We drive Great Escape's super Saab 900 T16S before stepping into a second highly modified 1987 car simply referred to as 'The Beast'. Full review at classiccarsdriv...
There are two reasons why they put the key on the floor. First, safety. A surprising number of people in car crashes end up with keys embedded in their knees. Second, it's exceptionally difficult to hotwire the car. The lock cylinder for the ignition key is housed in an aluminium housing, and by the time they exit the housing, they are so intermingled with the rest of the wiring harness that only an expert could tease them out and manipulate them. You'd have to cut through the housing with a grinder or cut through the bottom of the car to get at the ignition wires.
My old man had 1 of the first uk 900 turbos in 1979... a five door in cardinal red metallic with 4 speed box, reg JGE900T...when the turbo finally kicked in it was an aeroplane...very few cars could live with it in 3rd gear. All for just over 9 grand new!
+kirbyswarp It must be a great feeling when one brand does it for you so much you can relax and say, yep this is it I've found it. Saab in your case. I still seem to be flitting around like some sort of car fan butterfly. Matt.
I just scored a 1990 900 Turbo 16 5speed for $500! Only 126k miles and it runs great. I got so lucky! Old man was going to donate it to the local radio station.
I miss my T16 Aero -88. It had 3" exhaust and was tuned to atleast +230 bhp but looked completely stock. It would be much more expensive today than it eas when i bought it 20 years ago.
Reverse lock feature was for safety and security...locking in reverse is a great way to prevent theft and useful in the prevention of steering locking up while driving down the road if the ignition key is removed from the ignition or the ignition cylinder disengages
I actually owned this car ......1993 to 1997 ......great car .......moved to last of the 900S Convertibles ......still run it today as my daily drive 25 years this year ....
Beautifully designed cars safe as heck and wonderful in the snow. I was lucky to own a few here in the states the last being a 1989 T manual and the spool up on the turbo was invigorating to the senses(unlike the almost non existent sounds of my LP turbo'ed Volvo!). The car handled like a higher end European sports car without the pomp and circumstance and easily outran the VW Golfs etc. with stock turbo. The seats in these cars are the most comfortable I have ever sat in albeit I only own Volvos but their seats are no where near the comfort level of the classic SAAB. Their where two things I didnt like and that was the crap rust proofing as they did not hold up well to the New England winter roads and salt killed the wheel wells and lastly the electrical system was a bit of a gremlin when old. I had issues with my dash lights all the time. Still SAAB was unique and the classic 900 series was a one of a kind and a king in the snow!
Very good, I must admit I was pleasantly surprised, this is genuinely a great car. The second (white) car was running a higher boost which really came on strong, mightily impressive. Matt.
+ClassicCarsDriven Here in the US they are becoming harder to find and when I sold my lovely black turbo sedan in 2010 I literally had people from Canada and the rest of the country inquiring on it. It was stock all around but the paint was still original and immaculate. I would not trust myself driving a higher boost SAAB speeding tickets would follow me like a shadow!!
The red one was far down on power. A T16S is 175bhp which should boost just to the end of the yellow zone. The white one was not that fast. I would guess 190bhp. You can tune them to a max of about 210bhp. The engine can go up to 400bhp without too much trouble, but the gearbox is the limiting factor in a C900. 210bhp is about your limit with a smooth boost curve. Ive gone through 6 gearboxes !. Ive now got a 9000 Aero with 360bhp. Now thats an animal. 70 to 100 is just 3.5 seconds. Thats quicker than an audi R8 !.
A great car, I have driven Saabs for 30 years, at the moment I drive a 9-3 Vector Sport (not in the same league or quality as the 900 Turbo), but the very first Saab I ever drove was a Black 900 Turbo from the tv series The Paradise Club (Leslie Grantham). A friend of mine was a car dealer and he bought the car from Norwich car auctions, it still had Granada Studios as the registered owner, after taking it for a test drive I was totally hooked, and have driven Saabs ever since
That was a very nice review of our old SAAB classic 900 model. Thanks A fair bit of publicity about classic 900's currently with classic and sportscar, classic car weekly and another weekly about to print a review. Particularly like the specific references to the design concept .. usually missed by most people All the best stevelewissaab
Luv SAABs. When I was a kid in the early 1970s, my Dad rented a 2 door 99 to take five of us around Sweden and Norway and we all thought it was the best car ever made (our previous car was a Peugeot 404 estate, so he had good taste). He then bought a 4 door 99 (think it was a GLE) here when we moved to the states. I inherited it for college, then passed it on to my brother. Since then I've owned a non-turbo 900 gl 3 door, 2 900 convertibles, and a Viggen convertible.; Thanks for posting this, very sentimental for me.
