How I Added a Zero to My 900: SAAB Thread

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Automotive Insanity > How I Added a Zero to My 900: SAAB Thread

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

TurboLuvah posted:

A roomate of mine (also a SAAB tech) had a manual 9000 Aero in college, and gently caress I loved that car so much.

Yeah, I honestly believe they're one of the best all-round cars ever built.

# ¿ Nov 23, 2009 23:16

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# ¿ Apr 27, 2024 03:48

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

mobby_6kl posted:

I also really like the look of the Saab 3-spoke wheels, but not like those fitted on the OP's car (are they even 3-spoke?), instead I think they are the Aero/SPG wheels:

Yeah, those are Aero wheels, they're a little wider with a deeper lip than the similar styled ones on lower models. I also really think they suit the Saab styling.

# ¿ Nov 25, 2009 21:55

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Sabmo posted:

I've had my 5-speed Aero for around 7 months and I've enjoyed every single second I've spent with it. I still take the long way home. Here she is:

And for whoever asked about the seats.. yes, Saab have always made the best, most comfortable seats in the industry.

Enjoy your 9000!

Trust me, if you ever sell this thing, you will regret it. I love 9000 Aeros.

# ¿ Dec 19, 2009 10:53

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Francis Baconator posted:

That is some sweet SAAB porn, man. Those seats are truly badass. How many miles are on that baby? I don't think I've gotten to see some good pics of a 9000 Aero. Didn't the Aero make 225hp? Perhaps some under-hood shots are in order. Even though mine is N/A, it's still fun to throw around with the 5 speed and it doesn't have that pesky TCS.

Yep, they're 225bhp, but the in-gear acceleration belies that fact. They shift. Also, I don't know about the US versions, but UK ones didn't have TCS or any kind of LSD. They handle pretty well though - There's a fair chance that trying to drive fast by just planting your right foot will see you understeer off the first roundabout you come to, but if you make sure the car does what it's drat well told, you can cover ground with phenomenal alacrity.

# ¿ Dec 19, 2009 21:06

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Sabmo posted:

There are a few sweet-spots I've picked up on.. like in second gear at around 25mph, bury the throttle and your mind actually warps. In-gear acceleration is so good and the torque wave so early you can basically forget about downshifting at all.

One of the claims to fame for the 9000 Aero was that 50-70 was faster than a Diablo. It's quite nice when you've got the cruise control on - even though it uses mild throttle openings, you can often outdrag people on motorways just by using the "speed +" button, rather than touching the pedal...

# ¿ Dec 24, 2009 13:09

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Sabmo posted:

Do you have an Aero yourself, Dave?

My old man had one which I drove a lot. I wish he hadn't sold it (as does he, to be honest), but I'm a little "umm" about buying myself another one. Even the newest are ten years old now, and it doesn't seem that easy to find good ones. Unfortunately, the newer Saabs just don't seem the same

# ¿ Dec 25, 2009 12:49

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

# ¿ Jan 13, 2010 22:51

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

This guy has gone pretty :science:

on all the wiring/electronics of that era Saab: http://pikkupossu.1g.fi/tomi/projects/projects.html

# ¿ Jun 3, 2010 20:28

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Is it just when you shift quickly - is it ok if you do a very deliberate out-neutral-in shift? Sounds like a synchromesh on its way out, yeah. A good choice of gearbox oil can alleviate a lot of it, but it depends what those boxes like.

# ¿ Jul 5, 2010 21:37

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Karl Barks posted:

Yeah, if I do it slowly it pretty much never does it.

Sounds like textbook work synchromesh to me. Irritating, but like I said, the right oil can help, and honestly, if you're not too ham-fisted with it, a gearbox with recalcitrant synchros can still last just as long as a perfect one.

# ¿ Jul 7, 2010 23:17

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Sabmo posted:

That photo doesn't do them justice either; 9000 Aero seats are truly a work of art.

Apart from looking amazing, they're still the most comfortable and supportive car seats I've sat in to date. I'm sure anyone else that's sat in a good set of them will back me up on that.

Backing you up on that. They're unbelievably good.

