1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
David,
If you buy a 900, your life will change. I don't know what it is about these cars, but it's not just a car. If you buy one, you'll probably spend more time working on it than you thought you wanted to. One point here: I've never had a Saab fail on me without giving warning signs. In my experience, they don't just quit. If you look and listen, the car will tell you it needs help. My brother says the same thing about his BMWs. Your question re. longevity is a good one; akin to the nature vs. nurture argument. I don't know the answer, but I wonder if Saab has (had) a psychologist, or maybe a Norse shaman on the design team. Have you seen a website dedicated to any other car that receives as many contributions as this one? Now, put that in perspective of percentages of Saabs vs everything else out there.
There are many contributors to this site with much more mechanical knowledge than I'll ever have, and I hope they respond to your questions because they're good ones. But I'll offer what I can: I've owned one 99 and four 900s over the years, and before buying the current 89 900S, none had been newer than 1980. I still have a 79 8v 5-door. I loved the dependability and serviceablity of the old (pre-81) 8v motors. Had 250K mi. on my 80 900 when I sold it, and I think it's still on the roads in Idaho (you out there Jason?) And those skinny 165x15's are great here in the Colorado snows. What the pre-81 cars lacked in acceleration, they made up in character. However, they're increasingly difficult to find, and wiring becomes suspect on cars that old.
The "900 timeline of history" found here on TSN was a real help in searching out a newer 900. I also asked local Saab mechanics who suggested avoiding 85 900s, as well as anything with a passive shoulder belt. (I'm sure many contributors will take exception to this.) I'd heard about head gasket problems on the later 2.1l motors, and didn't want to mess with airbags and ABS. That narrowed it down to 86-89. Like you, as an amateur mechanic, I wanted something easier to work on. That criterion eliminated turbos. Besides, compared to the 8v, the 16v felt plenty zippy.
As for transmissions, yes, find a 5-spd. They're more fun. Watchout though for cars that have been driven hard, as tranny repairs could be looming. I guess there's a pinion gear (help out here, you guys who are real mechanics) that's apt to fail. On test drives, listen for whining tranny sounds as you accelerate through 2nd and 3rd.
Good luck in your search. Don't fall in love at first sight. Have the car checked out by a good Saab mechanic--worth the $. Wave when you come through Colorado.
, Sat, 6 Jan 2001 00:31:11
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