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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.ย. 2024
- In 2024 the Saab NG900 turns 30 years old. I’m aware some 5 doors were on sale late 1993 but I’m focusing on the Coupe here because I own one.
The NG900 only had a 4 year production run so is now a very rare car with the newest examples being over 25 years old
This was the first Saab to be produced with new owners General Motors & is often seen as the less popular 900 model mainly because of that fact.
In this video we look back at the NG900 and take L508 WWV on a trip down memory lane.
Thumbnail photo credit : Matt Searle
Chester videographer : Richard Hamilton
Excellent video! one of the best I saw! I am a happy owner of a 1997 Saab 900NG Talladega with 100,000 kms and a 1997 9000 Aero, Great cars, I am very sad that SAAB no longer exists. Greetings from Argentina. 👏🇸🇪
Glad you liked it! I’m very tempted to get another Saab. They are just so appealing
Greta video. y daily is a 1994 NG900 which started its life as a 2.3 automatic, and now is a stage 3+ 2.3 turbo manual. I did this only after upgrading suspension, steering and brakes. I am the second owner, and I also maintained this car for the original owners. These are fun to drive and own, and are very easy to upgrade.
A very well executed video. The car looks fantastic and seeing it actually brought tears to my eyes as someone very dear to me owned one the same colour and he's no longer with us. He loved his 900. The least he'd ever bought a car for (it was ten years old when he bought it), but by far, the best he'd ever had! I've grown up with and have been around them my whole life. I'm 43 now. I currently own a Laser Red 9-3 OG SE. Had it 5 years now. One in a long line of Saabs I've had. There really isn't many left in the UK, especially hard tops.
Fantastic video, great car and you absolutely scored with the weather and got some stunning shots. My favourite is the one turning left when the sun is just squinting through. Beautiful.
My Dad bought a 2.0 S in Ruby red in march 96 from the Aberdeen dealer Adrian Smith. It had the optional Saab Audio fitted and fixed towbar (as per the bonus bonus footage). I binned it down an embankment as an enthusiastic 17 year old, then buckled a wheel against a kerb due in no small part to its chronic understeer and abysmal Pirelli P4000 tyres. After giving me the row from hell, my father binned it himself after falling asleep at the wheel! It was straightened (again) on the jig (again) but we lost faith and traded it in for a 9000 CSE 2.3 eco auto.
One point to note and for me stood out was that I was convinced that the solid red of your car was 'imola' red and not 'Monza' red. I might be wrong but I don't think I am.
Happy Saab'ing! 😁
Yes the handling isn’t the greatest but I forgive it if I’m honest. Yes it’s definitely Imola Red. If I said Monza I’m clearly wrong 😂😂😂
Have owned 3 of these. The look of them grew on me immensely. Beautiful cars.
Couldn't agree more! I think time has been kind to the NG900/OG93
Congratulations!
Such a good video: this red coupe is a masterpiece, a dream in true life! The film, the landscape (including the urban one), the light and the music, all off them do compose a hard work and a big tribute to this car blend which is also written in red colour in my heart!
Thank you. I am biased but think red suits the shape of the coupe incredibly well
@@tjshill82
I also had a 3dr 900 se Turbo, did 130,000 miles in it. Always replaced the clutch cable every 40,000 miles to keep the clutch action smooth. Kept the car 11 years... sold it in 2007 at 150,000 miles.... great car
@@viggensaab2163 I think it’s time this one had a new cable to be honest ..
The dealership closest to me was Bay Horse Saab, Osbaldeston, Mellor, Blackburn, Lancs. It's now a Maserati dealer owned by Bowker BMW. We used to deal with Saab Manchester also back in the day. The new Saabs were amazing to see in the flesh!
Thanks for a great video!
I have owned my NG900 Turbo -97 since 1999 and I love the car. It was my daily drive until just a few years ago. Now it’s just my hobby car.
Wow that’s really great to hear. I don’t think many people will have owned one for such a long period. I don’t think I will ever let this one go. Hopefully I can do a 40 year video in 10 years time!
Cool story and nicely edited video! My current OG900 Cab was sold and serviced long time in Liverpool by company named Mayfield Garage finally in this year ending up here in Finland after spending 12-13 years in other country with enthusiast.
The Convertible is an incredibly elegant design. Saab always managed to nail the proportions very well
Fantastic Video Tom. Watching and listening to your narration, reminds me why I bought a new ng900 in 1996 and kept it for 14 years.
I can confirm your opinion of the B204 being one of the best four cylinder engines ever made.
I co own a turbo track car, which takes all the abuse thrown at it on the track and hill climbs. It just takes it all in its stride and keeps on giving. Never has it used a single drop of oil.
Watching your stunning car cruise the streets of Chester is a joy, red is most definitely the best colour for the car.
