Comments: 1-15, 16-23
The engine seized up with no warning.
There were numerous problems with the cooling system which went without any warning.
I meticulously took care of the car, continuing to return the car to the dealer for its service intervals.
In addition there have been several other problems with the transmission and drivetrain.
In the past 6 months it has cost me over $4000 to repair and it is still having problems.
After having owned a Saab 900 for ten years with almost 200,000 miles, the 9000 has been disappointing to say the least. After 60,000 miles it has gone into self-distruct mode. I am now in the process of trading it in for an Audi A6. Goodbye Saab.
Agree with your review. I purchased my 9000 less than two months ago and it only has only 25,000 miles on it.
HOWEVER, I have replaced the battery, all four tires, several blown fuses, and now I have found out that the fuel injector wiring harness must be replaced to a tune of $1000 PLUS labor!!!
Don't buy a 9000, they're horrible cars. Buy a '91, '92 or '93 old shape 900i 16 valve or a 900S. Without a doubt they are the best, the very best cars SAAB ever made. Unbreakable gearboxes, bomb proof engines and a build quality to make a German weep. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about, I service them and I don't get rich putting them right.
Disagree. The late (especially 1995-1998) SAAB 9000 cars are very well designed, high quality and reliable. I am talking about the 2.3 liter cars only -- the V6 cars are known for trouble. But with proper maintenance and care, the 9000 can be a durable, solid car. Not to mention lots of people love them for their great handling, speed, cargo capacity, comfort, efficiency, and style.
For what it's worth, we used to have what I consider the greatest SAAB of all time - the 1995 9000 Aero, in silver, with a 5 speed manual. It was a beautiful car. It ran reliably and it ran fast. It routinely got better than 30 MPG on the highway, still considered impossible for large 150MPH cars. The seats and the stereo were about the best of any car I've yet seen. I miss that thing. 112,000 miles and two repairs - a water pump and a turbo fastener. It was perfect when we traded it for an A6 2.7T, a much less elegant car in my view. Burns way more gas, and looks boring, and steers like a Buick compared to the delightful SAAB. But it's got AWD.
Lots of people love these cars. And rest assured, there are plenty of SAAB 9000 cars with 250,000+ miles on them. Visit www.saabnet.com for more info.
The 9000 w either 2,0 or 2,3 liter 4-cyl, are good quality cars that will perform reliably for many many years, provided they´re properly maintained.
Anyone complaining over having to replace tyres just isn´t credible.
(We have yet to see the car constructed that doesn´t have to change bulbs or replace tyres...).
*For TEN (10!!) consecutive years the Saab 9000 was ranked as THE Safest car in the world by numerous independent vehicle testing / traffic research institutes around the world (1986 - 1996).
*In -86, three absolutely stock 9000 Turbo cars were taken straight from the production line in Trollhättan, Sweden. The cars were sealed after inspection by Notarius Publicus, and shipped to the Talladega circuit (Alabama International Speedway).
Under NASCAR supervision, the three cars were driven at max speed (approx 145 mph) day and night for weeks on end! After almost 20 days the fastest one had broken 21 International speed records and two World speed records.
>> Average speed was 132,5 mph over 100.000 km (62.112 miles)!!! <<
All three cars survived this grueling thrashing, the two others w 130,4 mph & 129,7 mph average speed respectively!
Each car had used up 30 sets of tyres (!) during the almost THREE WEEKS of non stop all-out whipping!
And all three cars were afterwords test-driven by journalists who raved about the solid & fresh feel of the cars.
This legendary event is called "The Long Run".
How´s that for reliability!?
Ten years later, in -96, Saab did a repeat of the event.
This time w the new generation 900, and again with numerous World speed records broken.
Most manufacturers avoid this type of record-breaking attempts, since it´s too embarrassing if you can´t accomplish what you´ve set out to do...
(Mercedes should know - they stopped one attempt after only half the distance. Two out of three cars had already broken down, and they didn´t want to risk the last one too...).
Feel free to contact me at :
gunnar.bengtson@telia.com
Regards! :-)
Gunnar.
Disagree, I am on my fourth 9000 now. The lineage has gone 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993. The consecutive years are totally coincidental. I drove the first one mercilessly and everyone who drove with me was surprised that a 250,000ml car lasted a further 50,000 mls under the conditions. Timing chain broke at 200,000 mls on the 90 and so the first one's engine was put into it. My brother still drives this car, now well over 300,000 mls. The 91 and 93 are currently in use by me and my father and have been faultless to date.
