Having a SAAB dilemma.

"JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7" (jayzayeighty) 11/26/2014 at 13:19 • Filed to: None

2

33

A cosmetically beautiful 9000 Turbo, a car that I've always highly regarded, had been sitting at a local gas station with a "for sale" sign since august. 74k miles, nice burgundy leather interior, 5 speed. No visible rust. Sale price has dropped from $3,000 to $2,000 OBO. I might be able to get my dad to trade his 2002 Sebring V6 convertible which he despises, but I doubt the seller would accept the trade and a Sebring convertible is worth nothing until April... When it's worth next to nothing. The other option would be to let the Corvette sit and use repair funds to buy SAAB, then sell Sebring in a few months. So the real problem here is convincing my dad to keep a second car.

mike > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 13:22

0

this is IIINNNTTTTEERRRRESTING

Jagvar > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 13:23

2

I know nothing about Saab maintenance (my guess is that it's no picnic), but that's a pretty 9000. I'd at least arrange a test drive.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 13:25

5

Sounds like a Saab story in the making.

505Turbeaux > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 13:26

1

nice 9K. I would love to have one that clean.

bob and john > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 13:27

2

older saabs were relativly bullet proof. get w/e you can on that sebring and get this saab.

promoted by the color red > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 13:27

2

Saab 9000 turbo: The default setting.

Steve in Manhattan > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 13:29

1

1) test drive; 2) have your mechanic inspect every square inch; 3) check in your area to see who stocks parts for it. Some GM dealers might be designated - and if you're in, say, Northern Virginia, it's probably all good. And check the tires for flat-spotting.

Margin Of Error > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 13:32

1

Nice.

Beautiful specimen. I wouldn't hesitate one second.

Nice car, nice price.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Jagvar 11/26/2014 at 13:35

0

That's what I'm thinking. Those old 2.0 and 2.3 motors are really not bad to maintain/repair, though. If the test drive goes well, I'd try to take it to my mechanic. If not, I'd take him with me (which is what I did with the Corvette).

Tohru > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 11/26/2014 at 13:35

0

you sonofabitch I came here to make that pun

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Steve in Manhattan 11/26/2014 at 13:39

0

Yeah, I'd definitely take it to my mechanic if it drives pretty well. There's a SAAB specialist not too far from here, which is a good thing. And I'm in Northern VA, so there are quite a few specialty parts places here.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 13:39

2

Ooh :) I want it. Primarily so I can pull out the engine and stick it in a Triumph GT6 (although I think I need a '93 without the distributor for that).

Cool cars, and much, much, much better than a Sebring.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jagvar 11/26/2014 at 13:40

3

Apparently the engines one these are utterly bulletproof. Overengineered to the point that you can run 500bhp on stock internals with nothing but a turbo change, a remap, an exhaust and some beefier injectors.

MylesD > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 13:44

1

Definitely worth checking out. I'd throw some Aero wheels on the sucker too and she'd be looking clean.

davedave1111 > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 13:56

0

Those are nice enough cars, but you know it's not anything that special, right? I like them for what they are, but you'll be very disappointed if you've the idea that all Saabs are wonderful quirky beasts. It's a bit more comfortable and interesting than an equivalent Honda/Toyota/whatever of the same age, but that's about it. Anything's a step up on a Sebring.

From the pics, looks like that could be a pretty decent one, so for the price you'll get something nice and solid - but beware of trans/clutch problems, because as far as I know that's the main killer for those, because it's expensive enough to not be worth fixing unless you've got a really good one.

I don't know how much cash you have around, or how much you'd lose selling the Sebring now, but if it's ~$500, I'd happily pay that not to have to drive a Sebring for the next six months...

ACESandEIGHTS > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 13:56

1

Nice mobile phone he has there. Did you know you can now make phone calls from a moving car without the need for wires? It's true.

That thing looks freakin' cherry. Great body and interior, 74K, in a state that uses table salt shakers on its roads once a year whether they need it or not—what's not to love? I would buy the shit out of that.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 14:06

2

Older Saabs can be reliable... but I recommend you budget $3000/year for maintenance and repairs. I would have a Saab specialist look at it before you buy.

Also I strongly recommend you NOT buy this if you don't have a Saab specialist near you.

http://www.saabshops.com/near/washingto…

And any shop you go to, ask them if they have the Saab WIS (workshop information system). That actually isn't needed on the 9000 per se. It's just that there are some shops that say they are familiar with Saabs and work on them, but the claim is bullshit if they don't have the Saab WIS. And the consequence of that is you end up with a mechanic who doesn't know what the hell they are doing and tackles problems by just making guesses and replacing one thing after another... at your expense. I've been there and done that when I had a Saab 9-3 turbo.

http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/showthr…

And before you jump in, I recommend you do some reading first:

http://www.thesaabsite.com/9000/FAQ—about…

http://www.thesaabsite.com/9000/FAQs.html…

http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/showthr…

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 14:07

1

Engines and manual transmissions are very robust. But what gets you are a bunch of little things like trim and electrical stuff... just like other Euro cars. See my other post to you on this where I gave you some reading material and advice.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > mike 11/26/2014 at 14:09

0

Pretty much a sure deal.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 11/26/2014 at 14:11

0

That would be awesome. And much better than a Sebring for sure! Then again, anything is.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > davedave1111 11/26/2014 at 14:16

0

Yeah, I always hear about transmission problems with these cars. But I know they aren't exactly the most interesting things on the planet—just very good winter cars with a bit of personality. So much more fun than a Sebring. Damn those things. But it's my dad's car and he's not going to sell until Spring because he doesn't want to throw the extra money away.

