How much fun is an Aero?
Discussion
My seemingly never-ending search for a car has thrown up a couple of interesting possibilities - a 1996 9000 Aero and a 2000 9-5 Aero, both with manual boxes - and I'm interested to find out how much fun they are. My car will do mostly a mix of urban and cross country with the occasional motorway slog. I'm aware of how good these are rated for the latter, but does 250bhp, fwd and large hatch translate into fun in the twisty bits? I'm not expecting 306-levels of entertainment but I don't want perennial understeer with a side dose of torque steer.
Also, if they're worth me looking at, would a 9-5 be worth buying over a 9000?
And I know there's a 9-3 Aero too, but that looks a bit odd! And, yes, a 900 T16S is already on my list but decent ones over here seem to be like rocking horse poo!
Also, if they're worth me looking at, would a 9-5 be worth buying over a 9000?
And I know there's a 9-3 Aero too, but that looks a bit odd! And, yes, a 900 T16S is already on my list but decent ones over here seem to be like rocking horse poo!
My 9000 Aero is fun on all roads, but you do have to get used to its quirks. It certainly torque steers, but you soon learn not to boot it too hard or suddenly in low gears to avoid that. If you keep the revs up so the turbo is blowing properly the torque and acceleration available is quite addictive 
+ Handling is not bad for a 1750kg front drive barge.
- It's a 1750kg front drive barge
They feel reasonably pointy at the front. They don't appear to take much notice of what you do with the throttle - I'm sure that with the stability switched off they could be provoked into lift-off oversteer if you tried hard enough, and obviously they will understeer under excessive power, but they're not really adjustable on the throttle. Lots of grip.
Torque steer is less of an issue than anticipated. There was a little on the well worn Contis it came with, hardly any on the new Goodyear Eagle F1As I fitted, quite a bit on the Nokian winter tyres it's still wearing. Very similar story with traction in the lower gears.
The handling is not really "fun" in my book, but it is safe and fast. You can cover ground very quickly in it, but you're probably better pretending you are Jensen Button than pretending you are Richard Burns
- It's a 1750kg front drive barge
They feel reasonably pointy at the front. They don't appear to take much notice of what you do with the throttle - I'm sure that with the stability switched off they could be provoked into lift-off oversteer if you tried hard enough, and obviously they will understeer under excessive power, but they're not really adjustable on the throttle. Lots of grip.
Torque steer is less of an issue than anticipated. There was a little on the well worn Contis it came with, hardly any on the new Goodyear Eagle F1As I fitted, quite a bit on the Nokian winter tyres it's still wearing. Very similar story with traction in the lower gears.
The handling is not really "fun" in my book, but it is safe and fast. You can cover ground very quickly in it, but you're probably better pretending you are Jensen Button than pretending you are Richard Burns
PomBstard said:
Thanks for the info - worth a look for me. I like the understated looks and the space would be useful. Can it be turned into a 1750kg GTI-6???
Yep, it can, but does require spending a few pennies.. If you want to find out just how good a 9-5 can be, I'd suggest a chat with Abbott Racing. They've got an absolute rocket ship with suspension tuned on the twisty country lanes near them. As a 9-5 AERO owner i think they can best be described as an intercontinental ballistic missile rather than a b-road bomb.
If you run out of Crozes Hermitage and need to pop to France and get a fresh supply for tomorrow's dinner party then this would be your vehicle of choice. If you are after B road thrills then look elsewhere.
Paul
If you run out of Crozes Hermitage and need to pop to France and get a fresh supply for tomorrow's dinner party then this would be your vehicle of choice. If you are after B road thrills then look elsewhere.
Paul
If you can find a nice straight rust free 9000 Aero, get one! I absolutely loved mine and spent a small fortune modding it to 450+bhp but sadly rust became an issue so I decided to call it a day and broke it for parts instead of taking things further and push for over 600. If I'd waited and found a better example I'd still have it now with a huge Holset super 40 strapped to it!! They really are cracking cars.
As for fun factor, slap a big turbo on there and go terrorising he more expensive/exotic machines (They're nice and cheap to tune)
If you cant find a decent Aero then have a look for the Anniversary.
As for fun factor, slap a big turbo on there and go terrorising he more expensive/exotic machines
(They're nice and cheap to tune)If you cant find a decent Aero then have a look for the Anniversary.
PomBstard said:
but does 250bhp, fwd and large hatch translate into fun in the twisty bits? I'm not expecting 306-levels of entertainment but I don't want perennial understeer with a side dose of torque steer.
From a 9-5 wagon owner; no.3rd gear is amusing in a straight line. It doesn't handle. It is, in fact, the only car I've ever owned that when punted enthusiastically down a mildly challenging road leads me to mutter "this has enough power".
Mr E said:
PomBstard said:
but does 250bhp, fwd and large hatch translate into fun in the twisty bits? I'm not expecting 306-levels of entertainment but I don't want perennial understeer with a side dose of torque steer.
From a 9-5 wagon owner; no.3rd gear is amusing in a straight line. It doesn't handle. It is, in fact, the only car I've ever owned that when punted enthusiastically down a mildly challenging road leads me to mutter "this has enough power".
Hi I had a 306 gti when they were new and had an aero albeit an auto 6 months ago.
I loved the 306 but I was a fair bit younge! I loved the power of the Saab but after my e39 I couldn't live the build quality of it or how unreliable it was. It always needed something doing. Personally I wouldn't get a 9-5
I loved the 306 but I was a fair bit younge! I loved the power of the Saab but after my e39 I couldn't live the build quality of it or how unreliable it was. It always needed something doing. Personally I wouldn't get a 9-5
Mr E said:
IroningMan said:
Bilstein shocks absolutely transformed mine.
Understood, however the other car is an Elise on nitrons. Nothing I can do to the saab will make it handle in comparison, so I'm not bothering.I'd maybe suggest looking at poly bushes to sharpen it up?
Love mine. Came to it from a VX220, and while the handling is not anywhere close, for a big old bus it does ok. It is by far the heaviest car I have owned, but driven with sympathy it can be made to hustle along plenty quick enough day to day where you can get frustrated with normal drivers, on a hoon it would be left wanting, but its not a B road blaster.
Its probably the best car I have had for making progress anywhere though, stable and safe with plenty of shove, head anywhere that is dual carriageway - single - dual (like I do going to Somerset or Cornwall once every couple of months) and it is great, sweeping roads or motorways it will dispatch with ease.
Will hate to see it go when it is advertised soon, but I cant take it to China with me. Great dog / hobby car too (I have the estate, I'm sure it looks wrong as I am 28)
Its probably the best car I have had for making progress anywhere though, stable and safe with plenty of shove, head anywhere that is dual carriageway - single - dual (like I do going to Somerset or Cornwall once every couple of months) and it is great, sweeping roads or motorways it will dispatch with ease.
Will hate to see it go when it is advertised soon, but I cant take it to China with me. Great dog / hobby car too (I have the estate, I'm sure it looks wrong as I am 28)
^^^ This, You can't hustle it along like a hot hatch but if you are smooth and sympathetic then it is quite good fun. I came from a Clio 182 and I'm not that disappointed. Should be even better with some good shoes on and a remap. It is remarkably nippy but doesn't really show it until at quite high speeds.
Gassing Station | Saab | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff