Saab 9000 CC Adventure
After a week full of business news that didn't really satisfy us, we change the subject. It's about the first 9000 series, which celebrates its 30th birthday this year. The article starts with a confession and tells about the stupidest way to buy a car ...
With the 9000 CC I did not have anything to do with production times. My Saab story had not started yet; Friends preferred the Lancia theme. Truth be told, the Lancia, also available with Turbo, would have been my choice as well. The Italian had more elegance, luxury, style. The Lancia was the car for the heart, the Saab for the mind. The ingenious Saab hatchback concept could not oppose the Lancia, we do not even want to talk about passive safety.
The topic hardly exists today; the Lancias did not die with dignity, they were consumed and burned. Finding a topic in good condition - beyond 8.32 - is almost hopeless. It looks better at Saab if you are not fixated on an early turbo.
In addition to the peak engine, there was the 9000i 128 PS variant with the then new B202 engine. Because the price of a small car was between Turbo and 16V, the solid and reasonable 9000i for Saab was a success. Business travelers, families or elderly gentlemen, looking for space and comfort, appreciated the Swedes.
My search for a 9000 CC started in spring 2014 and should last until summer. The offer is modest. Optionally, rust gnaws at the vehicles, they are tinkered with, 1.000 years of maintenance backlog or a depression-gray interior. Or all together ...
In the brief midsummer, an 89 Saab 9000i was for sale, only 70 kilometers away, with the following data: 2. Hand, 120.000 kilometers, red interior, climate, ABS, automatic. Sounds good ! A viewing says more than 1.000 words, the ad speaks of a good condition. So off to the turbo X and to the 9000 CC.
Sometimes there are galaxies between displays and reality, in the case of Saab 9000 CC it should be no different. Our Swede is at a ??? - well - how should I describe the company? You could say the Saab is parked under vehicles that are waiting for their final unction and final 2 years TÜV. A business model that has its market and should not be viewed in a derogatory way. Because the owner, it turns out later, is very nice, open, fair and hospitable.
My visit, without telephone advance notice, falls on the time of Fitr, and actually is closed that day. Germany is a country with many cultures and religions, sometimes you experience one or the other surprise due to the diversity. Although a holiday, the owner takes time for me. Very warm, friendly, even if I disturb his daily routine.
I take a first look at the Swede, which is parked between an even older Opel and another used one. The Saab looks relatively good - at first glance. No rust detectable. The paint is matt, with scratches and signs of enemy contact, but in good condition. Turbo rims, the interior in red-brown! Yep! I love it ! That's where the 80s live, that's great fun! The sky is hanging, but everything is complete, not tinkered with, very original. Which brings the good news to an end.
Because: he does not drive. Or not anymore. He, the Saab, drove the last 4 weeks. The seller likes him, was traveling daily with the Swede. Now makes the Saab on Systemverweigerer. Valve cover, V-belt and several other parts are already dismantled, I feel helpless. And the exhaust is also through, as a note on the edge.
"Will be back in 14 days, then he'll run and you can take a test drive," I hear the seller say. 14 days - a lot can happen there, I think, and that doesn't have to be really good…
So get out Plan B! Buy a car as it is, without a test drive. In the back of my mind, the maintenance backlog, the possibilities of what will not work. But the good body, without accident damage, would be an argument. Or not…
In any case, no idea how to seriously buy a car. But really stupid. Not recommended for imitation. But I want the Saab!
Okay, anyone who writes a Saab blog has to be able to trade and haggle. I ask and beg for more than 4 years for funds for blog projects, for events, usually with success. So we're talking about the Saab. We haggle, joke about Saab, the blog, the car. And we will quickly agree.
The Saab goes for a very fair, very small price from the farm. I bought an old, out-of-date Saab. Sealed with a handshake, picked up two days later. Together with a very good friend, who is already sacrificing his free time for my Saab madness, and without whose faithful help so many things would not run on the blog.
The Saab is pulled onto the trailer and - okay - what did I actually buy? A lot of junk? And do Saabs have a soul? Questions after questions.
Now it is only on the highway in the direction of Saab Hangar. Where a surprise awaits us. More on the next installment of our Saab 9000 CC adventure.
I'm also happy to have my CC back on the road.
88 9000i Rosenquartz shot on eBay. Five-speed B202. The interior Bokhara red velor. Equipment? Strange ... sunroof, cranked windows, manual mirrors. Consumption? 6,8l to 100.
Get lots of TLC now. Brakes completely renewed. Cruise control retrofitted, electric windows and mirrors are just coming in. Manual climate for the summer. Everything in own performance. 9000 CC? A poem!
Personally, I think it's a shame that the 9000i with its “strange” almost zero equipment is now being upgraded to a non-original standard level - in my opinion it loses the special thing, there are enough of the electr. Windows etc. had ex works. (yes, it is also nice about every received one, but I don't understand how to upgrade such special accountant models just because you can ...)
Probably true…
Where are there still cars with crank windows and everything mechanical? It's a shame about the “original” but still better than 3.World or the press! 🙂
The approach is not even that stupid ... as long as you are clear about what needs to be done on the car, and this is factored in, the process is actually downright stupid ... if the necessary repairs have been made by the workshop you trust, then it is Driving pleasure with the SAAB guaranteed for the near future. Which cannot be said for every used car purchase.
The 9000CC in Odoardo gray and with 160 hp was my first Saab love, but at production times much too expensive for a high school student with a freshly acquired driver's license ... Today I would like to have such a copy, FPT with full leather and SSD ... no longer available. Not even as a CD ... The market is empty.
Does it necessarily have to be odoardograu?
We should talk.
I know your CC 😉 But it's like with an old love, you mourn it for ages and don't replace a blonde with a brunette ...
Yes, that's exactly what I did. Even if with green eyes and a slight reddish cast in his hair ...
Was a good decision.
😉
Incidentally, by FB incidentally hired a odoardograuer CC turbo with airflow kit, but apparently needed a complete rebuild.
FB? What do I understand by that?
Grimace book ...
Odoardo Gray is a dream color. Is since my dream 1992, which has never been realized. The 9000 CC are other colors but also very good
SAAB Service Greenfield in Detmold has a red SAAB 9000 CD with all the equipment at the time.
Tom, great thing, I'm really excited to see how it goes on …….
It was precisely with this model that my SAAB entry took place. Born in 86, white with red-brown interior, 2000i 16, with 86'7000 km, 7 years old, by a doctor. I drove it to km 283 without any problems and then sold it. Unfortunately the vehicle had some rust, neither air conditioning nor airbags. Belt tensioners have only been around since '000. I wouldn't be surprised if this vehicle is still in use somewhere. Mechanically these things can't be killed.
Then something else came and then SAAB several times.
Have fun restoring.
I'm also very excited 😉 unfortunately the 9000s are dying out more and more…. 🙁
To avoid that, people would have to buy some (as Tom thankfully does) - and not just keep complaining about disappearing from the streets. 😉
That's right, are just a few useful on the market.
The story reminds me a bit of my Joe - but I was a wimp and only drove 20 km 😉.
I'm also very curious, because I've also gained some experience with the CS. But I have to say, it was fun and driving is even more fun after successful work!
Man man Tom, you can not just stop writing and leave us in the dark!
But we love your spelling! I'm curious what will happen next!
PS: Hope we see you at the 10.5. in the Tharadter forest!
The 10.5 will be difficult because I'm only coming back from another Saab project this weekend. 😉 The blog had promised the readers a Saab premiere for this year, the preparations are in full swing ...
Then you are sorry!
Car buying for men. Test drive is for wimps ... 😀
Good luck to you.
I'm curious what will happen next …