Wife is looking at another car..... 1996 Saab 900S with a manual 5speed. I dont know much about the later model Saab's (like anything past a mid 1980's model) so I would like to hear from those that have owned Saab's.
Saab 900S? Are they good?
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The last real Saab 900 was made in 1993. Then all 900's after were the first GM platform: The Opel! We had a '99 9-3, which is a slightly spruced up 900S, and it always needed something. Thank God it was under warranty...got rid of it before it cost us a ton of $$$. FYI: I have owned 5-Saabs over the years. the old original 900's were bulletproof...and incredible on snow...but doggy/underpowered if not turbo'd. Had a '87 9000S that I put 175K on it and finally sold it at 234K after it was getting to be more to upkeep than getting a new one. But all the later models including a '99 9-5 were troublesome. Saab replaced two turbo units in the 9-5 under warranty and a myriad of other things. I know they finally got the 9-5's straightened out in 2001 or 2002.
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there is another saab... '88 900 Vert with the Turbo..... thoughts on this year and make?
The 5 speed tranny is made out of cheeze-its and doesn't hold up to a turbo very well. It tends to 'splode if driven hard. Other than that they are basically bulletproof - These things are simply unstoppable in the snow and are very reliable. Somewhat quirkish.
The fact that it's a ragtop might mean the tranny wasn't beat on too hard - A definite plus. If the tranny is nice and quiet, doesn't feel notchy or rough it's probably a very good car.
Truly a tale of woe:
http://www.autooninfo.net/ReliabilityPercentranksSaab.htm
Compare this to Toyota, Honda, and of course Chev and you'll see what I mean.
http://www.autooninfo.net/ReliabilityPercentranksSaab.htm
Compare this to Toyota, Honda, and of course Chev and you'll see what I mean.
I picked up one of those for 500 bucks (not really pretty but..) the turbo spooling up was like a symphony! I miss that car! Lots and lots to watch out for though if it's a daily driver - mine ended up as a rally trainer - wicked car though if you found a nice one!
i have an 88 900 turbo and i really like it. there's good support for it online just like this forum is for my cruzer, and as your in cheyenne, east of sweden in broomfield, will hook you up with whatever you need for it, including advice. it's a great winter driver, put some icelanders on it and stay in the left lane while everybody else is white-knucklin it in the right doin 20 mph. fromage is right about the tranny though, its the weak link. i paid 2k for this one, just turned over 100k, paid 350 for the one i got out of the junkyard for spare parts. stay on top of it mechanically and you'll get lots of miles out of it. a friend had one go over 400k before the motor finally gave out. good luck
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