Just going to piss you off a bit. I was born and bred in trollhättan, with the saab factory visible in the horizon, during my 20 year life we always had saabs, og900's, 9000's, 9-5's, and currently, in the family, i have my 1999 og9-3, my mom and dad have a 1996 9000 cse 2.3t, 2005 9-5 vector 2.3t with 139 000km on the clock, and my sister have a 1998 ng900 with a mere 140 000 km driven. Currently tracking down a 1987 og900 aero(spg) wich is a bit of a unicorn. the car was "for internal use only" according to the VIN number. Never meant to be sold. And i think i have the possibility to buy it (work needed) for 10 000 swedish kr
Exonerate Films I read "Just going to piss you off a bit" I thought you were going to hate on Saab. I have a 1996 9000 Aero, a 2002 9-3 Viggen and my dad a 2007 9-5 9-5 SportCombi.
1800smd000 my dad has a saab 900 turbo convertible the NG version that he had its engine tuned up to 300 HP from 180hp and has a new radio and some new parts in. I would say though that the seats needs to be changed or fixed since the leather is almost like gone.
My dad bought a brand new 900 (Grey color, four door) in 1990 when I was born. He hoped some day I would be old enough to drive then give it to me. Five ago I got my license and sat behind the wheels. I was the best moment indeed :) Sadly We lost the 900 because of the earthquake and tsunami that happened two yeas ago in Japan. This year he got a 1991 900 ( red, two door coupe) and we love it to death
I was 23 when I brought a black 900 turbo with the Inca wheels I’m 62 now and this car is the one that had the biggest impression on me , I absolutely loved this car with its unique looks and bonnet, I’d buy one in a moment if I could find a one . So many fond memories , they was such a cool car .
I'll never forget the feeling of seeing my 900 rolling up on a flatbed after I bought it sight-unseen from half the country away. Gave me chills, and I knew I was entering a new phase of my life; of owning and enjoying this car on a daily basis. I own two 900s, a 1989 Turbo coupe in rose quartz, and a white 1993 Turbo convertible. They're like family to me!
I've had 6 BMWs and 9 SAABs, overall I love the 900T the most. The BMW 535is is great too and definitely "more" car but it will run you more money IMO. My 2002tii, well... damn I am so sad not to have that one anymore :( I've had SPG, Convertibles, a bunch of coupes and one coupe S..... currently a rust free '92 from Colorado. christopher-king.blogspot.com/2016/05/kingcast-says-if-saab-had-me-on.html
I have the deepest and most heartfelt love for the old non gm saabs. I owned two 9000S one was a 89 non turbo that got me through school and the other was a 91 turbo. Good god did those cars have TONS of character and they also had this certain....something I can't quite put my finger on it - VERY special cars! They even smelled a certain way that only true saab lovers know what I am talking about. And those seats WOW! the most comfy seats I have sat in to date! I am not even kidding AMAZING seats! RIP Saab thanks a ton GM!
I watched this video when it came out, and I bought my first 900 three days later. I just re-watched the video a few minutes ago, immediately opened Craigslist and searched for a few minutes before remembering that I've been driving a 900 every day since early October...
I've said this before and I'll say it again. Petrolicious makes videos that make the inner petrolhead in us come out. This video for me is perfection since I currently own my first an probably last car, a SAAB 9-3. Please keep making the videos that you make.
My dad had an '83 Saab 900 Turbo in Amaranth Red Metallic manual and it was unique, drove great and was built like a tank. A real shame that Saab is no longer with us.
My first love was a 1984 SAAB 900 T Saloon. Rose quartz with burgundy interior. I had her for about 10 years (mom got it for me when I was young). I had tuned the APC unit, added a lightweight flywheel and kevlar clutch, as well as, a boost controller. If you know SAAB you know they are heavy but with just those minor mods she became a monster. That car saved my life 3 times (mom was a terrible driver) and was finally totaled when a lady after an insurance claim slammed into me. Even totaled I towed her around for a couple years until finally I could no longer keep up with the cost. I am a die hard SAAB fan and intend to buy and forever hold on to a 900 SPG or even an elusive AERO. As said in this video Rest In Peace SAAB. Honestly though, I think GM killed them around 1993 when they bought into SAAB. They just were never the same.
Ive owned more than 10 900's.....They ARE FANTASTIC VEHICLES!!! Very well built and SOLID. They are quirky, but what car thats worth your time isnt? They are all unique, each one I've owned has had its own personality. My last one was my 89 900T Cabrio... I lowered her, put new 17in Wheels that were modeled to look like original newer 900 Viggen wheels.... I modified the Saab APC Turbo Control module....I took out the original RED Box that was in the vehicle and grabbed a "Black" Box from the salvage yard and modified it to produce 18lbs of RELIABLE electronically controlled Boost...and BOOST SHE DID... WHAT A CAR. I miss her almost daily. She was too nice for me to keep however the roads and drivers where i live made each trip out with her a nerve wracking experience. If you are lucky enough to buy one of these...DO IT....you will learn a lot about cars and enjoy fixing them up....The rewards are easily appreciated by any Die Hard gearhead and easily translate to budding Gear Heads alike. 900's will never die
i've worked in a saab garage in the netherlands a few years before they ended existing. i drove a lot of 900 turbo's those days. realy cool cars and bulletproof! my mom still drives a 90 with more than 300.000 miles. still looks like "as good as new"
I started with a used saab 74 99 drove it 10 years with very little problems then bought another used saab 900 84 then bought a used saab 95 900se turbo and still driving it today with very few issues great video thanks
GM ruined Saab, they took one of most innovative and competent manufacturers and shit on them with crap Opel platforms. Shame on GM what they did was criminal.
GM didn't ruin Saab they gave them an artificial heart to keep them alive for another 25 years. Sure they weren't the same as they used to be but they would have died in 1989 without GM's financial backing.
+dontmesswiththeman Yeah...it's funny how this very basic part of that story is lost on the type of people whose outrage stems from their apparent inability to process complete information.
dontmesswiththeman oh, you mean the same GM that would be dead without a government bailout. Please GM produced crap for years, wanna a bet that if VW or Toyota had bought them they'd still be around today. Sorry but you're defence of GM is misplaced.
