SAAB 900 S

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Discussion

Garett

Original Poster:

1,626 posts

193 months

Sunday 20th July 2008
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Haven't made a proper thread on here yet so I thought I'd show of my wheels. Bit of a step up from my previous 2 cars of an AX then a 205, this is my 1st car that actually has safety features!
Cost me a shade over £1k, had 73k on it when I got it 6 months ago (so barely run in!) with FSH and every MOT, so is in exceptional condition for an M plater, except for the usual SAAB headlining issues rolleyes except for that I think I got a deal.
Its not the fastest car but with its 130 bhp but is by no means sluggish and is a comfortable cruiser, shame it handles like one too redface
IMO it is a great looking car being a coupewink and is pretty unique, I don't see many around and most are 'verts. Maybe a bit of an old mans car for a 24 year old tongue out but I'm well pleased with it and hopefully it'll go on for many years to come.






Digby

8,243 posts

247 months

Sunday 20th July 2008
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Looks like a good one you have there smile

I enjoyed owning a black saab 2.3 talladega coupe for a while, looked much the same as what you have there except it was an R plate.I picked it up off ebay for a grand with just under 100k miles on it.Punchy little thing it was too and I enjoyed those little saab touches (dipstick on the oil filler cap, ignition on centre console etc).It polished up a treat too.

They do seem to be a bit of a marmite car, but to me, they are much like older volvos and land rovers, in the sense that you are just as likely to see one parked up outside a house worth a few million as you are a tiny terrace.

Edited by Digby on Wednesday 23 July 20:44

Inny

456 posts

198 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2008
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Digby said:
They do seem to be a bit of a marmite car, but to me, they are much like older volvos and land rovers, in the sense that you are just as likely to see one parked up outside a house worth a few million as you are a tiny terrace.
That's true.

I like SAABs. Cruisers of choice. Great seats.

y2blade

56,129 posts

216 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2008
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"old mans" cars rule smile i love mine cool (mine's volvo not a saab)


looks nice.....get yourself a turbo one next and you'll never look back hehe

Garett

Original Poster:

1,626 posts

193 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2008
quotequote all
Its true what you say about them being outside terraces and mansions alike, there were quite a lot in Edinburgh when I went there a few months ago parked outside the pricey city houses, and on the other hand I've seen one parked on the council estate in one of the lovely east Lancashire towns near here!

I did look into getting an S40 but potential issues with dual mass flywheels put me off, along with a general consensus of people saying parts are more expensive than for the SAAB.
A guy I work with bought an S40 1.6 around the same time, after looking at his I think I made the right choice, the interior doesn't seem as well screwed together and I bet the engine is frustratingly slow in such a big car!

I would love a turbo, maybe a late 90s 9-3 as they are supposed to handle better than the NG900, the classic 900s are getting very pricey now, and the newer ones don't really appeal.

I know mine is the 1st car to have had input from GM but it was still built in Scandinavia and takes styling cues from the classic 900, the new ones just seem too GM (read americanized) for me.

Edited by Garett on Wednesday 23 July 21:50

y2blade

56,129 posts

216 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2008
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good on you mate cool

Hollywood Wheels

3,689 posts

231 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2008
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Nothing to be embarrassed about there, nice car, a leftfield choice and all the better for it...

aka_kerrly

12,419 posts

211 months

Thursday 24th July 2008
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nowt wrong with owning a saab at 24. im 24 and have a 93 2.2 TiD in same colour as yours as a daily. cant really fault it.

If your SID *display panel* starts to miss pixels then there is a easy fix on SaabCentral.com which also has lots of other useful information and FAQs on it.

Red Firecracker

5,276 posts

228 months

Thursday 24th July 2008
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aka_kerrly said:
If your SID *display panel* starts to miss pixels then there is a easy fix on SaabCentral.com which also has lots of other useful information and FAQs on it.
Trust me, go the 40 quid ebay fix route. The SaabCentral fix (the bit of sticky foam to push down the terminals?) is very very temporary...

