Hows it been for you? I just got a 2008 93 aero, just a few days ago. Its a 4 door sedan, in good mechanical condition and reap fun to drive. Ive gotta dump some money into it
i have a saab, in fact 2 but one is for parts, but lets be honest here. i'm a big fan. but... Saab mucked themselves up buddy. Then they made the decision to sell themselves to GM. The partnership didn't work. So... this idea that GM is the bad guy is naive and frankly utter nonsense really.
@@DAGATHire I myself have had two Saabs both 900 turbos . I loved their quirky, unique design. Reliable enough and confidence inspiring safety. Fun to drive. So maybe it's with rose colored glasses and filtered through fun memories that I blame GM as the bad guy for being the Evil Empire that killed Darth Vader's car.
@@jaycoxtable9280 haha, ye i get it. it's disappointing they are gone. But really, GM didn't do it. Saab did it to themselves. I suppose it's nice they went out on their shield with their principles intact. The other option? they could have followed Lancia and became a puppet. Still a car company i suppose but the glory is gone and replaced by something horrid and ridiculous. So that's probably the romantic view of how Saab went down. On their shield.
Wow Bill, you touched all the bases. Very enjoyable video and so well presented. I own a 2008 SAAB 9-5 with 95,000 miles. It's built like a tank, has never left me stranded, and super reliable. Since new has had $3,000 in maintenance and labor...mostly preventative. That includes shocks, struts, subframe bushings, rotors, pads, valve body, heater bypass valve, and all fluid changes. The timing chain and turbo goes 200,000+. Plus after 10 years it's still the safest vehicle on the road.
Fun fact, there’s a movie called “a man named Ove”. Him(Ove) has always driven Saab but his neighbour has always driven Volvo. They compete with each other and when one of them buys a new car the other one does the same. After many years of rivalry and competition the Volvo guy goes and buy a BMW and that’s one of the worst thing you could do according to Ove. They never spoke again😂
A note about the glovebox. In the back of it, there is a slider that can be open or closed, to allow cold air from the air conditioning to cool the glovebox. Guess they did this for anyone wanting to keep chocolate or their drink or food cold. Hilarious little details that make GM look like a big selfish turd for not thinking like this. XD
Gm killed saab. The reason why Saab engineers refused to use parts from stock bins and the gm nav was because the gm parts and nav suck. Gm still sucks. Their parts and quality are awful. The v6 gm made saab use in the 90s and 2000s was garbage. Gm had a slice of saab back in the 80s. They stuck their heads in it starting in 1994 with the new 900 series. You can tell. They tried making saab rebadge opels in the 90s. Disgusting.
You got the cup holder, but my favorite feature on my 9-3 is Night panel mode. Awesome when driving at night. Or like the 23 hours a day without daylight during the winter here in Sweden. ;)
Nice to see old cars that in really good condition. My father and mother worked at the Saab factory from 1972 to 2012 until it closed. The factory is still running, it hasn't produced as many cars it it did in it's heyday. But new things are coming, there are new cars coming up don't really know how they look but mostly are produced for the Chinese market these days. The factory is owned by N.E.V.S at this time and they have a collaboration with Koenigsegg. Hopefully new cars are coming 2020, I don't know just heard rumors. I know that the factory is hiring. The GM parts where usually made to poorly, a good or bad example of this was the Saab 9-5 cars from 2005-06 I think, the oil pump got the GM treatment and suddenly the Saab engines did get issues with too low oil issue. I don't remember exactly what happened but this was why they in the first place didn't want to do what GM wanted. Personally I like the Saab 9-5 specially the 2001-02 year version cause after that they started to remove features and more good things in the cabin. Example was that the 2001-02 had two pegs for holding the drivers mat in place. That was removed in later models. There was some more small comfort things that I haven't seen in other cars. Like two sun shields in some models.
Saabs rock! Just bought this sake car just not convertible. Love it 100,000 in freaking mint condition. Anyone who says don't buy Saab is because they don't have a good euro mechanic that not going to charge an arm n let like most American mechanics. Regular maintainence this car will go 300,000 easy!!
I have a Saab 2.0T Aero 2008 Inca Yellow convertible only owner & have uprated & lowered the ride along with a remap. The transformation is absolutely remarkable with manual 6 speed transmission you can cruise at 100mph at 3000 rpm. Not that I would do this kind of speed but what great potential of Autobahn cruising. My wife loves the car and we have great times in driving such a vehicle that is unique.
