UKSaabs

I've always liked cars a bit leftfield, and I feel that in an ideal world there should be a car for every purpose.

My ultimate real world garage would contain:

1. Lightweight N/A hatchback for the occasional trackday

2. Turbo nutter 4 cylinder

3. V8 supersaloon

4. Daily workhorse

(Ideal garage adhering to the above for me would be Ph1 172, fast Saab, E55 AMG and V70 D5)

Until Friday evening I had 1. covered with my only vehicle, a Phase 1 Clio 172, which has been a brilliant car to own if a little unrefined for daily use.



Having owned a couple of highly tuned Saabs in the past (340 bhp 19t 9-5 and Faero's 480 bhp 9k), they really do get under your skin and I adore the idea of a sober looking old school hatch/saloon with copious amounts of power at its disposal.




So on Friday I came across this 9k in black with the original Super Aero alloys. Despite going beyond the moon in terms of mileage, 306,000, it's in stunning condition and has had the same owner for the last 170,000 miles and 15 years, which shows. So a couple of bids and I managed to win it for £1100.

Seller's description: "I have owned this 2.3 litre full-power turbo SAAB 9000 Aero for about fifteen years (it is my 3rd SAAB 9000), during which time it has been serviced regularly by Motorvation SAAB in Kent, and for the last 100000 or so miles it has additionally had the oil changed every 6000 miles. Over the course of my ownership it has had a new clutch, recon gearbox and new cylinder-head gasket, and the bodywork has been looked after by two Kent and one Cornish bodywork specialists. There are no signs of rust as far as I can see. Obviously after 300000 miles there has been normal wear and tear, and the air-conditioning failed a few weeks ago for the first time (I have not had time to have it repaired). Earlier this year I had the power steering belt and tensioner replaced, and also the handbrake cable. I think the headlamp wiper motors are inop., but to the best of my belief those are the only dysfunctional parts apart from the aircon. The sunroof is fine, and the windscreen, seals and surrounding trim were replaced about four years ago. To pass the next MOT it will require some work on the exhaust and attention to the headlight pattern (the car comes with a number of 2nd-hand spares, including winter tyres, headlamps & wheel arch trims)."

Only issue was I'm based in the East Midlands and this car was just outside Newquay, which seemed to put a lot of buyers off. Not me! Fortunately I managed to bag a 50 minute flight from Birmingham for £40; cheaper than a train to London!







Interior looks great from a distance:





On closer inspection the driver's seat could do with some leather treatment, not to mention some new black floormats (or .?) and a bluetooth head unit:








Drove faultlessly all the way back from Cornwall, and the cruise control works!

Came with half a tank of fuel and that got me home, just under 300 miles, with 50 miles to spare!

For the upcoming MOT I've sourced some new headlights and replacement exhaust.

Also while I was at it a 3 inch downpipe (thanks Jeff!) and T7 APC, so stage 3 is on the cards.

Should I happen upon a big turbo setup it'd be rude not to, but will of course stockpile some gearboxes.

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Stage 3 '97 9k Aero

Looks a good buy, be curious to what comes next! It was also in my watch list.

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It's big, it's brassy and I'm going to blow it!

That's a very good base to start with, interesting thread.
Will be interesting to see what you will do with it.

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Lucy Verasamy is hot.
She does the weather.

Thanks both, in for MOT right now so will see how it goes then will order some Rocky Black leather refurb stuff.



Once roadworthy plan is to put some miles on it and sort out the handling.

It did seem to only be hitting base boost but have fixed with a new pipe from APC, now it feels like the full 230 bhp. Main appeal of this for me is slaying financed debtmobiles from the comfort of an armchair.

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Stage 3 '97 9k Aero

As much as I love the Super Aero wheels (awesome condition as they were shotblasted and powdercoated only 2 years ago), if I come across some Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2s in black I wouldn't say no.

Not my car but done a little mockup.

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Stage 3 '97 9k Aero

I always preferred the 5 spoke pro race 3 to the 1.2/1.3.

However, some hub converters and a set of 17" hammerheads would look good

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Rich
Prefers driving over polishing or reading.

You've done alright there, engines can be replaced but good bodywork is rarer than an honest politician, that looks mint AND it's black! Much prefer the aero wheels though, the black spokes are a bit too 'max power for me, they're worth good money too.

