The Prodigal Saab returns!
Discussion
The tale of a sale and a recapture!
I've owned my Saab 900 S for 6 years or so, its done 270k, is well used but still runs beautifully. For me its a very complete modern classic, affordable, practical, looks very cool, relatively rare, easy to use everyday but still turns heads and people want to stop and chat about it. Its a great load lugger and mile muncher. Never thought I'd sell it.... fast forward to the last month. I managed to acquire another 2 cars for the fleet (a 964 Targa and '63 Alfa Giulia). This meant my fleet was beginning to get a little out of hand. The tipping point has come when I read the news that Khan intends to extend ULEZ to outer London boroughs next year. This means I'd have 4 cars that don't comply; '84 Series 3 Landrover (only got 2 years before its exempt), 964 Porsche (special enough that I'll swallow £12.50 to drive), 2011 Alpina D3 and '92 Saab 900. That means the last 2 have to go. Its such a shame as both are great cars that I never wanted to sell. My others are either new enough or historic exempt.
So last week, I posted on Insta (@woody.gt) that I was reluctantly selling the Saab. £4k seemed a reasonable price given the mileage and that its well used. Quite a few replies much to my disappointment as I still didn't really want to sell it but my sensible head was talking. The first guy who came to see it agreed a deal on the spot and was delighted with it, my heart sunk! He put down a deposit to return a few days later collect. I had fleeting thoughts in that time of pulling out of the deal but again sense prevailed. On the day he collected it I was still having doubts. I made him promise that if ever he sold he would give me first refusal (how many times have we said that when selling cars!). As soon as I saw it driving up the road I instantly knew it was wrong and my regret was huge. Still, time will heal I said...its only a car FFS!
2 days later I receive a call from the guy who bought it. Couldn't get it into reverse and now 5th gear had failed too. He'd barely finished the sentence before I heard myself saying "Sorry, I'll give you a full refund". I know I could have said 'tough, its a moon mileage 30 year old car, s
t happens' or 'OK, I'll get it fixed, or knock some money off etc' But no, I was just delighted to get it back and make good my terrible decision! So the whole process has cost me the price of a private plate transfer, a cab to North London to collect and possibly a new gearbox but I couldn't be happier. Up yours Sadiq.
Got in it this morning and twice forgot when parking that I had no reverse, cue red faced pushing back! Will get it looked at in coming weeks and then hopefully I'll be back to stylish tip runs and wafty cruising.
I've owned my Saab 900 S for 6 years or so, its done 270k, is well used but still runs beautifully. For me its a very complete modern classic, affordable, practical, looks very cool, relatively rare, easy to use everyday but still turns heads and people want to stop and chat about it. Its a great load lugger and mile muncher. Never thought I'd sell it.... fast forward to the last month. I managed to acquire another 2 cars for the fleet (a 964 Targa and '63 Alfa Giulia). This meant my fleet was beginning to get a little out of hand. The tipping point has come when I read the news that Khan intends to extend ULEZ to outer London boroughs next year. This means I'd have 4 cars that don't comply; '84 Series 3 Landrover (only got 2 years before its exempt), 964 Porsche (special enough that I'll swallow £12.50 to drive), 2011 Alpina D3 and '92 Saab 900. That means the last 2 have to go. Its such a shame as both are great cars that I never wanted to sell. My others are either new enough or historic exempt.
So last week, I posted on Insta (@woody.gt) that I was reluctantly selling the Saab. £4k seemed a reasonable price given the mileage and that its well used. Quite a few replies much to my disappointment as I still didn't really want to sell it but my sensible head was talking. The first guy who came to see it agreed a deal on the spot and was delighted with it, my heart sunk! He put down a deposit to return a few days later collect. I had fleeting thoughts in that time of pulling out of the deal but again sense prevailed. On the day he collected it I was still having doubts. I made him promise that if ever he sold he would give me first refusal (how many times have we said that when selling cars!). As soon as I saw it driving up the road I instantly knew it was wrong and my regret was huge. Still, time will heal I said...its only a car FFS!
