First contact: Saab 9000 CS

A row house settlement in a Munich district. Small front gardens, all well maintained. Here is the middle class home, here beats the heart of the old Federal Republic. One resident has done a new Saab 9000 CS. A CS, not a CSE. Velours instead of leather, injectors instead of turbo, black bumpers instead of painted. For the big machine, automatic and sunroof.

That's him, Saab 9000 CS, built in 1993

Of course, in white, a neutral and reasonable color and no capacity designation on the rear. The neighbors could otherwise think that they had become unreasonable. So he stands in front of the door, fresh from the factory. The inevitable D-sign at the rear, it shines in the autumn sun, as only new cars can. An idyll in the Munich of the 90er years. 90er years? Stop, back. Tell us from the beginning.

In the meantime, with friend Achim, I landed in Munich with a considerable delay. A few snowflakes and a strong wind have shown us that our high-tech society can be stopped by nature at will. We fight with S- and U-Bahn through Munich, always on the way to our 9000er. We then cover the last distance on foot. Enter a small row of houses, turn the corner and ... are back in Munich in the 90s.

In front of us, suddenly and unexpectedly, is a Saab 9000 CS 1993 in almost new-car condition! The paint shines, as only new cars can. The plastic parts and rubber seals look like fresh off the line. Not pimped or trimmed with care product on sale. No, one thing is clear. This car was not exposed to many UV rays yet. We are overwhelmed, but we break away and ring the bell. He warmly welcomes us and tells the story of Saab over a freshly brewed tea.

Its owner, a family member and senior gentleman who has now crossed the 80, used the Saab only for trips to the office that were not that common. And now and then a trailer with garden waste was moved. Now he is old, move only a small Japanese car and has the Saab, which he misses much, passed on to his grandson. As the car stood in front of the door, he noticed that Grandpa had given away an automatic vehicle. Automatic and novice driver does not work.

No, no engine wash. Before 360 kilometers through snow and mud.

As we talk to Saab, I keep glancing out the window, see the Saab standing in front of the door, and in my mind I've already bought the cult Swede. After a short chat we take a closer look at the 9000er. The first, external impression is also confirmed in the interior. The blue interior, usually bleached after 20 years, shines in new car gloss. The 9000 is almost perfect, but we continue to search and finally discover some shortcomings.

The list is as follows: A door rubber torn, the exhaust a small hole, right behind a small area repainted. That's it!

And rust? Rust is an issue with almost all early Saab 9000s. The first 9000 CC liked to rust away, with the conversion to the CS it got better, but Saab only got the problem under control from model year 1995. Doors, for example, tend to rust. Not so with our copy. We find traces of the factory preservation, which can be seen in the engine compartment and in some places on the doors. A small patch of rust, 2 millimeters in size. And also on the mount of the tailgate lock - a place where our two 9000s had rust perforations from 98 - is new car condition. Not bad for 20 years. What follows will be the shortest test drive of my life. We screw the signs to the Scandinavian sheet metal, I suggest going to the gas station to fill the Saab with fuel for the drive north. Because now I have such a good feeling that I can feel that I have a great car in front of me.

So were the 90er: cassette radio, 4-speed automatic and air conditioning

On the way to the petrol pump we talk about the Saab, what else ... The Saab, the seller says, is at least as good as a Mercedes and still a real, honest car. Not as much plastic as the modern boxes. We cannot disagree. And it's true. The 20-year-old Swede drives like a new car for the first few meters, just from 1993, and he already has something of the good old Mercedes quality.

No question, we bought the Saab and sealed the deal with a handshake in front of the petrol pump. And we seem to have come at the right time. Because in addition to many young people who think Saab is cool, the day before a winter car buyer came who wanted to take the 9000 with them immediately. Winter car, what a word ...

In the meantime, it has started to snow heavily in Munich, too, and we are heading north in a snowstorm. Off to the highway and opportunity to see what the old Swede can do. Our Saab 9000 CS 1993 driving report comes on Monday.

