As I looked at these shots in my inbox earlier this week I pondered whether or not there’s a more neglected Saab model than the 1st generation Saab 9000. It really only has the Carlsson model to hang its hat on. I’d venture a guess that even the Saab 90 crosses the average Saabists minds, purely out of curiosity, more often than the 1st generation of Saab’s ‘large’ car.
The obvious question is why? When the first 9000s came out they extremely well appointed. There was basically only one model with a turbo here in Australia and the 9000 Turbo has all the bells and whistles you could ask for. It looked great for the time and still cuts a fine figure today when its dressed properly.
It had the venerable Saab hatch and could carry an elephant. It had the Saab turbo that could almost literally fly and it had enough creature comforts to make it a mobile Swedish gentleman’s club.
This one’s not quite like that. It’s been transformed from gentleman’s club to something more akin to “nightclub” but it’s still got that 1gen 9000 look and I, for one, was very pleased to see it.
I don’t have the original email with me at the moment, but I’m pretty sure the photos were taken somewhere around Jönköping, which is around 120km southeast of Trollhattan.
I really have to get myself a big property with a properly sized shed so that I can start a right proper collection of Saabs. This model 9000 is particularly important to me personally as it’s the first type of Saab I ever rode in and drove myself. It was an apparition, an eye opener and the beginning of everything I know and love about Saabs today.
I’d love to get one in a collection.
The first generation of 9000 Turbo’s are also the only Saabs to make Car & Driver’s annual Top Ten list (86-88, IIRC).
I drove a 1988 9000 Turbo, black with tan interior, for 11 years and well over 100,000 miles. It was an awesome car.
A Picture for you.
That’s pretty damn hot actually. Very tastefully done for what it is and a beautiful modernisation of a classic.
I love my 9000, although it is second gen. I love her so much she is getting a new clutch next week, so that we can go beyond low boost, and go up freeway on-ramps and stuff.
The 9000 dash was Saabs best!
Slick console!
I didn’t even know there was more than one generation of 9000s.
My mechanic had an old Scarab Green CDE until he got his 99 9-5, I have no idea if it was first gen or not. It seemed pretty old.
My first SAAB was a 1990 9000 CD Turbo. That car sold me on SAABs. The seats, the ride quality, and the steering were perfect. Although it broke down more than it ran I still loved that car because it just had that special aura. From then on the SAAB sickness has been growing in me.
Except for the fartcan exhaust, that’s a nicely modded 9K!
I’ve heard so many bad things about the 9000s (mechanically), similiar to what grohlinator said, is it really true that they broke down THAT much, because this isn’t the first time i’ve heard that.
BUt I must say, one of the best exterior designs of its day, and even today, was the 2nd generation 9K. it reminds me so much of the 9-5.
i still say the 9-5 interior is the best on a Saab to date. Never grows old.
Did anyone notice the hood is missing? I am not one who appreciates “pipes on Cadillacs’, and prefer understated elegance. That said, I sorely miss my 87 9000. The instrument panel was pure aeronautical in it’s layout. Modular switches and interchangeable racks, along with the best ‘circuit breaker’ panel layout I have ever seen in a car. By comparison, the 9-5 seats were narrow, and the car seemed more cramped. If they had continued to develop the 9000 as they did the 900, I would have loved it. The 9-3 seems claustrophobic, and it’s trunk doesn’t match my classic 900 in size. I am still waiting for a Saab big enough to transport my model aircraft as well as the C900.
Another thing. So often I hear commentators speak of a design becoming ‘dated’. As a believer in form follows function, I can see this applying to new technology, and thus the appearance of headlights, for example. Other examples were split windshields giving way to curved glass, or crushable bumpers replacing firm chrome and steel. However, constant mucking around with design features just for the sake of change, doesn’t sit well with me. Classic designs are timeless, and should reflect the technology of their times to perfection.
The 9000 was Saab’s high watermark, both in design and popularity. I am still waiting for a worthy replacement for it. In the mean time I enjoy my C900