I always thought that because they put the key at the console for crash safety, it was impractical to engineer an anti-theft steering-wheel lock. So instead you lock the gearbox by taking the key out when it is in reverse. I could be wrong.
The reason the key is down by the tunnel is for safety reasons... so that your knee doesn't hit the keys in a crash. Same with the door/ sill arrangement. In a side impact, it helps to prevent the door riding over the sill.
Thanks. Yes the position of the keys appear to support that theory, another is the security of locking the car in reverse gear. Didn't know about the benefits of the door/ sill design though. Matt.
Nice review sir! For last 20 years, I've owned two 900, one 9000 cs, and currently driving 9-5 t. My first SAAB was 900 gl '84 black non turbo 100 hp with tan velour interior. One thing not so many people know, if they haven't drove older models, is that a handbrake was on front wheels due to hard winter conditions so it wouldn't freeze and block. After I bought the best car ever, SAAB 900 fp turbo "1989 special T8" in dark red interior and Edwardian grey paint. As I've researched, there was only 300 of these produced in Finland and one of those came to me. I drove it for four years and enjoyed every ride in her. here is the link that i found with a video which shows a car same as mine on th-cam.com/video/bLjEPnZqxQs/w-d-xo.html That car sounded like a bear on idle, and when you push a pedal she was roaring like a lion and flowing like a jet! Beautiful car and I still regret for selling it but i had to let her go. Next one was 9000 cs 2.3, 147 hp non turbo and boy, she was a large one inside, pardon my French! Good car to drive and an eye catcher but looked more like other cars and only on 9000 SAAB engineers put the ignition key on a dashboard. Now I drive SAAB 9-5 '02 2.0 lpt 150 hp and let me tell you, she is a beautiful silver lady which ride like a charm and I just can't get enough of her. It is a shame that SAAB doesn't exist in inner combustion engine any more, but this NEVS project looks interesting and I guess my first electric car will be a NEVS. Cheers!
SAAB thought it was safer to put keys under handbrake for safety as your knees are less likely to be damaged in a serious front impact. Security was a secondary aspect.
I have owned over 10 of Saab's 900 Model. Every body style/type they manufactured. Hatchback, Notchback, Cabriolet, basically ALL flavors of the 900. I must say, that being without a 900 currently really makes me miss the damn things. TRULY FINE VEHICLES... One day soon people will realize how nice these vehicles are...Hand made, Solid, Fast and Way ahead of their time.
Yes Indeedy... Saab's of this vintage very very regularly exceed the 200K Mile mark. My last and most missed Saab was my 900S Turbo Cabriolet... I tuned the Saab APC control box myself to yield 17lbs of boost reliably and electronically monitored at all times. She was White with 17in Wheels 5 spoke wheels that were made to emulate the Saab Viggen style of wheel but made to fit the older 900. She was also lowered 1.7 in front and 2.0 rear...for a perfect stance, a higher spring rate and handling that would blow your mind when incorporated with the bigger wheels and tires... It also had the updated transmission from the late 89' model year...(larger shafts internally to handle more power). Simply a joy to drive and hands down the most Stare Drawing vehicle I have ever owned...people always asked me what year it was, as it looked so fresh, current and modern...it was an 89' model year however with only 115K miles on the clock... Not a day goes by in the Spring and Summer that I don't kick myself for selling her. The buyer was nearly foaming at the mouth when they came to pick her up...I think I shed a tear or two...who am I kidding... I cried. THAT is the power of a proper Saab...and I suppose... My Saab Story now as well. Wonderful vehicles...I will have another but what will they be selling for? Methinks these will be on the RISE... Mark my words.
