Wagon Wednesday: The Saab Turbo X SportCombi
As Saab heads up to the great parking lot in the sky to join its brethren, we take a look at what could be the final hot Saab, the 2008 Turbo X. It was first shown at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show. The car paid homage to Saab’s 30 years with the turbocharger, beginning with 900 Turbo in 1978. Outside, the Turbo X was painted in a one choice Jet Black color and wore 18’ wheels making a callback to the 900 SPG. The homage continued inside with the turbo gage in the instrument cluster being the same as the 900 Turbo.
As with the 900 Turbo, the Turbo X introduced a significant innovation for Saab; Cross-Wheel Drive. Developed by Haldex, Cross-Wheel Drive (XWD) was Saab’s first true AWD system. XWD used sensors in all four wheels to detect slippage and a multiplate wet clutch in the rear differential to send power. The Turbo X also used an active rear limited-slip differential (eLSD as Saab called it) to shuffle power between the two rear wheels. Both of them would trickle down into the 9-3 and next generation 9-5.
Power comes from a modified version of Saab’s 2.8L turbo V6 from the 9-3 Aero producing 280 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque.
Only 2000 of Turbo Xs in sedan and SportCombi form were built in 2008. 600 of those made their way to the US.
Which leads us to this 2008 9-3 Turbo X SportCombi in Maryland. The ad says this Turbo X is a ONE OWNER CAR and has been kept in the garage. The exterior and interior are very clean. Mileage stands at 42,498 and comes with the desired six speed manual.
All this can be yours for $23,995.
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Want so bad. Manual Turbo X Combi? Rarer than hen's teeth. (How rare are hen's teeth?)
This cars had a real growl to them. Quick too. Thanks GM…
… Does this mean my opinion won this morning?
This car crushes the TSX wagon in every possible measure of desirability except probable reliability and cost of ownership. I'd take one of these in a second.
Exactly! And whats really sad is that Acura has all the proper hardware in thier stable to build something like this, SH-AWD, the V-6, nice 6-speed… they just wont do it…
Then again, Saab is dead, maybe partially because they did do it and no one bought them…
And Acura is doing so well in comparison? What's to lose? Like you said, they have all the bits to make this a niche segment king. I'll take it a bit further: they should offer AWD and manuals in all of their vehicles. It might be a blatant rip-off of Subaru, but it worked for building Audi's image.
Great car, and I need to be on the lookout for one. But I'd rather have the turbo four in it. And I find the 'heritage' cues unnecessary.
You seem to have some inherent Saab love/knowledge. Can they actually handle the power the tunes from places like VTuner get them up to? 390 out of their V6 turbo seems rather… blowupable.
I'm not a big fan of the sixes – being an Opel-sourced item. The four started out as the very understressed lower half of the Triumph engine. The fours can cross 300 hp without too much worry, and there are a fair number of tuner packages if you're feeling lucky. The V-6 started out at 200 hp. Double that sounds frightening – or exciting, but I don't have any real info on it.
Then again, if it is the Opel 2.7, they get it up to 320 from the factory for the OPC Insignia… Might not be too risky, I wonder how similar the 9-3 and Insignia are…
3.0 L asymmetric turbo… 3.6psi/0.25 bar… timing belt, interference engine – might want a receipt on that being changed.
There's a $22k 6-speed '08 TurboX Sedan near me: http://www.crosswaysaab.com/used/Saab/2008-Saab-9…
I would prefer the wagon, though.
Same dealership where I bought my 9-2x Aero.
Forgive me Lord, for I covet my neighbor's Ox.
This will require deep pockets to keep on the road, but it will be well worth it. No dealerships soon and expensive parts should drive the price down soon.
This could turn into a collectible 15-20 years from now.
Not if i drive it first!
I'm in love!!!!