Spent a decent chunk of my childhood being ferried around in a '84 900GLI. Still one of the best cars the family has ever owned. Near vertical wrap-around windscreen, giant rubber rear wing, massive boot (trunk), lovely and distinctive exhaust note. Wonderful car.
"its like a bugbite, first you get introduced, once you kind of get into them, feel out what theyre kind of like, get sucked into it" amen to that! my first saab was a 9000, never ever again something else
as a child growing up in the 80s I loved the shape of a Saab and would hope that some day my mum & dad would get one, but never happened... hope some day to buy one such a cool looking car even today..timeless.. great film. keep up the good work.
Finally got an 86 SPG , a one owner car CA/AZ car, who died and now getting it back up to snuff. Drove from AZ to CO 756 miles on an unseen car. Flew out with 40lbs of tools and shipped parts to AZ, car had been running but died so put in new starter, wires, plus cap and rotor and 2 1/2 hours later drove back home. Amazed I made it after the wiring hardness was self destructing. Fun car with lots of turbo lag and no blind spots, these SPGs were $24K USD when new and some are selling for 21K now! Sorting it out now and its the 6th Saab in the driveway now. It got same engine and tranny at 233,333 miles!
My lord... I had this same car back when I was 17.. Just like this car, I had it totally painted Crimson Blood Metallic, SPG Panels, Pumpers, Rear Louvers.. All color coded in the most stunning color on earth. I Bought it from SaabWorks in Essex Mass in 1997. The entire car had been rebuilt with the engine out /rebuilt, the transmission out/rebuilt, new fuel pump/lines/filter, new CV axles, new wheel bearings, brake disks/pads/4 calipers, Plus he had the suspension totally removed and every bushing replaced along with Poly ones used on the sway bars. The owner at the shop even did the upper A arm bushings (something that NEVER gets replaced because you need the motor out to replace them on both sides and the KEY to making an classic 900 feel like a new car is to replace these) These cars have a double a arm front suspension so all these cars that still live, most are still running original inner upper a arm bushings. Then, the owner tuned the APC chip for me to make the car one of the fastest cars on the road. I drove 3.5 hours from Vermont to outside North Boston to get the car and since he knew I was coming so far with cash in hand, he took the car on a few hour drive to run an errand in south boston and along the way, dialed in my SPG's APC chip with it's fully rebuilt drivetrain to push maximum boost safely. When I finally got to the car, it was insanity... a fully rebuilt, essentially brand new driving SPG that was pushing over 265 hp. The turbo gauge would pin itself at 6 o'clock at 2800 RPM's until 7500. Roasted just about any car made back in the late 90's and no 4 cyl could touch me. To top it off, I ran 215/40R16's on super Aero rims with 3/4" spacers which GLUED the car on the road. With the factory stiffer lowered sport springs, thicker sway bars with poly inner and outer bushings and the widened stance on 9.5" super Aeros wrapped in 215/40' Nitto 505 ZR Performance tires, the thing was on rails. I would recommend any SPG owner who is running 16" Aero rims to run that size tire. Still get a comfortable ride, but the road feel, grip ad fit is beyond perfect. I bought the car at 160k when rebuilt, had it painted a week after buying it and the first day at school with my newly painted Metallic crimson SPG, I parked it right in the front ad the entire school came out to see it. The French teacher who drive a GTI with rims told me that day that my SPG was the "Most beautiful car she had ever seen".. The only compliment or phrase she ever uttered to me ( I took Spanish). But when you paint a SPG all one color instead o leaving the side skirts grey, it makes the car look like a Porsche. especially if you run 215/40's.. Once time when I was on vacation in that car in Myrtle Beach SC, I was cruising the strip at 5 mph as a college freshman with a group of my buddies and a group of girls came up t us in the car and they said that they wanted t ride with us in the "Porsche".. with 8 people packed in it another girl saw a saab logo while inside and said out oud " I've never heard of a Porsche Saab, is this like a Boxxer? My Daddy has a 911, I'ma tell him all bout Y'all's Porsche." One of my stupid buddies almost let it slip and attempted to explain that this was a SAAB and there must not be many in south Carolina but we stopped him just in time. Life lesson #1: When you have 4 cute girls in your car that they think is a Porsche while on vacation, for that night you are a Porsche owner. That was a good night :) Crazy thing though.. the very next night, we had a latino guy walk by and ask the same question' "What is a Porsche Saab?" it was at that moment that we knew that there must not be a saab dealership within 500 miles of myrtle beach. That car was famous in southern Vermont as well. It beat Every 8v, 16v VW on the road. Didn't matter how much head work these fools did to their civics and Gti's.. I would roast them. I am 36 now and stopped driving that car when I was 24. I am still known as the guy with the red saab, I'll be an hour away from home, getting fast food and someone from behind me will ask, " Hey, did you used to drive a custom dark red saab?" haha still to this day. I drove that car for 8 years, from 160k when rebuilt to 278k when the lower passenger a arm mount rusted out. But I got 110k miles of 265hp rocketship. BUT! I still have the car in a garage along with a rust free 92 SPG that needs a headgasket and transmission parked right next to it. It'll be a lot of work, but in the end I'll have my Porsche Saab back again, gleaming in the sun wearing crimson
Here's something weird. My girl friend's 15 year old daughter was about to get her driver's license. Of course, she was wanting a car. Her heart's desire? A 900 S rag top. Who would have EVER thought that ?
It was my teenage dream car too. But it proved impossible to find one, and my mom didn't want me in one because there were no airbags. But she had an '84 Volvo 240 sedan, and those are safer than a bunch of cars with airbags. I don't get it. I still want one. I got a '96 Accord instead, which was a good car, but nothing special either.
i agree, i don't like garage queens and show cars that are so hermetically stale and cold. these are real cars, driven by real enthusiasts who are passionate about their cars. and that, my friend, is why i love these videos. (on top of the beautiful cinematography and editing/production).