I own a 1986 t16s. Absolutely love it. Me and my dad made it completely mint and has given it to me. Beautiful cars. In many ways better than cars built today
Thanks for the great review, I own a saab 900 and it has a perfect driving position the car suspensions holds the road like glue. I love my 900 only problem is the pain in the butt dash and fascia which often splits
You dont have to have the car in reverse to start it, you need to turn the key a few clicks and then you can knock it into neutral and then start the car. You need to lock the car in reverse to take the key out. It makes you check for neutral and it also stops people from stealing the car unless they have the key as its locked in reverse.
Very nice video. Thanks four your upload. And what about for instance, Skoda? Can we ever seen some of this Czech manufacturer? Sincerelly your watchman, Ivan!
Obviously this guy had know idea why Saab placed the ignition keys in that position! Box lock. It did not prevent them being stolen and it is rumored that in Birmingham England in their heyday they were the most popular car to steel. There initiative design was down to several contributing factors which made them natural leaders with the cutting edge in car design. I do like the beast but it would be better over sixty mph on its own at Bran's Hatch to see what it's really capable off !
Possibly one of the best reviewers out there. Fantastic content, and the fact that you've covered two of my all time favorite cars (The Saab 900 T16S and the BMW 8-Series) makes this channel even better. Keep up this content, because this is an amazing channel!
Saab put the keys down in the middle as a safety feature back in the day. People in lots of older cars were getting into light accidents (before good seat belt systems were used) and jolting forward to be stabbed by a key in the knees. SAAB started it and never looked back! *random design fact of the day*
Saab decided that for safety reasons to put the ignition in the floor, a box lock as opposed to the steering column lock . This eliminated the chance of the leg being struck by it in a major collision.
the thing with taking keys out only in reverse is if you live in scandinavian countries nights are really freezy out there which means normal handbrake might freeze and brakes won't let you go .. thats why you leave car in reverse not having handbrake applied. In the other hand if you leave your car in very sloping street reverse gear will be more practical to hold car in place than the handbrake ; )
All good points. I wonder what the original design brief stated and what other advantages simply fell out afterwards. Maybe we'll never know for sure. Matt.
I noticed that too about the reverse lock-out in the standard transmission Saabs where you not only have to pull up on the lever to go into reverse but you actually can't take the key out of the car unless it's in reverse. Not entirely sure why they did that either. I seem to remember they discontinued that feature in some of the later models. My old Saab was automatic but I have been in the standard ones also and I do remember that feature. Also if you turn the key and position it to the off position it will allow you to move the gear lever. didn't realize they did it on the ones that were that old. also the horn won't work unless the car is on, but that was standard in a lot of European vehicles of that era.However the radio does power on regardless of whether or not the car is on or off. This is true for Saabs and Mercedes-Benz.
+Michael Sackstein the reverse lock-out was reintreduced on 9-3 and 9-5 models, the 9000 had the key on the steeringcolumn. During the development of the SAAB 99 in mid 1960s, enginers figured out that In a crash, the knees of the driver slamms in to the dashboard, and the keys gets in the way and cuts in to the knees resulting in bad injurys, SAAB enginers placed the key out of the way, on the floor for crash safety. The parkingbrake works on the front driving wheels on SAAB 99, 900 models from 1968 to 1987, requierd by law in sweden at that time. And its hard to get away in a stolen SAAB stuck in reverse. Radio wiring however on the 99 was not a factory option, the were instaled by owner or workshops, and usualy conected to the cigarettlighter for power, and its hot all the time. They can be wired at the fusebox and be key off wired, did so on my 99. Cant say how they wired the radios on 900 models, never done it my self.
Johan Blick yeah I know about the key locations and why they put it in the center counsel. I remember the 9000 having the ignition on the steering column around the early to mid 90s, not sure why but also the saab 9-2x had that as well, which is basically the same thing as a Subaru Impreza hatchback. didn't know that about the parking brake though. interesting that they did that. the radios have always worked with the car off, even on the newer models of Saabs and Mercedes-Benz.
On my 1993 9000 the radio did not work if the igniton was off, only when the key is in the on position. On my 2006 9-5, you can turn the radion on and off with no key in the ignition. If the radio is off when you start the car, it will automaticly turn on, and when you turn the car of the radio will remain on until you remove the key out of the ignition lock, then it turns off automaticly.. On my 1984 SAAB 99 i am working on right now, i have rewired the radio to be key off.
