Q-ship #06 - 1993-97 SAAB 9000 Aero

By John LeBlanc

Entering production in Europe in 1985, the 9000 was the result of a shared platform designed by Ital that also produced the Alfa Romeo 164, the Lancia Thema and the Fiat Croma. The original 9000 signaled a push by Saab to expand its presence in the North American market beyond the tweed-jacket-wearing college professor crowd. Like sardines and outdoor hot tubs (Not together, I hope. - Ed.), large, 5-door hatches are an acquired taste in North America. Saab's Aero model further pushed the exclusivity envelope with few takers, garnering Q-car status along the way.

Under the hood, cooking 9000s had a 170-horsepower 2.3-liter turbo-charged four-banger, with the Aero getting a 200-horsepower upgrade on the automatic transmission versions. To enjoy legendary Saab torque steer, and a 5.9 seconds 0-60 mph romp, opt for the five-speed manual version, which added 25 extra horses. Don't think that you have ready access to that power though. This big Swede is positively anemic at low revs, and anything over 4,000 rpm causes the Aero's tremendous torque to spin the wheels ineffectually, overwhelming the Z-rated tires in a smoky, stinky, and frivolous display of power.

There's that "acquired taste" thing again.

Get out of the stoplight jungle though and the Aero stretches its remarkably long legs and can overtake distant cars in what seems like a blink of an eye. A downshift to 4th or even 3rd gear rewards drivers with an instant jump as the car whooshes forward in a giant turbo-charger-induced thrust. Yeee-haaa!

If you get a handle on the torque-steer the handling is superb for such a large sedan. The 16-inch Michelin MXM performance radials work in concert with the MacPherson strut front suspension to give the Aero remarkable road-holding ability. The rear hatch and a fold-down rear seat give the Aero more than 56 cubic feet of cargo capacity, which is more than in some small SUVs.

Subtle aerodynamic (Aero--get it!) body additions to the exterior, the three spoke wheels and black trim, don't call to attention that this is a factory-sanctioned hot rod. The interior came with the full 9000 option list, so this car can disguise itself as a limousine for nights out to the theatre or a wagon for antiquing on weekends, and then kick up its heels when accompanying you on solo canyon blasts.

Sounds like a taste worth acquiring.

Engine
configuration inline 4
power 225 hp
torque 258 lb.-ft
displacement 2300 cc

Gear box
5 speed manual

Performance
0 - 100 km/h 5.9 sec
1/4 mile 14.8 sec
top speed 240 km/h (limited)

Current price: $6,670 - $13,562 U.S.
Q rivals: Volvo 745 Turbo, M-B 300TE
Anti-Q rivals: BMW 850I, M-B 500 SEC
Q rating: 3/6