My first car, the 2001 9-5 turbo , it was handed down to me for high school. I always thought it was the coolest car, from the cup holder, down to the fighter jet placement of the key ignition switch. Great first car.
Saab. The Crazy ones. The rebels. The troublemakers. The ones who see things differently. While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do. I miss Saab.
I loved Saabs because they were different from BMW, Audis & Mercs, they were cool & fast, probably not good for the track, but for the city they were perfect!!! R.I.P. Saab, I miss the 9-3
A week ago I bought my first SAAB, a 2001 9-5 2.3t - and a real joy it is. A timeless shape, whereas the German competitors Clarkson mentioned are either rusting heavily now (Merc) or start falling apart because they've had at least one aggressive oaf in their line of owners (BMW) - and I say this as a German. When Clarkson made his obituary of SAAB this February, May should have remembered him how he had trashed the 9-5 himself. Likened the car to a labrador... pah! What a hypocrite!
My 1999 9-5 Aero saloon is a silky smooth ride with ferocious acceleration. It's all the car I need. I recently spent a few hundred on new suspension bushings, exhaust items etc plus normal service. Ready for the next 100K miles! Love it.
I like Saab's for the fact that they stand out from crowd, for instance the dashboard with all instruments such as radio, that cup holder, Fan control etc.. they're so much organised and nice looking comparing with other cars with similar price tag. I'm not sure about the reliability thought, but I think it's ok.
+Adam Mickiewicz Anybody can kill a car. Heard so many complaints about cars and you can tell what the cause is by asking the owner: "When did you last check the oil?" How I wish I was kidding on that, as it makes up a lot of "major" brand complaints. Saabs, so long as you look after them to schedule, they are faithful tanks. Only one I had die on me, was the first runs of 9-5 that had a defective oil breather system that broke down and clogged the oil pick-up (thereby starving the engine of oil). A problem fixed for the most part, but some owners never took it in for the upgrade (see my first point). Car with a full service history (not all Saab), but never taken in for a recall. It was a well loved car too, not a person who drive it or rode in it who didn't like it.
Have a 2,3t with the turbo and ECU from the Aero. Jeremy may very well have a point, I'll concede that it isn't as good to drive as a BMW and that it may be a technically better car, but since I bought mine, Saabs have and will allways have a special place in my heart. I love my car to death. And it's the most comfortable car in the universe. Drove it 17 hours in one day, it was just fabulous.
Greg Fox The dashboard is great for driving, especially at night cruising, the layout is well thought out and the green dashboard light is relaxed, MUCH better than any other car I know, most are like a fun-fair.
I've never understood people who take Clarksons word for law. He changes his opinion on vehicles all the time and is very very opinionated. I have always loved Saab and I now own a 99 9-3 with 172k and it runs great. I plan on buying another lower mileage Saab eventually. Great cars and I wouldn't even consider a BMW or Benz.
+Matthew Hutzell You're dead on. When SAAB was finally murdered by Chevy, Clarkson actually did a beautiful and touching eulogy for the company for Top Gear. It's on youtube.
SAAB was fare beter then BMW and Mercedes of it time. A had 97 e36 compact 1.9. With M staf and Benz 98 C180. Naw I have 95 from 2000 2.0T. I can tel thet SAAB is beter in any way.
What sort of motoring guru stars the engine without having his foot on the clutch. Not a very good one Jeremy. Love your show but you are so wrong on the 95 it is brilliant.
It's true Saab's do have the brightest headlights in the world and they are weird cars the more you drive them the more you love the machine. Not showy but built as something practical and reliable with a lovely turbo, 2 years of owning 93X and I can't think of another car I'd rather use every day!
My dad has a 1993 Volvo 940 so I can believe that Saabs of that era also had a pristine ride. The 940 is like driving on a cushion of rainbows and good-weather clouds.
You do not need to engage reverse to take the key out. The driver position is completely adjustable & is more comfortable than the BMW & Audi I test drove before purchasing my 9-5. The AERO package SAAB 9-5 came with anti roll bars & equipped with a 250hp 2.0L Turbo BNR23 motor which was faster than the porsche in those days. This is an obvious BMW ad, thanks Jeremy!
The point of locking the gearbox in reverse made it very difficult to steal, that was the whole point of doing so. The gear lever will shear off before the locking mechanism gives way, so you will need to disassemble the locking device before you can select another gear. That is also the only reason the keylock is where it is. My 2.3T Aero has 250Bhp and will fly to 60mph in 5.8 sec, my nerve goes before the damn thing stops accelerating otherwise it will carry on to a tad under 160mph.