Yeah the early 90s 9000 models were kinda different from most Saabs that were produced. Though I did like that feature of being able to use the radio regardless of whether or not the key was in the ignition
+Michael Sackstein I'm pretty sure its an anti theft feature instead of a steeringwheel lock. So if you manage to get in the car and start it you have to drive in reverse.
+Andrew Goding if it was originally its ok! The stock shouldnt go to the red. No intercooler=light boost car. 0.4Bar, if u exceed the red without mod u could en up in the steeringwheel cuz APC cuts boost over 1.2-1.5(if i remember the bar..)
Great review! I have an '89 900 T16S in the same color, it's a great all-round car. Apart from the fuel consumptions there just aren't many downsides to it. Concerning the low door sill, I believe not seeing those in cars nowadays has to do with side impact safety. Although the 900 was a relatively safe car for its time it never had to comply with modern day safety requirements, giving the designers more freedom. It would be interesting to know the NCAP rating though, but strangely I have not been able to find it so far.
That answers it thanks, it is odd when you look down after opening the door to see road. Although I did have an AlfaSud like that once, just not sure it was part of the original design.
Steve Pomfret External facing shots were filmed near Stowe-on-the-Wold (Drive by), Westonbirt Arboretum, Frocester Hill and some roads near to Great Escape's Redditch base. Matt.
There are two reasons why they put the key on the floor. First, safety. A surprising number of people in car crashes end up with keys embedded in their knees. Second, it's exceptionally difficult to hotwire the car. The lock cylinder for the ignition key is housed in an aluminium housing, and by the time they exit the housing, they are so intermingled with the rest of the wiring harness that only an expert could tease them out and manipulate them. You'd have to cut through the housing with a grinder or cut through the bottom of the car to get at the ignition wires.
It's hard to hotwire, but all you need is a screwdriver to open the door and start it... Mine was stolen that way. :P
Good info. Thanks for sharing. Matt.
I started my car with a popsticle from ice cream:)
Buy them up while you can, boys and girls. The 900s are destined to be future classics.
If I had the room I would.
Andrew Brown I'm in the same boat. But I hope to change that soon.
You heard here first..! Matt.
Pukka motor 🖖💯😁
My old man had 1 of the first uk 900 turbos in 1979... a five door in cardinal red metallic with 4 speed box, reg JGE900T...when the turbo finally kicked in it was an aeroplane...very few cars could live with it in 3rd gear. All for just over 9 grand new!
I had a 1980 black 5 door. It was so cool, but high upkeep. Totaled it in 1986.
I owned a SAAB 900 classic 1998/2000 and loved it. Happy motoring in Germany the Alps and Suffolk! Prior to that I had a SAAB 99. Happy days.
Simon Ellis Lovely story. Thanks for sharing. Matt.
too bad saab isn't in business any more. great cars what a shame
The world is a poorer place without Saab,
sure is
I don't own a 900, but I do own a 9000 Aero and a 9-3 Viggen which I love just as much.
This one is gorgeous.
You sound like a real Saab fan. Matt.
ClassicCarsDriven Once you buy one and catch the bug, more seem to show up.
+kirbyswarp It must be a great feeling when one brand does it for you so much you can relax and say, yep this is it I've found it. Saab in your case. I still seem to be flitting around like some sort of car fan butterfly. Matt.
ClassicCarsDriven As much as I love Saabs, there are still other brands I like. Limiting yourself to only one isn't good either.
+kirbyswarp True as well.
I just scored a 1990 900 Turbo 16 5speed for $500! Only 126k miles and it runs great. I got so lucky! Old man was going to donate it to the local radio station.
I miss my T16 Aero -88. It had 3" exhaust and was tuned to atleast +230 bhp but looked completely stock. It would be much more expensive today than it eas when i bought it 20 years ago.
Reverse lock feature was for safety and security...locking in reverse is a great way to prevent theft and useful in the prevention of steering locking up while driving down the road if the ignition key is removed from the ignition or the ignition cylinder disengages
Dale Romanus Good insight. Yes safety and security appear to be the two underlying reasons for this unique arrangement. Matt.
You must be the only person on the planet who calls the Saab "Sab"! It's a Saab, two "aa" not a Sab!
Saab. Got it. Thanks.
SAAB is technically an acronym. Should we call it S... A... A... B...?
One of the most beautiful designed family cars.
G.J. KOSTER And best engineered. Matt.