I have replaced one alternator, one power-steering pump, one fuel pump and some bulbs over 4 cars and approx 350,000mls. If this is not reliability, nothing is.
When I get older and insurance allows I will put an 88 900i 2-door I have on the road, they are supposed to be even better!
I LOVE THE SAAB 9000. I purchased a 1985 Saab in 1987. I drove this car until 1997. The only repair I had was the air conditioner in 1997. I then purchased a 1996 Saab CSE which I still drive. It looks and acts like a new car. We have traveled the country many times in this car and it never ceases to amaze us. It is comfortable, gets 30 mpg on the road, and performs fantastically. There have been no repairs to this car except we recently had to replace the motor in the antenna. My only regret is that there are no newer 9000's.
Disagree too.
I am from Europe and my 9000 2.0 Turbo 1993 has 260000 on the clock (and counting) ;-)
I have no problems. I´m not going to the dealer for maintenance... and that is only to prove how good this cars are!
Solid built, they are fast when needed.
The gear box never give me any troubles and the parts that were changed was within normal parameters (for a car with 260000!)
I work for a used car dealership and we own about 10 saabs, 9 out of 10 ARE GARBAGE!! and when I say GARBAGE, I mean GAR-B!TCH! a total pain in the 4ss... I tell my customers all the time, DO NOT BUY THAT SAAB! because I don't want any headache from complaints. My boss keeps telling me that Saab is good cars, but from what i've noticed, it's been a pain in the 4ss and i absolutely hate it!
Why don't you just remove that last comment, that has no basis in fact?
Hi All.
I have just purchased a saab 9000 cs,111000mls any good?. Is was a friends friends car, 1 owner... will it be good as you all say it is apparently chain driven so must be a good sign of things to come hopefully!!!I shall keep you all posted... cheers keep up the forum!! Jags.
I bought a Saab 9000 CS, and I just have to say that was one of the worst mistakes I've ever made!
What I've had to replace in 1 year:
Fuel pump (x2)
Speakers (all)
Gas cap actuator
Radiator + both hoses
Oil drain plug
Driver's side front door actuator
Headlight relay
And more
Good god, I've spent almost 4000 on the thing by now, and it's only been 1 year; not to mention the 20.6 mpg I've been getting driving as economically as possible.
THIS CAR SUCKS. I'm getting a Civic.
Yes, I bought a Saab 9000. It's an awesome choice for a European car. I have no idea what my friend was thinking when he sold it to me! By far it's been the best car I've had. It's got everything you would want in a car. American and Asian cars have nothing on a European car, hands down.
"I'm getting a Civic."
That's so original!
I have owned 3 SAABs. an 84 900 8-valve N/A 2.0L auto 2DR Hatch, a 97 900SE Turbo Convertible auto, and a 97 9000 CSE 2.3L FPT.
My 84 was running when I sold it for parts to a friend who'd wrecked their 900 as I had another vehicle. It had over 300,000 miles on the stock gearbox and engine. =)
My 97 900SE Turbo Convertible got totalled when I got cocky and took a left turn over a small bump at a pretty quick speed. Lost traction and slid into the curb, bounced up and into the fire hydrant, destroying the hydrant and took out a retainer wall.
My 9000CSE was T-boned on the 4th of July this year. Body work is the only problem. It has 155k on the stock motor and gearbox. =) Gunna sell it for parts and get another SAAB Turbo. I've never been scratched in an accident in a SAAB. I blow Trans Ams away off the line and especially once we get going. Honda isn't even worth a race. =)
How is the 9000 a "horrible" car? It got awesome consumer reports marks, particularly the 94-98 models. It is faster than any factory 900 and is substantially easier to service.
I agree that the 900 was a good car. However, the evidence you provide to validate this claim is that gearbox is so strong. Excuse me? The (manual) gearbox is the absolute weakest part of the 900. The often times stick in gear, a gear stops working, the pinion eats itself... I mean, it's chain-driven, fwd and longitudinal. The balky shifter was vague even from the factory, and the auto mags back it up. Any 900 owner who takes his car to a quarter mile strip is most worried about his transmission. I recall a recent 900 Turbo rally team who has pulled out every race because of gearbox failure.
I've owned five manual 9000s: 1990 9000S, 1988 9000T, 1987 9000T (248k miles when sold still running), 1994 9000 CSE non-turbo (264k miles when sold still running), and 1997 9000 CSE (300hp, 189k miles, current daily driver). They've all been great to me. I also had a 1988 900T. I service them all myself, including major work like clutch replacement and suspension overhaul.
Check service records, or at least bring someone who knows car mechanics well when you're looking to purchase ANY car.