"tylinol" (tylinol1975)
07/10/2015 at 11:23 • Filed to: None | 16 | 18 |
Specifically, this article:
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
I wanted something that was straight-line fast to complement my corner-carving Alfa Milano, and I wanted something turbocharged with potential to hold maybe ~300hp or so reliably and without internal modifications.
I have a strong preference for European cars. I had narrowed down my search to two possibilities: a 1990-1991 AWD DSM, or a Maserati Biturbo that would get a megasquirt conversion. Obviously the DSM was a wiser choice in every way, but the allure of a European car is too much for me to resist.
Along comes that article, and with it the Saab 9000. Doors were opened. European! Sturdy! Easy to tune should I go that route! Not a Biturbo! Much research was done, and a nationwide hunt soon followed.
Almost a year later, and I found exactly the car I wanted: Aero, non-TCS, black, less than 200k miles. As a bonus, it was way under budget at only $1400. Only problem: it was in Phildelphia, 900 miles away from me and in danger of being crushed by Doug’s Hummer at any moment.
After speaking with the owner on several occasions and gathering a great deal of information on the car (complete service history!) I hatch my insane plan: I will fly to Philadelphia on a one-way ticket and drive a $1400 luxury car I’ve never seen before straight back to Nashville.
4am on the 4th of July and I’m on my way to the airport. I land in Atlanta around 8 and then in Philadelphia at noon. The owner picks me up in his very cool Ur-S4 Avant. Within the hour I’m on my way out of Philly with no GPS. Yes, I got lost several times.
The Saab performs flawlessly the entire drive home. It’s the most comfortable, quiet, fast, mile-eating machine I’ve ever been in save my friend’s far more expensive S55 AMG. And I can promise you he wouldn’t be able to make the trip on only $70 of premium gas. I arrive back home at 2:30 AM completely exhausted but incredibly happy. I now have Swedish and Italian daily drivers - Spaghetti and Meatballs!
505 - morphine not found
> tylinol
07/10/2015 at 11:26 | 0 |
A Milano and a 9000? Now there’s a special stable.
BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE
> tylinol
07/10/2015 at 11:26 | 2 |
Alfa and a Saab? Somebody give this guy a Jalopnik gold membership! But seriously man, the car looks great. Nice buy.
banjo cat ghost of oppo past
> tylinol
07/10/2015 at 11:31 | 1 |
Sheesh grab a trunk mounted battey kit and the engine bay is 25% less cluttered. I would have a lot of fun changing things under this hood.
Hiroku
> tylinol
07/10/2015 at 11:36 | 0 |
Great purchase! This car is definitely in my bucket list.
Please write a comprehensive review!
nlzmo400r
> tylinol
07/10/2015 at 11:42 | 1 |
I never realized how similar those two cars looks lol
tylinol
> Hiroku
07/10/2015 at 11:44 | 1 |
I’d really like to do a back-to-back with my Alfa Romeo Milano. They’re both older European sedans but they’re so completely different to drive and complement each other well. My parents also have an E30 325i, a W201 190E 2.6, and an ‘86 XJ6, so I might just go all out and do a European sport sedan super-comparo.
tylinol
> nlzmo400r
07/10/2015 at 11:50 | 0 |
A friend of mine (who is into cars but sadly has tastes about as refined as an EDM-Bro) jokingly asked me, “Why did you buy another Volvo?”
Justin Hughes
> tylinol
07/10/2015 at 11:57 | 1 |
Alfa 164? Isn’t that, like, the same car as the Saab 9000?
tylinol
> Justin Hughes
07/10/2015 at 12:00 | 0 |
The 164 is, but my Alfa is a Milano - RWD and, although you can’t tell from this photo, a bit smaller and a lot narrower and lighter than either the 164 or the 9000.
Justin Hughes
> tylinol
07/10/2015 at 12:01 | 0 |
Ah yes, the Milano is totally different. I couldn’t tell which Alfa sedan it was at that angle.
BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
> tylinol
07/10/2015 at 12:03 | 1 |
Saab 9000 2.3 turbo and a 75?
You my friend are doing very well :) props for considering a Biturbo as well :)
9000s are ludicrously tunable, and the engines are built like brick shithouses so can take a lot of boost on stock internals.
What engine have you got in the 75/Milano? I really, really want a 3.0l but they’re decidedly pricier over here compared to the States...
tylinol
> BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
07/10/2015 at 12:07 | 0 |
Mine’s a Platinum, so it’s a 2.5 with the lowest rear end you could get. If/when the engine kicks the bucket I will be installing a 3.0; I’ve heard that the 3.0 with the Platinum LSD is the best combo.
And I’ll still probably end up with a Biturbo too! I’ve wanted one for years.
Hiroku
> tylinol
07/10/2015 at 12:10 | 0 |
Now THAT I would like to see!
Carl (@stuffcarlsays)
> tylinol
07/10/2015 at 12:15 | 0 |
You have made the best automotive choice of your life in this car. Despite the Type-4 underpinnings, this car is as much a Saab as any Saab that came before it.
Jonee
> tylinol
07/10/2015 at 13:39 | 0 |
That sounds like a fun little adventure. Those cars are such a bargain. Good score.
Schaefft
> tylinol
07/10/2015 at 18:28 | 0 |
This.
BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
> tylinol
07/11/2015 at 06:47 | 0 |
Nice :) the 2.5 is nothing to sniff at from an 80s performance perspective...
I’ll definitely end up with a Biturbo as well. It’s one of my all-time dream cars (SWB early car with a 2.8l injected later engine and LSD).
I want it to look exactly like this:
Alfisto
> tylinol
11/25/2015 at 10:34 | 1 |
I saw a 9000 at the gas station this morning and thought “I think there’s something special about those”. Then I found this article. Now I can go find a Swedish interpretation of the Alfa 164.
Yea!