Should I repair it?

"bob and john" (bobandjohn)
11/09/2015 at 16:23 • Filed to: None

hey guys. Next year, I’m debating buying a car with my room-mate. Then I remember that I have this old Saab 93 kicking around.

Its been sitting under a tarp (or whats left of one at this point) at a family freinds farm for the past 5-6 years now. I KNOW it needs a full brake over haul and an expansion joint in the exhaust at the very least.

the car has 200K km on it. almost on the dot. The turbo went and was replaced at 150K km.

car doesnt have must rust (that I remember at any rate) but I think one of the coolant lines/connectors failed in the cold / cats running aound underneath it.

Is it more worth reviving this safe, sexy, svelte hunk of swedish engineering, or should I just buy some beater in toronto?

I think to re-do the brakes it would be ~ 350 in parts, and then proabbly another 500 to get the rest of it up to par...

Pictures are of what the car looked like Last time I saw it.

DISCUSSION (20)

Slant6 > bob and john
11/09/2015 at 16:31

Eh. It’s probably a lot more than you think it is. I had a 9-3 vert just like it and it was problem after problem. Also have a 9-5 wagon that’s getting long in the tooth. If you could get it working enough to sell I would sell it and buy something better.

Frank Grimes > bob and john
11/09/2015 at 16:32

FIX IT!

Find deals on used parts like the turbo or just learn to rebuild it yourself if possible. Find deals online for cheap brake parts and coolant lines. Seems these repairs wouldnt be very hard.

bob and john > Slant6
11/09/2015 at 16:33

weirdly, before we set it aside (it was too heavy on gas for my dads 60 mile commute) it ran perfectly for many many years. we got it....late 2001, and the ONLY time it every had an issue was the aforementioned turbo.

plus, it relativly rust free, and i already have it.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > bob and john
11/09/2015 at 16:33

If it had serious body problems, I would say put the drivetrain in a Saturn L-series body. That many miles, though... may be worth fixing up, may not.

bob and john > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
11/09/2015 at 16:36

thats the best part...no body problems.

thats why i’m kinda on the fence about it. it IS an older car, but dat hatch and stoage. great for a couple of uni students

bob and john > Frank Grimes
11/09/2015 at 16:37

the turbo isnt the issue. it should be good for another 100K km.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > bob and john
11/09/2015 at 16:42

Fix it, or sell and buy a Volvo.

bob and john > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
11/09/2015 at 16:43

a 2001-2003 V40 was on our potential list.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > bob and john
11/09/2015 at 16:46

I’d think more 940 Turbo, but those are getting harder to find in good shape, and they look like an IKEA box on wheels.

bob and john > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
11/09/2015 at 16:48

you cant find any in something resembling a 1/2 decent shape without a zillion miles on it and rusted to hell for something resembling a decent price

luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln! > bob and john
11/09/2015 at 16:56

I vote fix -> drive -> sell if bored with it.

Joepinci > bob and john
11/09/2015 at 17:00

I would say go for the fix and keep it on the road, but the fact that it's an automatic pretty much kills the value and the majority of fun that could be had with the car :/

bob and john > Joepinci
11/09/2015 at 17:03

meh, I honestly dont give two shits about the whole auto/manual debate. its a cruiser thats good at hauling university shit.

i have my motorcycles for my fun times :D

Joepinci > bob and john
11/09/2015 at 17:10

In that case if you have other toys for having fun, fix and keep it unless you can find another DD for less than the cost to fix the SAAB.

jkm7680 > bob and john
11/09/2015 at 20:39

If you can manage to do it as cheaply as possible. That means cut rate Rock Auto parts and taking every single shortcut that you can possibly find.

bob and john > jkm7680
11/09/2015 at 20:43

the biggest expense would be new wheels and tires frankly.

pads and rotors can easily be done for 350...possibly 250
exhaust needs an expansion joint...100$?
the coolent thing is a little concerning.
and then wheels and tires.

jkm7680 > bob and john
11/09/2015 at 20:43

Then there’s Saab sludge.

bob and john > jkm7680
11/09/2015 at 20:45

not in this one.

one: its not the HO motor (just the base 185HP 2.0l)
and 2: synthetic every 5K for 150k km. dad was religious about tht

jkm7680 > bob and john
11/09/2015 at 20:45

Ah, I see.

Just take the A3! :)

bob and john > jkm7680
11/09/2015 at 20:48

haha, I wish! This is actually what the A3 replaced.

and that’s also another bonus for me...I know how it was treated for the past 15 years. its a accident, rust free car with 50k km on a turbo