# ¿ Jul 31, 2010 22:42

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Viggen posted:

I probably should not offer advice on this as a new guy, but I've also looked at 900s because of their relative cheapness, and more than a few 900S in my day .

AI respects knowledge, not postcount or reg date. That might sound rather conceited, but if you know what you're talking about, no-one's going to call you out for just wading right in.

# ¿ Sep 13, 2010 09:46

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

TheJeffers posted:

How much work would it be to replace a slave cylinder on a 1991 9000 Aero? Someone near me is selling a gorgeous one for cheap, but it needs said slave cylinder done in order to be drivable.

Unless I'm mistaken, they're a concentric design, so yes, it's going to be hard work.

But don't give up, even if you don't buy this one, find a manual one, don't buy an auto.

# ¿ Oct 24, 2010 14:44

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Petekill posted:

I found some ones I liked on Ebay, I don't think they're ugly

When Viggen said "troll forums", he didn't mean us.

# ¿ Dec 18, 2010 15:49

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

MALCOLM XTREME posted:

Oh and torque steer is the worst. Seriously?

I've not found Saabs to be that bad. Bit of extra feedback in the steering under certain circumstances maybe, but certainly not "Oh sweet Jesus, which way are we going to go next?".

# ¿ Jun 28, 2011 23:18

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Clayton Bigsby posted:

Oh man, this thing accelerates like a motherfucker in 3rd gear.

An Aero-spec Saab in third is pretty much able to convince the most ardent "naturally aspirated only" people of the :haw:

factor of turbos.

The autos suck, though.

# ¿ Jul 14, 2011 21:06

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Viggen posted:

^* Not entirely sure if that's a manual. No VIN, not gonna ask. I'll take sedans and hatches, don't need to get into wagons.

Well, he speaks of having the transmission flushed, which would make me think auto.

# ¿ Jul 17, 2011 22:54

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Viggen posted:

Sick of it, now. gently caress off, 9K.

You know what must be done.

# ¿ Aug 11, 2011 00:00

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Viggen posted:

It was a 9KT.. not an Aero, though. Technically, at the moment, it still is.

What I meant was go buy a last-of-the-line Aero.

# ¿ Aug 11, 2011 00:20

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Buy the convertible, it's a manual.

The only thing that puts me off those 9-3s is that with the Aero suspension and 17" wheels they seem to rattle like a biscuit tin on bad roads.

# ¿ Aug 16, 2011 23:07

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Is it some kind of GM thing? Because my Frontera didn't have an access panel to get at the fuel pump either, and dropping an 80L tank with a big steel guard attached to it was no fun whatsoever.

# ¿ Sep 10, 2011 10:12

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Karl Barks posted:

I also ran into a 90 degree angle directly in the center of my front bumper, which made the two sides of the bumper sort of pop out right in front of the front wheel wells. I'm trying to sell my car, and I'm not sure how easy/expensive this would be fix or if it's even worth fixing.

And finally some guy backed into my driver side door and left a small dent that has no hard edges. Should I just remove the interior door panel and try to punch the dent back out?

Sounds like time for a man-in-a-van PDR guy, especially the latter.

# ¿ Sep 17, 2011 16:59

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

I guess either a sticky valve or a split in a boost-side hose could gently caress up the mixture? Make it run rich?

# ¿ Sep 21, 2011 20:35

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

I'd imagine someone in each major market country would buy up the spares stock and the right to be an "official" distro, perhaps maybe in exchange for taking on the warranty responsibility?

# ¿ Dec 20, 2011 23:09

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

As a minor "Oh FFS" sidenote, my Dad's '02 9-3 appears to be leaking power steering fluid - specifically, I think it's the crimp joint behind the right-side headlight on the hose that runs across the top of the radiator from the reservoir.

Anyone else seen that before? I'm used to mild leaks from pumps, racks and reservoirs, and sometimes the assembled joints aren't too clever, but this is the first time I've seen one of the pre-assembled crimp joints apparently fail.

# ¿ Jan 7, 2012 00:27

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Yeah, once he's sure on what's actually leaking, he'll probably replace it, and it's going to come down to either a standard replacement part, or generic hydraulic hose from a local specialist, whichever is cheaper.

It's not leaked before now, and it's a 2002, so while I'm surprised that it's gone, ten years doesn't seem too harsh.