On the plus side, this would be cheap as hell to insure through Hagerty along with the C4.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 11/26/2014 at 14:20

0

Thanks! That's extremely helpful. I'll be sure to take all of that into consideration.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > ACESandEIGHTS 11/26/2014 at 14:25

0

Hah! That stuff is great if you want brain cancer

And yeah, I'll be trying to buy the shit out of it. Basic plan is to put off C4 work because I'm not driving it through the crap roads in it and use the money to buy the Saab. Winter Saab, sell Sebring in spring, pay for C4 repairs, drive Corvette or Saab over summer depending on whether the Saab needs work. But I'll be making sure the undercarriage and other points of vulnerability on the Saab are kept free of corrosive stuff because I don't want to drive it into the ground.

Nibbles > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 14:36

1

A 9000 is order of magnitudes better than a Sebring, even if it is fifteen years older.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Nibbles 11/26/2014 at 14:39

0

Age can only make a car cooler anyways! But the 9000 turbo and Sebring should not even be classified together as cars.

davedave1111 > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 14:42

0

"I always hear about transmission problems with these cars."

I don't want to overstate it, because as far as I know it's not so much that there's anything wrong with the transmissions, as that the rest of the car is solid enough that it'll usually be the thing which finally kills one.

"So much more fun than a Sebring"

So is walking. Barefoot. Through a junkie-needle dump.

I still don't know how much you're looking at losing by selling the Sebring now, but if you can save a chunk of that on insurance over the winter, it's something to factor in. If you can afford to cover the difference, I'd say not-having-to-drive-a-Sebring is the best Christmas present you could ever get your dad.

What's the Sebring worth at best? I'm assuming about the same as or less than the Saab?

Nibbles > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 14:45

0

Definitely not in the same category lol

Good snowfighter. Conservative looks, good power, nearly bulletproof engine, and watercooled turbo. There is absolutely nothing to not like about a 9000! Except maybe for the fact that it's not a 900 ;)

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Nibbles 11/26/2014 at 14:51

1

Yeah I would love a 900 SPG. But the 9000 has a great history and set some production endurance top speed records in their day. Funny to think that in 1987 I'd have to be quite wealthy to own a 9000 and C4.

Nibbles > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 14:54

0

Sometimes I lament not picking up a 9000 instead of my SPG. I had a line on a 1996 Aero at the same time :\

In the end I feel I made the right decision because BACKWARDS HOOD HIDES BACKWARDS ENGINE

RustyRockerMiata > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 15:28

0

Check up inside the rear shock towers, there is a tendency for rust to grow in there and damage the shock mounting surface, would have to cut and weld metal to repair. At least this was the case with the facelifted later models (>1993?). I had one for a few years and I miss it, even with the fiddly problems like replacing the photosensor so the gauges will backlight properly and such.

AccidentalFinance & Hapless Jag Owner > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/26/2014 at 23:46

0

While working at a Jaguar/Mercedes dealer group in college (90's) in northern CA, the owners picked up a Saab franchise. They moved it in with Jag, and the salesmen were pissed! They didn't want to deal with Birkenstock walking, tweed jacket wearing, pipe smoking hippies. As it turns out - the 9000 buyers actually had higher household incomes than the Jag buyers and were super easy to deal with. Within 6 months, every salesman (20-30 year veterans) were driving Saabs themselves or had bought one for their wives. The 9000's were awesome, and very rare - especially now. Light, agile, and you could walk away after running them into a wall at 50mph. If its well loved, then it's worth the money all day long. AutoScandia in Reston has a good rep in the Saab community. Good luck.

Eazy-O > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 11/27/2014 at 16:54

0

Manwich sums it up nicely, not much to add. Maybe also poke around here if you feel like reading: http://saab9000.com/information/bu…

Any specific questions, ask away. My 9000 is a newer generation 2.3t, but much of it is unchanged. I *think* on the generation you're looking at, turning up the boost is super easy as well, no ECU fiddling needed, so that might be fun.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/28/2014 at 12:57

0

Yep :) based on my estimations (with a 320bhp engine and a kerb weight of 850kg), it should have a better power-to-weight ratio than an LFA, a 911 GT3 RS 4.0 and a Challenger Hellcat. About the same as a TVR Sagaris :)

Putting the power down is another matter, but numbers are fun :)