Classic 900's have a certain charm that can't be fully replicated, but
I can't quite agree with your mechanic. I happen to regularly drive a 88 900T, a 99 9-3 and a 99 9-3 Viggen.

1. So do many cars. It doesn't stop people from liking them or avoiding them.

2. I'n not sure spot welds are an important factor. For the speeds I go,
(usually under 65), I am belted in tight and feel safe in my 88 900T. I've slid off the road in it before and took out a snowbank and the car was not damaged. Your mechanic might be right for 15mph crashes, but is probably not knowledgable about which car handles 70mph crashes better. I'd defer that to the testing experts.

The older cars metal is thicker (heavier) and the car feels very solid especially with bilstein shocks and intrax springs. I don't feel a need for an airbag, but I do like the idea of the antiwhiplash 9-3 front seats.
Heavier metal in the classic might mean more protection, where lighter skin of the 9-3 might be more appropriate for the substantially lighter car that it is. It also means less total kinetic energy involved in a crash. The lighter skin is why they have the butresses on each side of the hatch at the bottom where the taillights are on the 9-3. So it's a tradeoff, but statistically, I wouldn't be suprised if the 9-3 was a good deal generally safer to the public. As rugged as my 88 900t is, I plan on adding a rollcage, new seats, and new belts. I figure Saabs are the balance of performance and safety that I like, and as I push the performance on the car, I should also do things to increase the safety, even if the upgrades appeal less to baby boomers and more to young people like myself. I don't have rear seats in my 88 900T, so that will not hurt access to that area.

3. If you want to talk newer style, go straight to the 9-3. I think many things are better in the 9-3 than the classic 900 in terms of durability and reliability, and just a few are worse. Those few items not built to last, like the floormats and spark plugs, are easy and inexpensive to replace. Its not a big deal. Items in the classic 900 like the windshield and alternator voltage regulator which do not last forever are also inexpensive to replace.

posted by 10.0...

• Old style 900 vs. new style 9-3, Todd inMA, Wed, 25 Sep 2002 22:21:44
  • I own one of each, NG900 is big improvement...., Mike Lynch , Fri, 27 Sep 2002 15:46:54
  • my 0.02 worth...., Rollmo, Fri, 27 Sep 2002 13:10:47
  • Re: Old style 900 vs. new style 9-3 (a bit long), Noel, Fri, 27 Sep 2002 11:03:55
  • Re: Old style 900 vs. new style 9-3, vince, Thu, 26 Sep 2002 14:55:32
  • Re: Old style 900 vs. new style 9-3, jp, Thu, 26 Sep 2002 11:26:38 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Re: Old style 900 vs. new style 9-3, morlok, Thu, 26 Sep 2002 21:39:38
  • I have both. Only time will tell., Talladega900, Thu, 26 Sep 2002 11:03:41
    • Fixed a lot of my torque steer w/alignment..., b.flippo, Thu, 26 Sep 2002 18:09:29
  • Re: Old style 900 vs. new style 9-3, compaqted, Thu, 26 Sep 2002 10:31:07
  • Re: Old style 900 vs. new style 9-3, Bruce, Thu, 26 Sep 2002 02:16:57
    • Re/ knocking classic Saabers, Kevin, Sun, 29 Sep 2002 08:52:26
    • Re: Old style 900 vs. new style 9-3, BHarvey, Thu, 26 Sep 2002 11:21:17
      • c900 stiffer??? I think not. 25% stiffer in the NG..., Talladega900, Thu, 26 Sep 2002 11:49:54
        • Re: c900 stiffer??? I think not. 25% stiffer in the NG..., Jeremy R., Thu, 26 Sep 2002 18:37:37
          • Re: c900 stiffer??? I think not. 25% stiffer in the N, BHarvey, Fri, 27 Sep 2002 11:08:02
        • ...and the new 9-3 is 130% stiffer than the NG. n/m, b.flippo, Thu, 26 Sep 2002 18:05:09
  • Re: Old style 900 vs. new style 9-3, rob , Thu, 26 Sep 2002 00:40:42
  • Re: Old style 900 vs. new style 9-3, GM, Thu, 26 Sep 2002 00:29:10
  • disagree, Scott Paterson , Wed, 25 Sep 2002 23:39:43
  • Re: Old style 900 vs. new style 9-3, AdamB , Wed, 25 Sep 2002 23:19:39

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