RE: Saab 900 S | Shed of the Week

[Court_S]

With a decent MOT history, that doesn’t look too bad for the cash.

Not seen a Saab for ages now.

[Turbobanana]

Draxindustries1 said:

Very mundane uneconomical , expensive to run car renowned for engine sludge problems..

...that's somehow, miraculously, made it to 20+ years old and 105K. Because, you know, keep it serviced using the correct oil and filter and they don't sludge up.

My favourite line from the ad: "collectors item will only continue to increase in value, reduced to sell"

Shed is wide of the mark with his "glory days of SAAB" assertion. Those ended when they turned the engine crossways. View this as a comfy, wafty thing to smoke about in and it looks good value. Don't view it as a classic. They are easily tuned for a lot more power, but it hardly seems worth the effort.

[georgeyboy12345]

Enjoyed the article more than the car. Also as has been pointed out, the advert is comical too with the statement “increasing in value”, immediately followed by “reduced to sell”.

[J4CKO]

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.

[biggbn]

The car that turned me off of Saab after owning a dozen or so. And yet. And yet. A three door v6 of this car always appealed, lovely engine, lovely shape, dynamically flat but that's not why you buy a Saab.

[vikingaero]

I did 150,000 miles in 3 years in my mouthful of a name, Saab 900 SE Turbo Coupe.

[Cryssys]

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.

Hard to disagree with the above. Had a Saab 9-3 estate and loved it, good load lugger, great seats and a nice drive. Loved the night time dash button and cannot understand why other manufacturers don't offer something similar.

[Turbobanana]

Cryssys said:

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.

Hard to disagree with the above. Had a Saab 9-3 estate and loved it, good load lugger, great seats and a nice drive. Loved the night time dash button and cannot understand why other manufacturers don't offer something similar.

That's the next model on. J4CKO is, I believe, referring to the much-altered version of this 900 which was renamed 9-3. They only came as 3 or 5 door hatches (NOT coupes, as every seller likes to make out) or convertibles. You're referring to the later Vectra-chassised car that was offered as an estate, as well as a convertible and 4 door saloon.

[wpa1975]

Had one once, awful to drive and drunk fuel, did not keep it long

[66HFM]

I need to tick off a Saab on my list of cars I've owned, although every time I'm in the market for one I can't find a nice one or one that gets me interested and I end up getting another V50 or something similar...
Perhaps I should just buy one when I see one and then think about what I'll need it for...

Back to this one, the MPG and auto on this would be a no.

Volvo V70 has the most comfortable seats I've ever driven a long distance in, can't see that the ones in this 900 would be better....

[Matt Bird]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

humphra said:

Good to see shed's writing is back and including good humour! Thank you for an enjoyable Friday read.
The car? I probably would, but I'm a car nut who wants pretty much all cars!

Except the author of this week's shed isn't Tony. So he isn't back.

Car? Bit meh. But then that's what she'd is about isn't it?

Apologies all, it was most certainly Tony's writing error but an admin error in the upload. Correct authorship should be there now!


Matt

[J4CKO]

Turbobanana said:

Cryssys said:

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.

Hard to disagree with the above. Had a Saab 9-3 estate and loved it, good load lugger, great seats and a nice drive. Loved the night time dash button and cannot understand why other manufacturers don't offer something similar.

That's the next model on. J4CKO is, I believe, referring to the much-altered version of this 900 which was renamed 9-3. They only came as 3 or 5 door hatches (NOT coupes, as every seller likes to make out) or convertibles. You're referring to the later Vectra-chassised car that was offered as an estate, as well as a convertible and 4 door saloon.

Indeed, thats the 9-3 "SS" from 2003 if an estate, the 9-3 "OG" was from 1998 to 2003. I had a later 2003 9-3 SS Aero after my 2001 9-3 LPT and the later model was better in many ways but think the Aero model was a mistake as it was trying to do the german sports saloon thing and failing (too hard rise, crap trim) where the earlier one seemed to do quite a good impression of a Saab, despite tracing its parentage back the the Cavalier.

