Getting the best tuning mods for the SAAB 9000.

"9000 + remap = lots of fun."

The face lift model arrived in 1991 and made the 9000 a very credible alternative to the usual German executive cars. The only downside with the SAAB 9000 is expensive repairs but thankfully they are pretty reliable cars. They are also quite heavy cars with all of their crash protection and insulation to cope with the cold Scandinavian climes.

 Engine choices 2.0 Turbo delivering 175bhp good for a 0-60 sprint in under 8 seconds. The 2.3t Turbo upped power to 200bhp and ran 0-60 in a shade over 7 seconds, then there is the massive 3.0 v6 engine which offers 210bhp and a 6.7 sprint to 60. All models return around 30mpg with the 2.0Turbo being the most frugal and will reach typically 32-33 mpg around town.

Power on the 2.3T can be lifted to somewhere between 240 to 260bhp with a combination of remapped ecu, sports exhaust and induction kit with a cold air feed pipe. We would recommend limiting power to 250bhp for the best compromise as traction becomes a major issue when you exceed this.

Cars are heavy due to the strength and impact protection it offers so a bit of weight reduction will shave precious seconds from your 0-60 sprint times. Carbon fibre panels seem to be the way to go - if you can source some. The 9000's are built for the cold regions of Scandinavia and offer superb heating/climate controls, and the braking is noticably sharp.

Improve the handling with an adjustable spring and damper kit. This will make the car a lot more fun drive on bendy roads and give more driver feedback. An fuel boost valve and piston type diverter valve also works well on the petrol engined models.

Read through our tuning articles to see the pros and cons of each modification and join our forum to discuss all aspects of SAAB modifications with our enthusiastic and friendly members.