I had an 89 SPG. LOVED that car. Got a 91 900 convertible used then bought a 98 Saab 900 S had it 17 years sold it now have a Mercedes ML 320. Miss my Saab’s
I am another Saab enthusiast, I too have had everything Saab has to offer over the years. Earlier this year I sold my 9-5 Aero Hot and bought.... yep, a C900 T16 flat front, for my money the best car Saab ever made and one of the best cars of all time. 10,000miles later it has cost me 2 tyres, some track rod ends and a new exhaust stud for the turbo. Not bad for a car that is approaching 30yrs old. Glad they are back, looking forward to more innovative and kitsch design touches!
FUCK GM that killed SAAB!! Now i have to drive a VOLVO because i´m from Sweden and want to support the Swedish car builders... and i can't afford a Koenigsegg.
+Kent Nilsson Thank god Volvo is alive and kicking. I trully respect Swedish automotive industry and I wish it will grow even more, they deserve it more so that many others. And maybe some day Saab will be back, you never know...
I bought my '87 Turbo in Black over tan. We did almost 200,000 miles together over the years. I drove it coast to coast many times. I camped in it. WIth the back seats down, it perfectly fit a queen sized futon. I'd love to have one again. It's just so tough to find parts.
I actually have a Saab 9-3 ARC 2003 sitting in the back. I bought it from a friend, he wrecked it in the front. I pulled off all of the smashed bits, and took it for a drive (without headlights, bumper or anything). They are a lot of fun to drive for sure. My favorite FWD car by far. Saabs are amazing. Oh, it also has 204k miles on it now. Pulls stupid hard all the way up to redline. I was very impressed with that 2.0L turbo engine.
This was great to watch. You definitely get it. I've owned a few and loved them all. But the 88 900SPG was my favorite car of all time. To make something that beautiful in the 80s is very rare and special. I totaled it one night dodging a deer, wrapped it around a tree stump. Woke up in the hospital. They say it helped to save my life.
I actually just bought this exact car! Discovered it going through all the service records. The car is now in pennsylvania. Needs some work but its still in very good shape. Will be making videos on my channel about it!
Give me one, just ONE car, that doesn't need a "restauration"/increased maintenance after being around 30 years as a daily driver, probably with several 100 000 miles on the clock? They were very save, reliable, even LUXURIOUS and advanced at that time.
My wife got me into Saabs. Now, we have 3 Saabs in out garage. 2002 Covert Viggen, 2007 93 Aero, and 2011 95 Turbo4 (BioPower E85 version). She told me I cannot save them all. I love these cars and are a joy to drive. The Viggen needs it transmission rebuild. Syncros are going out and reverse is a game to get it in. Beautiful car that 900.
Honestly said, this has slowly become my dream car. Overtime i see one whether in a magazine, video or real life; my eyes can't seem to let go of its bold lines. One day i will own one.
Sweet ass 900 SPG! It brings back the great memories of my younger years. Going way to fast in total comfort. Im on my 4th Saab. A 2002 95. Its got over 200,000 miles and running strong.
These are some awesome videos. There is nothing like the perspective of a car enthusiast who just love their car. Keep up the good work petrolicious :)
The stock stance on the '80s Saab 900 Turbos was great! Tracks a perfect line, very planted on the road, best handling front wheel drive car I've driven. turbo really does give a kick when it spools at around 3500RPM. A lot of fun to drive.
Driving a 900 is extremely rewarding for some unique reasons. The seats are the best in any car ever. The handling, torque and road feel classically European. The doors close with a heavy, expensive feel you don;t get in contemporary cars. All the controls are close to the steering wheel. Fun, addictive everyday driver. I almost bought one new in !991, and I nearly pulled the trigger on a used one in 2003. The 900 was an all-time great car.
The first turbocharged car was the Oldsmobile Jetfire option on the 1962-1963 Cutlass. Porsche turbocharged from 1975-up 911/930 and Saab on the 1978-1984 Saab 99 Turbo.
It's a northern car from 89, nothing lasts that long. My dealership used to sell Saab before the end, and pre the latest gen 9-3, they were built to last. The 80's and 90's were great cars. Finicky electronics on the late 90s 900/9-3, but excellent power train.
Exactly. My E30 was rock solid with a genuine 500,000k's on the clock. Even my two Peugeots, which have terrible reputations, both built in the 80's with >400,000k's on the clock were fine, no rust, no rebuild.
+ducksonetime All that matters is how it is stored and used. There are cars from 30's that are like new because they have been in dry storage. If it has been outside you are lucky if there is more than block and axles left. And if you live in north they add salt to roads every winter... does your E30 have chunks of salt in springmounts?
I love this car. Saab should have never gone. I love how the back looks. All saabs have a certain shape of the sloping roofline that make them so beautiful and distinct
when I'm in my 98' 900 SE man, it's just an amazing feeling. I never know how to describe to people why I love my car, my answer is usually you just have to drive one it's all about the feel with these cars, they're not particularly flashy, it's not the fastest car with the little inline 4, there's just something about the way it feels to drive that car that makes it like nothing else I've ever driven. Sadly I put her in the ditch last week during a particularly bad storm, but as it turns out its a tank too, losing a mirror, headlight, taillight, and very minimal damage to the body except where the tree went in my trunk, I picked up some parts from the scrapyard and the work begins on making her shine anew. I don't think there's much that could separate me from that little convertible (except maybe an older gen one) it's a part of me at this point
People who drives saab has to understand that saying other cars are trash is no better. I know saab isn't the greatest car on Earth, but i don't care as their fantastic. I have saab ng900, With the b204. very reliable and a great car! :)
I worked with a guy back in 89-90 that had a schoolbus yellow 1978 Saab 99, thought it was the coolest car ever with the center console ignition. I drove it and liked it.
I too was a Saab lover owning 5 cars. Unfortunately when Saab tried to compete with BMW and changed the philosophy of the company they trashed themselves. The cars became shit, then overpriced shit, and finally major shit all on their own . GM took over tried to save it and make a profit but failed at that too. Saab R.I.P. The last quality model was the 99 series. I am not a fan of GM but do not blame them for Saabs demise, the Swedes did it all on their own. ( 95, 96, 97 sonnet , and 99 x2 )
o really? gm actually tried to save saab spending alot of millions but saab was being stubborn and wanted to do everything their own way wich was not profitable, you know profits .. what keeps a company alive
I was blessed enough through a friend to grab a 96 Saab Turbo for $150. I love this thing so much and am learning as much as I can about it to maintain it to the best of my ability. They are amazing cars
Spot on on every sentence. I had a white 900 for around 16 years, when it left me due to the family growing, it was a very sad day. The car was as good when it left me in year 16 as when I bought it 15 months old. Fantastic black 900 and you are so right about silhouettes
Dakota Morgan He said it like they were using Mitsubishi parts bin parts. They only used their turbo which were good. I have 137k on one TD-04 and 158k on another.