2 days later I receive a call from the guy who bought it. Couldn't get it into reverse and now 5th gear had failed too. He'd barely finished the sentence before I heard myself saying "Sorry, I'll give you a full refund". I know I could have said 'tough, its a moon mileage 30 year old car, s
t happens' or 'OK, I'll get it fixed, or knock some money off etc' But no, I was just delighted to get it back and make good my terrible decision! So the whole process has cost me the price of a private plate transfer, a cab to North London to collect and possibly a new gearbox but I couldn't be happier. Up yours Sadiq.Got in it this morning and twice forgot when parking that I had no reverse, cue red faced pushing back! Will get it looked at in coming weeks and then hopefully I'll be back to stylish tip runs and wafty cruising.
Edited by Woody.GT on Wednesday 22 June 17:17
Thanks all. Yes, I'm really hoping its a selector and an easy fix.
I think old cars get used to the way someone drives them, or more that you get used to them and find your way around things and what feels right and what doesn't and therefore you are much gentler on them. As soon as someone drives it who doesn't know and have that feel for the idiosyncrasies and nuances, thats when it can go wrong. Not his fault, just old cars.
I think old cars get used to the way someone drives them, or more that you get used to them and find your way around things and what feels right and what doesn't and therefore you are much gentler on them. As soon as someone drives it who doesn't know and have that feel for the idiosyncrasies and nuances, thats when it can go wrong. Not his fault, just old cars.
matt21 said:
Great story, love the Saab!
Have you sold the Alpina yet?
No, Alpina is next to go. Haven't done anything about that yet. Again, a real shame as its my wifes daily, never let us down and we'd have kept it for another 10 years probably. It only just doesn't comply with ULEZ as far as I can see. Have you sold the Alpina yet?
2011 D3 touring
A week after I originally bought it, I drove it to LeMans. Seemed the perfect car for the job, loved the motorway, tonnes of space for all our gear...
|https://thumbsnap.com/KUMHNevC[/url]
Coming out of a toll near Rouen and the throttle cable frayed and wouldn't release below 3000rpm. Couldn't be arsed to wait for Gendarme to clear us from the motorway and then wait for a relay so we decided to try and limp it the rest of the way. We did fine on the motorway but then hit the traffic outside LeMans and it didn't like sitting at 3000rpm in the summer heat, the fan packed in and we started over heating. Decided to park up and go to a bar at Arnage until it cooled down and the traffic cleared. Made it to camp that night, knackered and couldn't be arsed to put my tent up so I emptied the boot and was able to lie flat in the back, perfect. Next day got relayed to a local garage who sorted it. Made it home with no dramas.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/KUMHNevC[/url]Coming out of a toll near Rouen and the throttle cable frayed and wouldn't release below 3000rpm. Couldn't be arsed to wait for Gendarme to clear us from the motorway and then wait for a relay so we decided to try and limp it the rest of the way. We did fine on the motorway but then hit the traffic outside LeMans and it didn't like sitting at 3000rpm in the summer heat, the fan packed in and we started over heating. Decided to park up and go to a bar at Arnage until it cooled down and the traffic cleared. Made it to camp that night, knackered and couldn't be arsed to put my tent up so I emptied the boot and was able to lie flat in the back, perfect. Next day got relayed to a local garage who sorted it. Made it home with no dramas.
[url]brettski said:
I've been keeping my eye out for one of these for a while now. I managed to find a T16 S for sale locally but i was really disappointed by how slow it was though. I'm hoping it was just a bad example as i'd love to have one to smoke about in like yourself. Enjoy the car!
I guess its not 205 GTI fast, it feels more refined in its gathering of pace and for me is more of a cruiser than a hot hatch. First gear is very short and doesn't help matters. It doesn't feel right thrashing it like you would in other similar age cars and its not nimble but nonetheless its fun. Worth trying another one for comparison.
TheJimi said:
Love these things. Grew up with my old man having loads of them.
One of my biggest automotive regrets is not buying poppopbangbang's turbo when I had the chance, back in circa 2004-ish
Woody, you made the right call
Was it cheap? That said, values still don't seem to have risen much compared to other 80's classics. You can still get a very good one for £7k +One of my biggest automotive regrets is not buying poppopbangbang's turbo when I had the chance, back in circa 2004-ish
Woody, you made the right call
Edited by TheJimi on Monday 27th June 11:35
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