1992 SAAB 9000 CSE 2.3 from Netherlands

Summary:

Much better looks and comfort than a BMW/Mercedes/Volvo of the same age for a much better price

Faults:

In the half year that I have owned this car, only the switch for the central locking on the driver's door has been removed. The indicator on the dashboard indicated that the door was open although it was not. And the central locking didn't work for the first eight times I would try to lock the doors. Now the indicator doesn't work for the driver's door (so what), but the central locking is in perfect order again.

General Comments:

A fast, reliable and very comfortable car.

The car had originally no leather but a blue interior. Not a very nice combination with the Scarab Green exterior so I had it fitted with a second hand black leather set and black door panels for about US$ 600.

The engine is very quiet at high speeds.

The handling could be a bit better, but for not too much money it can be improved by lowering the chassis and fitting 16 or 17" wheels which will be done in the near future.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th August, 2001

1992 SAAB 9000 CSE 2.3 turbo from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Fast, practical, luxurious, solid, reliable, spacious, inexpensive - buy one!

Faults:

Odd things due to age eg: brake seals, fuel pump, clutch master cylinder and direct ignition.

Dealers are expensive, but there are plenty of backstreet SAAB garages about to radically reduce costs.

General Comments:

It is the 200bhp, full turbo model. Needless to say - it goes like a rocket. Even for a big car, you need strong neck muscles when accelerating. It also has estate car space in the boot.

Not bad on fuel, either. Whether you are in town or on the motorway, this car adapts to the conditions.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd March, 2001

1992 SAAB 9000 CSi 2.0i from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A solid prestige motor

Faults:

Leak on the driver's door due to a blocked seal.

Otherwise no faults.

General Comments:

The most comfortable car I have owned, a true luxury car, safe & hopefully reliable.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th November, 2000

1992 SAAB 9000 Turbo 2.3 Turbo from North America

Faults:

Repaired faulty traction control system check valves, 79k miles. Replaced rear brake rotors/pads, 81k miles. Repaired/recharged A/C system due to leak in hoses, 83k miles. Rebuilt clutch, 84.9k miles.

Most of the recent repairs are indicative more of age and mileage than poor workmanship/design. Other than that, the car's been pretty much bulletproof, though the starter may soon need replacement. The electrical system can be a bit dodgy, though...

General Comments:

It's fast as hell (both the dealer who sold it to me and my current mechanic say it's the quickest 9000T they've ever driven...), looks sharp and handles like it's on rails. I used to think I needed a 9000 Aero. Now I think I'll wait a little longer...

I firmly believe that this car represents the perfect balance between performance and practicality. More so than anything else I've seen on the road, it's truly a stealth sports car. Very few sedans are going to blow my doors in, and I can stick with many a pure sports car, when I so desire.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd August, 1998

11th Apr 2001, 15:30

I bought a 1992 Saab 9000 with 95.5k about a month ago. So far, I'm on the replacement rampage... The big checkpoint is the 95000 mile major maintenance check.

All of the following has died before 97k... which makes me think the used car dealer I bought it from was a weasel, and just fixed everything enough so that it wouldn't break until 2 weeks after I bought it... but besides that between 96k and 97k miles (within the last month) -- I have replaced:

(prices include parts & labor ($60/hr) )

1) left and right ball joints - $200

2) central exhaust pipe - $300

3) * driver side lock cylinder - $45

4) * fog lights & wires - $50

5) * flushed/refilled coolant - $25

6) * changed oil - $15

7) * flushed & bled brake system - $10

8) * flushed & bled hydraulic sys - $10

9) Seals leaking oil, replaced - $80

10) Clutch replaced - $900

11) Traction Control Sys replaced - $650

12) * TCS Control Valve - $35

13) * NGK Spark Plugs - $10.

Grand Total: $2330...

I paid $7300 for the car and it blue booked at about $9300. I've now spent my limit on it. Hopefully it holds for a while.

The body of the car is in good shape, with rust on the bottom of the doors (inside)... Along the tops of the doors (outside), around the back license plate and in the front of the hood. I've been looking for a little plastic guard for the front of the hood, to keep the chips/rust from coming back, once I get the rust removed (another weekend project)...

So far the car has been a money pit, but it's an amazingly smooth ride. I would recommend 92 octane fuel... I have been using Texaco and getting about 26mpg in heavy city driving (54mi/day commute).

Please please please, remember to bleed/flush your brake fluid every 20k-25k miles / 2 years... This car never had the hydraulic system flushed and therefore, when it was flushed the gunk that was holding the clutch slave cylinder seals together gave and caused the clutch to start leaking... not good... result; new clutch. If the system was maintained properly (... dealers don't flush the system, because they're lazy... if they don't flush the system every 20k+ miles, then when the maintenance book wants it flushed at 95k, the clutch gives out... hence, the problem I experienced occurs. Whenever I would have flushed the system, I would have needed to buy a new clutch... at least that's what the mechanic said... he said he's seen this before in cars he's bled...) then this problem wouldn't have occurred.

If people have questions or comments, please feel free to email them to me at ryan@nospam.sinn.org --- remove the "nospam." from the address.

Ryan.