It’s wonderful that it still drive the same local roads after 30 years 😊
Hi Alex thanks for your comments. Yes L508 WWV has not really strayed far from its original dealer showroom sales point in its entire 30 years which I find quite incredible. That Saab track car is just fantastic
Pretty car. Glad to see it being appreciated and enjoyed. I have a ruby red 1993 9000 , 5spd. Turbo across the pond here In New England.
@@letsgobrandon1300 you can’t beat an old Saab Turbo!
Such a great video! I also have this car! 1994 900S in red. 119,000kms. No rust. No door dings. Excellent condition. Built in June 1994, as indicated on the door frame sticker. But my steering wheel is on the left, 😜. 🇨🇦
Red is definitely the best colour for these!
Very nice example of the NG900! Thanks for a great video praising an even greater car.
Brilliant tribute to the new 900. I have the same brochure and issues of Autocar from my childhood..! Outside I have 2 9-3 'verts with the B204e and 205e respectively. These cars sit at 80 mph without breaking a sweat - loved your shot on the dual carriageway! Your 900 is really a sweet spot in spec and a credit to you and its dear former carers. Best wishes to you and L508WWV!
Thank you for the comment. There’s something special about Saabs isn’t there. I think now they no longer exist makes them extra special
Cheers Jack. I’ve a Clio RS video in the pipeline but knowing me will be another 2 years before I do it 😂😂
Great video Tom and nice camera work Richie, love the shot driving towards camera over the bridge. Actually downed tools in work to watch 😅
Cheers Jack! We really enjoyed filming that morning
Love this car and hope to get one too one day or the older 900 turbo
Mine is black :) It's showing it's age now though and the front end has been banged up by a truck while parked two times now. The engine still runs perfectly, the brakes are great having had the front rotors replaced about 5 years ago, clutch and manual transmission is still going strong. AC components were busted in the front end bang up, but those have been replaced. Power steering system has a slow leak. Water is getting into rear hatch area fairly badly at the moment, big problem in Louisiana. I'm bringing it into a leak expert tomorrow to take a look at that. If the water leaks can't be resolved reasonably, I may have to give up my all time favorite car. We'll see. If it can be fixed, I have another mechanic that I might hit up for a bunch of small repairs. I really like this car. Excellent combination of luxury, performance, and practicality.
I’d be interested to know your findings regarding the water leak? I’ve got a minor one myself but haven’t investigated it fully as of yet
The hatch leak is usually the real light seals. I was able to repair mine with a smear of RTV silicone after removing and thoroughly cleaning the light box seal material to form a new gasket. Unfortunately the water rusted out the tops of the real shock towers.
@@Blutnase Yup, the leak was coming from the rear lights. I applied some "waterproof tape" and silicon sealant to the gap between the light assembly and the car body in the trough where water flows down and out the back around the hatch. Now water is forced to flow over the rear light assembly rather then behind it. Working reasonably well. Survived outdoors in Hurricane Francine w/o a sopping wet cargo area.
Your fix sound more proper than mine but I'd have to break my newly formed seals around the light assemblies to do that. Not sure I'm quite that motivated :)
The car was launched in 1993 as model year 1994. I was on the launch at the Trollhättan square. I was 14 years old, and it was a magical experience.
Wow one would imagine there was a lot of hope for the new 900. To me it really looked like the Saab employees were truly passionate about this car
I owned a 1997 Talladega 2.0L turbo (B204L) SE 5 door. All the trimmings and full leather throughout. Rust destroyed the body work eventually and it ended up going to scrap a few months ago. I still haven't got over it as I owned that car for 20 years and never had one failure. It was like losing a loved one. I watch these now and then and wish I still owned one. Fantastic cars and mostly incognito to those who don't know.(For the record, I still own the service history book/wallet with the safety card, I couldn't let that go......)
@@nelsonhibbert5267 yes unfortunately rust does take hold on these cars. What did you replace the 900 with ?
@@tjshill82 Yeah, I think the structural parts of the car (like the bulk head splitting) were largely down to the Vauxhall chassis it was built around, as it was still mechanically sound and functional other than the body work. I was sad to see it go as it had been so reliable and I'm pretty sure the last of it's kind with that exact spec in the UK. I was tempted by another SAAB but there are no longer specialists in my area and I got the impression that regular garages sometimes struggle to source the parts through their own suppliers (though I could often get them from PFS and other places). Stayed true to Swedish though and replaced it with a Volvo!
