RE: Saab 900 S | Shed of the Week

[georgezippy]

J4CKO said:

I like a Saab but would say, get the later updated version which was renamed the 9-3 as it came with a load of improvements.

And get a turbo model, the LPT version, on paper doesnt sound much different, in fact its the same 150 bhp but its night and day better to drive.

And probably, unless you really must, get a manual.

I would say the same. I had a 2002 Aero hatch manual, same shape body but looked better as had factory bodykit. The Aero remapped to 250bhp was hilarious, handling was crap but my latest Saab (a TTID) has been fixed with Koni suspension (by the previous owner) and is stunning to hurl round bends, so that can be sorted.
Those seats are heaven and I've had 2 older jags that set the bar quite high.
It will take a while for these to be classics, and it'll only be the high power ones that anyone cares about. They do make good sheds, although mpg under 30 is rubbish. I would often get mid 30s from the much faster 9-3 Aero.

[Downward]

Draxindustries1 said:

Not a 'classic', not a 'collectors item'.
'Increasing in value'....' reduced to sell'
Very mundane uneconomical , expensive to run car renowned for engine sludge problems..

What are the bad points ?

[Garett]

biggbn said:

Garett said:

Had a 2.0 non turbo in 3 door guise of a similar vintage. It was imo a good looking car and gave me no trouble, it did however have terrible handling and overly light steering feel, they were well renowned for the bulk heads cracking.

I replaced it with a 9000 2.3 turbo from the same year and that was a much better car in every conceivable way.

Really could not get 'on board' with the 9000..just another big, band executive barge. Totally devoid of 'saabness' in my opinion.

I thought it was fantastic, I owned it through the terrible winter we had in 2010 when we had consecutive snow days for the majority of December, saw temps as low as -15. It really came into its own in sub zero temps, the way the climate control system worked and defrosted the windows was amazingly quick. I was running winter tyres too and it battled on through the snow and ice without any issues.

[BFleming]

Rob 131 Sport said:

You seem surprised that the Saab was ‘very disappointing’ and the BMW ‘was a great car’.

I wasn't so much surprised at my disappointment in the 9000; I was simply disappointed by it.

[Veryoldbear]

I have a 9-5 Aero estate and it can do interesting things in a straight line, TCS permitting. NIce seats and a most excellent comedy cupholder.

[Olibol]

Had one of these in the early 2000s. Was a great family bus, but not a lot of fun. Sold it for £1500 then, so they’re holding their money at least.

[biggbn]

Garett said:

biggbn said:

Garett said:

Had a 2.0 non turbo in 3 door guise of a similar vintage. It was imo a good looking car and gave me no trouble, it did however have terrible handling and overly light steering feel, they were well renowned for the bulk heads cracking.

I replaced it with a 9000 2.3 turbo from the same year and that was a much better car in every conceivable way.

Really could not get 'on board' with the 9000..just another big, band executive barge. Totally devoid of 'saabness' in my opinion.

I thought it was fantastic, I owned it through the terrible winter we had in 2010 when we had consecutive snow days for the majority of December, saw temps as low as -15. It really came into its own in sub zero temps, the way the climate control system worked and defrosted the windows was amazingly quick. I was running winter tyres too and it battled on through the snow and ice without any issues.

Oh I'm sure they are in and of themselves fantastic cars but I used to buy Saabs because they were Saabs, the 9000 didn't feel any better than, say an 850 volvo or the like, and the volvo still felt like a volvo whereas three 9000, for me, and this is contentious, had lost its USP. Its very soul. I was not tempted back to a Saab as a daily until I bought my ng93 v6 manual convertible, that was a stonking car!!

[jeremyh1]

I have owned my 1996 2.3 se convertible auto for 12 years It has never let me down

[Kevin.]

When you broke down, you got & said "Drat Saab" Apparently it is you haven't got a Dad, Backwards!