I have a 2007 Saab 9-5 Aero here in UK in manual mode and a sunroof, very rare car but a proper sleeper with a stage 3+ Noobtune loads of torque and power all with comfort and safety of a Saab this is my sixth Saab now as before I would modify and sell them, now with the 9-5 it's a keeper for me
I've got a 2007 9-3 Aero convertible 210hp, in the Anniversary colour, considering how old these are ,they still look good. and in the Anniversary blue it is a head turner..
“Swedish Communism” I hope that was some kind of humor? After Denmark, Sweden is the ultimate Social Democracy! You may know alot about their cars but nothing of the politics. Americans really aren’t t very worldly despite what they constantly boast about. BTW I'm one of them. lol
Yeah! As a finn I too ran to that misconception a lot, mostly from americans, like 30-40 yrs. back. Was surprised to hear that now, even on a side note about Sweden. Weird, as there has never ever been such a thing as communistic governance in Sweden, nor in other nordic countries. Including Finland. Actually, in many ways nordic countries have more freedom, more level playing field for all to strive economically and socially and still take care of those how are more infortunate in the society. Predictable, stable, secure, socially and economically fair with good infrastructure and high level of education The results of the "Nordic model" can be seen also in Global Peace Index and World Happiness report. Sweden, like all nordic countries, are in the top 10. "Nordic model" was developed by social democrats (not communist party) from the 1930's and Sweden, among other Nordic countries, are highly democratic countries ;) Btw, at least SAAB is still alive and kicking on their roots in aeroplanes manufacturing making high performance fighter jets. One of the candidates for new jets for Finnish Air Forces.
Once again sir you have brought a smile to my face by suggesting items for the oversized glove box. You are so funny and knowledgeable. I live in Los Angeles But if I lived in Florida and wasn’t against owning a Florida Vehicle, I’d buy a car from you just to hear you describe it. I’m a fan
I have a 2008 Saab 9-3 Aero convertible and LOVE it! Have had it now for over 10 years and runs great with lots of acceleration. I've had one of my HID headlights as well as a fog light go out late 2019 - both on the left side. I replaced both headlights with new HIDs and all is fine...except I need to figure out how to replace the fog lights. Also, the Navigation quit working about 7 years ago and DVD does not work or get recognized anymore and have NO options, as I have researched it to death to try to figure out what to do. I could replace the whole unit but that would cost me anywhere between $1,000 to $1,600. Love the car!
I have a jet black 2011 9-3 Linear convertible with Comfort Pack, got it a month ago. I absolutely adore it, the most comfortable car I have ever driven. It was the choice between a Merc’ SLK or BMW 2 series Conv’ at 3 times the cost but my SAAB just blew the others away after a test drive. I always have a smile on my face driving with the top down and because there’s not many on the road here in the U.K. people tend to stare which only adds to the fun 😉 already had a stage 1 remap done and now she totally fly’s. Great video and appreciate the SAAB history lesson 👍
Hi. Hope you dont mind me asking as im thinking seriously about getting one but would also like to have a stage 1 remap done and wanderd how much it cost and overall was it worth it for the added power and improved mpg.
Vale SAAB. I've had a 9000, 900s, 9-5 Aero & 9-3 Sports Sedan. All great cars. The final gen 95 (2011) just before SAAB went bust was a very modern looking car. Such a shame GM not only hindered SAAB, but did everything possible to ensure SAAB could not continue under another brand, thus killing SAAB as we knew it. Chinese made EVs masquerading as 93s? I don't think so.
I have owned 3 SAAB's 2 900 Turbo's and a 9000. The 900's were 88 and 89 models and were rocket ships - first one was a coupe and second was a hatch with whale tail. The coupe was stiffer and handled really well and the whale tail was an amazing car to look at and drive. Lovely cars to own, idiosyncratic and well ahead of their time. Location of ignition key like the whole dashboard was all about ergonomics - hand was put next to the gear stick after starting. Still miss those cars badly and I have been lucky enough to own other spectacular cars since.
Ha! Love how the review opens with a quick shot of a rooster. That scheming little bastard is surely up to something! Hopefully Bill was carrying that day.
