Another Saab thread. Found a convertible I might want.

[Jesda]

I recently stumbled across a Saab 900 turbo convertible on Craigslist. Its an automatic with 105k for just over $1000. Has a clean interior, straight body, and power top.

The guy is getting rid of it because it needs a distributor seal, crank seal, oil cooler line seal, and has a slight miss due to oil getting into distributor. Also needs the AC topped off once in a while.

He estimates $600-$700 to fix it which probably means $1000. So for a total of $2000 I'd have a clean and nice turbo Saab. Opinions?

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/1531048446.html

I don't need the car, but out of what I have now, an old Cadillac and an old Mustang, neither one is topless.

[Otto.]

If you can afford it, why not?

You'll be able to sort of relive the topless BMW glory days! :P

[Zydeco]

why not get another bmw? Ive never really been a fan of the saabs.

[Jesda]

sTm[-HeavyHips]why not get another bmw? Ive never really been a fan of the saabs.

Saab resale is in the toilet right now, which makes them appealing as used cars. An E30 would be really nice, but they're either in mint condition for a high price, or within an inch of death. Even Miatas are getting pricey.

I'm not that much of an E36 fan, and for the cost of a used E46 convertible like I used to have ($8k-$20k) I have better uses for the cash.

I heard that the Saab turbo 4s were much more reliable than the V6 versions. Someone I spoke to told me the Saab 900s and 9-3s were softer than their German competitors, which made them great for cruising though less sharp in hard driving.

I guess I'll test drive it and find out. Its a little over an hour away down in the bible belt of Missouri.

[Razi]

Is that the Saab where all the pulleys are cramped towards the firewall?

[Jesda]

Is that the Saab where all the pulleys are cramped towards the firewall?

Yikes.

[Dattebayo]

Yuck. If you drive that, you need to pick up a disgusting European habit.

[Jesda]

Yuck. If you drive that, you need to pick up a disgusting European habit.

I already have one:

I'd have to start hanging out in saunas and eating pickled fish from a barrel.

[bundy26]

If I were you I would get it, love them Saab 900 turbos.

[SHIFT_Z]

One of the most hideous cars on the roads, IMO.

A friend of mine had one, it rode like a yacht.
Modified by SHIFT_Z at 9:09 PM 1/22/2010

[Mr1der]

when I see a Saab 900 I think of the Richard Pryor movie Moving

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bbq6MeFZ-s

[ILOVESILVIA(S13)]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5DE8UQnM5Y

[Bubba1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5DE8UQnM5Y

I worked for a Saab dealer when the 900 turbo's were first introduced. Quirky, but roomy and comfortable. Well built but potentially very expensive to fix. The warning bells went off for me when I saw that ad. Kinda odd to spend a lotta money on a new top, only to turn around and sell it for less than it cost him to put on the top. Methinks he recently learned it needs considerably more than $1000 in repairs..

[Captain Slow]

I may be mistaken, but I recall that the water pump on these go out quite easily, but it is not an easy thing to change. I think that the water pump is mounted in an aperture in the block, and it's nearly impossible to change without special tools and removal of the engine. Also changing the timing chain means engine removal. Also, I believe that the engine rests on top of the transmission, meaning engine removal is required for some transmission work. Wheel bearings are a usual failing point, as are the engine mounts. That being said, I would own one in a heartbeat, as long as it is in good condition.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

A school buddy had a non-turbo 900 convertible for a while. The convertible tops tend to go out regularly, but other than that they are bombproof cars. Saab pretty much wrote the book on turbocharging small bore cars.It handled nicely, looked like s***, and was quirky yet lovable.

[Jesda]

Just spoke to him and asked a ton of questions. He bought it for $2000 a couple months ago and got in over his head. It was the previous owner before him who replaced the top.

The estimate for the leaking seals came from a local Toyota dealer. Says that it didnt appear to leak oil when he bought it, but after an oil change he started to notice it.

The oil leaks into the distributor, which causes a misfire under harder acceleration.

After more reading, it does indeed look like the timing chains and tensioners are an expensive (60k routine) repair. If this car never had them done, then they're over due.

I can justify it by saying that because the Cadillac was free, the Mustang was $500, and I have no car payments, then any money spent on this car wouldn't be at all excessive.

But I've become a tightwad. Things to ponder.

[jdansmith]

I'd rock it, befriend someone who wrenches on these frequently and offer some side jobs, win / win you learn more about the brand and put some cash in a buddies hand. A bunch of Buick dealers sold Saab and have trained Saab mechanics.

[driverdriver]

If your handy, Saabs are easy to work on (at least my 9-5 is). Everything is logically laid out and there is actual room to manuever.

genuinesaab.com is a great source for parts at non-dealer prices.

If your not going to work on it yourself, it seems like every major city on this continent has got one or two independent Saab shops.

Saab's are something special to own and drive. I think its the most fun you can have in a fwd drive car. I'm a convert.

I've been to some Saab club and owner events and I've come way realizing that there are some very interesting, helpful and friendly Saab owners.

[HashiriyaS14]

I'm on a Saab kick lately, I'd love to have one of these.

Are the repair figures for DIY or is that paying someone to do it?

[f1seb]

Get yourself an E93.

