Saab 900 Turbos
Discussion
just bought one recently.
i got a 88 900 turbo S.
handles great, but i've been told to watch out for ones that have been lowered because they can get quite crashy. same goes for the bigger rims too, mines got 15" rims and it's a good compromise between comfort and handling.
look out for rust at bottom of doors, inner wings and transmission tunnels.
Gearboxes are notoriously weak compaired with their bomb-proof engines. So i'd avoid any cars that have had boy-racers tweeking under the bonnet. I'd recommend going for something as unmolested as you can find. Look out for jumping out of gears, syncro's are a real weak spot and although i've not had to do one myself, gearbox repairs are difficult due to their location (although i stand to be corrected on that)
there are some bargains to be had and i found that it was defo a buyers market at the moment.
economy wise it ain't too bad if you are driving normally, insurance wasn't too bad either, but that'll be depandant on factors which only insurance companies can fathom.
good luck with the search. I certainly don't regret buying mine. I think this will go on to be my favourite car ever, it's got bags of character.
i got a 88 900 turbo S.
handles great, but i've been told to watch out for ones that have been lowered because they can get quite crashy. same goes for the bigger rims too, mines got 15" rims and it's a good compromise between comfort and handling.
look out for rust at bottom of doors, inner wings and transmission tunnels.
Gearboxes are notoriously weak compaired with their bomb-proof engines. So i'd avoid any cars that have had boy-racers tweeking under the bonnet. I'd recommend going for something as unmolested as you can find. Look out for jumping out of gears, syncro's are a real weak spot and although i've not had to do one myself, gearbox repairs are difficult due to their location (although i stand to be corrected on that)
there are some bargains to be had and i found that it was defo a buyers market at the moment.
economy wise it ain't too bad if you are driving normally, insurance wasn't too bad either, but that'll be depandant on factors which only insurance companies can fathom.
good luck with the search. I certainly don't regret buying mine. I think this will go on to be my favourite car ever, it's got bags of character.
Had mine for years now. T16s convertible that is currently awaiting a mild restoration (read that as sitting on the drive going nowhere). Mine's got 170k on it and about 90 of those are me. As an old convertible it flexes a lot, which make for an interesting experience. That said because of the rather good suspension it's one of the easiest cars to drive hard.
Mine needed routine servicing ever 6k and the service parts are easy to get hold of. What is not easy are the body panels, many of which are no longer made - not even pattern parts. Turbo is laggy but I guess you knew that already. Mine let me down once when the alternator failed. At the time I was running it with an E39 M5 and hand on heart the saab was an all-round better car. Get a sound bodied one and it's definitely a keeper. Mine had a few small mods including an RRFPR and a slightly stiffer wastegate. Other than that it was standard.
IMO I think they still look a bit special. In turbo 16s style they still look the part and they make a great all year round daily driver. Stick some winter tyres on, pray for a heavy snow fall and you will have a riot of a time in one.
Mine needed routine servicing ever 6k and the service parts are easy to get hold of. What is not easy are the body panels, many of which are no longer made - not even pattern parts. Turbo is laggy but I guess you knew that already. Mine let me down once when the alternator failed. At the time I was running it with an E39 M5 and hand on heart the saab was an all-round better car. Get a sound bodied one and it's definitely a keeper. Mine had a few small mods including an RRFPR and a slightly stiffer wastegate. Other than that it was standard.
IMO I think they still look a bit special. In turbo 16s style they still look the part and they make a great all year round daily driver. Stick some winter tyres on, pray for a heavy snow fall and you will have a riot of a time in one.
I have a non-turbo '93, but have driven a few turbos as well. I think they are very nice cars to drive, if you keep in mind that it's a proper old school turbo. Keep it in the right rev range, and you will surprise a lot of other people with the pace.
I'm also still surprised how many people like these, even people that aren't interested in cars at all have come up to me saying how much they like it.
Mine has been very cheap to run so far, only regular oil and filter changes. I will have to put in new headlining and a new exhaust in a few months though.
Buy one without rust and a good gearbox, treat it well, and you have a completely worry-free car.
I'm also still surprised how many people like these, even people that aren't interested in cars at all have come up to me saying how much they like it.
Mine has been very cheap to run so far, only regular oil and filter changes. I will have to put in new headlining and a new exhaust in a few months though.
Buy one without rust and a good gearbox, treat it well, and you have a completely worry-free car.
I looked at buying a convertible 900 earlier this year. Didn't in the end, for a variety of reasons... but this was useful:
http://www.saabcentral.com/techhelp/c900/900_buyer...
http://www.saabcentral.com/techhelp/c900/900_buyer...
I had a T16S for a bit - they were a nice sports saloon for their generation, though they're not especially quick by modern standards; I was very fond of mine.
Handling was dull (it didn't much like changing direction, but it was as solid as a rock and very predictable) and as has been said, the turbo lag is horrendous.
As said by others, gearbox is reputed to be the weak point (though mine was fine) and finding a rust free one is now tricky (not that they rusted particularly badly, just that they're all getting on a bit now). Headlinings all seem to go saggy, but that's not a big deal.
If you can find a nice one, they're well worth a punt.
Handling was dull (it didn't much like changing direction, but it was as solid as a rock and very predictable) and as has been said, the turbo lag is horrendous.
As said by others, gearbox is reputed to be the weak point (though mine was fine) and finding a rust free one is now tricky (not that they rusted particularly badly, just that they're all getting on a bit now). Headlinings all seem to go saggy, but that's not a big deal.
If you can find a nice one, they're well worth a punt.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff