Saab 900 Turbo as daily drive, am I a mad man?
Discussion
I'm becoming increasing tempted to take a chance on a SAAB 900 Turbo, the 1986+ shape.
I think they are rather cool looking cars, although hard to find a good one for a reasonable price.
What is the kinda running costs I would be looking at for one?
Can you still get hold of the rear window louver? It really completes the look for me
Also what is the reliability like? It would be a daily driver so Its important that its not always breaking down.
I think they are rather cool looking cars, although hard to find a good one for a reasonable price.
What is the kinda running costs I would be looking at for one?
Can you still get hold of the rear window louver? It really completes the look for me
Also what is the reliability like? It would be a daily driver so Its important that its not always breaking down.
I had a 1989 8 valve turbo as a company car and did 60k in 3 years with no major problems. The only issue I had was bottom ball joints in that time. I averaged around 30mpg but could get it quite a bit lower if driving hard.
That was on a new car though so a bit difficult to compare 25 years on. Find a good one though and you won't regret it.
That was on a new car though so a bit difficult to compare 25 years on. Find a good one though and you won't regret it.
Great cars only let done by the horrid gearbox.
I still miss my 900SE lpt with fondness, never did around to getting that T16S I had always wanted.
Youngest in now 20 years old, and they do have a rust problem, so buy with care.
Headlining will likely have dropped on most by now as well.
Go over to the UKSaabs forum, where there are some very knowledgable 900 experts that will give you all the info you'll need.
http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/
I still miss my 900SE lpt with fondness, never did around to getting that T16S I had always wanted.
Youngest in now 20 years old, and they do have a rust problem, so buy with care.
Headlining will likely have dropped on most by now as well.
Go over to the UKSaabs forum, where there are some very knowledgable 900 experts that will give you all the info you'll need.
http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/
sday12 said:
Thought the same, but can you find a lower mileage non rusty one?
Very difficult now.They were getting hard to find 5+ years ago, so even fewer now.
The good ones now, are too good to be used as dailies, and are tending to be well kept weekend classics.
So, that leaves the mediocre ones which will still need a bit or work to keep ahead of the problems stacking up.
You are starting to see less and less of them around now which tells it's own story.
I'm using a non-turbo as a daily. No issues really, as long as you get a good one.
Look for rust near the transmission tunnels, that is the real killer on a 900. Gearboxes can be rebuilt, same with all the other stuff.
If you're thinking of keeping it longer term, consider an lpg installation. being an older car you can get away with a cheaper installation, and the engines can take it easily. It will take a while to earn back though.
Look for rust near the transmission tunnels, that is the real killer on a 900. Gearboxes can be rebuilt, same with all the other stuff.
If you're thinking of keeping it longer term, consider an lpg installation. being an older car you can get away with a cheaper installation, and the engines can take it easily. It will take a while to earn back though.
aeropilot said:
Very difficult now.
They were getting hard to find 5+ years ago, so even fewer now.
The good ones now, are too good to be used as dailies, and are tending to be well kept weekend classics.
So, that leaves the mediocre ones which will still need a bit or work to keep ahead of the problems stacking up.
You are starting to see less and less of them around now which tells it's own story.
That is my worry. I'd really like to be able to have the chance to own one, even if its only for a year or so. But its stacking it up against the risk of getting a potential money pit that is slightly off putting.They were getting hard to find 5+ years ago, so even fewer now.
The good ones now, are too good to be used as dailies, and are tending to be well kept weekend classics.
So, that leaves the mediocre ones which will still need a bit or work to keep ahead of the problems stacking up.
You are starting to see less and less of them around now which tells it's own story.
I will keep my eye out I think. Failing that I could get a newer Saab, but I don't really want a GM era Vectra in disguise.
Edited by Grahamr123 on Thursday 2nd January 20:33
Edited by Grahamr123 on Thursday 2nd January 20:33
I run a 23 year old merc as a daily and love it. As with the Saab it was build to do big miles in the day and many have done so.
I did look at the idea of 900s before I got my merc but could never find a clean one for reasonable money.
Don't scrimp on servicing would be my advice - and work out a schedule for work.
I did look at the idea of 900s before I got my merc but could never find a clean one for reasonable money.
Don't scrimp on servicing would be my advice - and work out a schedule for work.
I too have had an itch for a while, as was lucky to find this one local, laid up for nearly a year:
Rooflining was dead so I had the hard shell bit flocked for £90. Not perfect, but cheap and easy, and covered the sunroof panel with a flocked bit of thin board, saved removing the whole sunroof mech. Needed brake hoses and oil leak fixing for MoT.
Cars on 230k, engine about 130k. Gears are a little notchy until it's warmed up. HELL of a lot better for rust than, say, my GTE. It's had little patches on the shaft tunnels, and one on the floor in easy places. Not new springs mounts and wheel arches like the Astras of the same age.