Why oh why did my dad trade his red 900 Aero for a 95 back in 1999 😢?
Amazing car
I actually owned this car ......1993 to 1997 ......great car .......moved to last of the 900S Convertibles ......still run it today as my daily drive 25 years this year ....
John Booth Well engineered and so why not.
Hi John. I now own this car. Would be great to talk to an old owner of it. Send a message if you can.
are the roofed models better cars than the convertibles?
One of those few 4 cylinder cars that come with a beautiful sound
Beautifully designed cars safe as heck and wonderful in the snow. I was lucky to own a few here in the states the last being a 1989 T manual and the spool up on the turbo was invigorating to the senses(unlike the almost non existent sounds of my LP turbo'ed Volvo!). The car handled like a higher end European sports car without the pomp and circumstance and easily outran the VW Golfs etc. with stock turbo. The seats in these cars are the most comfortable I have ever sat in albeit I only own Volvos but their seats are no where near the comfort level of the classic SAAB. Their where two things I didnt like and that was the crap rust proofing as they did not hold up well to the New England winter roads and salt killed the wheel wells and lastly the electrical system was a bit of a gremlin when old. I had issues with my dash lights all the time. Still SAAB was unique and the classic 900 series was a one of a kind and a king in the snow!
Very good, I must admit I was pleasantly surprised, this is genuinely a great car. The second (white) car was running a higher boost which really came on strong, mightily impressive. Matt.
+ClassicCarsDriven
Here in the US they are becoming harder to find and when I sold my lovely black turbo sedan in 2010 I literally had people from Canada and the rest of the country inquiring on it. It was stock all around but the paint was still original and immaculate. I would not trust myself driving a higher boost SAAB speeding tickets would follow me like a shadow!!
The red one was far down on power. A T16S is 175bhp which should boost just to the end of the yellow zone. The white one was not that fast. I would guess 190bhp. You can tune them to a max of about 210bhp. The engine can go up to 400bhp without too much trouble, but the gearbox is the limiting factor in a C900. 210bhp is about your limit with a smooth boost curve. Ive gone through 6 gearboxes !. Ive now got a 9000 Aero with 360bhp. Now thats an animal. 70 to 100 is just 3.5 seconds. Thats quicker than an audi R8 !.
A great car, I have driven Saabs for 30 years, at the moment I drive a 9-3 Vector Sport (not in the same league or quality as the 900 Turbo), but the very first Saab I ever drove was a Black 900 Turbo from the tv series The Paradise Club (Leslie Grantham).
A friend of mine was a car dealer and he bought the car from Norwich car auctions, it still had Granada Studios as the registered owner, after taking it for a test drive I was totally hooked, and have driven Saabs ever since
Trevor, what a fabulous story, thanks for sharing. Matt.
That was a very nice review of our old SAAB classic 900 model. Thanks
A fair bit of publicity about classic 900's currently with classic and sportscar, classic car weekly and another weekly about to print a review.
Particularly like the specific references to the design concept .. usually missed by most people
All the best
stevelewissaab
Great video and exploration point for this great car.
I own a 9000 aero and a 9-5 aero. I love them both.
Luv SAABs. When I was a kid in the early 1970s, my Dad rented a 2 door 99 to take five of us around Sweden and Norway and we all thought it was the best car ever made (our previous car was a Peugeot 404 estate, so he had good taste). He then bought a 4 door 99 (think it was a GLE) here when we moved to the states. I inherited it for college, then passed it on to my brother. Since then I've owned a non-turbo 900 gl 3 door, 2 900 convertibles, and a Viggen convertible.; Thanks for posting this, very sentimental for me.
Theodore Nilson Hey. You’re very welcome. Some great car history there as well with the 404. Matt.
I always thought that because they put the key at the console for crash safety, it was impractical to engineer an anti-theft steering-wheel lock. So instead you lock the gearbox by taking the key out when it is in reverse. I could be wrong.
lol You didn't floor it ! You would get in trouble !
miracle car
The reason the key is down by the tunnel is for safety reasons... so that your knee doesn't hit the keys in a crash.
Same with the door/ sill arrangement. In a side impact, it helps to prevent the door riding over the sill.
Thanks. Yes the position of the keys appear to support that theory, another is the security of locking the car in reverse gear. Didn't know about the benefits of the door/ sill design though. Matt.