Not that keen on black wheels on a black car.

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Lucy Verasamy is hot.
She does the weather.

Yeh they are nice the Supers, can't believe how much they're up for on eBay, over a grand!

Well, had the MOT today and predictably it failed on headlight and exhaust so these are on way soon:








Ordered one of these CV boots, which apparently is fine for the FPT even though it says here it's only for the LPT:

http://www.partsforsaabs.com/product_in ... ts_id=3983

Fair bit cheaper than this:

https://www.partsforsaabs.com/product_i ... ts_id=3450

Once roadworthy will crack on with advisories beginning with ARB bushes, any recommendations for a decent polybush kit?

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Stage 3 '97 9k Aero

Powerflex Black

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Rich
Prefers driving over polishing or reading.

Cheers, are they not a bit too hard for road use? Would these purple ones be better?

https://www.neobrothers.co.uk/powerflex ... 4528-p.asp

https://www.neobrothers.co.uk/powerflex ... 3591-p.asp

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Stage 3 '97 9k Aero

Not for the anti roll bar, doesn't transmit much in the way of nvh, black will really sharpen it up.
That being said, purple is still an improvement over the rubber ones and will last better than the rubber too.

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Rich
Prefers driving over polishing or reading.

What's it like on rust? I remember this being up for discussion in the coffee bar, tried to persuade my dad to buy but he was put off by some of the MOT history for rust and short MOT. Worth a punt in my book. Looks a very nice find and good value.

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'75 Vauxhall Viva - '91 Eunos Roadster - '91 Mini - '94 SAAB 9000 - '97 SAAB 9000 - '08 SAAB 9-5 TiD

Doesn't seem like there is any other than a little surface corrosion in places, I guess as there's nothing on advisories other than rear suspension component mounting it seems pretty good.

Will prob do some preventative rust treatment if I can find a reasonably priced specialist.

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Stage 3 '97 9k Aero

I'd be looking at this sooner rather than later having had experience of how quickly they deteriorate especially around the rear turrets as it can't be seen unless you remove the carpets. MOT history looks like it's been reported on for at least 3 years - I'd be looking at this ASAP before throwing any money at anything else. 'rear suspension component mounting' is the inner arches / turrets/ floor.
Mines just finished having extensive welding at the rear despite looking like it was fairly minimal when first inspected , your old one BWB was pretty horrific although not as bad a Mossypossy's one , my old Amthyst aero was scrapped due to rust, it went from passing an MOT to uneconomical repair in 12 months so it's a well documented issue.
Although it looks good, in my book the body is the most important thing with these cars so better to know that's good than spend a lot of money on upgrades only to find the upgrades are falling off as there's nothing left to hold them on, as with my previous one.

Thanks for the heads up, will add to the list once it's through the MOT. Yeh it wouldn't be much use without a chassis!

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Stage 3 '97 9k Aero

Looking at the MOT it was a failure and then an advisory a day later last year.

I investigated this with the previous owner and he has revealed:

"both tests were carried out by Spear Garage Services of Normandy Way, Bodmin, on the instructions of Sandercocks Garage, also of Normandy Way. After the first MOT failure, Sandercocks carried out 4 1/4 hours of labour for "Repair manifold to turbo bolts and fit new nuts; repair underbody o/s, repair and fit new bottom hose clip". P.S. the consumables include "Welding materials £10-00; Turbo nuts FOC;
Hose clip: £0-60"

Seems like it has been attended to but will still have a good look when I get chance.

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Stage 3 '97 9k Aero

Wahoo!



Unfortunately the mechanic couldn't fit the downpipe - I thought Abbott Racing downpipes were made to fit a stock system?



Perhaps needs a reducer?

I would like to retain stock system as want it nice and quiet, but also would like to take it to stage 3.

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Stage 3 '97 9k Aero

Is it not the case that the AR downpipe is not 3" and in actual fact 2.5"? (I could be wrong, it has been known..... )

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......Gotta love a 9K..........

We can't go far on enthusiasm, but we don't go far without it

looks good and the right colour bet its toasty in this heat

Not that keen on black wheels on a black car.
dont buy a black car then then dont put black wheels on it

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never underestimate the predictability of stupidity