Whilst not the most refined, I absolutely love it, even just to look at. Mines a FPT and although pulling away isn't all that, in 3rd, 4th and 5th gear is where it's at home. It's extremely rewarding making use of the boost, hills just don't exist. I've covered just over 2k in it, and even though the battery is clearly on it's last legs (was obviously totally dead when I got the car) it's never failed to start yet.
Recently got a leather interior for £100, heated too. Only thing I can't get to work is the cruise control; it's vacuum operated and fairly complicated.
I was exactly the same as OP; I thought at least I'll have had it for a year or two, but it's clearly got loads of life left in it yet. Rear beams were not painted very well from new and mine looks like part of a ship wreck, so a powder coated one might make its way on there soon, with new bushes.
The engine, despite backwards and N/S, is easy to work on and most things have proper screws instead of plastic clips etc.
The wipers are good, the lights are good, the heater is AMAZING, seats very comfortable and the boot is stupidly hooj, although only a space saver under the false floor. You could carry a multitude of spares under there; sensors, bulbs, tools, fluids, rags etc. Very practical. Rear legroom is average despite the colossal legnth of them. The front doors have full length elasticated pockets that can take a 2L bottle of drink.
I'm amazed I get just shy of 30MPG from mine, and I'm not that gentle with it either.
Do it. All of the Saabs dudes I've met with have been superb, too.
It's my 5th car so it might have to go soon, but it's a big old box in my motoring life ticked!
http://smg.photobucket.com/user/DanSilvester/libra...
Rooflining was dead so I had the hard shell bit flocked for £90. Not perfect, but cheap and easy, and covered the sunroof panel with a flocked bit of thin board, saved removing the whole sunroof mech. Needed brake hoses and oil leak fixing for MoT.
Cars on 230k, engine about 130k. Gears are a little notchy until it's warmed up. HELL of a lot better for rust than, say, my GTE. It's had little patches on the shaft tunnels, and one on the floor in easy places. Not new springs mounts and wheel arches like the Astras of the same age.
Whilst not the most refined, I absolutely love it, even just to look at. Mines a FPT and although pulling away isn't all that, in 3rd, 4th and 5th gear is where it's at home. It's extremely rewarding making use of the boost, hills just don't exist. I've covered just over 2k in it, and even though the battery is clearly on it's last legs (was obviously totally dead when I got the car) it's never failed to start yet.
Recently got a leather interior for £100, heated too. Only thing I can't get to work is the cruise control; it's vacuum operated and fairly complicated.
I was exactly the same as OP; I thought at least I'll have had it for a year or two, but it's clearly got loads of life left in it yet. Rear beams were not painted very well from new and mine looks like part of a ship wreck, so a powder coated one might make its way on there soon, with new bushes.
The engine, despite backwards and N/S, is easy to work on and most things have proper screws instead of plastic clips etc.
The wipers are good, the lights are good, the heater is AMAZING, seats very comfortable and the boot is stupidly hooj, although only a space saver under the false floor. You could carry a multitude of spares under there; sensors, bulbs, tools, fluids, rags etc. Very practical. Rear legroom is average despite the colossal legnth of them. The front doors have full length elasticated pockets that can take a 2L bottle of drink.
I'm amazed I get just shy of 30MPG from mine, and I'm not that gentle with it either.
Do it. All of the Saabs dudes I've met with have been superb, too.
It's my 5th car so it might have to go soon, but it's a big old box in my motoring life ticked!
http://smg.photobucket.com/user/DanSilvester/libra...
Edited by DKS on Thursday 2nd January 21:13
Edited by DKS on Thursday 2nd January 21:19
Great cars to live with as a daily.
Get a Turbo 16s and check its drive shafts, boot floor and under the rear seats for rust.
They are easy enough to work on with loads of good back up.
And now for the best bits, they go very well with 200hp or more comfortably achievable, they sound great thanks to its unusual manifold and they really handle well thanks to double wishbone up front.
Yeah, I'm a fan.
Louvres still turn up now again but are rarer for 2 doors.
Get a Turbo 16s and check its drive shafts, boot floor and under the rear seats for rust.
They are easy enough to work on with loads of good back up.
And now for the best bits, they go very well with 200hp or more comfortably achievable, they sound great thanks to its unusual manifold and they really handle well thanks to double wishbone up front.
Yeah, I'm a fan.
Louvres still turn up now again but are rarer for 2 doors.
