Saab 9000 Through a New Lens: What Geoff Learned After 550 Miles in a Classic Swedish Turbo

When an Outsider Gets Behind the Wheel

Geoff Thompson, known to his YouTube audience as the face behind Geoff Buys Cars, is not your typical Saab devotee. His channel, born from a canoe-to-Porsche trading experiment, has evolved into a chaotic, charming journey through the world of overlooked metal. And in this instance, that journey led him to a 1996 Saab 9000 CSE 2.3 Turbo – sourced via Facebook Marketplace in Scotland and driven 550 miles across the UK.

What makes Geoff’s perspective compelling is exactly this: he didn’t grow up dreaming of Saabs, nor did he follow their WRC or Talladega exploits. He bought the car because it looked like a deal. What followed was a revelation—not only about the car’s mechanical integrity, but about its understated brilliance as a performance saloon.

What He Bought: A Spec Many Saab Enthusiasts Crave

The car in question is a 1996 Saab 9000 CSE 2.3 Turbo, a facelifted version of Saab’s executive flagship. The engine is a 2.3-liter B234 turbocharged inline-four, reportedly remapped to produce around 265 hp, significantly above its original output. With nearly 200,000 miles on the odometer, many would walk away. Geoff didn’t.

Instead, he got a clean car with only four previous owners and no rust—a minor miracle in the UK. The car was surprisingly solid and reliable from the first ignition in Scotland to the last stop 550 miles later. Geoff didn’t just drive it; he tested its highway legs, pushed its turbo, and absorbed its nuances.

Living With a High-Mileage Saab Turbo

One of the video’s central themes is Saab’s reputation for durability. Geoff references the legendary 1986 Talladega endurance test, where three stock 9000s covered 100,000 kilometers in just 21 days at an average speed of over 132 mph. That history matters, especially when reviewing a car that’s been around for nearly three decades and nearly two hundred thousand miles.

The 9000’s performance belies its age. Even after all those miles, the engine pulls hard, with Geoff remarking that the fifth-gear acceleration was faster than a Ferrari Testarossa’s. The remapped ECU doesn’t just add power; it adds context—the Saab 9000 isn’t just surviving, it’s thriving.

Turbocharged Character with Scandinavian Discipline

Geoff was especially struck by how the car handled in wet British conditions. He points out the potential dangers of a powerful turbo with sudden boost delivery, but at the same time praises the confident chassis and consistent feedback. He makes it clear: this isn’t a car for reckless drivers, but for those who respect its power and weight.

The front-wheel-drive layout, a typical Saab configuration, doesn’t dilute the experience. If anything, it enhances it—stable, predictable, but still exciting, especially when the turbo kicks in. It’s a car that rewards smoothness and punishes arrogance.

Interior as a Time Capsule of Good Design

Few modern car reviewers bother with ergonomics, but Geoff couldn’t ignore the Saab’s cabin. The dashboard is driver-focused, logical, and intuitive. The seats are soft yet supportive, offering long-distance comfort no BMW from the same era can match. Even the climate control vents are well thought out.

There’s no attempt to be flashy. Everything is purpose-built and distinctly Scandinavian. Geoff praises the manual handbrake, large rotary dials, and clearly marked gauges. This isn’t just retro charm—it’s timeless functionality.

A Better Value Than You’d Expect

Geoff is blunt: this car cost him less than what you’d spend on a tired BMW E36 or an abused Audi A4. Yet it delivers more performance, better build quality, and significantly more character. There’s a sense that Saab never set out to compete on flash; they competed on integrity.

In the current classic market where prices for old German saloons are inflated by hype and badge value, the Saab 9000 stands apart. Geoff’s experience reinforces what Saab enthusiasts already know: true value lies in engineering, not image.

What He Would Keep—and Why He Can’t

Despite falling for the car, Geoff reveals that his wife vetoed keeping it. There’s a moment of melancholy in his voice, as if parting with the car feels like giving up a secret he just discovered. Still, he intends to give the car away, letting someone else enjoy this hidden Swedish weapon.

This underscores a larger point about Saab ownership: it’s not about collectibility or resale value. It’s about the experience—the satisfaction of driving something that quietly outclasses louder rivals.

Geoff’s Verdict: It Earned Its Place

By the end of the video, it’s clear that Geoff didn’t expect much from the 9000—and that’s exactly why the car had such an impact. As someone who reviews all kinds of oddball and unloved cars, he admits the Saab made him think twice.

He’s not a Saab lifer. He doesn’t know the difference between a T16S and a Carlsson. But what he does know—what he felt through the steering wheel and the boost curve and the solid thunk of a closing door—is that Saab built something genuinely special.

Final Thoughts: Fresh Eyes, Same Respect

Geoff’s review may not be filled with Saab lore or specs memorized from brochures, but it might be even more powerful because of that. His outsider’s perspective cuts through nostalgia and hits on what really matters:

• Build quality that holds up
• Powertrain that still excites
• Design that respects the driver
• Value that borders on absurd

It’s not just Saab fans saying this anymore. The 9000, even to someone unfamiliar with the brand’s mythos, still has the power to convert.

And that, more than anything, proves its legacy isn’t just intact—it’s growing.

More from Geoff’s Garage

If Geoff’s 550-mile Saab 9000 trip caught your attention, his latest project raises the stakes even further. He recently took a 20-year-old Saab 9-5 Aero manual to Performance Remap to see why it feels unusually strong on the road – and the dyno figures delivered a clear answer.