Saab 99

Which Saab 99 version to buy: the short ranking

Buy 2.0 MT (145 hp) if the numbers that matter are acceleration and specific output: 8.9 s to 100 km/h, 195 km/h, 235 Nm at 3000 rpm, 73.0 hp per litre (145 hp / 1.985 L), 8.41 kg per hp (1220 kg / 145 hp). That is 6.3 s faster to 100 km/h and 50 km/h faster at the top than 1.7 MT.

Buy 2.0 MT (145 hp) if the numbers that matter are acceleration and specific output: 8.9 s to 100 km/h, 195 km/h, 235 Nm at 3000 rpm, 73.0 hp per litre (145 hp / 1.985 L), 8.41 kg per hp (1220 kg / 145 hp). That is 6.3 s faster to 100 km/h and 50 km/h faster at the top than 1.7 MT.

Buy 2.0 MT (120 hp) if you want the strongest non-turbo Manual: 120 hp, 88 kW at 5200 rpm, 167 Nm at 3700 rpm, Central injection (single-point or single- point), 12.2 s, 174 km/h, 60.5 hp/L, 9.68 kg/hp. Versus the 145 hp turbo 2.0 MT, you give up 25 hp, 68 Nm, 3.3 s on 0–100, and 21 km/h of top speed, and you save 59 kg of kerb weight (1161 vs 1220).

Buy 2.0 MT (110 hp) if you want the same 12.2 s and 174 km/h as the 120 hp Manual but with Carburetor instead of Central injection (single-point or single- point), 10 fewer hp, and 31 kg less kerb weight (1130 vs 1161). Power per litre is 55.4 vs 60.5; kg per hp is 10.27 vs 9.68.

Buy 2.0 MT (100 hp) if you want a lighter 1985 cc Inline Carburetor Manual with measured gross weight: 100 hp, 74 kW, 162 Nm at 3500 rpm, 14.5 s, 160 km/h, 1115 kg kerb, 1560 kg gross. Versus 2.0 MT (110 hp) you give up 10 hp, 2 Nm, 2.3 s, and 14 km/h, and you gain 15 kg less kerb (1115 vs 1130).

Buy 1.7 MT if kerb weight is the ranking key: 925 kg is 172 kg below 1.9 MT (87 hp) and 295 kg below 2.0 MT (145 hp). You accept 81 hp, 15.2 s, 145 km/h, Drum rear brakes, and torque not measured.

Buy 1.9 AT (87 hp) or 2.0 AT (100 / 110 / 120 hp) only if Automatic 3 is required: in this set every Automatic is 3 speeds, every Manual is 4. The Automatic penalty on top speed is 0 km/h on the 87 hp pair, 5 km/h on 2.0 AT (100 hp) vs 2.0 MT (100 hp) (155 vs 160), 9 km/h on 2.0 AT (110 hp) vs 2.0 MT (110 hp) (165 vs 174), and 21 km/h on 2.0 AT (120 hp) vs 2.0 MT (120 hp) (153 vs 174). 0–100 km/h is listed the same inside each AT/MT pair here.

Do not pick on generation: 1 generation is the whole catalogue line. Do not pick on fuel consumption or mpg: city, highway, and mixed figures are not measured. Do not pick on wheels: wheel size is not measured.

Specs table: all listed versions

Front brakes are Disc on all 12. Rear brakes are Drum on 1.7 MT, 1.9 MT (87 hp), and 1.9 AT (87 hp); Disc on the other nine. Compression: 8.5 on 1.7 MT, 9 on both 1855 cc Carburetor 87 hp cars and on 1.9 MT (95 hp), 8.7 on 2.0 MT (95 hp), 9.2 on the 100 / 110 / 120 hp 1985 cc cars, 7.2 on turbo 2.0 MT (145 hp). Bore × stroke: 83.5 × 78 on 1.7 MT, 87 × 78 on the 1.9s, 90 × 78 on all 2.0s. Suspension is Independent, spring front and Dependent, spring rear on every listed version.

Engine choice: 1709 vs 1855 vs 1985, V-shaped vs Inline, Carburetor vs injection vs Turbo

Three displacements appear. 1.7 MT is 1709 cc, V-shaped, Carburetor, 81 hp, 47.4 hp/L. Stepping to 1.9 MT (87 hp) adds 146 cc, 6 hp, 8 km/h, and 1.9 s off 0–100, but kerb weight jumps 172 kg (925 → 1097), so kg/hp worsens from 11.42 to 12.61 and hp/L falls slightly from 47.4 to 46.9. The 1.9 cars are the only ones specified for 95; every 1.7 and 2.0 is 92.

