Best of the Bargain Basement Vol. 2

[yajeed]

Yup. I had both and preferred the hydrogas.

The TF was better screwed together though, and the extr few horses were welcome.

I'd go for the 160 and check for leaks and HGF/cooking system issues.

Generally they're a decent little car.

[Hoofy]

yajeed said:

Yup. I had both and preferred the hydrogas.

Why so?

[yajeed]

Hoofy said:

Why so?

The TF was sprung pretty hard and combined with the short wheelbase made it relatively jittery over anything but smooth tarmac. The F soaked up bumps and was a relaxing drive. Neither are going to be great when 'pushing on' compared to the rivals of the day (such as the mx5), so the hydragas made it a little different.

[Hoofy]

yajeed said:

Hoofy said:

Why so?

The TF was sprung pretty hard and combined with the short wheelbase made it relatively jittery over anything but smooth tarmac. The F soaked up bumps and was a relaxing drive. Neither are going to be great when 'pushing on' compared to the rivals of the day (such as the mx5), so the hydragas made it a little different.

Ah, I see. Mine's a little deflated so is really hard... but not jittery - it feels like a planted track car. I could go around roundabouts all day.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

I'm going to look at this 2002 SAAB 93 convertible in about an hour.
He wants £695 but I'm going to offer £400 - wish me luck.
The only thing worrying me is the oil sludging and cracked bulkhead reputation?

[yajeed]

Hoofy said:

Ah, I see. Mine's a little deflated so is really hard... but not jittery - it feels like a planted track car. I could go around roundabouts all day.

Seems I just needed a later TF (http://www.mg-cars.net/mgf-technical-bbs/tf-ride-comfort-2009042716445823128.htm). I had one of the very early ones which they seem to have skimped on component quality with.

[Hoofy]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

I'm going to look at this 2002 SAAB 93 convertible in about an hour.
He wants £695 but I'm going to offer £400 - wish me luck.
The only thing worrying me is the oil sludging and cracked bulkhead reputation?

I'd be surprised if he doesn't get £650 for it.

[Hoofy]

yajeed said:

Hoofy said:

Ah, I see. Mine's a little deflated so is really hard... but not jittery - it feels like a planted track car. I could go around roundabouts all day.

Seems I just needed a later TF (http://www.mg-cars.net/mgf-technical-bbs/tf-ride-comfort-2009042716445823128.htm). I had one of the very early ones which they seem to have skimped on component quality with.

Ah, odd. Well, not odd, I suppose, it's an MG.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

Hoofy said:

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

I'm going to look at this 2002 SAAB 93 convertible in about an hour.
He wants £695 but I'm going to offer £400 - wish me luck.
The only thing worrying me is the oil sludging and cracked bulkhead reputation?

I'd be surprised if he doesn't get £650 for it.

Well I got him down to £550, I may offer £500 take it or leave it.
Downsides...
It's fairly grubby inside, but nothing a bit of elbow grease can't fix.
Radio aerial is missing, phone antenna looks like it's been chewed by something. Roof get's stuck and needs a bit of help opening and closing.
Roof has a few frayed bits and the mechanism is quite rusty. A bit of water pooled out when the roof did open, so I suspect the seals are getting a bit tired.
There's a U shaped crack in the top passenger's side windscreen.
Oh and it did seem to shake quite a bit...is this scuttle shake that everyone talks about? It's like a very unbalanced front wheel that comes and goes (first time in a convertible).

So nothing that isn't fixable.
Very tempting. Just a shame the tax in £300 per year!

Edited by Dr Doofenshmirtz on Tuesday 14th March 14:08

[egor110]

That's the trade off though.

Petrol , more tax, simpler engines more choice for your money.

Diesel, cheaper tax, more mpg, engines more prone to go wrong , less choice for your money.

[anonymous-user]

i think there is an x brace kit for the 95, i looked at one but they are very dated now in driving terms.

[Hoofy]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

Hoofy said:

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

I'm going to look at this 2002 SAAB 93 convertible in about an hour.
He wants £695 but I'm going to offer £400 - wish me luck.
The only thing worrying me is the oil sludging and cracked bulkhead reputation?