# ¿ Jan 9, 2012 19:19

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Looks like my dad's going to be getting that PS pipe replaced - apparently it's looking like the one that runs from the pump to the rack in the end.

Also, he's planning to swap on some 16" alloys to try and lighten up the ride a bit - now, 16" Saab alloys should clear the brakes on an earlier 9-3 Aero, correct? Seems he's found a set with 215/55R16 tyres which, though looking a little bigger than standard to my eyes, should be ok. All the 5-stud Saabs are the same, aren't they? 5x110 PCD, 65.1 bore, about 40mm ET?

He's probably going to be changing it sometime this year for something different, so any UK guys who might be interested, let me know. It's probably worth about �1500 tops at this age.

# ¿ Jan 12, 2012 23:34

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

kimbo305 posted:

Should I be intrigued by this?:
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/cto/2798888939.html

I have two things that I've always been keen on:
- those seats
- InitialDave always talking up the power

Ahaha, yes, sorry about that, I hope it doesn't turn out to be some kind of confabulation on my part. It's probably a good ten years since I drove one, but my resounding memory has always been the combination of comfort and on-demand thrust.

Maybe driving one now, they wouldn't feel as special, but I really don't want that to be the case, I love the things.

# ¿ Jan 16, 2012 08:57

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

I refuse to believe that you aren't making "brrm, brrm" noises in that picture.

# ¿ Mar 9, 2012 23:00

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Francis Baconator posted:

It's gorgeous. SAAB could've given Volvo a run for their money with something like that. I think I just found my new desktop.

Honestly, with their large hatchbacks, Saab were about as practical as Volvo but with (at the time) a better image and way more performance.

Drop me in, say, the mid Eighties, and in need of a family car, and Saab would be far further up the list than Volvo.

# ¿ May 13, 2012 19:25

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

gently caress yeah, best thing they ever built.

# ¿ Sep 26, 2012 19:10

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

A 2000 9-3 turbo with a year's MOT for �400 sounds intriguing, in that "multiple disasters waiting to happen" way...

# ¿ Oct 12, 2012 14:16

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Johnny Cache Hit posted:

I think I can taste the engine sludge over the internet.

Viggen posted:

Worst case, you're probably just looking for a new B205. If you're really lucky, it'll be a rancid pile of poo poo that has water damage to the electrics. Not that I'd hold out much hope, but try to get TIS records and oil change data, check for PCV#6, etc, etc..

It's probably sludged with a slipping clutch - and thats' just the test drive.

Oh, I'm not actually interested in it, I just thought I'd post it up in case another UK guy might be, and for general mechanical :cthulhu:

comments.

# ¿ Oct 12, 2012 17:12

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Could they just have replaced the cluster with one that had the boost gauge? Does it even work?

# ¿ Nov 18, 2012 17:38

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

atomicthumbs posted:

Classic 900s really are the best-looking cars. If only Volvo and Saab had decided to work together during the 80s to make Saabs reliable and Volvos fun...

No, it'd be like the Alfa Arna.

# ¿ Jan 2, 2013 23:04

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

The Arna was meant to combine Japanese bulid quality with Italian design flair. They got it the other way round.

# ¿ Jan 2, 2013 23:45

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

You could probably more than make your money back by selling your original seats on to a VW Camper guy. Seems to be quite popular for some reason.

# ¿ Jan 14, 2013 21:44

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

astropika posted:

low power steering fluid is usually a chewbacca noise when you turn the wheel.

That's pretty much the perfect description. It's like when someone was trying to describe having their tyres rub on the inner wing at full lock, and they said it was "a yelp like a lion trying to poo poo out its lunchtime antelope horns first".

# ¿ Jan 16, 2013 00:01

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# ¿ Apr 27, 2024 03:48

InitialDave: Jun 14, 2007; I Want To Believe.

Someone's just trying to be cute with the Subaru link.

I believe said cheeky porcine character may be found acting as mascot for fine JDM publication Young Magazine. Often seen on Subarus because everyone knows pigs live in STIs.

# ¿ Feb 9, 2013 22:32

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Automotive Insanity > How I Added a Zero to My 900: SAAB Thread