[Jesda]

I'm on a Saab kick lately, I'd love to have one of these.

Are the repair figures for DIY or is that paying someone to do it?

He got an estimate from a local Toyota dealer (small town, likely has no Saab dealer)

[alms24sebring]

Just spoke to him and asked a ton of questions. He bought it for $2000 a couple months ago and got in over his head. It was the previous owner before him who replaced the top.

The estimate for the leaking seals came from a local Toyota dealer. Says that it didnt appear to leak oil when he bought it, but after an oil change he started to notice it.

The oil leaks into the distributor, which causes a misfire under harder acceleration.

After more reading, it does indeed look like the timing chains and tensioners are an expensive (60k routine) repair. If this car never had them done, then they're over due.

I can justify it by saying that because the Cadillac was free, the Mustang was $500, and I have no car payments, then any money spent on this car wouldn't be at all excessive.

But I've become a tightwad. Things to ponder.

Interesting point. I guess if I was in ur situation I would too. But an oldass 9-3 Saab.. I ALWAYS hated those damn cars; just not my taste. I would rather get... anything else.

[hbpignosePA]

imho there are better euros out there.

[Rex]

I say test drive it and if it starts and goes under it's own power offer him $800 and don't budge a bit.

I've always had a soft spot for those boxes cars.

[Jesda]

I got him down to $1000 over the phone. We'll see if I can get him lower when I come down there in person this weekend. Already got the cash out of the ATM.

Seems like a really honest guy who just needs the money.

*excited*

[krimsonviper]

After your side swipe accident, what happened? Was that BMW a lease or something?

[Jesda]

After your side swipe accident, what happened? Was that BMW a lease or something?

Man, you wouldn't believe the hassle I went through.

I told the guy at Safeco (insurance company of the woman who hit me) over and over that the car would definitely be totaled because hitting an E46 on its side would result in damage to the a-pillar. I explained to him that with E46 convertibles, the a-pillar is one single structural piece connected to the floor and the unibody, not just a piece of metal sticking out of the firewall that holds the windshield in place. Its part of what made that car so safe in a side impact.

I offered to bring him BMW diagrams and show him why he needed to total the car ASAP before initiating any repairs. Instead, he assured me that he could get Plaza Motors to fix the car properly without hitting the 80% cost-to-value limit where the state declares a car totaled.

Well, I continued to call him each day, raising my voice a few times (then apologizing), telling him that a repaired E46 convertible would NEVER be the same and I guaranteed him that it would end up totaled once they finished the job.

Eventually the repairs hit $23k while the car was worth $21k. This meant that Safeco ended up paying Plaza Motors for ALL of the repairs AND totaling the car AND paying off the entire loan to Citibank. They wasted $44k on what should have only cost them $21k had they listened to me from the beginning. The guy at Safeco who handled my case was fired. The body shop did a great job on the car but they took him for a ride by underestimating the costs.

At one point in this whole debacle, I ended up contacting my very helpful state representative who then put me in direct contact with a very helpful woman at the state insurance commission. I filed a written complaint against Safeco Insurance with the commission and made it clear to them that I was serious.

One cool bonus: BMW sent me a letter and a keychain and requesting permission to use my case in advertising about the safety of their cars (they were running an ad campaign at the time about BMW owners that came out relatively unscathed).

Then finally, Dec 31 2009, I got the settlement for my medical expenses and various knee and back issues that kept me from functioning at work. After a year and a half, that whole mess is finally over.

I miss the crap out of that car.

[krimsonviper]

Well, man you just made me glad. Not because of your accident, but because my hassle isn't as bad as yours, but then again, my insurance company handled everything until now. Now it's up to me to finish it all up(medical bills, extra money for rental,..)

Did you own it, or lease it? Why don't you get another one?

BTW, this whole time, I thought you were a mogle, and had all this freetime while others made money for you.

[Jesda]

There was a whole mess of cars that landed in my lap from a buddy in Florida who kept serial-trading them and pawning his leftovers (and accompanying debt) off on me. I was more than happy to enjoy several neat cars without much consequence. I finally got out of the deal when I offered him cash to take the Crossfire off my hands.

I do have too much free time though, thus the post count, but I work alone now. Most of what I used to need help for has been sourced out. No more driving 30-foot box trucks (was kinda fun though), or loading and unloading cargo in a white van the cold in the middle of the night. I've got the whole process down to a point where I can be extremely productive by myself. Renting a warehouse space and its forklift service also relieves a huge burden, as does closing the office and moving everything home, so I can make a comfortable living without having to pay a worker, without worries about quality control, without leaving home, while still enjoying a lot of time to myself.

I need to get into another business though.

[OriginalWheelman]

An older Saab is like any other older car. Even well built, well taken care of parts wear out. Last year my father in law got rid of his 9-3 turbo, which he owned from brand new. He got rid of it because every month the car would develop one little problem. A power steering hose, then an oil leak, then a transmission part. Every little problem was a $700+ repair bill. Granted, he does not do his own work, but a good deal of the repair cost was parts. He sold it and bought a new Legacy Wagon. He's a financial guy. I'm not sure exactly what he does cause you'd need a cryptographer to decipher his job title, but he insists that even factoring in the payments on the Legacy, it is still cheaper per month than the Saab.