1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Susan. be paitent. do not rush into a purchase.
THE NUMBER ONE THING TO CONSIDER IS SAFETY. I COMPLETELY DISSAGREE WITH
THE ADVISE ON VW JETTAS OR ANYTHING SMALLER THAN THE 900.I have owned four
classic mid 80s 900s & am very fortunate to have emerged unscathed from two terrible wrecks. one involved a passed out drunk driver who hit me head on @55+mph, the other involved me running @50mph head on into a class 6 grain hauling truck that ran a stop sign on a rural state highway south of Muncie Indiana. I really believe these saabs saved my life twice.
If you have any doubts about you decision I stongly advise you and your daughter to visit a good sized salvage yard.It will be an education. Take a stroll thru the vw section and survey the carnage. Then look thru the saab section. You will undoubtably see some seriously totalled saabs, but pay attention to the driver's position inside the center "safety cage" area. The damage these cars can ABSORB without transfering damage to the passenger compartment will speak for itself..
In a car wreck, the laws of physics dominate .. the more mass your daughters' vechile has the better her odds are. But do you put her in a Suburban or Navigator?? A very large vechile can be difficult for a new driver and impractical if it sits in your driveway because your daughter can't afford the fuel budget. The classic 900 is one of the SAFEST CARS BUILT IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS. It is an excellently engineered BALANCE BETWEEN SIZE, SAFETY AND FUEL EFFICENCY.
You should consider your daughter VERY LUCKY to come home from a wrecked Festiva. When my daughter starts driving in six years she will be driving
a classic 900. In this country, close to 40,000 people die in car wrecks EACH YEAR. A safe car with good driver ergonomics/visiblilty should be your No.1 investement in your girl's safety.
As far as the nuts and bolts of the car choice: find an 8v or 16v NON-Turbo
5spd. The turbos are great , but have a tendency to bring out the lead foot
in young drivers. In my close to 800,000 miles of experience with my four 900s as daily salesmobliles & I averaged $692.00/year in maintence (30/70%
higway/backroad miles). Have your daughter put $50 a month is a repair savings account with a debit card and she'll be fine.
The best advise in the previous postings is get a car with SERVICE RECORDS.
You may find a "deal" on a car, but without the service pedigree PASS.If you find a car that the previous owner has not put any $ into the past two years, you CAN easily put in two grand into your 900 in your first year.
good luck car shopping & again be paitent.. your girl will be safe and happy.
, Wed, 31 Jan 2001 22:09:19
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