Nice review sir! For last 20 years, I've owned two 900, one 9000 cs, and currently driving 9-5 t. My first SAAB was 900 gl '84 black non turbo 100 hp with tan velour interior. One thing not so many people know, if they haven't drove older models, is that a handbrake was on front wheels due to hard winter conditions so it wouldn't freeze and block. After I bought the best car ever, SAAB 900 fp turbo "1989 special T8" in dark red interior and Edwardian grey paint. As I've researched, there was only 300 of these produced in Finland and one of those came to me. I drove it for four years and enjoyed every ride in her. here is the link that i found with a video which shows a car same as mine on th-cam.com/video/bLjEPnZqxQs/w-d-xo.html
That car sounded like a bear on idle, and when you push a pedal she was roaring like a lion and flowing like a jet! Beautiful car and I still regret for selling it but i had to let her go. Next one was 9000 cs 2.3, 147 hp non turbo and boy, she was a large one inside, pardon my French! Good car to drive and an eye catcher but looked more like other cars and only on 9000 SAAB engineers put the ignition key on a dashboard. Now I drive SAAB 9-5 '02 2.0 lpt 150 hp and let me tell you, she is a beautiful silver lady which ride like a charm and I just can't get enough of her.
It is a shame that SAAB doesn't exist in inner combustion engine any more, but this NEVS project looks interesting and I guess my first electric car will be a NEVS.
Cheers!
Are the some law in England that predicts that there must grow hedges on both sides of the road ?
Several
SAAB thought it was safer to put keys under handbrake for safety as your knees are less likely to be damaged in a serious front impact. Security was a secondary aspect.
I have owned over 10 of Saab's 900 Model. Every body style/type they manufactured. Hatchback, Notchback, Cabriolet, basically ALL flavors of the 900. I must say, that being without a 900 currently really makes me miss the damn things. TRULY FINE VEHICLES... One day soon people will realize how nice these vehicles are...Hand made, Solid, Fast and Way ahead of their time.
SquillyMon I think you are right on that front, especially as cars continue to survive and thrive on mass with ever increasing mileages. Matt.
Yes Indeedy... Saab's of this vintage very very regularly exceed the 200K Mile mark. My last and most missed Saab was my 900S Turbo Cabriolet... I tuned the Saab APC control box myself to yield 17lbs of boost reliably and electronically monitored at all times. She was White with 17in Wheels 5 spoke wheels that were made to emulate the Saab Viggen style of wheel but made to fit the older 900. She was also lowered 1.7 in front and 2.0 rear...for a perfect stance, a higher spring rate and handling that would blow your mind when incorporated with the bigger wheels and tires... It also had the updated transmission from the late 89' model year...(larger shafts internally to handle more power). Simply a joy to drive and hands down the most Stare Drawing vehicle I have ever owned...people always asked me what year it was, as it looked so fresh, current and modern...it was an 89' model year however with only 115K miles on the clock... Not a day goes by in the Spring and Summer that I don't kick myself for selling her. The buyer was nearly foaming at the mouth when they came to pick her up...I think I shed a tear or two...who am I kidding... I cried. THAT is the power of a proper Saab...and I suppose... My Saab Story now as well. Wonderful vehicles...I will have another but what will they be selling for? Methinks these will be on the RISE... Mark my words.
Youre so damn right bro. Saab forever!
I own a 900 Turbo convertible and it's been such a joy to my family, never going anywhere
I own a 1986 t16s. Absolutely love it. Me and my dad made it completely mint and has given it to me. Beautiful cars. In many ways better than cars built today
Lucky you. And yes solid as a rock. Matt.
Cheers for the video! I own a classic 900 Turbo aswell and use it as a daily driver, such a joyful car to drive! :)
Latsaaben Now that's dedication. Keep up the good work. Matt.
ClassicCarsDriven Thanks! I have to treat it like a baby, need constant attention and love :)
Thanks for the great review, I own a saab 900 and it has a perfect driving position the car suspensions holds the road like glue.
I love my 900 only problem is the pain in the butt dash and fascia which often splits
You dont have to have the car in reverse to start it, you need to turn the key a few clicks and then you can knock it into neutral and then start the car.
You need to lock the car in reverse to take the key out. It makes you check for neutral and it also stops people from stealing the car unless they have the key as its locked in reverse.
