‘Getting cars ready for a great year of shows’
The past month or so has been all about getting cars ready for the summer season ahead of us – and making some decisions about what cars I’m going to focus my time on in 2023. The good news is that I have a lovely 1983 20,000-mile Audi 80 that can serve the purpose of doing all the shows and events, and it’s good to go. Box ticked.
There are some other bits and pieces that I’ve been exercising in readiness, too, and very much in the realms of the modern classic era. The first is a Peugeot 306 GTI-6, which joined the family five years ago when Modern Classics reader Martin Curtis got in touch offering his to the team, as he was looking to buy a BMW 318is. We grabbed it with both hands, and all those years later, it’s still going strong with 147,000 miles on the clock.
For 2023’s fun and games, it’s needing its rear brakes fettling (as is the case every year), and a little under-body tidying. But it should be said that for anyone who thinks Nineties French cars aren’t well made, a quick look around the 306 should change their minds – the paint still gleams, the interior’s still solid, it feels as tight as a drum to drive, with everything (aside from the aircon) still working as it should. Most importantly, though, there’s not even a fleck of rust on the bodywork. Try saying that about a BMW, Audi or Mercedes-benz of the same age.
The other car that’s been having an airing this month is the Saab 9000 Aero. It’s a Le Mans blue version that’s been in the family since 2007 (with a couple of outings out of my hands), and after a period of being tucked away in my workshop, it’s time to get it prepped for 2023. Jumping in and driving it to the MOT station reminded me why I love this car so much – it’s quick without being attention-grabbing and handles well without leaving me with a bad back through over-sprung suspension or church pew-like seats.
What strikes me about the 9000 more than anything else, though, is how much Saabs just fit me. I think it’s the unpretentious image, the engineering integrity, those amazing seats, and sheer lack of fuss in the way it goes about its business. When I first bought the car, a lot less old and wise than I am now, I took it over to Abbott Racing for a bit of a tune-up, releasing 300bhp. That made the 9000 reverse the scenery even more quickly than it did in standard 225bhp form, but it felt no less civilised while doing so. I felt like a rebel at the time, driving such a Q-car, being able to humble more exotic machinery…
Today, my mindset has shifted somewhat. Although the performance is still there, and it is still huge fun on the right road, I find myself increasingly thinking that the respectful thing to do to this car (which has been comprehensively restored not long ago) is to knock back the power to standard, throw away all those polyurethane bushes I had fitted back in the Noughties, and enjoy it as those nice Swedish engineers intended all those years ago. After all, who really gets the chance to go fast these days in the UK? I mean you can, but you will get caught…
More than that, though, driving the 9000 and leaving it in the capable hands of my friendly Saab specialist has released more emotions for me.
And that’s one of mourning for its maker. I mean, we all know why Saab died, and could see it coming a mile off, but that doesn’t make dealing with the fact any easier. Nope, if ever there was a time that we all need a range of comfortable, quick, and unobtrusive cars that don’t shout ‘look at me’, intended for thoughtful people, we’re looking at it right now.
It also doesn’t seem fair that today in 2023, we no longer have Saab, but you can go out and buy a new Fiat Tipo. Where’s the justice in that? ■
Keith has had a distinguished career in motoring journalism. He created and runs aronline.co.uk and has worked for PC and Octane as well as editing Classic Car Weekly. He is currently editor of Parkers.
‘Driving it to the MOT station reminded me why I love the Saab’