Edited by MrMoonyMan on Thursday 2nd January 22:02
Brilliant cars, character and reliability. I have owned several classic 900s, all well north of 100k miles and never ever suffered a breakdown. They aren't cheap, but there is a very good reason for this. I will definitely have another someday. Go for it
Usual rules apply. Look at the owners club and owners club adverts on this and other car sites. Buy on condition, not mileage. Big miles not an issue. A well maintained car hat has done 200k+ shouldn't be ignored. If you peruse the local papers in well-heeled areas, you may find that 1owner who is packing up driving and is selling well beneath the market. I have been lucky enough to find cars like this a couple of times. The main things hat kills them is rust.
Get a good one and it should not lose money at all, one of the best all round ownership prospects ever made. If you get the right spec they also feel very bespoke. My personal favourite is the T16S Aero Convertible with the full wood dash and leather door tops. A great place to sit
Usual rules apply. Look at the owners club and owners club adverts on this and other car sites. Buy on condition, not mileage. Big miles not an issue. A well maintained car hat has done 200k+ shouldn't be ignored. If you peruse the local papers in well-heeled areas, you may find that 1owner who is packing up driving and is selling well beneath the market. I have been lucky enough to find cars like this a couple of times. The main things hat kills them is rust.
Get a good one and it should not lose money at all, one of the best all round ownership prospects ever made. If you get the right spec they also feel very bespoke. My personal favourite is the T16S Aero Convertible with the full wood dash and leather door tops. A great place to sit
Gratuitous pic time??? YAYYY
I've run mine daily for coming upto 3 years, it's at 250k miles now. It's taken a lot of work to get it where it is and keep on top of it but honestly I couldn't think of anything to replace it with. Go in with your eyes open as they are getting on a bit but they were used daily back in the 80's so no reason why a properly maintained one now won't do the same
Values going up, 34mpg on a cruise (I have type 8 primary gear set), bang on neutral handling and great steering feel, circa 200bhp achieveable with some mods that will cost you less than 100 quid. NVH is crap in mine and it is a bone shaker with lots of creaks and rattles which is the biggest downside if you ask me. Running costs aside from fuel can be fairly high as they are starting to get on but it's considerably less than depreciation on a new car. I'd say I've averaged about 1k per year which includes a fair amount of welding, they are very good to work on though on the whole and were built like tanks.
As other have said its at home in the midrange sling shotting you through 3rd, 4th and 5th. Rarely need to change down to overtake.
It's an up and down experience but the car has only ever properly let me down twice, there have been periods where I've had to plan to take it off the road for 1-2 days etc . for more major maintenance, not ideal. It's all worth it when you can burble along on a summers day, windows down, on a sweeping a -road hearing that off beat thrum or feel it push you back in your seat on a cold foggy morning as the cold dense air is hoovered up by the turbo. Not going to be getting rid any time soon. I LOVE IT. DO IT NOW.
I've run mine daily for coming upto 3 years, it's at 250k miles now. It's taken a lot of work to get it where it is and keep on top of it but honestly I couldn't think of anything to replace it with. Go in with your eyes open as they are getting on a bit but they were used daily back in the 80's so no reason why a properly maintained one now won't do the same
Values going up, 34mpg on a cruise (I have type 8 primary gear set), bang on neutral handling and great steering feel, circa 200bhp achieveable with some mods that will cost you less than 100 quid. NVH is crap in mine and it is a bone shaker with lots of creaks and rattles which is the biggest downside if you ask me. Running costs aside from fuel can be fairly high as they are starting to get on but it's considerably less than depreciation on a new car. I'd say I've averaged about 1k per year which includes a fair amount of welding, they are very good to work on though on the whole and were built like tanks.
As other have said its at home in the midrange sling shotting you through 3rd, 4th and 5th. Rarely need to change down to overtake.
It's an up and down experience but the car has only ever properly let me down twice, there have been periods where I've had to plan to take it off the road for 1-2 days etc . for more major maintenance, not ideal. It's all worth it when you can burble along on a summers day, windows down, on a sweeping a -road hearing that off beat thrum or feel it push you back in your seat on a cold foggy morning as the cold dense air is hoovered up by the turbo. Not going to be getting rid any time soon. I LOVE IT. DO IT NOW.
Edited by Meldonte on Thursday 2nd January 23:00
My advice would be don't go near it unless you're happy driving a very old car. Those things were designed 30 years ago and the world has moved on a long way. I had a black 900 turbo like that for a while a long time ago and just couldn't understand why those cars generate so much enthusiasm. Moved it on as quickly as I could. Positively Jurassic IMO.
In contrast if you can find a cheap 900 or 9/3 turbo of the 1990s generation that's a car I highly recommend, despite all the "it's a Cavalier" garbage often spouted.
In contrast if you can find a cheap 900 or 9/3 turbo of the 1990s generation that's a car I highly recommend, despite all the "it's a Cavalier" garbage often spouted.
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