You do require the reverse gear to get the key out. What is that 250hp BNR motor you are talking about? B204, B205 - 2.0l, B234, B235 - 2.3l. Letters in the end of the name are meant for different versions, B235E is a LPT version that goes to 185hp, the B235R is the high performance one with 230 to 260hp.
I have a 2005 Saab 9-3 and I have come to adore it. I got it used for 8 grand at a GM dealership and the previous owner barely touched it so it was in great shape. My only complaint is that the seats really do make your back sweat during the summer.
yeah had an 9000cse 2,3t and it made it 35000 miles (metric) its a real mile eater. loved that ride and it had the best comfort in a car i driven up to this day and when the turbo kicked in it was "suckt back in the seat fast" :D
Jeremy forgot to say, or doesn't know, that Saab put the key in the console to avoid crippling knee injuries in a frontal crash situation when the key is located in the dash..
Its 2021 and i have one, the clutch is gone it will be replaced next weekend, and then it will be lowered because it understeers and are to comfy needs to be abit more aggressive, 9-5 vector 2002
I don't know about anyone else but I have owned 2 saabs in the past and they have been very solid performers. I think the craftsmanship of saab is actually better than that of bmw which I owned a 323i ...an example would be paint and the metal they use on the car seems to be tougher and last longer.
there's something to be said about the B2x4/5 blocks though. Beefy connecting rods, factory forged crank, closed deck.... the later (b2x5) engines used poorly designed pistons but replace those and you have a VERY capable motor!
I have had 7 SAABs (OG 900s) and 6 Bimmers (E 28 and 2002tii, E30) and Jeremy is a dick. The 9^5 Aero was a brilliant car and definitely in the same class as a Bimmer.
Missing the whole point of why SAAB existed, they were never designed for looks, they were built as a machine around you to protect you, not to catwalk with makeup to look good.
And if we look to Top Gear videos of the future, we see that in action dropped on their tops. BMW, you wont walk away from. Saab, hop out, put the kettle on, wait for someone to pull it out the field.
I love Saab’s had both 9-3’s saloon and convertible all Aeros that run a stage 1 remap very quick and still think the convertible is the best looking convertible out there even now, I’ve got a 2007 9-5 Aero in manual now and it’s running a stage 3 tune so it’s got awesome power I love seeing the surprised look on other drivers (BMW Audi etc ) when you show them Saab power when their cars cost so much more money
My 1999 9-5 still runs like a champ, have had to replace a few things of course over time but nothing out of the ordinary. Still stock turbo and most everything else. The only thing I wish is that it was RWD but we can't all get what we want.
I've got 9-5 2.3t, now I have e39 523i and I must say, that bmw has no character and is just uncomfortable. The only reason why I still have it is the fact that it's more reliable and cheaper servicing Saab was much much better
OhFishyFish Pretty much everyone in the nordic countries, got 10-20 million people right there. If you put your handbrake on in winter it might freeze, the gear wont (if it does, you dont leave the house anyways)
+OhFishyFish Dont know about where you live, but in many EU countries its part of the law to park in gear (though surprising how few know it). As Vulzma has noted, its more reliable, and safer. And even Autos lock the gearbox (and thereby the wheels) in park. Its basic safety to stop it rolling away (or in bad weather getting stuck).
I own both a 9-5 and a 9-3 convertible and both are outstanding cars. Maybe they don't have the flash of Mercedes and BMW but that's what I personally like about it. The ability to have luxury but still blend in enough none is stealing your hood ornament and you don't get pulled over near as often.
a saab has a soul like no other car i know. and especially before gm fucked them up big time. the saab 9000 aero is probably the best car ever made. i just bought my 3rd saab (saab 99) since i got my license 4 months ago. can't get enough!
just bought a 99 9-5 last week. So far, it needs a new piece for the pasenger window motor, a ribbon cable for the radio screen, and a new internal battery for the car alarm (Went off at two in the morning and five in the morning, so I took out the fuse.) Everything else is great!
He might remember the name of every petrol station on the test route though. Oh and the list price for the V6 turbo was very close to M3 money. Not really a contest there.
I had one of those 3.0 best car i ever drove, fast relyable and so confortable. Unfortunaly i had to seel It due to Electronic problems. If It wasent that probably i still had it
my dad recently purchased a saab 5 aero 2.3 turbo, sure its fast but so far he has just had problem after problem with it, he has spent more money fixing it than he did to buy it, seriously unrealiable, but it goes like a flaming bat out of hell for an estate :P
That infernal BMW spends more time in the shop (add that to your vehicle cost), and are you really that terrible a driver that you roll back each time to start 9-5.
