Saab 9-3 Viggen
 

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=259042804&dealer_id=100011472& car_year=1999&rdm=1242495661851&model=9-3&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMak eModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=& keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_ code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance= 500&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipErr or=y&make=SAAB&keywords_display=&color=&page_locat ion=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=& default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=& style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=33131&adv anced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&m ax_price=&cardist=17&standard=false&rdpage=thumb

cool?

Here's the same car for $1k less (yes I like it)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1999-SAAB-VIGGEN-FLORIDA-CAR_W0QQitemZ260409307214QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Car s_Trucks?hash=item3ca19ab04e&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245 &_trkparms=72%3A317|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

haha- I just found that listing like 5 minutes ago. I dunno anything about these, but the body style works great for our dogs, and I think I could AutoX it...

Great cars, I had a 99 Viggen (that's the only color that year - only 3 doors).

They are rockets, will be some torque steer there. Search 'Viggen Rescue Kit' to tame it a bit.

You'll want to check sabbnet.com - the pelican of SAAB.

Oooh... the ignition is still in the floor. I always thought that was cool. My grandmother had a 900. It was a nice drive, but hers was a a non-turbo with a 3speed auto, so it had no power. I'm going to go run a mile with the wife (I decided yesterday that I am going to try to run a 15k in July, but that's another story). Then, god willing, if I am still alive, I am going to drive up there and see this. The seat leather looks to have seen better days, but perhaps I could recover them in suede :D

Please take some pics and update with impressions. I am looking at Saas for my daily commuter no that I drive and park downtown.

Welcome to the FWD twin of your 951. They are a bit quicker around town than the 951 (less laggy) but rockets on the highway. I had a '97 NG900 (Saab speak for this style of 900) with the high output turbo, so one step down from the Viggen. Stock except for a boost controller and it would absolutely fly. Remember how fun your 951 was to pass on the highway? Fun like that.

The build quality is excellent, all of the materials are high quality and it's put together well. Expect 30 MPG+ on the highway with a pretty comfy ride. Torque steer and body roll are really the only downside, but a Viggen rescue kit and stiffer sway bars will quickly cure most of that. The inside is HUGE, I hauled home a central vac system in mine (including pipe) and only had to fold 1/2 of the back seat. Pretty decent aftermarket, they can produce silly power on stock internals if you like. EASY as hell to DIY, parts are about BMW prices or less. Shifter is a bit clunky but not bad, especially with new bushings.

I really liked both of my Saabs. They're really practical, reliable, cheap, and fun. I'm sure you know already, but the Viggen is like their M3. If you don't get a Viggen, the late '90s 900SE (high output turbo) and hatchback 9-3 HOT can be found for next to nothing and are just a few mods away from being very quick cars.

Well, I am back. Nobody came out at the dealership, which is just as well. How this car has only 80k miles I don't know. The seats looked FAR worse in person- how can leather get that messed up?

The foglights were both loose in their housings. The plastic and rubber outside was mostly falling apart. Some kind of metal sheild under the engine was bent down to the point where is was only about 2 inches off of the ground. The plastic housing of the left mirror was loose, there was trim hanging off or missing in places. Non-matching tires, evidence of some kind of oil leak. The good news was no evidence of resprays, but still... I just saw too much with the naked eye. I'd much rather get one from an enthusiast for $9k in immaculate shape with records.

The good news was that the interior looked huge in person. With the seats folded, you could put some serious cargo in there. So if I can find a good one, I'll drive it and maybe get it. Too bad this one gave me the heebeegeebees.

One other cool thing was the oil filter appeared to be right at the bottom of the engine, super easy to change. That's a nice change from the 951 I suppose.

Does the Viggen have LSD?

No, but it could use it. Some on the Saab boards add them.

ramm, they're super easy to DIY. Lots of room around the engine, quality fasteners, etc. Sounds like the one you saw was pretty beat. Keep looking, they're great cars. The Viggen can be hard to find, so consider the regular HOT hatchbacks as well.

I am trying to find out what they mean when they say HOT

High Output Turbo. The 900SE was the HOT for the NG900, while the 9-3 was a seperate model. I think the HOT 9-3 had a 2.0 with a T after the name, as opposed to the t that the others had. In 2002 there was also a special 9-3 with a better bodykit, seats embossed with "Turbo", etc.

They've had that Viggen since February. They bought it at auction in West Palm Beach for $5,800 plus fees.

I'm not suprised. It was, unfortunately, in rough shape.

Here's a HOT 9-3 near you. A HOT will also have a boost gauge (right side upper), the normal turbo will not. This is the 2002 with the extra goodies (I think).
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=262423124&dealer_id=63843503&c ar_year=2002&rdm=1242519349714&model=&num_records= 25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_ year=1995&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&k eywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&a wsp=false&search_type=both&distance=200&marketZipE rror=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=SAAB &keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3 A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=1&drive=&default_sort= priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1& sort_type=priceDESC&address=33101&advanced=y&end_y ear=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=9000 &cardist=32&standard=false

For the money you can also get a 9-5 Aero, which will be the fastest and best handling of the bunch (here's one as an example): http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=259994749&dealer_id=100020358& car_year=2003&rdm=1242519556349&model=9-3&num_records=25&systime=&make3=SAAB&make2=SAAB&hi ghlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1995&keywordsfyc =__YWVybw,,__&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=09710111411 1&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel =&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZip Error=false&model3=9-5&model2=9000&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=S AAB&keywords_display=aero&color=&page_location=fin dacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=1&drive=&defaul t_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_ flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=33101&advanced= y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_pri ce=9000&cardist=1023&standard=false

Ok, I'm bored.

These are fun cars, and supposed to be very capable on the track. Little ricey though.
http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/1172833577.html

Super nice Prelude SH.
http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/cto/1169458223.html

M3 Lux.
http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/1164505327.html

300ZX NA.
http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/cto/1166988351.html
http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/cto/1165043290.html

Civic SI HB.
http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/1172144879.html

330i.
http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/cto/1147748911.html

300 HP Lexus.
http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/cto/1169518419.html

I've always been a sucker for these.
http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/1172107369.html

There are a bunch of Viggens listed here.
Good site for anything SAAB.

http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/class/9-3.html

HAPPY HUNTING!

The only car in your list that could work in theory is the Civic (due to the dogs).

Saabnet has a few nice looking options, although they are a bit far away. Don't seem to be many in the south.

Had one and loved it. Five door that I lowered. The car smoked. My 6 cylinder BMW got better Gas mileage. The rims bent easily.

Get rid of the dogs?;)

Ok, so I'm curious. If a hatchback will work (Viggen, Civic SI) why not a sedan? Why can the dogs sit in the hatch area, but not the back seat? Do the dogs really ride with you THAT much? For occasional use, you could easily put two dogs in the back of a coupe like an M3.