1.9 MT (95 hp) is the only 1855 cc car with Central injection (single-point or single- point). Versus 1.9 MT (87 hp) it adds 8 hp (51.2 vs 46.9 hp/L) and 9 km/h (162 vs 153) but is 1.3 s slower to 100 km/h (14.6 vs 13.3) and 27 kg heavier. Torque on the 95 hp 1.9 is not measured, so you cannot rank pull against the 146 Nm of the 87 hp 1.9.

The 1985 cc Inline group is eight versions. 2.0 MT (95 hp) vs 1.9 MT (95 hp): same 95 hp and same 14.6 s, but Inline vs V-shaped, Carburetor vs Central injection (single-point or single- point), 92 vs 95, 157 Nm vs not measured, 160 vs 162 km/h, 1150 vs 1124 kg. The extra 130 cc does not buy a faster 0–100 in this pair.

Inside 1985 cc Carburetor Manuals, 2.0 MT (100 hp) vs 2.0 MT (95 hp): +5 hp, +5 Nm, −0.1 s, same 160 km/h, −35 kg (1115 vs 1150), compression 9.2 vs 8.7. 2.0 MT (110 hp) vs 2.0 MT (100 hp): +10 hp, +2 Nm, −2.3 s (12.2 vs 14.5), +14 km/h (174 vs 160), +15 kg. That 10 hp step is the largest 0–100 gain among the non-turbo 2.0 Manuals.

2.0 MT (120 hp) vs 2.0 MT (110 hp): +10 hp, +3 Nm, peak torque 200 rpm higher (3700 vs 3500), same 12.2 s and same 174 km/h, +31 kg, fuel system changes to Central injection (single-point or single- point). The extra 10 hp does not change the listed 0–100; it does raise hp/L from 55.4 to 60.5 and cut kg/hp from 10.27 to 9.68.

2.0 MT (145 hp) is the only Turbo and the only engine with peak power at 5000 rpm rather than 5200. Versus 2.0 MT (120 hp): +25 hp, +68 Nm, −3.3 s, +21 km/h, +59 kg, Carburetor instead of Central injection (single-point or single- point), compression 7.2 vs 9.2. Versus 1.7 MT: +64 hp, +295 kg, −6.3 s, +50 km/h. Torque 235 Nm is 68 Nm above the next-highest measured figure (167 Nm on the 120 hp pair) and 89 Nm above 1.9 MT (87 hp).

Performance and economy (mpg)

0–100 km/h clusters: 15.2 s (1.7 MT); 14.5–14.6 s (1.9 MT 95 hp, 2.0 MT 95 hp, 2.0 MT 100 hp, 2.0 AT 100 hp); 13.3 s (both 87 hp 1.9s); 12.2 s (110 and 120 hp 2.0s, Manual and Automatic); 8.9 s (2.0 MT 145 hp). The 87 hp 1.9 is 1.3 s quicker to 100 than the 95 hp 1.9 MT despite 8 fewer hp, matching the 172–199 kg weight gap versus 1.7 MT and the 27 kg gap versus the injected 1.9.

Top speed is not a clean copy of 0–100. 2.0 AT (120 hp) is listed at 153 km/h — the same as the 87 hp 1.9s — while its Manual twin is 174 km/h. 2.0 AT (110 hp) is 165 vs 174. 2.0 AT (100 hp) is 155 vs 160. 1.9 AT (87 hp) matches 1.9 MT (87 hp) at 153 km/h. Turbo 2.0 MT is the only car at 195 km/h.

City L/100 km, highway L/100 km, mixed L/100 km, mpg, and CO2 are not measured on all 12 versions. Eco class is not measured. A buyer ranking “economy” from this catalogue cannot separate versions by consumption.

Dimensions, weight, tank, clearance

Ground clearance is 175 mm on all 12; tank is 55 L on all 12; body is Sedan 2-doors on the generation. Wheel size is not measured.

Kerb weight order, light to heavy: 1.7 MT 925; 1.9 MT / 1.9 AT (87 hp) 1097; 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT (100 hp) 1115; 1.9 MT (95 hp) 1124; 2.0 MT (110 hp) 1130; 2.0 MT (95 hp) 1150; 2.0 AT (110 hp) 1157; 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT (120 hp) 1161; 2.0 MT (145 hp) 1220.

Gross weight is measured on five versions only: 1.9 MT (95 hp) 1139 kg (15 kg above its 1124 kg kerb); 2.0 MT (100 hp) and 2.0 AT (100 hp) 1560; 2.0 MT (145 hp) 1630; 2.0 MT (110 hp) and 2.0 AT (110 hp) 1660. Gross is not measured on 1.7 MT, both 87 hp 1.9s, 2.0 MT (95 hp), and both 120 hp 2.0s.