Doesn't someone who supposed to be able to drive a car well, Foot on brake/check handbrake is on/shift into neutral//start/foot on clutch/select gear/move off. If that reverse start up crash happens with a Saab for you should not be driving one. Simple!
I recentlu bought a saab. I went with a 2004 Saab 2.0t with a basic stage 0 tune and an upgraded turbo. For the price I think it beats most of its competition. I went from a sentra to an altima than an eclipse gt, and even a honda civic to my saab and the difference is wonderfull. Its very underestimated but these things can haul butt. I'm eventually going to sell it however, I would love me a bigger engine.
Saab is a top drawer car in every way,it has style,reliability,comfort etc,ect,its so sad they went out of production,they were aimed at a certain market and when Vauxhaul tried to take over Saab would not let them take their badge and put their name on the rubbish they tried to put out.I will keep driving them as long as i can find one, wish someone could come up to their standards and we can see the Saab name born again,and as for Jerimy joke
Just met someone who owns a 2012 Subaru Outback. I asked him if he liked his new Outback. He said, Well it's reliable with great fuel mileage and a great AWD system, but then, with longing eyes, he said, I used to own a Saab 9-5. Obviously, he missed it dearly.
Some people just don't get Saab,yea I have drove BMW 3,5 and x5 merc c,e and ml class and had Audi A4 advant,all great cars loved them all,however none of them puts a smile on my face as my 93 does,so easy to tune,what engine do you know that with putting on a bigger turbo,exhaust,inter cooler remap,dump valve,cams and you get 400 plus bhp,had her for ten years now and still love it part of the family
In my case, my 9-5 is a wonderful car. It is a 2.0t (the only type we have in Jordan) and I was thinking of getting a turbo-kit for the 2.3T and installing it on. Although there are possibly only two garages here who can possibly even attempt to do it. My main concern is the engine, & I was seriously thinking of installing a spare LK9 (from a written off 9-3) on the 9-5, although no one dares try it!
I got myself a SAAB 9-5 2.0t (here in Amman, Jordan). I can only say it's the most enjoyable car that I have ever owned. At 170 hp it's quite alright: and I love the sports mode! I initially thought of getting a Honda Civic (Asian variant) 2008 with 1.8 iVTEC engine, but to be honest, while the Honda is a great car, it lacks the character of a SAAB.
O I know all about that alarm going off in the middle of the night haha, I just pulled the fuse for it as well. The sad thing about that is its a dead battery but the dealership will want you to replace the whole unit. There is a work around on the forums so you can put the battery in a reachable location and just change it out, that's what I'm going to do.
Yeah. I have never owned one. But we go to the Detroit Auto show every year. And we always stopped at the SAAB area. I could never figure out.. how they could make a seat that was SO GOOD, and others were not as good. A seat seems like a simple thing to get right. It was a wonder how many cars have bad seats, or just average seats.
Interesting comments. According to some research, Saab owners are some of the most fiercely brand-loyal customers in the car-buying market, which could explain why so many legitimate criticisms are getting shrugged off here.
I love those absolutely pointless and meaningless "does XXX miles on tank of gas arguments. A truck would do even more. Does it mean that 6 liter V8 engine is more economical, or simply different cars have different tank capacity?
Im not talking about all vehicles. Im referring to the fact that in 03 no other sedan in its class came close. Yes trucks have insanely big gas tanks, Heck ford had a thing for using two gas tanks in their trucks.
Going by history as Audi, BMW and Mercedes are all German people in Poland might not be too thrilled to have a German Car. He did fail to mention the safety and the reliability (although this was mentioned, and demonstrated by dropping a BMW and Saab 900 from 8 meters...with James saying that you could probably walk away from the Saab. And Jeremy saying that Richard Hammond might be alright in the Beamer, but no one else would in their tribute to Saab).
the saab 9000 is actually classified (or was when it was introduced some years ago) as a large car in the USA. Classified by the American automotive industry I think, due to it's large interior space. Saab even used this endoresment in their old adverts!! Have you actually been in one? Have you seen the pretty large luggage space in the hatchback version?
@MigAfraid I looked at it, they barely spoked or showed the new 9-5... But it was a nice tribute to the company. Also, it was Season 18 Episode 5 if anyone else wants to see it.
the most fascinanting is that the car belongs to executive class. it doesn't match rivals for almost anything but space. it maybe rides better than audi, but just maybe. old 5-series is good car even today.
