Tell me everything you know about the Saab 900

"Kenaft - some new kid" (kenaft)
04/23/2014 at 21:46 • Filed to: None

Looking at an '85 Saab 900 on Craigslist - 8-valve, non-turbo. What do you know about them?

http://porthuron.craigslist.org/cto/4422334770…

I asked the seller, and she said that the throw-out bearing will need to be replaced soon, and the engine belt needs tightening. Those jobs aren't too bad, right?

DISCUSSION (12)

anothermiatafanboy > Kenaft - some new kid
04/23/2014 at 21:50

it says the valves were bored 100,000 miles ago. is my ignorance showing, or does that not make sense??

Louros > Kenaft - some new kid
04/23/2014 at 21:52

That looks awful. Would not buy.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Kenaft - some new kid
04/23/2014 at 21:54

I LOVE Saabs. I also love when Oppo people try to get new cars. But this one scares me a bit. Thats a lot of visual rust. Price is too high for that condition.

I'd have to pass

Kenaft - some new kid > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
04/23/2014 at 21:57

Interesting. For this area, it's rare to see any cars under $1000. The owner seemed knowledgeable when she emailed me.

I imagine I could give a shot at negotiating down.

Kenaft - some new kid > Louros
04/23/2014 at 21:58

Based on exterior?

Nibbles > Kenaft - some new kid
04/23/2014 at 22:03

Rust is a big NOPE right there. That being said, the 8v NA is kind of a dog. Throwout bearing, if he says it needs to be replaced, most likely needs to be cut out. With a torch. 3 hour job for the seasoned Saab mechanic. As for the "engine belt" which one? One of the accessory belts? They're a pain in the ass. Or is it the timing? Even more pain in the ass because all the belts are at the firewall. As much as I love LOVE 900s, this one should be a parts donor. Look for a better example

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Kenaft - some new kid
04/23/2014 at 22:05

The knowledge does help a bit. If you could get it for around $750, it'd be worth it for a bit. Ive seen (in my area at least) better deals on older ones before.

Im in Fl so rust isn;t as big a deal, so that always scares me

Kenaft - some new kid > Nibbles
04/23/2014 at 22:10

She wasn't specific about which belt - "the engine belt needs tightening". There's so few around, I don't know what this would be a parts car for :P Thanks for the advice.

Your boy, BJR > Kenaft - some new kid
04/23/2014 at 22:11

Ugh. The sensible human in me is screaming 'FUCKING RUN!!!' but the hipster in me would buy that tomorrow.

*sigh* I miss driving a classic Saab.

Nibbles > Kenaft - some new kid
04/23/2014 at 22:23

That amount of body rust generally signifies that the axle portals will be rusted out too, effectively totaling the car. I'd highly recommend checking the axle portals before making a decision. As for the belts, they have v belts. I'm sure the design is different than on my 16v, but just for arguments sake lets say there's two - one for PS and water pump, one for alt and ac if equipped. Removing and replacing the two belts can be an all day job. Clutch, if the parts are in good condition, well the whole assembly can be replaced in 2 hours. My big thing is that rust free examples of 16v turbos go for the same price here in Colorado, I can't justify that cost on a rust body 8v NA. Hell, I bought two 16v Turbos (one T16, one SPG) for 1850 total. If you go to check it out, check the door bottoms, axle portals, hatch glass surround and floorpans. Those are the major spots. The rest of the car is very rustproofed from the factory

Kenaft - some new kid > Nibbles
04/23/2014 at 22:34

I see - yeah. I don't think I'm going to go check it out. Doesn't sound like a good way to ease into doing my own car repair for the first time.

Colorado seems like an amazing place! Non-domestic, interesting cars under $2k are incredibly rare in the Detroit metro area... it's really a pity.

Nibbles > Kenaft - some new kid
04/24/2014 at 00:10

I wouldn't recommend a classic Saab for a beginner's resto / repair car. For one, they are pretty advanced and due to whatever reasons, it seems no two left the factory alike. Even with the Bentley and the internet, I'm still left scratching my head a lot of the time :). That, coupled with a steadily dwindling parts availability, make them not exactly easy or good cars to learn on. I took on this SPG because I was bored with building American iron, the price was right, and it is high on my want list. Even though it is an outright blast and I love the challenge, my next resto will be going back to something more simple