I think these are perhaps a bit too old now and not quite in the classic realm, and will never get to the status the original 900 has as a classic, though the Viggen/Aero models in the right colour as a 3 door in particular have a certain charm/appeal, doom blue NA auto, not really.

I dont think the handling was as bad as people made out on the 9-3, which was improved over the 900 but it was still pretty poor, I remember my ones party piece was to come off a wet roundabout and accelerate hard and get the front inside wheel spinning and it could do that almost indefinitely it felt like, say up to 70 mph, had much more powerful FWD cars and they couldnt do that.

[Silvanus]

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 love a Saab, but this one is not the one I'd go for. I had the facelift/updated version (9-3) with the 2.0 185 turbo, a Saab has to have a turbo. The 2.3 is a bit of an in-between engine, too thirsty and not quick enough for what it is. The handling isn’t great, but in this day and age that's not much of a issue (who goes tearing about in a car like this), but they are very comfortable.

[Bispal]

I had a 2.3 Auto convertible around 20 years ago. It actually drove well, was quick enough to embarrass an MX5 (even in auto) and was very comfortable and quiet. I don't remember fuel consumption being an issue, 25mpg in town and 35mpg on the m-way rings bells. It didn't cost me a penny, never broke down but I only owned for around 9 months as it was rather dull. Also suffered from bad torque steer and scuttle shake. Still as a non cabrio shed its would be rather appealing, IF you lived in a non ULEZ area. The August 2023 London ULEZ expansion is going to kill many petrol cars of 1984-2005 vintage. There wont be many sheds soon at all.

[CoffeePls]

Earthdweller said:

Lovely old thing

I had a 900S 3 door in Scarabe green, great comfortable long distance car then an SE 3 door in silver

Really loved the “black panel” button that turned off the dashboard apart from the speedometer

Something modern cars could do well to emulate

can you imagine that on a new electric VW? "Turn the dash lights down, dear". Now I can't use *anything* because the touch screen is off

[Wynn Duffy]

Great writing, glad the humour is back.

"by squirting Easystart all over the engine bay."
Is that still made???

Have a good friend of mine, runs a Bus Company they used to buy Easystart by the case load to help start their old Leyland Nationals, he said it was cocaine for engines, they end up getting dependent on it.

[egor110]

parabolica said:

We're a Saab family through and through; a few 99s, earlier gen 900, 9000 CD, 9-5, my dad still has my old 9-3 Aero on life support. Never liked the look of this gen of 900, especially in 5-door, automatic guise, but each to their own.

What's up with your dads aero ?

[ballans]

I used to be a Saab fan but this one has the wrong engine and gearbox. Really has to be a turbo and manual.
I’ve had the 900 in 2.0 NA and turbo forms and they are flawed but very likeable cars. Tried the 2.3 and couldn’t work out why you would have one over a turbo. 2.0 NA is ok but again, you would feel very short changed not having the boost gauge and whoosh.
Once you get used to the turbo lag and torque steer they can be fun to drive……….mostly……….in a straight line………..if you can hold the steering wheel tight enough.

[grumpy52]

I was a serial Saab owner ,9000,93,95 and 900's .
Over the years I found that you either had to service them properly or don't touch them at all.
Got several very cheap over the years that had been bodged but were very easy to fix .
Not the quickest thing down a twisty back road but a great long distance mile muncher . Very comfortable especially with a leather interior .
I would jump on a decent turbo auto at the right price.

[parabolica]

egor110 said:

parabolica said:

We're a Saab family through and through; a few 99s, earlier gen 900, 9000 CD, 9-5, my dad still has my old 9-3 Aero on life support. Never liked the look of this gen of 900, especially in 5-door, automatic guise, but each to their own.

What's up with your dads aero ?

Nothing mechanically - in fact still on it's original clutch and turbo and other major mechanicals even at 150k; it's been well looked after but it is a bit tatty. He's currently doing a home-job on sorting/cutting out all the rust, patching and painting it to keep it going. He'll drive the car until it dies but with how reliable it's been it'll likely outlive him. I say life-support because things are constantly coming up; he's just had to do a suspension fresh, new brake lines, new fuel lines and a bunch of other stuff. It's still going though.

ETA just for clarity it's a 2005 9-3, not the first gen 9-3.