@@nelsonhibbert5267 I think a Volvo is a worthy replacement. Still Swedish & definitely a good level of mechanical expertise available to look after them. Most Saab specialists have had to diversify or shut up shop which is understandable. The uk climate is not favourable for older cars to be used on a daily basis through winter and I’m lucky enough that I don’t have to put the Saab through the poor weather each year
Some effort gone into this. Nice job. Great shots and content. Were the roads closed or summat?? 😂
Nope it was so early noone was about! That was filmed between 5 and 6am on a Saturday morning 🤣 couldn't have asked for better weather and lack of people
Superb video John, I own a Year 2000 OG Saab 93 SE Turbo in sun green and it's in the condition of yours, both NG 900 and OG 93 are such great cars.🙂
I was on the motorway earlier (not in my Saab) & a blue OG93 coupe went past in the outside lane looking amazing. You really don’t see many now !
Great video picked a perfect day to film it too
I remember when I saw when Saab show this for the public in Trollhättan in 1993. I was 7 years then. ☺️
I wonder that people really thought of it back then ?
@@tjshill82 I believe that most of the people in Trollhättan though it was a nice looking car. 🙂
it's so beautiful to see some love for the amazing 900ng i just got my first one a couple months ago it needed some work and still needs some more but it's such an amazing car. i also have a stuck rear caliper lol
@@qwertydgglifeenthusiast8732 oh that’s brilliant which NG900 have you got ? The rear brake arrangement isn’t the finest arrangement on the NG900 that’s for certain
@@tjshill82 it's a 1997 se turbo. I'm in the states so it's left hand drive
@@qwertydgglifeenthusiast8732 I think Saab did well with sales in the states. Seems to be a lot left there ?
@@tjshill82 I see some of them but mine was a steal at $1000 but it sat for quite awhile so some issues.
I like how saabs just have a different presence on the road. Like it's unseen
It’s sad they no longer make cars. It’s now our job to keep them going.
@@tjshill82 yessir indeed.
Agreed! Red is the best. Just look at all the SAAB videos SAAB put out of this car - most are featuring the red. A very unusual car for my area of the world. I have the original steel rims as well. Super fun!
That’s very true they did use red a lot in advertising and promotional material. Which model have you got and what part of the world are you in ?
Fantastic video Tom. Your 900 is such a stunning looking car, the coupe bodystyle, the red paint and those 3 spoke alloys. I saw it at Rustival and the condition for a 30 year old car. I do think people car, this was a modernisation of perhaps Saab's best known model, and it hung onto the saabness despite the new world of GM ownership. It still looks like nothing else out there.
The car is a credit to you, the detail of the video is great, I learned a lot! Also like how you gave a tribute to the long term owners and where the dealership used to be.
The external footage is absolutely brilliant and the setting looks so nice - did not think Chester looked like that!
The archive footage is wicked, how did you find that?!
It was definitely a perfect day of weather and Chester is a lovely city to live in for sure
Red colour - pretty good looking!
My 900 S is black
the gauges look cool
First like and comment!! Yesss. Tom, I thoroughly enjoyed filming with you for this. The video is superb ❤
10/10 camera work 🇸🇪
I love this!!!!
“We don’t talk about autos on this channel”
My 1994 Saab 900ng Convertible turns 30 later this year. So yes, I do care. 😄
LeMans blue, 2.3i with a blue roof. One of the most reliable cars i've owned so far.
Where are you based? The NG900 seems to still be quite popular in the states from what I can see
I have always admired Saab. One of my few regrets is that I have never owned one.
Nice video, but I thought the colour is IMOLA red
Yes it is I don’t know why I got it wrong 😂
I own a OG 9-3 Aero... I searched almost a decade to find a decent one... this car will be the last to leave my garage.
They are underrated cars that’s for sure.
I have the 3door 900S. The heated seats don’t work, but that’s okay - I don’t drive it in the winter. I live in Edmonton, Canada. 🇨🇦
@@jerroldeilander2454 that’s great to hear. Are they popular in Canada?
I’m a bit lucky. I have a mechanic only 12 blocks away that looks after only SAAB vehicles. He’s connected to a lot of people if I need anything. But luckily, my car has been running great!
SAAB is more popular in Eastern Canada. I live in Western Canada.
@@jerroldeilander2454 Saab in general are a common sight here in the UK however the NG900 and OG93 are becoming increasingly rare now
Sub Nr 200 😀 good Saab content. The NG900 has not much of a fan zone sadly. Design and everything is really nice its sad they had so many quality problems :(
Yes technically the early cars were the worst of the bunch they then kept making minor updates to them even though the name changed in 98 it was essentially the same car wasn’t it
Cash 4 clunkers in the US killed a lot these Saabs. So hard to find now 😭I have an 03 Volvo I absolutely love. I want to start a lil Swedish car collection.
Similar schemes ran in the uk & it makes my blood boil.
No - this is a super rare car in my area.
A company trashed by GM, just like the Chinese volvo ownership
Pretty much
GM Saab = Rubbish badge engineering!