From Saab 9-2X to Slab 9-2X

Noah Rourk’s dad was big NOPI guy. Google translated: That means Noah grew up flippin’ switches on Hardbodies in Hooters parking lots. You can see it in this Saab 9-2X, right? 

This Saab 9-2X Aero… 

Was actually Noah’s very first car. He bought it 10 years ago for $5500. Sporty, manual, turbo, wagon – it’s got the ingredients. But most of ya’ll know the Saab 9-2X Aero is just a rebadged Subaru WRX Wagon. And that Subaru DNA made itself known on Day-2 of ownership… when it slung a rod. 

Fortunately, the previous owner/dealer felt bad about unintentionally screwing a teenager on his first car… and bought it back. But Noah had already been late-night shopping motors, and gotten himself all chubbed-up about a built EJ205 he found for $3500 online. He talked it over with his dad, and they decided to do the sensible thing & spend his college funds on the motor. The dealer/seller resold Noah the sh¡tbox broken Saab for $2000… and all was zen. Making 380hp, teenage Noah brought the Saab 9-2X to Import Alliance 2017 where he met… me. 

Then because Subaru…

The EJ205 slung a rod on Noah’s birthday. But Noah was used to it by now. And this time, he found a JDM EJ206. Noah felt it was time to crank-up the dials a little bit, so he dropped the Saab on its nuts with an old-school style manual bag kit. Actually – his uncle did the install for free… as a birthday surprise because he felt bad about the bad engine luck. And Noah put the cherry on it with a set of 19in Weds Kranze Ratzingers. Those wheels were discontinued in 05… same year Noah’s Saab came out. (More on that in a minute.)

Noah also added a Forcewerkz aero kit to the Saab 9-2X, and resprayed the car in its original black, adding gold flake. And that’s how Noah ran it until roughly 2022, when he hit a rough patch. 

The Saab 9-2X sat for 2 years…

The 19in wheels got sold, as did the aero kit… and things weren’t looking great for the ol’ Saabaru. But remarkably, the motor stayed intact. 

Noah’s dad always joked 13-7s would be dope AF. And slowly but surely, Noah started turning the joke into actual consideration. See gen-z tuners are so oversaturated with ‘influency’ content literally every time they pick up a phone, that it’s actually hard not to get stuck in a numb, creative rut. Problem is: A lot of them aren’t even aware of that. But Noah was… and he decided to take off the blinders. He busted through the front door of his dad’s & said, “Fuck it – let’s do 100-spokes!” His dad literally jumped to grab his Locs & the angle grinder. 

It’s not about what’s ‘better or worse’…

It’s about – what’s exciting for you! Building a car should be FUN… and expressive (like a story you want to tell). And if it ever stops being FUN – or the expression isn’t really yours – it’s time to recalibrate. Now?? Noah can’t even park a damn Saab without old-heads getting all excited saying, “That’s that SH¡T right there!”

Photos by @tw_.media (old) and @dialed.kev (new)

Saab 9-2x Aero

ENGINE 

JDM EJ206 swap

Custom powder coating work (Noah powder coats)

Invidia N1 catback exhaust

Wheels / Suspension

RaceLand air bags/struts

Bag Riders 4-switch manual air system

Luxor wire wheels – triple chrome – 100 spokes

13×7 reversed 

Remington touring white walls 

Exterior

V-Limited STI side skirts 

Paint: Saab Noir Black with gold flake

INTERIOR

Full Kenwood sound system 

Kenwood 10” sub & Bose amp 

STREET HATE CLUB EXCLUSIVE – clear/chrome steering wheel & shift knob

Spec-D bucket seats 

DIY upholstery

 

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