I love my Saab 900 turbo convertibles. I have a red 1988 and a black 1989. They both are great rust free cars driven year round, garage kept and just require regular oil changes and attention to gear box oil in both. The red is a 5 speed manual and the black is a 3 speed auto. The only true weakness in these pre GM era cars is that the gear boxes are a weak point and require good shifting technique if you add any performance parts. I added open air blow off valves, conical air intake systems, increased fuel pressure regulator. 3.0 bar versus 2.5 bar stock units. I also had the APC systems tuned to 15 psi turbo boost with knock sensor update. Probably has around 200 bhp vs. 160 bhp.
no hes not lol. more people wanted saab 900's back then than you would believe. Golden years for saab. screw the old 911 one of the ugliest cars ever and it hasnt really improved.
Jarrett Deuink Yes Saabs are beautiful. We have a Saab 900 Turbo 1992 in the garage in our summer house as a summer car. My dad has had many BMW and Mercedes and he still says it his favorite car. To us it is a member of the family.
Loved your video! Just 2 months before my 20th birthday I saw the SPG at an auto show and bought it. This was the '86 model year car which was charcoal grey. Although the SPG was introduced in '84, we did not see them in the States until '85. Those were black cars like your '89. The grey series has always been my fave.
Latsaaben even if its a subaru? I live in vermont where people worship lezbarus and holy crap they are some of the cheapest plastic feeling cars i have ever been in. I laugh at all my neighbors who replace struts every 45k miles and there body panels on 2000 and up models are literally rotting. Even the coveted wrx or sti have the dinkiest feeling doors when you close them, it sounds like a frigging toy car. My saab 9000 aero from 1995 has an interior filled with custom leather (made for SAAB at the time) sunroof, auto windows, heated seats, auto mirrors and when you close the door its sounds like a f*in tank. Not trying to pick on you Latsaaben just pointing out something that people do not realize.
That is a SWEET SPG. The SPG package was essentially a leather shift boot,ground effects.springs and wheels. Even the VIN won't denote an SPG. They have the exact same motor and motor internals and turbo as a non SPG 900. Sweet car man!
Owning a Saab is not just having a car. It's a lifestyle. A feeling
That literally sums up my life.
btw what is the song?? pretty song
Agreed. I love my 900's
Just going to piss you off a bit. I was born and bred in trollhättan, with the saab factory visible in the horizon, during my 20 year life we always had saabs, og900's, 9000's, 9-5's, and currently, in the family, i have my 1999 og9-3, my mom and dad have a 1996 9000 cse 2.3t, 2005 9-5 vector 2.3t with 139 000km on the clock, and my sister have a 1998 ng900 with a mere 140 000 km driven. Currently tracking down a 1987 og900 aero(spg) wich is a bit of a unicorn. the car was "for internal use only" according to the VIN number. Never meant to be sold. And i think i have the possibility to buy it (work needed) for 10 000 swedish kr
Exonerate Films I read "Just going to piss you off a bit" I thought you were going to hate on Saab.
I have a 1996 9000 Aero, a 2002 9-3 Viggen and my dad a 2007 9-5 9-5 SportCombi.
Saab 900 still looks great after all these years. Definitely an iconic shape that will be remembered forever.
My dad absolutely adored this car. He called it the 'ugly duckling' but drove it so often!
RIP DAD
1800smd000 my dad who passed at 94, adored his 900 Turbo convertible. He willed it to me. It’s a very special car.
1800smd000 my dad has a saab 900 turbo convertible the NG version that he had its engine tuned up to 300 HP from 180hp and has a new radio and some new parts in. I would say though that the seats needs to be changed or fixed since the leather is almost like gone.
My dad bought a brand new 900 (Grey color, four door) in 1990 when I was born. He hoped some day I would be old enough to drive then give it to me. Five ago I got my license and sat behind the wheels. I was the best moment indeed :)
Sadly We lost the 900 because of the earthquake and tsunami that happened two yeas ago in Japan.
This year he got a 1991 900 ( red, two door coupe) and we love it to death
you are already maried to the car , the wife will not like competition :)
Awesome story!
Amazing
Hope you still have it!
I was 23 when I brought a black 900 turbo with the Inca wheels I’m 62 now and this car is the one that had the biggest impression on me , I absolutely loved this car with its unique looks and bonnet, I’d buy one in a moment if I could find a one . So many fond memories , they was such a cool car .
I'll never forget the feeling of seeing my 900 rolling up on a flatbed after I bought it sight-unseen from half the country away. Gave me chills, and I knew I was entering a new phase of my life; of owning and enjoying this car on a daily basis. I own two 900s, a 1989 Turbo coupe in rose quartz, and a white 1993 Turbo convertible. They're like family to me!
I've had 6 BMWs and 9 SAABs, overall I love the 900T the most. The BMW 535is is great too and definitely "more" car but it will run you more money IMO. My 2002tii, well... damn I am so sad not to have that one anymore :(
I've had SPG, Convertibles, a bunch of coupes and one coupe S..... currently a rust free '92 from Colorado.
christopher-king.blogspot.com/2016/05/kingcast-says-if-saab-had-me-on.html
Back in 78 these cars were like nothing on earth ,Dath Vader on four wheels. Performance was almost in super car territory.
With all do respect, its just a car a material stuff. Will not come with you when you die. Just saying. Maybe giving you another perspective.
promote your business here you are on the wrong channel
I have the deepest and most heartfelt love for the old non gm saabs. I owned two 9000S one was a 89 non turbo that got me through school and the other was a 91 turbo. Good god did those cars have TONS of character and they also had this certain....something I can't quite put my finger on it - VERY special cars! They even smelled a certain way that only true saab lovers know what I am talking about.
And those seats WOW! the most comfy seats I have sat in to date! I am not even kidding AMAZING seats!
