In light of Aaron Elledge's Saab 900 feature in this issue, we wanted to give you a glimpse in what the Swedish manufacturer has to offer.
Svenska Aeroplan AB (translated as Swedish Aeroplane Ltd) was founded in 1937 manufacturing airplanes, but diversified into automobiles in the '40s, developing a reputation for safe, reliable cars. It also had a competitive European rally program for decades, giving the brand a strong motorsport image in Europe and creating a performance-oriented customer base. During the '90s, ownership switched to General Motors but falling sales and poor resale led to Saab's closure as we write.
The Saab range was aligned with premium brands such as BMW, Audi and Mercedes. However, used prices dropped fast, making them less expensive than a pre-owned VW. But most Saabs boast turbo engines and are suitable tuning subjects.
We tracked down Maptun (maptunusa.com), one of the world's most respected Saab tuners, to uncover the cars' potential. The company was established in Sweden 12 years ago and specialized in software development. As the years passed, Maptun became a one-stop shop for Saab parts, many of which they fabricate in-house in its Örebro facility, two hours west of Stockholm.
Its expertise includes engine builds, gearboxes, manifolds, fuel systems, software, hoses and more. It also has the technology to provide custom software for Saab owners who piece together their own engine build. In the last two years, Maptun has also developed programs for E85 ethanol or flex fuel.
Four years ago, MaptunUSA was born in Elizabeth, CO giving US enthusiasts direct access to information, parts and custom tuning. To address its growing customer base, they're also planning a new facility in New York. So we spoke to Andrew Schmidt from MaptunUSA who gave his two cents on the Saab aftermarket.
Apparently, the vehicles Maptun most commonly encounters are '93-and-newer, Saab 900, 9-3 and 9000. Finding an early 900 in decent condition with either a 2.0- or 2.3-liter turbo engine could cost as little as a grand. Newer 9-3 bargains with low mileage can be snapped up for under $10k.
You might also want to consider the Saab 9-2X. Affectionately known as the Saabaru, it was a rebadged Subaru Impreza wagon that gave Saab dealers an affordable turbo wagon to sell. Subsequently, there are many tuning options for this car since it shares many of the Impreza WRX components.
The conventional Saab turbocharged cars such as the 900, 9-3 and 9000 offer 150-210hp from the factory, with tuning potential comparable to the VW/Audi 1.8T/2.0T. And, according to Andrew, the cost to tune the cars is also similar: "Consider the tuning parts around the same price as a VW/Audi, but you can buy the cars a lot cheaper," he explained.
And for most Saabs, reliability and servicing is equivalent to a Honda. "The Saab 9000 beat the Honda Accord for customer satisfaction at the time," Andrew continued. "I've had a '04 Saab 9-5 that's never had any problems. These cars are very reliable and safe. That's the Swedish way."
As for tuning, these turbo coupes and sedans can ultimately be transformed into 600-700hp beasts. Inevitably, a mega-project such as this would entail a complete engine overhaul with new pistons, built tranny and a massive turbo, but it is possible.
Impressively, the older pre-'04 motors with Trionic 5 (T5) engine management are able to handle 400-500hp without a motor build. Unfortunately, cars produced after '04 (such as the Saab 9-3 using T7 management) had weaker pistons and valvetrain, making them less bulletproof.
The more complex T7 ECU was introduced to offer better fuel consumption but such cars can still reach 315hp safely, without breaking the bank, and are well suited for the street.