Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 11:03:49 +0200 From: Robert Brown <rjbnopsamnetNOSPAM.se> Subject: Re: Buying a Used SAAB need help!
Yup, good advice from Ulf here. Not much to add except on some details - You might consider getting a model that uses a carburettor instead of fuel injection, to avoid servo steering, and find one that does not have too many power accessories (e.g. power windows). You may have to consider models between 1986 and 1988 for this. Many have found that the automatic transmission on the classic 900's is unreliable, so you might opt for a manual box instead. I suggest all the above because many people I know would become disillusioned bye all the small fixes that the above items may require. That's why I'm suggesting the simpler type of car (less stuff to go wrong). But then there are those who like to play with engine mappings and reprogramming eePROMS (Göran Larsson, are you listening?), and if that's your fancy, get a turbo . . . Expect some initial costs, for things such as clutch, water pump, radiator, battery, etc. But the important thing is get a body that doesn't have much rust on it. A compression check wouldn't hurt either. Check that no coolant has leaked into the oil, make sure that the cooling fan comes on at the right temp, and all the usual stuff. Hope this helps, Robert, Gothenburg (1983 900 GL, 1999 9-3 200) Ulf wrote: > In what sort of an area do you live? If you're in the U.S. I think you'll > find Saabs clustered around major cities. Also, there seem to be certain > regions that are Saab regions and ones that are not, which is to say that > they seem to have caught on in some place more than in others. There's not > one Saab dealership in Idaho, but they were big back east when I was there, > and Colorado is in between, both geographically and in terms of Saabs per > capita. So it depends where you are. Of course you want a used Saab so you > don't need a dealership, but still there are more used Saabs in communities > where there are new ones. As new cars they're fairly expensive so I imagine > they are primarily sold where the high paying jobs are. In my opinion, they > make excellent used cars because the price of a Saab decreases faster over > time than it's mechanical integrity, PROVIDED THEY ARE PROPERLY MAINTAINED. > So wait until you find a good one. Look for and avoid rust, especially on > the body. Look for a person who looks like they know enough about cars to > take care of one. I had an uncle who never changed the oil in his pick-up > until it finally broke down. Don't buy from him. Don't buy from anyone > with a hyphanated first name like Billy-Bob or from a college student. And > don't buy from a woman because they lug the engine and ride the clutch. A > little sexism humor there, folks. I'm only kidding, ladies. Don't get your > panties in a bunch. > > So here's my advice: If you live within spitting distance of a major city, > get a paper from there and start watching those classified ads. You're only > 16 so I don't want you out tearing up the streets when I'm out there anyway, > so you can wait a few months until something good comes along. You're > better off in the parents' car anyway for a year or so. Better to wreck > their car than yours, right? > > Finally, let's look back at that sentence that I started off with "in my > opinion." Normally, I hesitate to start sentences with qualifiers like "I > think," "I believe," "in my opinion," etc., because they're somewhat > redundant and they weaken one's statement. It's obvious that it's "in my > opinion" because I'm saying it. However, in this particular case it's > important to emphasize that my feelings about the price of used Saabs are my > own and are to be taken at face value since I'm not an expert on used cars. > I am, however, and expert on using cars, especially my own. I drive it > silly. SILLY!!!!! > > Thank you and good day. > > Jack Sexton <jgsextonnopsam.com> wrote in message > news:3915F0EA.D9487954nopsam.com... > > Help please! > > > > I've just turned 16, and i'm looking for a nice older saab around 89 or > > 88 in a 900 model. I've done a lot of reading on Saab and their cars, > > i've heard they're really safe. I've looked and looked and looked on the > > internet in the paper and on Newsgroups but i just cant find the right > > one. I can only spend around 2500 dollars. Can someone offer me advice > > or post a good Saab car site other then saabnet.com please! help :) > > > > Thanks
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