Saab 9-2x Aero the Swedish samurai
You can spoil an article right from the start! Something like this: What does the Saab 9-2x Aero have to do with the Swedes? Not much, apart from a few minor details. But this attitude would be stupid, because you would bring a lot of fun. So: prejudices swept aside and got into the Swedish samurai!
If you want to drive a Saab 9-2x Aero, you have to search intensively. My journey is quite long, more than 600 kilometers. But the fun is worth it! The weather does not feel good on this day Kiel, Mostly it rains, in between the clouds break only briefly. I'm using one of those cloud gaps to make friends with the 9-2x.
Officially, the Saab was only sold in North America, there may be a handful of copies in Europe. It's a shame, because we lost a lot of fun with this policy. The Saab is of course a Subaru so that we have finally dealt with this topic. It is based on the Impreza and shows that quite openly. The front was trimmed to Saab, the emblems too, nothing more is revealed to the eye. Okay, supposedly the noise insulation has been improved over the Impreza, at least Subaru says. But that's about it.
The interior is 100% Japanese. The 90s live on here, Nippon says hello from every crack, which doesn't have to be bad. Seats and door panels do not correspond to the series, they were modified by Markus Lafrentz according to his taste, as their restoration was due anyway. Markus uses the little samurai as an everyday car. And before I can ask myself why, I understand the reason.
The boxer starts with the typical sound, the exhaust system paints an indecent beautiful symphony in the Kiel morning air. Okay, okay. First: That sounds very much like old Porsche. Second, that sounds good. Third, that fixes me. The Saab pushes out of the yard, the boxer winds its sound through my ears, the city highway beckons. Accelerate, thread, the corridors clack through the scenery. A clear turbo lag, but then the Aero moves all the more determined forward. The Gesamtkunstwerk of sound and Turbo Boxer is fun and invites you to play. It is better not to think about fuel consumption. Four-wheel drive and Turbo Boxer are not the best combination to save resources.
The Saab 9-2x was built by 2004 until model year 2006. Then it was over, the demand for the Swedish Samurai was too manageable. Mine here is model year 2005 and for this reason has only the 2 liter boxer under the hood. A year later, the engine capacity was increased by a hefty 1 / 2 liter, the performance increased from 227 to 230 PS. More displacement in this case are therefore higher torque with fewer revolutions. Nice, if you have it, but I am thrilled even the smaller engine.
With the symmetrical all-wheel drive, which I am Bilster mountain have learned to appreciate, you could easily show the Japanese rear on small, north German highways stronger vehicles. Today, however, the city highway is enough to get to know each other and to become addicted. The 9-2x Aero is a compact fun device from the old school. Loud, hard, handy. And very directly! The steering he has borrowed from the WRX STI, which enhances the go-kart feeling. He is not uncomfortable, thank the excellent sports seats. A truly individual car with an outstanding roadholding and ingenious soundscape. And an alternative for anyone who finds a classic Porsche 911 too ordinary and looking for something special.
Why was not this car for Europe? Is it too Japanese, too much Subaru and too little Saab? To be honest, the Swedish samurai has nothing to do with Saab except for some optical retouching. It is a pure product of the marketing department, which for once did a nice job. Although he was a flop from the numbers, because he is indecently fun. And as a little candy, the Saab logo sticks to it, making the meeting with him all the more enjoyable. Because as I said, you see it differently, you can spoil any fun right from the start.
Despite or because of additives?
It's a shame that there is no reliable information about the stuff. When the topic came up here, all information on the website of the manufacturer / distributor was written in the style of assertions made in the room. Completely without receipt level ...
This has kept me from an order. I remain open to the remedy, but I want to be persuaded by scientific methods of use and effectiveness.
Otherwise I don't know whether a car will run reliably for a long time despite or because of an add-on ...
@ Ebasli
I think I was one of the “fallers” back then when it came to the question of the readers' experience with Triboron.
I've been using Triboron for years with all of my SAABs, starting with the 901 S Cabrio (built in 1992), through 9000 2,0t CES (built in 1998), 93 2,0T SC (built in 2005) to the 95NG (“Transatlantic”) , so actually a “mixed bag” of engines. I am not now the “performance outreach”, but can say that all vehicles have a smooth run, 1 year ago also spontaneously without complaint and without much fuss, just took a trip of 2 × 280 km to a training course, as the Mercedes mine Practice partner was not available from now on: 901 convertible with 4 adults and luggage, 9000 with 5 adults and luggage on Wednesdays quickly in the Detmold - Bad Orb tourist traffic and back after 2 days, each about 3 hours driving time without a break.