Saab FlightTB Yes that penny dropped later on. Matt.
Would you like to inspect my ear? If you find any abnormalities, feel free to spray it with paraffin.
No.
Very nice video. Thanks four your upload. And what about for instance, Skoda? Can we ever seen some of this Czech manufacturer? Sincerelly your watchman, Ivan!
Ivan Mijajlovic Great idea. Skoda - Life before VW. Matt.
Obviously this guy had know idea why Saab placed the ignition keys in that position! Box lock. It did not prevent them being stolen and it is rumored that in Birmingham England in their heyday they were the most popular car to steel. There initiative design was down to several contributing factors which made them natural leaders with the cutting edge in car design. I do like the beast but it would be better over sixty mph on its own at Bran's Hatch to see what it's really capable off !
The beast is a 2 door? I think we only got the SPG in a 3 door in the States
Possibly one of the best reviewers out there. Fantastic content, and the fact that you've covered two of my all time favorite cars (The Saab 900 T16S and the BMW 8-Series) makes this channel even better.
Keep up this content, because this is an amazing channel!
Thanks very much. Makes it all worthwhile. Cheers, Matt.
Saab put the keys down in the middle as a safety feature back in the day. People in lots of older cars were getting into light accidents (before good seat belt systems were used) and jolting forward to be stabbed by a key in the knees. SAAB started it and never looked back! *random design fact of the day*
Kenny Hrabar Thanks. Great information, that explains it. Unfortunately cannot update the video but pleased it's clarified. Matt.
+Kenny Hrabar what about 9000? ;)
Haha good catch Andreas Karlsson. Saab did had a standard column key location on the 9000s.
"SAAB started it and never looked back!"
+Andreas Karlsson I think it's because the 9000 shares a lot of aspects with Lancia, Alfa and Fiat (Thema, 164, Croma)
Saab decided that for safety reasons to put the ignition in the floor, a box lock as opposed to the steering column lock . This eliminated the chance of the leg being struck by it in a major collision.
Good knowledge.
I really miss the 900, very safe indeed
Ed Wu Yes I’m always pleased to see one. Well engineered, quick and nice looking too. Matt.
The T16S have a wrong oil dipstick, it should be a black one. The red one of a 8v does have a different length.
the thing with taking keys out only in reverse is if you live in scandinavian countries nights are really freezy out there which means normal handbrake might freeze and brakes won't let you go .. thats why you leave car in reverse not having handbrake applied. In the other hand if you leave your car in very sloping street reverse gear will be more practical to hold car in place than the handbrake ; )
All good points. I wonder what the original design brief stated and what other advantages simply fell out afterwards. Maybe we'll never know for sure. Matt.
one day saab will be back
Shame the clutch was slipping in the white car
solid doors cover the sills and have side impact bars, very tough for the 70s
***** Useful information, thanks. Matt.
My speedfreak of a wife would love the beast.
Walter Taljaard I hear the Beast has been tamed with more standard Motor. 😩
Oh, such a beautiful car! My first was a Mark 1 Vauxhall Cavalier... Still remember the reg! Always wanted a Saab but never got one... 😔
The 'S" is the low pressure turbo.
Very beautiful car with sophisticated Turbo engine
masterclass
took closely Too kind. Matt.
I noticed that too about the reverse lock-out in the standard transmission Saabs where you not only have to pull up on the lever to go into reverse but you actually can't take the key out of the car unless it's in reverse. Not entirely sure why they did that either. I seem to remember they discontinued that feature in some of the later models. My old Saab was automatic but I have been in the standard ones also and I do remember that feature. Also if you turn the key and position it to the off position it will allow you to move the gear lever. didn't realize they did it on the ones that were that old. also the horn won't work unless the car is on, but that was standard in a lot of European vehicles of that era.However the radio does power on regardless of whether or not the car is on or off. This is true for Saabs and Mercedes-Benz.