RIP Saab thanks a ton GM!
R.I.P Saab. Saved my life in a T-bone style crash. Will be the only car I'll ever drive.
Are you still alive?
They were well built, Safe car, very interesting,I love them
This video gives me the chills every time.
I watched this video when it came out, and I bought my first 900 three days later. I just re-watched the video a few minutes ago, immediately opened Craigslist and searched for a few minutes before remembering that I've been driving a 900 every day since early October...
I've said this before and I'll say it again. Petrolicious makes videos that make the inner petrolhead in us come out. This video for me is perfection since I currently own my first an probably last car, a SAAB 9-3. Please keep making the videos that you make.
My dad had an '83 Saab 900 Turbo in Amaranth Red Metallic manual and it was unique, drove great and was built like a tank. A real shame that Saab is no longer with us.
My first love was a 1984 SAAB 900 T Saloon. Rose quartz with burgundy interior. I had her for about 10 years (mom got it for me when I was young). I had tuned the APC unit, added a lightweight flywheel and kevlar clutch, as well as, a boost controller. If you know SAAB you know they are heavy but with just those minor mods she became a monster. That car saved my life 3 times (mom was a terrible driver) and was finally totaled when a lady after an insurance claim slammed into me. Even totaled I towed her around for a couple years until finally I could no longer keep up with the cost. I am a die hard SAAB fan and intend to buy and forever hold on to a 900 SPG or even an elusive AERO. As said in this video Rest In Peace SAAB. Honestly though, I think GM killed them around 1993 when they bought into SAAB. They just were never the same.
Respect to him for rescuing such an engineering masterpiece.
I always loved the look of the Saab 900.
The look is one of a kinde.
Ive owned more than 10 900's.....They ARE FANTASTIC VEHICLES!!! Very well built and SOLID. They are quirky, but what car thats worth your time isnt? They are all unique, each one I've owned has had its own personality.
My last one was my 89 900T Cabrio... I lowered her, put new 17in Wheels that were modeled to look like original newer 900 Viggen wheels.... I modified the Saab APC Turbo Control module....I took out the original RED Box that was in the vehicle and grabbed a "Black" Box from the salvage yard and modified it to produce 18lbs of RELIABLE electronically controlled Boost...and BOOST SHE DID... WHAT A CAR. I miss her almost daily. She was too nice for me to keep however the roads and drivers where i live made each trip out with her a nerve wracking experience. If you are lucky enough to buy one of these...DO IT....you will learn a lot about cars and enjoy fixing them up....The rewards are easily appreciated by any Die Hard gearhead and easily translate to budding Gear Heads alike. 900's will never die
i've worked in a saab garage in the netherlands a few years before they ended existing. i drove a lot of 900 turbo's those days. realy cool cars and bulletproof! my mom still drives a 90 with more than 300.000 miles. still looks like "as good as new"
One of my favorite cars of all time. They are timeless. They are beautiful. Would love to retrofit one to battery.
I started with a used saab 74 99 drove it 10 years with very little problems then bought another used saab 900 84 then bought a used saab 95 900se turbo and still driving it today with very few issues great video thanks
My 900 is almost back on the road after a year of work. Can't wait - thanks for the inspiring video!
GM ruined Saab, they took one of most innovative and competent manufacturers and shit on them with crap Opel platforms. Shame on GM what they did was criminal.
Alexander Stefanov And above all: stole SAAB's innovations and kept it for his own.
GM didn't ruin Saab they gave them an artificial heart to keep them alive for another 25 years. Sure they weren't the same as they used to be but they would have died in 1989 without GM's financial backing.
+dontmesswiththeman Yeah...it's funny how this very basic part of that story is lost on the type of people whose outrage stems from their apparent inability to process complete information.
True. Saab NEVER made money under GM. It just sucked into the Swedish ground like the magic trolls of Trollhättan. Beautiful cars though.
dontmesswiththeman oh, you mean the same GM that would be dead without a government bailout. Please GM produced crap for years, wanna a bet that if VW or Toyota had bought them they'd still be around today. Sorry but you're defence of GM is misplaced.
Spent a decent chunk of my childhood being ferried around in a '84 900GLI. Still one of the best cars the family has ever owned. Near vertical wrap-around windscreen, giant rubber rear wing, massive boot (trunk), lovely and distinctive exhaust note.
Wonderful car.
Three spoke wheels. Only Saab.
Fiesta turbo
93-00 Opel Corsa
Brabus ☺
Olof L i totally agree only saab could pull it off
+Olof L advan
"its like a bugbite, first you get introduced, once you kind of get into them, feel out what theyre kind of like, get sucked into it" amen to that! my first saab was a 9000, never ever again something else
Probably the best car in the world ever
as a child growing up in the 80s I loved the shape of a Saab and would hope that some day my mum & dad would get one, but never happened... hope some day to buy one such a cool looking car even today..timeless.. great film. keep up the good work.
I've had 3 SAAB 900's, loved 'em all, great cars..
+Steve Adair TEN!
Steve Adair have you had any problems with them?
Finally got an 86 SPG , a one owner car CA/AZ car, who died and now getting it back up to snuff. Drove from AZ to CO 756 miles on an unseen car. Flew out with 40lbs of tools and shipped parts to AZ, car had been running but died so put in new starter, wires, plus cap and rotor and 2 1/2 hours later drove back home. Amazed I made it after the wiring hardness was self destructing. Fun car with lots of turbo lag and no blind spots, these SPGs were $24K USD when new and some are selling for 21K now! Sorting it out now and its the 6th Saab in the driveway now. It got same engine and tranny at 233,333 miles!
I lament the passing of Saab. Unique and distinctive, no modern car has these attributes.