I have the impression that the engines, otherwise mostly short-haul used, thanks Triboron just better run. After purchasing the 9000 before 5 years ago, I first had to do an engine oil change with Triboronzusatz, after I had previously run through a Triboron engine cleaner. The vehicle thanks me to this day with a silky smooth running and good performance. It is a pity that I have to part with it.
I'll stick with it, based on Udo Lindenberg: "No matter what the others are talking about, I'll do my thing ..."
LG from Detmold
A. E.Hübner
But honestly, would not we have sniffed at the 9-2 back then? So how about the 9-7? If wrong, at least for the 9-2 as you can read now :-)
Hmm. The boxer is fun! Too bad that SAAB never brought a compact entry-level model on the market itself. An unused opportunity to inspire young customers.
@ Ebasil, Tom & all,
I would be very interested in the topic. If only because I've been using conventional lead substitutes for my old Gothenburg ...
But it doesn't have to stay that way and I would also consider the addition for lead-free and younger Saab, if its benefit would open up to me, it would be verified ...
Hello Tom, thanks for the quick reply!
Maybe someone else has experiences - purely subjective, of course? Or is it really a miracle cure that only helps the manufacturer? 🙁
Do you mean the “miracle cure” Triboron? Something like that always makes a dubious impression on me. Since there was something about it a long time ago (I only found it in the archive, didn't know the blog at the time), I would be interested in what the experts here, e.g. Tom, currently think of it. Basically, such an “insider tip” makes me absolutely skeptical. In the saab cars thread it was discussed / claimed:
>> - It is advertised with consumption savings that are unrealistic from a technical point of view.
- There are no reliable measurements that would prove the promises related to the real use of internal combustion engines. Similar products that actually passed robust tests achieved around 1-1,5% - and that's not bad at all! - But that is out of proportion to the costs for the addition -> definitely wasted money.
- If that were a miracle cure, the big OEMs or oil companies would have bought in long ago, like VW and Shell at Synfuel / Sunfuel back then.
- Back then, the Saabblog was promoting the product and testing it itself -> You never read anything about it again.
- Several users reported positive effects on running behavior when using the 2-stroke. For this niche application, stuff may work well, I'd want to believe. It may also be a suitable alternative as a lead substitute.
- Modern engines are equipped in such a way that they do not need these additives / they are of no use anyway. <
My concern is not so much about the fuel savings, but about something to contribute to the care and longevity of the engine. I mean, some of the ads put up for sale here on the Saabs also highlighted positively that Triboron was always added to the engine care. Is that true??
Oh yes, the Triboron test. A very dark hour for the blog. One is alone because of the announcement to want to test massively attacked us. We agreed that the mood was not an objective test possible and have stopped it. More is nothing more to say.
I think the car has something, even if it is not a real Saab for many! I can understand that. I too have been driving SAAB for 54 years! But also Subaru for 18 years, currently a 2010 WRX STI model with 425 hp and a GT. In contrast to Saab, the Subaru almost never breaks, even if they shoot the parts, which I've been practicing for years. I use the STI regularly in the 1/4 mile race. Both Subarus are agile, the BRZ is more of a drift vehicle and weak in torque with the existing liter output. The STI is the sow, equipped with semis, he walks like a pig even in the rain. Endless traction. A well-known Saab driver from Hamburg, the blog will also confirm this, which sells additives. Everyone knows who I mean. Otherwise, the 9-2 could use a lot more than 230 hp. If I had a 9-2, I would immediately miss my STI engine. Because you can never have enough performance, I also think Saab and Subaru are for lovers!
Sounds very tasty ...
I also see the optical proximity to the Swedish Saabs of these vintages sufficiently preserved. The biggest drawback to this family growth is its rarity.
The biggest flaw with the (pre-announced) article is that I've read it now. That was nice, but of course the anticipation is over ...
My problem. Thank you for the impressions! ! !
After the post is always before the post. The next review for January is already in progress. Here's the teaser: rarer, new, a few kilometers.
Too bad that it has not become more. Saab and Subaru could certainly have brought something in common on the stage. Is the lever of cruise control actually series? Normally Subarus yes have the control buttons for the cruise control directly on the steering wheel?
Is so series in 9-2x!