The difference between a 9000 that has been brought up to snuff (or kept that way all its life) and one that hasn't is phenomenal. When you first buy a used Saab 9000, there will almost certainly be something of a contest of wills if the car is more than a couple of years old. You will have to find all the bad stuff, all the borderline stuff, all the hidden deficiencies, and fix them. If you don't, they will just keep rearing their ugly heads in serial fashion, and the car may well drive your spirit into the ground. It is my strong opinion - supported directly by my own experience - that if you put the car in top condition soon after you get it, and make sure that you maintain it well to keep it in top condition, your 9000 will be so much more reliable than many others' that you will wonder what all the fuss is about. If you don't strive to put it in top condition, you'll just be part of the fuss. In short, you have to win the battle, right up front. Otherwise, it may well become a war. And your wallet may not be up to it.
I bought my 9000 blind; I have lots of car experience, but did not know 9000's. The motor mounts were a surprise. The insulation coming loose and fouling the blower motor was a complete shock. And there were a few other surprises. But because you've come this far, you know most of the possible pitfalls, so you should at least be able to A) have the appropriate things checked, B) have an idea of the cost to fix them and C) know what to look for and maybe even expect on down the road.
You may find yourself in the same position that I was in. I had to make a decision to buy or pass pretty much on the spot. There was another interested buyer right behind me and I had to go with my gut. If you're fortunate enough to come across a basically good 9000 turbo at what appears to be a good price, you probably will have to act fast. Knowing what can be wrong and how much it will cost to fix it is very helpful. A good inspection is always a good thing, but sometimes that's a luxury that you don't have time for. I bought my 91 from Volkswagon of Nashville, and I can recommend them highly; they were very decent folks. As helpful as they were, however, I would bet that if I had requested an inspection by the Saab dealership, they would have probably said that they would prefer to show it to the other potential buyer first. Had that happened, I can assure you that I would have lost the car. Being well informed is extremely helpful. And once you get the car right, it will treat you very well if you strive to keep it that way.
Incidentally, I got my 94 Aero from the Saint Louis Saab dealer, and they were very decent folks as well. Again, I had to travel a long way (400+ miles) to either buy or reject the car. In this case I was able to talk to the previous owner before going, which helped a lot.