I'd be surprised if he doesn't get £650 for it.

Well I got him down to £550, I may offer £500 take it or leave it.
Downsides...
It's fairly grubby inside, but nothing a bit of elbow grease can't fix.
Radio aerial is missing, phone antenna looks like it's been chewed by something. Roof get's stuck and needs a bit of help opening and closing.
Roof has a few frayed bits and the mechanism is quite rusty. A bit of water pooled out when the roof did open, so I suspect the seals are getting a bit tired.
There's a U shaped crack in the top passenger's side windscreen.
Oh and it did seem to shake quite a bit...is this scuttle shake that everyone talks about? It's like a very unbalanced front wheel that comes and goes (first time in a convertible).

So nothing that isn't fixable.
Very tempting. Just a shame the tax in £300 per year!

Edited by Dr Doofenshmirtz on Tuesday 14th March 14:08

Fancy that. A cabriolet for £700 with a few problems.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

Hoofy said:

Fancy that. A cabriolet for £700 with a few problems.

£550 actually
The problem is - I'm a perfectionist and very picky. I'd buy it and then make it perfect.

[Morningside]

Hoofy said:

Jimmy Recard said:

Hoofy said:

Add leaky hydragas suspension, rusty floorpan, leaky roof.

For £500, just get something with a year's MOT and see how it is after 12 months.

TFs don't have Hydragas - they're conventional steel springs

MGFs were Hydragas

Oh, apologies, didn't know that.

Handy to know for possible future purchase.

[egor110]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

£550 actually
The problem is - I'm a perfectionist and very picky. I'd buy it and then make it perfect.

In which case is bangernomics really for you ?

[LordGrover]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

Well I got him down to £550, I may offer £500 take it or leave it.
Downsides...
It's fairly grubby inside, but nothing a bit of elbow grease can't fix.
Radio aerial is missing, phone antenna looks like it's been chewed by something. Roof get's stuck and needs a bit of help opening and closing.
Roof has a few frayed bits and the mechanism is quite rusty. A bit of water pooled out when the roof did open, so I suspect the seals are getting a bit tired.
There's a U shaped crack in the top passenger's side windscreen.
Oh and it did seem to shake quite a bit...is this scuttle shake that everyone talks about? It's like a very unbalanced front wheel that comes and goes (first time in a convertible).

So nothing that isn't fixable.
Very tempting. Just a shame the tax in £300 per year!

Edited by Dr Doofenshmirtz on Tuesday 14th March 14:08

Briefly, I had a 9-3 SE 2.0 Turbo. Scuttle shake was most disturbing, but I was assured by others that's 'normal'.
Not all convertibles suffer from this; I've had a TVR Griffith and currently a BMW Z4 - no scuttle shake or shimmying.

[W00DY]

I briefly had a Saab 9-3 Turbo coupe. It was very dreary, so to try to liven it up a little I upped the boost and blew it up.

[frankenstein12]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

Hoofy said:

Fancy that. A cabriolet for £700 with a few problems.

£550 actually
The problem is - I'm a perfectionist and very picky. I'd buy it and then make it perfect.

Surely then a Volvo C70 or BMW E36 is your better bet? You can get a pretty good condition C70 for £500 to £800

[Hoofy]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

Hoofy said:

Fancy that. A cabriolet for £700 with a few problems.

£550 actually
The problem is - I'm a perfectionist and very picky. I'd buy it and then make it perfect.

Last time I checked, it was advertised at £695.

If you're a perfectionist, head to your local official dealer with £50k in your pocket. Perfection and this thread do not go together!

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

Hoofy said:

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

Hoofy said:

Fancy that. A cabriolet for £700 with a few problems.

£550 actually
The problem is - I'm a perfectionist and very picky. I'd buy it and then make it perfect.

Last time I checked, it was advertised at £695.

If you're a perfectionist, head to your local official dealer with £50k in your pocket. Perfection and this thread do not go together!

Official SAAB dealer...hmmm, that could be a problem
I buy old cars, do them up (bit of a hobby)...keep them for a year or two and then sell, usually for what I paid for them originally, or sometimes for a slight profit.