1993 SAAB 9000 Aero 2.3 turbo
Summary:
A very good "jack of all trades" car
Faults:
Master and slave cylinder for the clutch at 130k (master was good, but replaced as a set).
Weak synchros on the 5 speed transmission, but the car still drives fine.
Safety valve for TCS system likes to come apart, and I must re-glue it sometimes.
Weird belt tensioner design. Mine was bent, and the car ate a few belts until I realized and replaced it.
Everything else has been wear items: front brakes, tires, and a battery.
BTW, it uses an odd battery, you can't find cheap ones. Had to pay out for an Interstate.
It's a 20 year old car, things go wrong obviously.
General Comments:
Overall, a good car. The feel of the car on the road and the build quality, are off the charts.
Very practical car, I'm always amazed how much stuff will fit in the back.
The interior is nice, but the leather in these cars doesn't hold up as well as some of the other euro cars. Comfortable seats, automatic climate control, which actually works 20 years later, power everything, heated seats, you get the point. The cabin is a little noisy, especially on rough roads.
Acceleration getting onto the freeway is still better than most cars. Off the line, the turbo lag hurts, but it's decent. Handling is decent, especially for a big FWD sedan (hatchback none the less).
Fuel economy to performance ratio is almost unbeatable. Seriously, other car manufacturers are now getting to where Saab was 20 years ago. I can get 30+ mpg highway, then pass without fear or downshifting. This thing makes some torque BTW. I've noticed if I drive like a maniac, my mileage suffers considerably (no surprise there).
Maintenance can be a problem is you're not a car person. If I had to rely on someone to fix everything on this car, I would have sold it by now. I fix the small issues myself, and take it to a mechanic for the big stuff.
Traction control can be a problem on these older 9000s according to my mechanic (he's a master Saab tech, LOL) and a number of people on the net. Somehow when it fails, it disables the car from running properly. The newer 94+ models are suppose to be very reliable, even compared to other car models.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 25th January, 2012
19th Nov 2011, 19:53
You are aware that you are complaining about a car the was 17 years old when you bought it, and also had over 150,000 miles on it.
Of course a car of this age would likely have issues.
When you are buying an old car, best to go in with your eyes wide open, and know what you could be getting into.