My lord... I had this same car back when I was 17.. Just like this car, I had it totally painted Crimson Blood Metallic, SPG Panels, Pumpers, Rear Louvers.. All color coded in the most stunning color on earth. I Bought it from SaabWorks in Essex Mass in 1997. The entire car had been rebuilt with the engine out /rebuilt, the transmission out/rebuilt, new fuel pump/lines/filter, new CV axles, new wheel bearings, brake disks/pads/4 calipers, Plus he had the suspension totally removed and every bushing replaced along with Poly ones used on the sway bars. The owner at the shop even did the upper A arm bushings (something that NEVER gets replaced because you need the motor out to replace them on both sides and the KEY to making an classic 900 feel like a new car is to replace these) These cars have a double a arm front suspension so all these cars that still live, most are still running original inner upper a arm bushings. Then, the owner tuned the APC chip for me to make the car one of the fastest cars on the road. I drove 3.5 hours from Vermont to outside North Boston to get the car and since he knew I was coming so far with cash in hand, he took the car on a few hour drive to run an errand in south boston and along the way, dialed in my SPG's APC chip with it's fully rebuilt drivetrain to push maximum boost safely. When I finally got to the car, it was insanity... a fully rebuilt, essentially brand new driving SPG that was pushing over 265 hp. The turbo gauge would pin itself at 6 o'clock at 2800 RPM's until 7500. Roasted just about any car made back in the late 90's and no 4 cyl could touch me. To top it off, I ran 215/40R16's on super Aero rims with 3/4" spacers which GLUED the car on the road. With the factory stiffer lowered sport springs, thicker sway bars with poly inner and outer bushings and the widened stance on 9.5" super Aeros wrapped in 215/40' Nitto 505 ZR Performance tires, the thing was on rails. I would recommend any SPG owner who is running 16" Aero rims to run that size tire. Still get a comfortable ride, but the road feel, grip ad fit is beyond perfect. I bought the car at 160k when rebuilt, had it painted a week after buying it and the first day at school with my newly painted Metallic crimson SPG, I parked it right in the front ad the entire school came out to see it. The French teacher who drive a GTI with rims told me that day that my SPG was the "Most beautiful car she had ever seen".. The only compliment or phrase she ever uttered to me ( I took Spanish). But when you paint a SPG all one color instead o leaving the side skirts grey, it makes the car look like a Porsche. especially if you run 215/40's.. Once time when I was on vacation in that car in Myrtle Beach SC, I was cruising the strip at 5 mph as a college freshman with a group of my buddies and a group of girls came up t us in the car and they said that they wanted t ride with us in the "Porsche".. with 8 people packed in it another girl saw a saab logo while inside and said out oud " I've never heard of a Porsche Saab, is this like a Boxxer? My Daddy has a 911, I'ma tell him all bout Y'all's Porsche." One of my stupid buddies almost let it slip and attempted to explain that this was a SAAB and there must not be many in south Carolina but we stopped him just in time. Life lesson #1: When you have 4 cute girls in your car that they think is a Porsche while on vacation, for that night you are a Porsche owner. That was a good night :) Crazy thing though.. the very next night, we had a latino guy walk by and ask the same question' "What is a Porsche Saab?" it was at that moment that we knew that there must not be a saab dealership within 500 miles of myrtle beach. That car was famous in southern Vermont as well. It beat Every 8v, 16v VW on the road. Didn't matter how much head work these fools did to their civics and Gti's.. I would roast them. I am 36 now and stopped driving that car when I was 24. I am still known as the guy with the red saab, I'll be an hour away from home, getting fast food and someone from behind me will ask, " Hey, did you used to drive a custom dark red saab?" haha still to this day. I drove that car for 8 years, from 160k when rebuilt to 278k when the lower passenger a arm mount rusted out. But I got 110k miles of 265hp rocketship. BUT! I still have the car in a garage along with a rust free 92 SPG that needs a headgasket and transmission parked right next to it. It'll be a lot of work, but in the end I'll have my Porsche Saab back again, gleaming in the sun wearing crimson
Here's something weird. My girl friend's 15 year old daughter was about to get her driver's license. Of course, she was wanting a car. Her heart's desire? A 900 S rag top.
Who would have EVER thought that ?
+Wilbur Snaffel Drop the mom and date the daughter ;) .
Yea FBI, this comment over here
I’m 15 lol, just got my drivers license and am saving to get a 1985-1993 Saab 900 S or Turbo hatchback
@Clams McGee Bang them both and have a saab
It was my teenage dream car too. But it proved impossible to find one, and my mom didn't want me in one because there were no airbags. But she had an '84 Volvo 240 sedan, and those are safer than a bunch of cars with airbags. I don't get it. I still want one. I got a '96 Accord instead, which was a good car, but nothing special either.
i agree, i don't like garage queens and show cars that are so hermetically stale and cold. these are real cars, driven by real enthusiasts who are passionate about their cars. and that, my friend, is why i love these videos. (on top of the beautiful cinematography and editing/production).
I mourn the passing of Saab such unique and distinctive automobiles
Almost like MG
I had an 89 SPG. LOVED that car. Got a 91 900 convertible used then bought a 98 Saab 900 S had it 17 years sold it now have a Mercedes ML 320. Miss my Saab’s
Thanks for sharing this gem of a car! I love the avant-garde styling. Looks great in black, too!
I am another Saab enthusiast, I too have had everything Saab has to offer over the years. Earlier this year I sold my 9-5 Aero Hot and bought.... yep, a C900 T16 flat front, for my money the best car Saab ever made and one of the best cars of all time. 10,000miles later it has cost me 2 tyres, some track rod ends and a new exhaust stud for the turbo. Not bad for a car that is approaching 30yrs old. Glad they are back, looking forward to more innovative and kitsch design touches!
FUCK GM that killed SAAB!!
Now i have to drive a VOLVO because i´m from Sweden and want to support the Swedish car builders... and i can't afford a Koenigsegg.
Volvo er jo kung... Svensk e best uansett. Har 940 turbo, men elsker saab og. Beste kjøremaskinane som finst.
+Kent Nilsson Thank god Volvo is alive and kicking. I trully respect Swedish automotive industry and I wish it will grow even more, they deserve it more so that many others. And maybe some day Saab will be back, you never know...
+Kent Nilsson i feel you bro!
+Kent Nilsson Modern Volvo or old ones? Modern Volvo is owned by the Chinese :(
+SeverdSeouL But we build them in Sweden so i support the people that work at the VOLVO factory, so i bought a car MADE BY SWEDEN ;)
Saab prevails. Drive on Jordan! My 1999 93 SE is still running strong. 320,000 miles and counting.
I've owned 14 cars, and my Saab 900 turbo has been by far my most reliable.