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saabisti63
saabisti63
11 years earlier

Congratulations on this magnificent specimen. I had one like that in the early 90s. At that time, won a competition through Autobild and Hörzu when the brand new 9000 came onto the market. 2,3 liters and 150 hp - a beautiful touring limousine.
As a souvenir of the action at the time, I still have the key ring.
Always good ride with this gem.

Regards Ralf

Saabansbraten
Saabansbraten
11 years earlier

Did you get the chic old DIN license plates as a souvenir? Because they were the icing on the cake for the car - it will not be possible again anytime soon, and with the blue euro bar and ghastly FE font, it just looks inappropriate.

phibo
phibo
11 years earlier
Reply to  Saabansbraten

After all, he still has a full-sized D-sticker, which is at least a consolation prize.

GP362
GP362
11 years earlier

Nice, that in the meantime also 9000er before the END CONSUMPTION be rescued. For a long time, this guy was not taken seriously in the SAAB community (just 900-I), and I think the 9000er is the most thought-out car in Trollhättan. When he appeared 1985, the German brands looked old and I had many extremely positive surprised passengers.
He also won many international awards until almost the end of production, was the safest car ever for several years and was built and sold in parallel to the 9-5 I. I'm also always looking for a well-preserved second-9000er, but the air is slowly getting thinner, because this type has rarely been well maintained.
Good luck with it Tom

Anddeu
Anddeu
11 years earlier

Nice report, where I feel like, to go again to search for a Saab. However, there is a color that is not on the list - but I'm not telling which one

Saabfan
Saabfan
11 years earlier

… .Roxette would be good too, wouldn't it? They are still busy making music ...
Once again a big thank you to you Tom from Switzerland for your great work for SAAB.
Regards
Walter

André with 9-3 SC
André with 9-3 SC
11 years earlier

Hello Tom.
Again a nice report, about an even better car. And with almost 20years even a Saab can spare the winter!

Then, on your return trip, there was really only one cassette left of the three question marks!

VG André

phibo
phibo
11 years earlier
Reply to  Tom

Waterloo...

Philmos
Philmos
11 years earlier

Such a great car! Congratulations, I could not have resisted, I think.

I still have not understood what winter cars should be good for.

When I bought a car, I always planned winter as an important criterion for “my very own specifications for suitable cars”, so the car must be able to climb a snowy mountain, otherwise it is not useful in the Alps. Many brands such as BMW and Mercedes, and Volvo in the past, always dropped out of the buying grid immediately. I can't use a car that is only good on dry roads. What do I do when I return from a business trip when the weather changes, like right now? Leave BMW or Mercedes standing with the customer? Return by train and pick up the winter car 😉

phibo
phibo
11 years earlier
Reply to  Philmos

As far as I know, the definition of winter car is different. It is more important that the car is undemanding and does not have to be guarded too much. A friend of mine (who occasionally lets me use his lifting platform) drives a T5 transporter with a few embellishments and special equipment in the summer, but it is too good for him to use it in winter (road salt, icy accidents, etc.). That's why he drives a cheap used car in winter - an Audi 80 station wagon two years ago, and a Ford Escort last year. Hardly anything costs, there is only minimal maintenance, and when the TÜV is due, it is used for recycling. If it does not survive until the TÜV, the economic loss is minimal.

Of course, this completely contradicts the way SAAB drivers see their car. And so I also say that for this kind of use the SAAB described above would be wasteful.

phibo
phibo
11 years earlier

Thunderstorm ... all due respect, really, a great car. You can probably get over the missing turbocharger. And a cassette radio - well, that alone would be a reason to buy for me, because I saved one or the other glove box full of cassettes from my 405.

I see you had fun traveling back in time ... including a mobile phone from the 90s 🙂 By the way, about 5 years ago I had Volvo send me some brochures. The equipment list said - Warning! - a car phone! With handset and keypad. On closer inspection it turned out that one could apparently operate one's own cell phone (if Bluetooth enabled) with this set.

I'm looking forward to the driving report ...

PS: Winter cars are nothing bad per se - but that would be a waste for this specimen.