1986 SAAB 9000 Turbo review from Australia and New Zealand
"A comfortable beast with great road holding"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Turbo destroyed (my fault from driving with a staling engine in 40 degree weather, due to a fuel issue.
Fuel pressure regulator failed & Pre-pump failed, causing the turbo to go. The thermostat had jammed open so I replaced it to improve efficiency.
Temperature sensor for the main fan failed leaving the fan running.
General comments?
Despite the above problems this car has been resonably reliable considering the K's and the abusive driving I do. It is very big and comfortable the chassis feels solid and the handling is excellent and very predictable.
The car has some real bite when the turbo spools, but can also be driven as a sedate 4 cylinder. For turbos these cars are very reliable, probably due to the turbo only being active a high RPM, many of the parts I have replaced have been regular maintenance.
I have done much of the work on the car myself which is the best way to maintain reasonable running costs, the car is not easy to work on, but not impossible.
Recommended reviews
| 1987 - 9000 Turbo 2.0 turbo Gas Modern manufactures are just starting to catch on |
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| If you like comfort and speed, the 9000 Turbo is for you |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1986 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 2l turbo Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 6 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 4 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 189000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 238000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Holden Commodore |
| Date of Entry | 19th January, 2004 |