Hi, how does Saab compares to Volvo and Japanese cars in terms of reliability ?
I Have a Saab 9000 CSE 2.3 16 valve 185 bhp turbo, these cars are build to last for eternity, I Love Saabs and my 9000!!!
Respect to you for bringing it back to life😆
I bought my '87 Turbo in Black over tan. We did almost 200,000 miles together over the years. I drove it coast to coast many times. I camped in it. WIth the back seats down, it perfectly fit a queen sized futon. I'd love to have one again. It's just so tough to find parts.
It's the best looking car ever and it's afordable, but very very hard to find.
And again i just can't describe how much i like this car.
I actually have a Saab 9-3 ARC 2003 sitting in the back. I bought it from a friend, he wrecked it in the front. I pulled off all of the smashed bits, and took it for a drive (without headlights, bumper or anything). They are a lot of fun to drive for sure. My favorite FWD car by far. Saabs are amazing. Oh, it also has 204k miles on it now. Pulls stupid hard all the way up to redline. I was very impressed with that 2.0L turbo engine.
the only front wheel drive car I would consider buying
You are totally right ! The Saab owners have a lifelong passion and a real relationship with their cars !
One of my favorite cars-especially where the ignition was located, center console between the seats.
This was great to watch. You definitely get it. I've owned a few and loved them all. But the 88 900SPG was my favorite car of all time. To make something that beautiful in the 80s is very rare and special. I totaled it one night dodging a deer, wrapped it around a tree stump. Woke up in the hospital. They say it helped to save my life.
undeniably beautiful the best cars i have ever owned. thirty years and counting.
I actually just bought this exact car! Discovered it going through all the service records. The car is now in pennsylvania. Needs some work but its still in very good shape. Will be making videos on my channel about it!
Give me one, just ONE car, that doesn't need a "restauration"/increased maintenance after being around 30 years as a daily driver, probably with several 100 000 miles on the clock?
They were very save, reliable, even LUXURIOUS and advanced at that time.
My wife got me into Saabs. Now, we have 3 Saabs in out garage. 2002 Covert Viggen, 2007 93 Aero, and 2011 95 Turbo4 (BioPower E85 version). She told me I cannot save them all. I love these cars and are a joy to drive. The Viggen needs it transmission rebuild. Syncros are going out and reverse is a game to get it in. Beautiful car that 900.
the minute i sat in one i was sold
no looking back ever
Honestly said, this has slowly become my dream car. Overtime i see one whether in a magazine, video or real life; my eyes can't seem to let go of its bold lines. One day i will own one.
Saab and Volvo is love!
I have owned 96, 99, 900, 9000 and miss them all sad to see them gone.
It’s sad that Saab died. Their cars were different. This one is the best for me.
I have had 3 900's and loved them. Currently driving a 1990 Volvo 760 turbo wagon with nearly 300,000 miles. Swedish durability!
What a beautiful car!
I had an 86 Saab 900 Turbo I loved that car it was great wish I could go back
weird, ugly and cool all at the same time. It got watered down over time but there were still hints of it in the 9-3 aero coupes.
This channel is the most mature and pure automotive related channel keep it up guys! Classy!
I love that car!!
Sweet ass 900 SPG! It brings back the great memories of my younger years. Going way to fast in total comfort. Im on my 4th Saab. A 2002 95. Its got over 200,000 miles and running strong.
You can buy a Saab 9-3 aero today, brand new from factory, SAAB is up and running, and hopefully the make it at the end of the day
I relate to everything you're saying about the 900 Turbo! LOVE IT!!!!! Miss it so much.
Seriously cool car.
These are some awesome videos. There is nothing like the perspective of a car enthusiast who just love their car. Keep up the good work petrolicious :)
Fantastic cars
The stock stance on the '80s Saab 900 Turbos was great! Tracks a perfect line, very planted on the road, best handling front wheel drive car I've driven. turbo really does give a kick when it spools at around 3500RPM. A lot of fun to drive.
3:04 Heard him about to say craigslist...
Driving a 900 is extremely rewarding for some unique reasons. The seats are the best in any car ever. The handling, torque and road feel classically European. The doors close with a heavy, expensive feel you don;t get in contemporary cars. All the controls are close to the steering wheel. Fun, addictive everyday driver. I almost bought one new in !991, and I nearly pulled the trigger on a used one in 2003. The 900 was an all-time great car.
Never mind WAS!!!! an all time great car,IT STILL IS in my world
AND BY THE WAY SAABS NEVER DIE THEY JUST GET FASTER........
The first turbocharged car was the Oldsmobile Jetfire option on the 1962-1963 Cutlass. Porsche turbocharged from 1975-up 911/930 and Saab on the 1978-1984 Saab 99 Turbo.
Love the classic 900's!
My dad have one of this, single owner and recently it rolled 1,5 million km, Changed the turbo, and exhaust system since new, and regular maintance.
"Built to last" - had to completely rebuild the engine and cut rust out of the whole body...
ecactly what I was thinking.
It's a northern car from 89, nothing lasts that long. My dealership used to sell Saab before the end, and pre the latest gen 9-3, they were built to last. The 80's and 90's were great cars. Finicky electronics on the late 90s 900/9-3, but excellent power train.
I had a 92 BMW e34.
That car had zero rust and everything on the inside was like new. No squeeky noises or anything like that. Nothing!
Exactly. My E30 was rock solid with a genuine 500,000k's on the clock. Even my two Peugeots, which have terrible reputations, both built in the 80's with >400,000k's on the clock were fine, no rust, no rebuild.
+ducksonetime
All that matters is how it is stored and used. There are cars from 30's that are like new because they have been in dry storage. If it has been outside you are lucky if there is more than block and axles left. And if you live in north they add salt to roads every winter... does your E30 have chunks of salt in springmounts?
I love this car. Saab should have never gone. I love how the back looks. All saabs have a certain shape of the sloping roofline that make them so beautiful and distinct
Wasaab dude
+Mord Fustang
MAAAAD
+HoldShiftt2Run dentistjet
+Yasinzafer Ozturk
will it fit in my Honda though?
