Uncommon Q-Ship: Saab 9000 Aero
This is the beginning of another new series called Uncommon Q-Ships. It’s meant to highlight some of the performance cars that are mostly forgotten now, cars that are surprisingly quick but mainly anonymous. These were the cars that the smart sports-car buyers got back in the day to fly under the radar. It’s a favorite genre of mine and hopefully this series will jog your collective memories.
My first nomination would be the Aero version of the old Saab 9000. The 9000 was Saab’s first effort at a full-on Luxury car, and it was co-developed along with three other cars to keep costs down: The Alfa Romeo 164, Fiat Croma, and Lancia Thema. This is why unlike all other modern-era Saabs, the 9000 had the key where it normally goes. Beyond that, though, it was all Saab: a 5 door full-size hatchback/sedan that came with turbo power. The original engine was Saab’s 2.0L 16v Turbo straight-four, with 175 horsepower. This is a first-generation 9000 with a nice set of wheels. Classy shape.
The 9000 was updated in 1992 as the CS model, with slimmer headlights and a mild restyling to make it appear more modern. Also, an optional 200bhp 2.3L turbo was added in 1990 along with updated electronics which offered more power and better driveability.
But the real special edition came in 1993, in the form of the 9000 SPG or Aero, depending on which market it was sold it. The engine was the B234R, the larger 2.3L 16v turbo fitted with a Garrett T25. While the automatic made the same 200 horsepower as before, the 5-speed manual had a higher maximum boost threshold and made 225 horsepower. In addition, torque output was an unusually high 252 lb-ft; this was cranked back on the automatic models to preserve longevity as it was felt the 4-speed automatic couldn’t handle the power. In addition, the Aero received a set of special Aero 3-spoke alloys (which I think look quite fetching; maybe I’m too kitschy though) and a subtle body kit. The suspension was lower by 30mm and stiffer, and the Aero also got perhaps the best seats ever conceived by a mere mortal. Check those glorious thrones out:
In the 9000, this was a sweet powertrain combination. While not a quick car off the line due to the small displacement, high weight and high-pressure turbo setup, if launched right this stately looking Saab can hit sixty in 6.4 seconds. When the Aero was first released, Saab bragged that the 9000 Aero was faster from 50-75 than a Ferrari Testarossa or a Porsche 911 Carrera 4. While this is mainly true due to the Ferrari’s extra-long gearing and the fact that a 1993 Carrera 4 isn’t really that fast, it’s still a testament to how powerful this motor was out on the open road. Flat out, the Aero could turn 149 miles an hour. Yet by the time it went out of production, despite being an ancient design, the 9000 Aero was simultaneously one of the fastest cars in it’s class, easily the most fuel-efficient, and still the safest.
This best news is that like most Saabs, it hasn’t held it’s value worth a damn. For a car that retailed for $41,000 in 1993(!), you can pick up a straight Aero for a song today. if you don’t mind the turbo lag, an Aero makes for a great low-price high-speed express.
like anything old, funky, European and relatively uncommon, there are a few things that any potential buyer should look for.
Primarily, unless you’re a weenie, avoid the automatic transmission model. It still has the suspension, seats, and special bodywork from the Aero but it has the same LPT 2.3L motor as a normal 9000 of the same period. While 200bhp isn’t bad, it’s not nearly as quick as the higher-output 5-speed model. Also, the automatic transmission isn’t really known for it’s longevity, even hooked up to the low-output engine. Also of note, the 5-speed manual transmission was updated in 1994 to offer smoother operation and better reliability; if you are thinking of modifying your 9000, it would be best to get a 1994 or newer model with this more robust transmission.
Also, it’s a good idea to avoid a ‘93 or ‘94 with traction control. It was the year that Saab first introduced the ABS-based system, and it’s prone to failure in old age as many of the components weren’t very well designed - I mean, bugs have to be worked out somewhere. Anyway, a car with dying TCS can be a real pain in the butt to drive and even more to repair. And to be honest, while ABS is useful, any lead-foot redneck doing a burnout knows to let off the throttle to reduce the smoke - surely people who drive Saabs agree?
And of course, there is room for more. Like any car with a well-breathing turbocharged 4-cylinder, the 9000 Aero responds quite well to modifications. BSR (A European chip-tuning company) claims a 40 horsepower bump for their stage 1 kit, which is just a reprogrammed ECu and a high-flow air filter. Torque also increases from 342 nM to 415nM (252 to 313 lb-ft.) With a few other modifications, and assuming you have a later model with the Mitsubishi TD04 turbo, 280 wheel horsepower is only a matter of a few bolt-ons: add in a 3″ downpipe and a good exhaust, a larger intercooler and/or water/methanol injection, and you’ve got one damn fast car. Seems pretty hard to beat.
It’s hard to see why people overlook these. They seem to do a bit of everything well - they’re classy, they’re solid and safe, they’re quite fast, and they can haul about as much stuff with the seats folded as your typical small SUV. I guess the less people know about them, though, the easier they are to find used!