+Michael Sackstein the reverse lock-out was reintreduced on 9-3 and 9-5 models, the 9000 had the key on the steeringcolumn. During the development of the SAAB 99 in mid 1960s, enginers figured out that In a crash, the knees of the driver slamms in to the dashboard, and the keys gets in the way and cuts in to the knees resulting in bad injurys, SAAB enginers placed the key out of the way, on the floor for crash safety. The parkingbrake works on the front driving wheels on SAAB 99, 900 models from 1968 to 1987, requierd by law in sweden at that time. And its hard to get away in a stolen SAAB stuck in reverse. Radio wiring however on the 99 was not a factory option, the were instaled by owner or workshops, and usualy conected to the cigarettlighter for power, and its hot all the time. They can be wired at the fusebox and be key off wired, did so on my 99. Cant say how they wired the radios on 900 models, never done it my self.
Johan Blick yeah I know about the key locations and why they put it in the center counsel. I remember the 9000 having the ignition on the steering column around the early to mid 90s, not sure why but also the saab 9-2x had that as well, which is basically the same thing as a Subaru Impreza hatchback. didn't know that about the parking brake though. interesting that they did that. the radios have always worked with the car off, even on the newer models of Saabs and Mercedes-Benz.
On my 1993 9000 the radio did not work if the igniton was off, only when the key is in the on position. On my 2006 9-5, you can turn the radion on and off with no key in the ignition. If the radio is off when you start the car, it will automaticly turn on, and when you turn the car of the radio will remain on until you remove the key out of the ignition lock, then it turns off automaticly.. On my 1984 SAAB 99 i am working on right now, i have rewired the radio to be key off.
Yeah the early 90s 9000 models were kinda different from most Saabs that were produced. Though I did like that feature of being able to use the radio regardless of whether or not the key was in the ignition
+Michael Sackstein I'm pretty sure its an anti theft feature instead of a steeringwheel lock. So if you manage to get in the car and start it you have to drive in reverse.
SÄB 😂
The first saab was only at base boost, it should be boosting almost to the red in stock form.
Andrew Goding I think you're probably right. It did have 226,000 miles on the clock. Matt.
+Andrew Goding if it was originally its ok! The stock shouldnt go to the red. No intercooler=light boost car. 0.4Bar, if u exceed the red without mod u could en up in the steeringwheel cuz APC cuts boost over 1.2-1.5(if i remember the bar..)
Great review! I have an '89 900 T16S in the same color, it's a great all-round car. Apart from the fuel consumptions there just aren't many downsides to it.
Concerning the low door sill, I believe not seeing those in cars nowadays has to do with side impact safety. Although the 900 was a relatively safe car for its time it never had to comply with modern day safety requirements, giving the designers more freedom. It would be interesting to know the NCAP rating though, but strangely I have not been able to find it so far.
That answers it thanks, it is odd when you look down after opening the door to see road. Although I did have an AlfaSud like that once, just not sure it was part of the original design.
Used to own a 1981 Saab 900 turbo 4 door model
David Knight I wish I had, the thinking (family) man's 911 of the time. Matt.
Wow!
maultx Thank you top person. Matt.
SÄB?
SAAB
Still love them!❤
Where was this filmed please ? Was it Wroughton ?
Steve Pomfret External facing shots were filmed near Stowe-on-the-Wold (Drive by), Westonbirt Arboretum, Frocester Hill and some roads near to Great Escape's Redditch base. Matt.
Prices for these cars are going crazy
Not in Sweden.
I know! I'm holding on to me SPG. There aren't very many authentic SPGS left on the street anymore.
@@emilgreger Yes they are.
I have 1988 900 SPG, transmission make a little noise on 3er gear only
You're synchros might be worn. Granny shift it.
Andrew Brown thanks Andrew
You might want to try an RVS treatment. It silenced our '62 Ramblers rear end, been fine for years now.
Mawerick77 thanks, I will.
i think this model was 900 turbo Aero in Sweden, i dont think Turbo S was used here.
Same in the UK. Dad's was identité to this one but was badged Aero
I miss my T16.
Shom909 A truly great car. Matt.
Did the rear wing change in the 90's models? Mine's completely plastic and it doesn't look as good as the one in the video.
This is a Carlsson rear wing. Many people added them to their non-Carlsson 900s.
you might have an aftermarket whale tail. Those generally last longer because the actual whale tails' rubber is notorious for rotting.
turbo badge on fender is in the wrong position
Key is there to stop it getting pinched..
Originally Saab put the key between the front seats so the driver would not hurt his knees in an accident.
That is right. After collision-tests SAAB found that it would cause less injuries if the ignition-key was placed between the seats.