Payload where both figures exist: 1.9 MT (95 hp) 15 kg (1139 − 1124); 2.0 MT (100 hp) 445 kg (1560 − 1115); 2.0 MT (110 hp) 530 kg (1660 − 1130); 2.0 AT (110 hp) 503 kg (1660 − 1157); 2.0 MT (145 hp) 410 kg (1630 − 1220). The 110 hp Manual has the largest measured payload in this set; the injected 95 hp 1.9 has the smallest.

Kg per hp (kerb / hp): turbo 2.0 MT 8.41; 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT (120 hp) 9.68; 2.0 MT (110 hp) 10.27; 2.0 AT (110 hp) 10.52; 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT (100 hp) 11.15; 1.7 MT 11.42; 1.9 MT (95 hp) 11.83; 2.0 MT (95 hp) 12.11; 1.9 MT / 1.9 AT (87 hp) 12.61.

Manual vs Automatic

Four Automatic versions: 1.9 AT (87 hp), 2.0 AT (100 hp), 2.0 AT (110 hp), 2.0 AT (120 hp). Each is Automatic 3 against Manual 4 on the matching engine. 0–100 is listed identical inside each pair. Top speed is identical only on the 87 hp pair. Kerb weight is identical on the 87 hp pair (1097), identical on the 100 hp pair (1115), identical on the 120 hp pair (1161), and 27 kg higher on 2.0 AT (110 hp) than 2.0 MT (110 hp) (1157 vs 1130). There is no Automatic turbo and no Automatic 1.7 in this list.

If the buyer will not accept 3 speeds, the Automatic column is empty. If the buyer will not accept 4-speed Manual, the 145 hp Turbo is unavailable.

Brakes and chassis as a buying filter

Rear Drum is limited to 1.7 MT and the two 87 hp 1.9s. Every 95 hp and above version is Disc / Disc. Front layout, FWD, Independent, spring / Dependent, spring, and 175 mm clearance do not differentiate versions. The chassis does not change generation because there is only 1 generation (1967–1984).

Problems, reliability, and what is not measured

Problems and reliability are not measured in this dataset. Consumption, CO2, eco class, and wheels are not measured. Torque is not measured on 1.7 MT and 1.9 MT (95 hp). Power rpm is not measured on 1.9 MT (95 hp). Gross weight is not measured on seven of the 12 versions. Those gaps are missing measurements, not proof that the cars lack the parameter.

Which version to choose, by job

Lightest kerb, smallest engine: 1.7 MT — 925 kg, 81 hp, 1709 cc, V-shaped, Carburetor, Drum rear, 15.2 s, 145 km/h, torque not measured.

Lightest car with measured torque and still V-shaped: 1.9 MT (87 hp) — 1097 kg, 146 Nm, 13.3 s, 153 km/h; 1.9 AT (87 hp) if Automatic 3 is required, same mass and same 13.3 s / 153 km/h.

95 hp fork: 1.9 MT (95 hp) if you want V-shaped, Central injection (single-point or single- point), 95 fuel, 162 km/h, Disc rear, and a measured 1139 kg gross; 2.0 MT (95 hp) if you want Inline, Carburetor, 92 fuel, 157 Nm, and accept 26 kg more kerb and 2 km/h less top speed at the same 14.6 s.

Balanced non-turbo 2.0 Manual: 2.0 MT (110 hp) — 12.2 s, 174 km/h, 164 Nm, 1130 kg, 1660 kg gross, 530 kg payload, Carburetor. 2.0 MT (100 hp) if you want 35 kg less than the 95 hp 2.0 Manual and a 1560 kg gross, at 14.5 s and 160 km/h.

Strongest non-turbo: 2.0 MT (120 hp) — 120 hp, 167 Nm, 12.2 s, 174 km/h, 9.68 kg/hp. 2.0 AT (120 hp) keeps 12.2 s but drops top speed to 153 km/h.

Fastest in the catalogue: 2.0 MT (145 hp) — Turbo, 145 hp, 235 Nm, 8.9 s, 195 km/h, 73.0 hp/L, 8.41 kg/hp, 1220 kg, 1630 kg gross. It is the only Turbo, the only 195 km/h car, and the only 8.9 s car in this 1 generation list.

The 12 names to match listing pages exactly are 1.7 MT, 1.9 MT (87 hp), 1.9 AT (87 hp), 1.9 MT (95 hp), 2.0 MT (95 hp), 2.0 MT (100 hp), 2.0 AT (100 hp), 2.0 MT (110 hp), 2.0 AT (110 hp), 2.0 MT (120 hp), 2.0 AT (120 hp), and 2.0 MT (145 hp). The catalogue marks 22 modifications for the generation and shows 12 here; the ten not listed cannot be ranked from this data.