Saab 900
I was parked at my community center yesterday and noticed an older Saab 900 parked next to me — it was a 4-door, which I like even more than the 2-door pictured. I adore the look of this car and like to daydream about buying one. It's one of my ongoing dilemmas. I develop crushes on older model cars, but I'm just not committed to the relationship. Is it possible to find a perfectly restored Saab that as easy to maintain as, say, a 2007 Honda?
The car we brought to New York when we moved here was a red, 1983 Landcruiser. Also one of my favorite cars, but too hard/expensive for us to maintain at the time, so we sold it. I still miss it.
Labels: etcetera
posted by Gabrielle of Design Mom at Thursday, October 11, 2007
14 Comments:
I second you there. If money were no object, I'd have myself a 1990 900 SPG in the grey on grey color scheme. I have long loved the shape and handling of SAABs 900 model. However, having had both 1979 and a 1989 vintages, I have know all too well the cost of keeping one running. I developed a theory...my local dealer used to perform all repair work for free, but there was a $300 fee to open the repair bay door!
yes, there is a way. buy one and have someone replace everything under the hood with new(ish) GM parts. i mean, you're not in love with the engine, right?
i run an '87 turbo as a daily drive - 250k never misses a beat...
I DIY service to avoid being fleeced by dodgy shops - lets face it when they hear the word saab that means $$$$$ - thats if they know what one is....
My question is why won't Saab just make a completely new version in a totally authentic vintage body (but new)? VW tried to do this with the new bug, but it looks new. Couldn't they crack open an old mold and pour new 'stuff' and new guts?
that was my favorite car too...great minds
I used to own a Saab very similar to this one. It spent more time in the shop than on the road. My mechanic said, "They're called 'Saabs' but they should be called 'sobs' because all they do is breakdown." Sigh... the car still looked great but I could only look so cool while sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck. I ended up trading it in for a Toyota.
I totally understand you on this one.
I loved and miss my old Volvo wagon... I daydream about it too.
And I always loved the Saabs. But if you ever get an old one, make sure it is a Turbo... otherwise, they are really slow.
Blessings,
Karla
I drove a 1985 red four-door Saab 900 for many years. I loved it! Wonderful cars.
Yes, it would be my dream to own a SAAB 900 SPG. Did not have the money as a kid, now it's just ridiculous to maintain nor is it avaialbe new.
I love the idea of putting a non-Saab engine into the old Saab body. Probably not as easy as it sounds for the average mechanic.
The Marketing department at Saab must be aware of this interest. Like the camaros and chargers, I hope GM catches on to the idea of redoing the vintage 900 with the exact same lines on body design. Love the way the lines run on the back of the 900s.
regarding the ownership of an older saab 900....if you keep up on oil changes and tune ups, keep it full of gas etc, they will run FOREVER.they have an undeserved reputation for being lemons, just not so.all car makes and models have bad apples.all of them.i live in LA and have seen only two saabs getting towed, one was a newer saab and one an old 900, which i still see bombing around west LA.i just retired my beloved 1986 900, with 300k on an 8 valve motor.i flew past most everyone on the 405 at 75 80 no prob(not a turbo either).i replaced her with an 86 turbo for 850 bucks.its a beautiful fast fun car, super clean.my daughter also drives a 91 900,which has been great.i also have a 71 saab sonett.i have a good mechanic that loves older saabs, that is the key to owning one.also, in the five years i drove my red car(all over LA,30 to 60 miles a day, and back and forth to SF frequently) i spent less on the car in maintenance and insurance than you would on a new car for one year.i also paid 500 bucks for it. so educate yourself, join the saab family and driving will never be the same for you again.check out saab net, great site.born from jets!
ps an SPG is next for me....
I love your site, just found it!
I am a mom of 2 grown boys my first Saab was a 1979 6 years old I bought her from the original owner my dream car, I have a red 1988 900 turbo manual trans with 242,000+ miles, original engine, no accidents, the cracks in the dash bother me, but hey when I drive the highway she purrs, just purchased 1990 convertible interior in showroom shape blemished with the mandatory cracks in dash with 40,000 miles automatic, I hope to never have to buy another car, I love these models so much they really are an engineering design of beauty, and I must say I had a 1989 my son took to college and someone hit him head on in 2001, and the design and integrity of the car saved his life - bring back the old design. My sons respectively have a 1997 & a 1998, not the same in any way Saab or form, feel like I'm in a submarine!
I have a 900 turbo commemorative. My car before that was a 900 S - it was a dog, but no repair costs, and I sold it for a profit! My first car was a pontiac Grand AM-- boring!
I've put $8500 into the 900 turbo to keep it running and in excellent shape in 4 years. $3,000 alone went to a new transmission. I'd rather not spend anymore money, but no modern car has the style of the 900. I guess I'll get a BMW when the 900 dies.
I own a 1990 900 Turbo convertible that I am lovingly restoring and driving almost every day. I've upgraded it to make 250 horsepower and added the SPG skirts. I saved it from the boneyard by buying it on EBay for $834, and other than a few repairs of necessity it is rock solid reliable and a joy to drive. A testimony of my love for the car was replacing the automatic transmission with a 5-speed (took a month in the evenings after the kids went to bed).
I don't anticipate ever selling it and will replace it with another of the same vintage if it is ever wrecked. It looks nice - original paint, and some day will get a coat of the same Edwardian grey. Sometimes I can just sit and stare at the classic lines. A real Beuaty with a Beast underneath the hood.
I have 90 Saab 900, Red four door. I have had several 900 since 1993. I find one fix it up sell it and find another. I have a mechanic that loves old Saabs. That is a key! I purchased my current one for $700 four years ago and drive it everyday. It loves to be driven. Nonturbo cruises at 75-80 daily. It drives you, you do not have to drive it. I spend on average about $500/yr. on maintenance. Only negative, my wife is not a Saab fan!!
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