This 1984 Saab 900 Turbo Was a Former Autobahn Burner
Hot on the heels of the Malaise Era for American cars, European marques offered giddy new driving excitement. Saab was quick off the line in 1978 with its 99 Turbo coupe, one of the first turbocharged models to have any longevity in the market. It and the 900 Turbo model that followed earned strong reputations, so when I found a nice 1984 900 Turbo sedan in Detroit in 1989, I grabbed it for $4700. Bought new by a Bosch executive, its early years included autobahn duty in Germany, where I imagined it huffing and puffing 8.5 psi of boost into its eight-valve head as it hustled along the left lane.
The driver knew it when the boost bit thanks to a dash gauge, whose orange needle suddenly spiked hard right, but also when the two-liter four morphed from flat to frenetic. Although unimpressive now, back in the day, the Saab’s 135 hp at 4800 rpm was respectable, considering that the 60 percent larger 3.2-liter 1984 Porsche 911 Carrera—albeit normally aspirated—produced just 200 hp. Pairing a five-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive, the 900 Turbo was street-, highway-, rain-, mud-, and snow-ready at all times. Lacking stability control, traction control, or ABS, piloting it was likewise a purely mechanical affair, with the thrill of torque steer ever-present when the pedal was pinned in lower gears.
I’d never owned a car that was simultaneously as luxurious and exciting, especially after getting a mobile phone installed for dictating work reports and job hunting. The deep, leather-upholstered chairs were sublimely comfortable, and while not as racy as the two-door hatchback, with its anthracite paint and black interior, the sedan truly made me steal glances over my shoulder in parking lots—especially at the soft whale-tail spoiler, which lent the sedan a purposeful look. If you didn’t have a spoiler in the ’80s, you were nowheresville, man.
Sure, there were problems over the 80,000-odd miles I owned the car. The brake calipers froze up, the air conditioning and APC boost controller were problematic, the VDO odometer stopped working, and that rubberized spoiler literally fell apart from age and exposure. But I noticed something: Once its service needs were met, the Saab ran on and on like a locomotive; nothing seemed to faze it. Eventually, though, after switching coasts, I replaced the aging 900 Turbo with a normally aspirated 16-valve 9000 S, a thoroughly dull sled. So sad.
Owned a 900S and a 9000 turbo. Loved both. The 9000 turbo was a good performer and ahead of its time with the roomy interior and huge cargo space with the hatchback. Not as quirky cool as the 900 but a better car overall.
Loved my 9000t. Nicest leather seats ever. Seemed faster than I am sure it was. 100k miles w/o issue. Stuff just disappeared into the hatchback. Then the auto trans died and repair costs exceeded value. Still miss the leather in those seats…..
The boost’s lag made this car entertaining when it was suddenly there.
Have owned 47 vehicles……….so far……….after the 5 Air-Cooled 911’s, the 1984 900S and the 1986 16V 900S were the two cars I miss the most. Absolute blast to drive and the safest car in the world back then………ahead of it’s time. Still kick myself for not buying a late 80’s or early 90’s 900 TURBO or SPG.
I had two 900 turbos a 82 and 87. Loved them both. The 8 valve has a issue with head cracking by number 2 and 3 piston. Which mine did. The best reason that anyone could figure out was the coolant porting. The 16 valve didn’t have that issue. They were quirky cars and a statement against the big 3. There steel was twice as thick as any American car, heated seats, integrated roll bar, 4 wheel disc brakes standard. Plus it became the new James Bond car in the Gardner books. Now if it would of had AWD like Subaru. If only, I miss my 87 hatchback turbo to this day
I had almost the exact same car – 1983 900 Turbo. It was 6 years old when I got it. Same colour same wheels. Scottish leather, manual transmission. It was the best car I ever owned – solid, fast, a dream to drive. Like yours it slowly deteriorated and was expensive as hell to maintain.
… and oh yeah … the turbo lag was the ultimate in anticipation!
Had 900s & 9000 turbo, both m/t. the S was more fun to me, you needed to be patient to set up a pass on country roads and wring it out. Finess not braun. The Swedes made cars for big people to fit in, liked that.