I had an 84 900 Turbo (APC?), that thing was very quick. It'd beat other Saabs. "Belts at the firewall".. I thought I was the only one to mention that. I then got a 9000 that was my Autobahn cruise with much more high end instead of low end torque.
Oh Noooo.....shhhh.....dammit....now the secret is out. XD After owning several of these NG9-3 convertibles, I can confirm they are amazing. GM never did own a gem they could not ruin.
Only downside is the 08-10 4 cylinders did have a metallurgically-bad batch of GM-supplied intake valves in many of them, and ALL Saab ecotec-based 2.0T's need the chains replaced every 150k. Well worth having the work redone, as long as you plan on it, before purchase. My 09 needed valves replaced at 64k miles. My 05 had good valves and had 205k, still running full 210psi compression. Great motor.
My second car was a 1982 900 turbo with the Aztec wheels. I was a dishwasher in between high school and college. My boss thought I was a drug dealer. But man, what a fun and different car for a kid when everyone else was driving fox-body mustangs. Great review as always (but no comment on the rooster?).
I bought a new 9-3 in 2005, it was the 1.9Tdi, a wonderful engine coupled to a great looking comfortable car, but it did suffer from a few issues, the EGR valve was terribly designed and regularly clogged up, it burned through alternators regularly and rear tyres suffered uneven wear on the inside of the tyres, but all that said, it was a pleasure to drive, as smooth as silk.
There is no "vast supply of parts" I have had a 9-3 cabriolet for 12 years it is the best car I have ever had however you can't even get a new washer fluid pump fortunately every 9-3 from 03-11 had the same pump same goes for the powered antenna "on back order" that said it is indeed a tank it has survived this whole time in Canadian winters It is still rust free I never anticipated owning it half as many years now my 13 year old son is begging me to hand it down to him when he can drive. I am confident I will get 20 years out of it it now has 250000 km on the clock and it still runs like one. I reiterate it is the best car I have owned hands down.
I have an 2009 SAAB 9-3 Hirsh touring sedan...it is rare, fast and every bit as good or better than any euro sedan. MB, BMW or Audi! SAAB drivers are passionate about the cars that they drive and want a safe but different vehicle. GM saved SAAB but also watered it down by wanting it to be a higher volume car and more of a division. I don't care what the brand loyalists say about GM because SAAB would have been dead twenty years before without their money. Seems you can't have an exclusive car that is also affordable. SAAB was a lot like Jaguar before Ford...in my opinion. It needed GM but never really wanted to admit it.
Had a 2000 9-3SE hatch with a 5 speed. Loved the car when it was running right. Unfortunately, something was always going wrong with it. Complete piece of shit. The topper was the oil sludging problem.. The Ecotech engine was designed with a flaw that led to oil sludge buildup. went through two air conditioners as well
I should add to my last comment in over 200,000 km and 12 years of owning my 9-3 without babying it at all I have never required a wheel alignment it's still drive straight down the road and wears tires evenly! I'm not sure if that is because it adjust the toe and camber automatically which I only just recently discovered it is suggested it does that to make it safer for high-speed maneuvering but it almost seems as though it aligns the wheels automatically the level of reliability performance durability Style and overall quality is evident from every angle I cannot think of a single vehicle with the possible exception of early Mercedes diesels that are built with the level of quality workmanship put into my Saab 9-3 convertible it really is about the best used car value on the market right now when monitoring prices I am puzzled why they are so cheap the 15 year old Saab has the potential of lasting longer then a four-year-old Hyundai I have a Lincoln Town Car they are known for reliability and longevity however as much as I love my land yacht it's consistently requires more repairs even though it has half the mileage of my Saab 9-3!!
I remember my 98 900S t during 3 feet of snow. I got in turned on the heat, went forward 6 inches and in reverse 6 inches, and pulled out and left a Saab igloo behind...
A Saab fan would surely love this video by Top Gear UK as a tribute to them: vimeo.com/44087332 - you may well have seen it already. I learned to drive in a Saab 99 on the Isle of Man that my uncle owned. He had a lot of Saabs. Great cars.
Where I live on the East end of Long Island in the Hamptons, there are more Saabs than I've ever seen, i mean there are 86 900s t convertibles with 40k miles on them...and on main street Easthampton you'll find a dozen of them from 86-2008 parked...