liked them.
I had a Saab first in 1970s, then various until my final Saab 93 in 2011
Brilliant! My 900 was a 2000 model so I can look forward to a 3rd video about my actual car. 👊
I live in the PNW and am of Swedish descent, I drove my red SAAB 99 for years. After buying a 93, I was very disappointed. After a couple of years, I finally bought a Volvo.
To own one is to really appreciate how great DAABs were. Particularly in bad weather PNW and for big people. Once GM bought them, the end was in sight. Both my 99 EMS and 900 turbo were fantastic cars. Would love to drive either one today.
Thank you for your videos! I really like this storytelling, you are always choosing interesting cars and telling about them with so many details, and also I can't forget to mention your calm and clear voice and refined manner of speech: watching your videos greatly helps to train my English hearing, even my father started to watch your videos for practice. Best wishes from Moscow, Russia, keep doing this!
Glad I could help!
I miss velour seats. The leather seats in my Buick are okay. But nothing beats 80's velour