1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Jonas- I have a few pointers:
1. Go for a Turbo if you can, more power=more fun. On the downside, it is one more thing that can break, but most people in this forum will tell you that once you have a turbo, you never settle for less.
2. IMHO, If you've never owned a Saab before, I would avoid the automatics, and go with a 5 speed. I've heard that certain years had better automatics than others, but after having 2 go bad on me, I never had the patience to figure out which years. I'm sure I'll catch grief from someone in this forum for saying this, but I think that the Saab implementation of automatic transmissions was poor.
3. Almost goes without saying, avoid cars with rust issues. On Saabs, it seems that rust situations can deteriorate rapidly.
4. Inspect the brakes thouroughly- especially the rear ones, the calipers tend to freeze up and cause problems.
5. Almost all 900 headliners sag and dashboards crack (seriously). This really should not be a factor in deciding one car versus another.
6. Other than the above, check basic things and make sure the car has been regularly maintained- i.e. not burning oil, brakes work, coolant appears fresh (not brown and murky), good exhaust system, etc. Drive the car around and see if the alignment is ok, next drive it in circles in a parking lot and see if the CV joints shudder or make noise. Have a mechanic check it out for you too.
7. Make sure basic items work or are in decent shape. Do the tires have good tread ? (a decent set of tires can run $400.00). Do all the lights and safety equipment work ? Many times people regard these items as being trivial in nature, but replace a few bulbs, tires, and wiper blades; then see what the total is. Minor stuff can add up quick.
In conclusion, the classic 900 is truly a timeless design, and one of the coolest, safest, most durable, and fun cars ever built. As with any older car, expect a few problems along the way. However, with proper care and maintenance, it is not uncommon for these cars to go 300K - 400K in a lifetime. In fact, I consider Saabs that have less than a 100K, not even broken in yet. Anyway, good luck finding the car you like, and drop a post when you find something. I hope this helps.
posted by 65.211.1...
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