Steve_F

860 posts

195 months

Thursday 24th July 2008
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How about having a SAAB and a Volvo by the time you're 28!

The 2.2 TiD 93 for my runaround/carrying the mountain bike and an 850 T5R for a bit of fun.

I prefer the old Swedes to the German ones as they are a less obvious choice.

How about a 9000 aero next!?!

Alfahorn

7,770 posts

209 months

Thursday 24th July 2008
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I really fancy another 9000, I've previously had a 1994 9000 2.3 CSE auto, however I would go for a manual if I bought another.

K321

4,112 posts

219 months

Friday 25th July 2008
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i had a vert 900 then a 9´3turbo and difference was a lot in terms of speed, 9´3 i found more soft but fast in straight line , in 2.0 non turbo i find i had to rev nuts off it ,but engine still going strong at 198,000 miles! you should fit a strut brace and lower suspension and bigger tyres as the handling is much improved

Strawman

6,463 posts

208 months

Friday 25th July 2008
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Garett said:
I would love a turbo,
No kidding, with your choice of user name smile

Rob_F

4,125 posts

265 months

Friday 25th July 2008
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Garett said:
A standard 205 Rallye with the steelies still on! eekcool

Oh and the 900 is nice too, lot of time for them, much more interesting than a golf smile

Rob

roysum

961 posts

190 months

Saturday 26th July 2008
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Again.....nothing wrong with a SAAB ! I have had three, a classic 900, a 9000 (sweet handler man) and a 93. All good cars, my favourite was probably the classic, just felt to be something special in that car. Enjoy it !!

Garett

Original Poster:

1,626 posts

193 months

Sunday 27th July 2008
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Not had any problems with my SID, but mine being a basic model only displays the ambient temp! Used to have the radio info on it too but I've got an aftermarket stereo and speakers in now, so its 'banging innit'.cool
Also doesn't have the black out function on the dash unfortunately! It does it on its own actually as there must be a loose connection somewhere, the dash lights sometimes cut out completely at night!

I have thought about lowering and fitting a strut brace but I think it would destroy the smooth riding characteristics of the SAAB, the Pug is for bouncing over potholes in!

The 205 isn't an actual Rallye, its an XS with Rallye stickers, but in essence is actually a better car than the original Rallye, it has 10 bhp more, a much shorter ratio box, and most importantly has an alloy engine so is much lighter over the front wheelswink The wheels are from a 106 rallye. The euro version of the rallye on the other hand was a completely different beast with a unique engine, box and twin carbs! biggrin

The little pug is also to be for sale very shortly.

Oh and Garett is only a passing reference to the turbos (think its spelt Garrett anyway! teachersmile) my names Gareth so some of my friends call me Garett for some reason, so I thought I'd adopt it!

K321

4,112 posts

219 months

Monday 28th July 2008
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the black out system, on 900 its called 'black panel' yet on 9`3 it says 'night panel'
anyone know why they changed the name of it?


aka_kerrly

12,419 posts

211 months

Tuesday 29th July 2008
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[quote=Garett]

I have thought about lowering and fitting a strut brace but I think it would destroy the smooth riding characteristics of the SAAB, the Pug is for bouncing over potholes in!

quote]

have you actually opened the bonnet on your saab. its most likely im wrong but my diesel has a upper strut brace as standard and a lower arb.

Garett

Original Poster:

1,626 posts

193 months

Tuesday 29th July 2008
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Of course i've opened the bonnet, what do you take me for?! redfacesmile

Yeah it does have some sort of standard strut brace, its got a few angles in it, I always thought they were best if they were straight

Andy_sx

2,410 posts

207 months

Wednesday 30th July 2008
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Having just got my grubby mits on a se Turbo I have a new found likeing for Saabs.

Yours is a hell of alot tidier than mine, but thast reflected in the price difference!

re the strut brace, the shape shopuldnt make too much difference, its the trength of it that counts.