That purrrr... sound is unforgettable over years
that car screems "build me to a rwd !.
heretic
when I'm in my 98' 900 SE man, it's just an amazing feeling. I never know how to describe to people why I love my car, my answer is usually you just have to drive one it's all about the feel with these cars, they're not particularly flashy, it's not the fastest car with the little inline 4, there's just something about the way it feels to drive that car that makes it like nothing else I've ever driven. Sadly I put her in the ditch last week during a particularly bad storm, but as it turns out its a tank too, losing a mirror, headlight, taillight, and very minimal damage to the body except where the tree went in my trunk, I picked up some parts from the scrapyard and the work begins on making her shine anew. I don't think there's much that could separate me from that little convertible (except maybe an older gen one) it's a part of me at this point
saab & volvo are perfect platforms to make power
ps. bmw owner
Pfft, volvo is a piece of crap. A Saab is the only car I could find myself in.
ps. a random guy from sweden
People who drives saab has to understand that saying other cars are trash is no better. I know saab isn't the greatest car on Earth, but i don't care as their fantastic. I have saab ng900, With the b204. very reliable and a great car! :)
Aleksander Kjær Steig Actually Volvo owners say the same about SAAB, it's just how it is in Sweden. ;)
dra åt helvete...
Ikke pent sagt man
I worked with a guy back in 89-90 that had a schoolbus yellow 1978 Saab 99, thought it was the coolest car ever with the center console ignition. I drove it and liked it.
I loved SAAB, GM trashed it!
I too was a Saab lover owning 5 cars. Unfortunately when Saab tried to compete with BMW and changed the philosophy of the company they trashed themselves. The cars became shit, then overpriced shit, and finally major shit all on their own . GM took over tried to save it and make a profit but failed at that too. Saab R.I.P. The last quality model was the 99 series. I am not a fan of GM but do not blame them for Saabs demise, the Swedes did it all on their own. ( 95, 96, 97 sonnet , and 99 x2 )
o really? gm actually tried to save saab spending alot of millions but saab was being stubborn and wanted to do everything their own way wich was not profitable, you know profits .. what keeps a company alive
Flick Cogswell just like the rest of their country today. I just don't understand it.
@notformebeaky give it ten years. Your country is drunk on liberal/socialist Kool aid, and it's always a race to the bottom in that case.
I was blessed enough through a friend to grab a 96 Saab Turbo for $150. I love this thing so much and am learning as much as I can about it to maintain it to the best of my ability. They are amazing cars
Who's here after watching drive my car
Spot on on every sentence. I had a white 900 for around 16 years, when it left me due to the family growing, it was a very sad day. The car was as good when it left me in year 16 as when I bought it 15 months old. Fantastic black 900 and you are so right about silhouettes
GM ruined Saab and Isuzu.
Saab was using Mitsubishi parts in the early 2000's
+Kit Reviews Only Mitsubishi turbos in some models.
+kirbyswarp there isn't anything wrong with that... The tdo4 was a reliable turbo.
Dakota Morgan He said it like they were using Mitsubishi parts bin parts. They only used their turbo which were good. I have 137k on one TD-04 and 158k on another.
+kirbyswarp gotcha, then we are on the same page! :)
Great clip, thank you. I had a 1995 V6 900S, it went like the clappers. I loved that car to bits.
The guy looks like the human equivalent of a cup of lemonade.
I love my Saab 900 turbo convertibles. I have a red 1988 and a black 1989. They both are great rust free cars driven year round, garage kept and just require regular oil changes and attention to gear box oil in both. The red is a 5 speed manual and the black is a 3 speed auto. The only true weakness in these pre GM era cars is that the gear boxes are a weak point and require good shifting technique if you add any performance parts. I added open air blow off valves, conical air intake systems, increased fuel pressure regulator. 3.0 bar versus 2.5 bar stock units. I also had the APC systems tuned to 15 psi turbo boost with knock sensor update. Probably has around 200 bhp vs. 160 bhp.
Saab died 1990/1991....with GM !
Finally!!!!! A Saab on my favorite youtube channel. My life is complete now.
dude the 911, are you high?!
I agree with him. It looks better. You either love it or hate it..
I mean that the Saab looked better than the 911.
no hes not lol. more people wanted saab 900's back then than you would believe. Golden years for saab. screw the old 911 one of the ugliest cars ever and it hasnt really improved.
Jarrett Deuink Yes Saabs are beautiful. We have a Saab 900 Turbo 1992 in the garage in our summer house as a summer car. My dad has had many BMW and Mercedes and he still says it his favorite car. To us it is a member of the family.
I agree with him too, the 900 looks prettier than a 911... In my own opinion...
Loved your video! Just 2 months before my 20th birthday I saw the SPG at an auto show and bought it. This was the '86 model year car which was charcoal grey. Although the SPG was introduced in '84, we did not see them in the States until '85. Those were black cars like your '89. The grey series has always been my fave.
Built to last, except when the body falls apart and it leaks oil.
Ha!
thats what happens to cars in winter. especially older ones lol
Every car needs maintainance. When people dont do that, things fall apart, even its a Volvo, Porsche, Subaru...
Latsaaben even if its a subaru? I live in vermont where people worship lezbarus and holy crap they are some of the cheapest plastic feeling cars i have ever been in. I laugh at all my neighbors who replace struts every 45k miles and there body panels on 2000 and up models are literally rotting. Even the coveted wrx or sti have the dinkiest feeling doors when you close them, it sounds like a frigging toy car. My saab 9000 aero from 1995 has an interior filled with custom leather (made for SAAB at the time) sunroof, auto windows, heated seats, auto mirrors and when you close the door its sounds like a f*in tank. Not trying to pick on you Latsaaben just pointing out something that people do not realize.
Jarrett Deuink It was just a figure of speech! ;) We can all agree on this, every car needs care and maintainence! :)
Bravo sir! Your SPG is an absolute beauty. The brand may be dead, but the spirit endures.
Anyone here after mcm moogs new challenge car
+Eden Kelly You mean, #Wasaabi9k
+LazyRock There's a guy on Saabnet that was using that name like 10 years ago.
OMG he can see the future!
That is a SWEET SPG. The SPG package was essentially a leather shift boot,ground effects.springs and wheels. Even the VIN won't denote an SPG. They have the exact same motor and motor internals and turbo as a non SPG 900. Sweet car man!