Daily Driver Saab?

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

Do it!!

It was junk.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by livi

Just my Point of view but from groing up in SAAB country when SAAB and Volvo still was 80% of all cars you ever saw on the road, having owned or driven almost every model up to mid 2000 I would say they are all boring, understearing tractors. Great for hauling family and stuff but tedious as an Active driving vehicle. The one exception would be a few models of the old 96 with the gear shift on the steering column. Still a tractor and slow but so odd and fun to drive. Also pretty much the only car I have never even being Close to get stuck in the snow with.
Just my personal reflections off hand.

Not everyone agrees...

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I had both a '93 9000 Aero and a '97 900SE with the high output turbo, both manual transmission. Loved them both, two of the most unique cars that I have owned. Close to 35 MPG on the highway but rockets with a few small upgrades. The 9000 had 235k when I sold it, still the original engine and transmission. Like most European cars they are stout mechanically but expect some annoying odds and ends. The early 9-3 hatchback and the first generation of 9-5 are as new as I would venture, the 9-3 sedan and later 9-5 were 100% badge engineered GM crap. Personally I would drive the hell out of a Viggen or an early 9-5 Aero wagon.

Originally Posted by Nickshu

I owned 6 Saabs spanning from 1986 to 2007 model years. 900/9000/9-3s.

If you can get a classic 900 SPG (special performance group) I would go for it. The most fun one I owned of all of them for sure. 2 doors w/ hatchback. If I ever bought a Saab again this would be what I would look for.

My 9000's were great haulers and plenty quick. 4 doors with hatchback is convenient if the 3 door doesn't work for you.

Fortunately we are not in PARF so it can end on a friendly note...

[livi]

Well, if everyone agreed and had the exact same experience and opinion a forum like this would be a pretty dull place without much information to learn from and deduct a balanced view.

[1990C4S]

When everyone agrees with me my work here will be done. Then it's on to another forum.

[beepbeep]

I bought my old 900S -90 for 300$ (low pressure turbo). I only have fond memories. It was driven by elderly gentleman who probably never noticed that wastegate rod jumped off (so there was never any boost). I fitted back the rod and horsepower jumped back to 147. Then I fitted intercooler from 900 turbo, bigger injectors, converted to E85 and raised boost from 0.45 to 1.1 bar and HP jumped to god knows how much. Never had a chance to dyno it, but in straight line it was approximately dead race with 964.

Later on I added hotter cams (mostly to spare the gearbox) and harder springs (shortened MB W13x rear springs). I tracked it, commuted in it, hauled furniture for couple of years until the frame started rusting. Youngster bought the car and fitted the engine into his 99.

This is short movie of how it accelerated before I fit new cams and lightened it further:
It was a rocket on highway and very definition of "sleeper".


On track:

[petrolhead611]

Actually, it was Arab who designed the last 9-3 platform, with its rear wheel steering, and Vauxhall and Opel that inherited the design

[1990C4S]

Saabs fall into three categories now:

Rot-buckets that are cheap

Nice cars that are (IMO) way overpriced versus similar alternatives

Decent deals that are thousands of miles away from me....

[petrolhead611]

Well C4S the simple remedy to your SAAB quandary is to move thousands of miles away

[1990C4S]

Presently checking 'rooms-for-rent' in Vermont and Washington state.

[manbridge 74]

Always looking for an old 99 with Inca wheels. They have water pumps very similar to Triumph TR7 as I believe the engine was designed by or Saab was helped by the Brits with it. It was a goofy piece of pump and wise guys carried one in the back at all times.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

Always looking for an old 99 with Inca wheels. They have water pumps very similar to Triumph TR7 as I believe the engine was designed by or Saab was helped by the Brits with it. It was a goofy piece of pump and wise guys carried one in the back at all times.

The SAAB 99 actually had a Triumph engine, tranny, etc. By 73, SAAB started making the Triumph engines themselves. The Triumph actually also had the engine installed 'backwards' with the clutch right behind the front bumper and the belts all against the firewall.

The 99 is the 900 before 6" was added in front of the firewall.

SAAB almost always used other's engines, the first ones used DKW 2-stroke engines. Later they put a Ford V-4 in the next iteration of the car.

And the 99 as discussed above.

[manbridge 74]

Yes, the clutch could be changed out quickly. 99s or early 900s also had Bosch injectors. I once used one in a 911 until I could get a Porsche one. Strangely it injected the same amount as other 5 in the Porsche engine when tested side by side. Bosch number on Saab injector was one digit different.

The weak link to me was the transaxle underneath the engine. They seemed to get noisy and did not shift well, especially as the miles piled on.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

The weak link to me was the transaxle underneath the engine. They seemed to get noisy and did not shift well, especially as the miles piled on.

Yes, well-known for that... The pinon bearing was sized for the 4 cyl Triumph and SAAB engines.

The turbo pushed it beyond 'design parameters'.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by tcar

Yes, well-known for that... The pinon bearing was sized for the 4 cyl Triumph and SAAB engines.

The turbo pushed it beyond 'design parameters'.

Even a stock, N/A 900 motor would eat the trans axles on those. I've owned a couple and loved them right up until the moment they self-destructed. It's the Achilles heal of the Saab 99/900 and a real deal killer as the repair exceeds the value of the car in most all circumstances. Cheaper to just buy another and drive until it gacks.

[1990C4S]

Thanks for all the info. This sort of stuff is the 10% good content that keeps me coming back.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Thanks for all the info. This sort of stuff is the 10% good content that keeps me coming back.

Well, they say that 90% of everything is crap. But the 10%...oh, the 10%.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by livi

Just my Point of view but from groing up in SAAB country when SAAB and Volvo still was 80% of all cars you ever saw on the road, having owned or driven almost every model up to mid 2000 I would say they are all boring, understearing tractors. Great for hauling family and stuff but tedious as an Active driving vehicle. The one exception would be a few models of the old 96 with the gear shift on the steering column. Still a tractor and slow but so odd and fun to drive. Also pretty much the only car I have never even being Close to get stuck in the snow with.
Just my personal reflections off hand.

I also grew up in SAAB country, (Minnesota). Surely you've heard of it.

The guy who owned the Volvo dealer in my neighborhood was really rich. I just bought this, it's about the third or fourth one I've had:

Saab 96 V4 Deluxe | eBay

[Otter74]

Here's a very nice-looking OG 900 near me:

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/5775807953.html

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by speeder

Even a stock, N/A 900 motor would eat the trans axles on those. I've owned a couple and loved them right up until the moment they self-destructed. It's the Achilles heal of the Saab 99/900 and a real deal killer as the repair exceeds the value of the car in most all circumstances. Cheaper to just buy another and drive until it gacks.

They did an upgrade to the 9/3 in 2001 or 2 I think. I had a 2002, with the 2.0 HO turbo, and it was a great car that got fantastic mileage. I would get one with the non automatic climate controls and a hatch back. Must be a stick.

Livi is right though, they do understeer. Still fun to drive for FWD.

[1990C4S]

That OG 900 is a nice car.

So is this, but it's automatic....

Well-loved 1999 SAAB 9-3 SE | used cars & trucks | City of Toronto | Kijiji