Antiquarian and expensive - Saab 9-5 A personal story

Actually, the Saab 9-5 and not the 900 NG was the first car designed under GM's influence. That's a realization when you read Anders Tunberg's books. In the book Saab 900 - a Swedish story (Link) much rebellion and independence comes through.

At that time, an urgently needed platform had been pulled from the GM shelf in Trollhättan. Better to do the rest yourself. With all known consequences.

A personal story about the Saab 9-5

With the 9-5, the GM influence was a bit bigger. You can guess it if you read between the lines. That was a balancing act for the designers. They had to conjure up a good car and at the same time a convincing Saab from American wishes. It was, without a doubt, successful.

What the book tells about the 9-5

The 9000 was getting old and was becoming a problem. He had a strong following in the Anglo-Saxon countries, but that wasn't enough. In the USA, the Japanese poached, the fearful opponent was called Lexus. GM was looking for the right solution to this challenge. Trollhättan should deliver.

The Saab 9-5 was created within around three years and the Swedes had finally established themselves in the upper middle class with its appearance in 1997. For project manager Olle Granlund (Link) quality, safety and “everything turbo” were at the top of the list. In addition, there was very good ergonomics and the most convincing car seats in the world. With the new 9-5, Saab introduced the first ventilated seats in passenger cars, which with their active headrests were the best money could buy. operation succeeded.

The 9-5 with asymmetrical V6 was also a world first and remains unique to this day. While the “old” Saab fans never really got warm with the six-cylinder, this powerful comfort drive ensured many conquests in the first few years of sales. With the cancellation of the V6 several years later, Saab lost these customers again and when the 9-5 II appeared the basis for success was missing. But that's a very different thing.

What appeals to the personal story!

A lot revolves around the perfection of ergonomics, you can literally feel Toyota's hot breath on your neck. But it's also about the fact that a Saab chassis has to be the way it is. According to the self-image of the brand, the driver should be able to reliably “feel” the condition of the road and always receive feedback. You learn in passing that the 9-5 is the first Saab to have a split rear axle. Another focus is quality. A promise that the first 9-5 copies, which are now over 20 years old, still keep.

In the book, for the first time in a Saab reading, this nonsense appears Premium names. A word that Saab will use more and more in the coming years. Also, and especially at a time when some things were no longer premium. You can ignore this premium stuff and focus on the facts. Because the book has a lot to offer. It also learns to be amazed. Amazed at how a small company with a very manageable team puts together a great car that can compete with the big brands.

But not so personal?

Compared to Tunberg's first Saab factory breathes Saab 9-5 A personal story less spirit. Why is it? Not the actors in Trollhättan. It is the corporate culture that could have changed in the 4 years between the two plants. Project 104, the Saab 902, took place in an open working atmosphere. The author seems to have enjoyed more freedom during this period.

The book on Project 640 reflects more influence through marketing and a lack of personal stories. The Saab 9-5 story is still a book for fans. It is a piece of history, which alone makes it seem worthy to collect. It is only available antiquarian and like many things around Saab has become expensive in recent years. Some second-hand bookshops charge up to € 100,00 for unread copies. Those who find a well-preserved piece cheaper should not hesitate.

Information about the book:

Title: Saab 9-5 A personal story

Author: Anders Tunberg

Publisher: Norden Publishing House Ltd.

Published: 1997

Cover: antique

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Ebasli
Ebasli
3 years earlier

Hi Hans,

but got “weak” again? 🙂 Very understandable! And sky blue is such an ingenious color - I hope when it's finished the new beauty will be featured on the blog? !!

Best regards from the north!

August-Eric Hübner
August-Eric Hübner
3 years earlier

A well-preserved copy has been offered by Stefan for 1 week!

Hans S.
Hans S.
3 years earlier

I feel like many here. I also think the first generation 95 I sedan is great. So great that I got another one. Built in 1999 with just 85000km on the speedometer and fully serviced at Saab. And that it is a 3.0t V6 is not fundamentally wrong, actually it is really brilliant.
The 95 has such a good substance, so it is worth putting a few more dollars in it and bringing it up to a nice stand. So much can be said, it will soon shine in sky blue metallic!

Bukki2001
Bukki2001
3 years earlier

I have to get to the book somehow, because my 2 21 year old 9-5 limos deserve a literary “appreciation”!

As noted several times, it is the 3.0 t petrol engine, one of which (which is still surprisingly rustproof) runs all year round and the second drives through the area after two anti-rust measures as a semi-annual approval. Despite the somewhat advanced age, I am still comfortable and to everyday life. My wife visits her elderly mother once a week with an overnight stay and rolls (1km each way) safely and comfortably there and back. Your route profile consists of 350% federal road and 60% AB. Ideal for this car and no fuel-guzzling route. Reasonable as it is, it keeps the car around 40l / 8,5km in consumption. I visited the other guy in his garage today. The engine started, the tire pressure increased a little, the fluids checked and then another 100 minutes of tapedeck with the sunroof open. From October it will be used as a replacement for the convertible. Everything works for him too, except for the air conditioning compressor, although he will certainly need new brakes in the foreseeable future. This is wear and tear and comes to pretty much every owner who uses their vehicles for longer. Both should definitely go back to the next HU and I think that will also be possible with reasonable effort.

Now a question for Tom. In my place there is a second SAAB driver and I am thinking about starting what is probably the smallest SAAB club in Germany. In 2 you could think about a SAAB meeting in our little Hanseatic city. For this I might need a little advice / support.

mc55
mc55
3 years earlier

Oh yes, the 9-5. (sigh)
Until two years ago I drove 9-5 (EZ 1999, 150 HP). Actually a pure bread-and-butter car, nothing aero, nothing great equipment - and I loved it. Such a wonderfully calm car, everything you need in it and always does what it should. Finished. After more than 400.000 km and shortly before the TÜV inspection, so many defects had appeared within a short time that a repair would have exceeded the value many times over. Now it is in my garden and no longer drives.
And now I have a non-SAAB for the rough and various 901/902 or 9000 CC / CD. And although I am actually oversupplied with automobiles, the 9-5 won't let me go. Maybe someone has to be incorporated again .......

Eric 900
Eric 900
3 years earlier

The appearance of the 9-5I at the end of my studies has sustainably increased my emotions for SAAB. During my studies, I had to turn off my 900 EMS, there were too many repairs. In autumn 1997 I took one of the first UNI courses on web research. And there it was, the SAAB website with the magically flashing 9-5I. A great experience and also the following brochure materials, the first test drive convinced me then from 9-5. It should take 8 years before I got my first (company 9-5 SC). 3.0 Diesel, you know, the one with the bushings. Still an incredibly great car. Later I had one again as a limousine, always convincing. I'm still fascinated by the shape, Mr. Hareide found a perfect Saab style without looking retro. And the dashboard is still a treat today. Yes, the 9-5 was the first SAAB under GM. But for me it has a lot more SAAB attributes than the 9000 in terms of style. In my experience, the 9000 was of a very high quality. The 9-5 was able to convey that straight away. If I ever find a well-preserved specimen, I will probably become weak.

Best regards from Eric

Herbert Hürsch
Herbert Hürsch
3 years earlier

Mistake

The link should read: Saab 900 - a Swedish story ...

Otherwise, thanks for the two literature tips.
It's always fascinating how intensely the trolls fought with GM for good cars ...

And it's true, the 9-5 gives a lot of feeling for the road. The button against the assistant is also right next to the one for the night panel. That is already well done.