The banner above is an advertisment - if it asks you to download software, please ignore.
Site News - 3/26 M Car Covers (by State of Nine) | 12/12 Make Amazon Pay Saabnet!
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 20:51:08 +0000 (UTC)
From: "Pete Brown" <petes.inboxnopsamternet.com>
Subject: Re: Opinions Please..


Cars must be really expensive in Canada. I would not put that money into keeping a car that age on the road. I am currently looking at changing my 1996 NG900 which I bought for £3,500 ( I'm in the UK) to a 1998/99 9-5 (sedan). I have priced several good examples at between £5,000 and £6,000 with mileages running between 50K and 100K. Saab main dealer servicing is pricey in the UK. I get mine done by an independent. Avoid the Merc (which is a barge compared to the (any) Saab). Stay with Saab! Anyways good luck in your quest. Pete Brown Ballyclare County Antrim Northern Ireland "Dexter J" <lamealameadingdongnopsamlamelame.org> wrote in message news:3F60C1FA.8F7C275Dnopsamlamelame.org... > Salutations: > > As many regulars will know - we were coming up on (and am now at) the the > point where we must do something about our '89 9000T CD.. > > There have been several options pursued to no great success surrounding > buying a newer, less tatty, perhaps hatchback body and moving the still ok > 89 engine over to the newer body on the premise that we could get into a > better overall ride relatively inexpensively if we could find an early 90's > 9000 with a dead engine and because we would have a substantial supply of > spares for the final vehicle.. > > This has not turned out to be the case - indeed - as was finally agree, > anyone that has a good 9000 body and interior still on the road in Eastern > Canada is keeping it, fixing it or asking quite a princely sum for it.. > Great Minds - Fools Never.. :) .. > > Soooo - there is some loose talk about picking up SOB (some other brand) - > notably a 87 Mercedes 300TD (Turbo Diesel) Wagon with about the same > mileage (320,000km).. However, for the $6,200 (CDN) being quoted and > knowing it will need repair in the coming couple of years - I have been > wondering how far that might go to really fixing up the current 9000 using > an older donor instead.. > > I have found an 86 9000T hatch five speed turbo with a black leather > interior in good shape (has gauge pack) that runs - but is so badly rotted > out as be available for $500 if I'm willing to tow it away.. > > I have a quote of around $2,000 to properly paint and repair what body work > on mine needs to be done - closer inspection proved out that the primary > rust on her is at the door sills and passenger rear quarter panel - but the > shell itself is actually in very good shape structurally.. That $2,000 > figure would include moving the black interior over from the 86 hatchback, > putting to rights the passenger window(s) I messed up and dropping in a new > windshield (mine is pitted and hazed).. > > Leaving us with the engine bay and suspension/steering systems(s) to bring > up to grade.. > > I'd move the 5 speed tranny over from the '86 (ours is currently automatic) > as well as the gauge pack, pick the best turbo between the two and > transplant what I think may be a non ABS brake system from the 86.. I have > already fixed a CV and done all brakes as well as the ball joints and > replaced all the springs (lowered the front, cargos on the rear) on mine - > I still have to do *all* the lower bushings and will need to remake the > exhaust from under the front seats to the tip as well as do the crank seal, > distributor and generally replace most of the rubber hoses and lines under > the hood.. Perhaps a timing chain and head gasket preventively as well > while the engine is out.. This would bring all the worn bits under the hood > up to grade and she still is within 4 pds of OEM compression across all > pistons as it is.. > > Good mechanical labour is quoting around $1,500 - $2,000 for the engine > swap and assorted bushing/exhanst work excluding parts - which I think I > can bring in for around a $1,500 all told (with perhaps a nice set of three > spoke wheels).. The labour figure - while not etched in stone - is > reliable.. > > This would leave me with a completely serviced 5 speed 1989 9000T CD that I > would paint to look a lot like this: > > http://home.nycap.rr.com/stephens9000/ > > .. which I think is about as perfect a 'rodding' of an old style 9000 as > I've ever seen.. > > So frankly brothers and sister - I'm stumped.. It's a lot of money to throw > at an old car for repairs/restoration - but I have to think that the > mercedes will be in about the same shape in a couple of years as the > current SAAB is and very probably as expensive to fix up.. > > While we very much love the SAAB for handling, comfort and safety, the > 300TD offers seven passenger seating at the expense of comfort and handling > - it's like piloting the Tirpiz from the test drive and just as safe I'll > bet.. > > We are at the point where we have to make a call one way of the other in a > month or two - so thoughts, comments, restoration experiences, opinions > (other than what crappy tires they make these days) are welcomed and > appreciated.. > > -- > > J Dexter - webmaster - http://www.dexterdyne.org/ > all tunes - no cookies no subscription no weather no ads > no news no phone in - RealAudio 8+ Required - all the Time > > Radio Free Dexterdyne Top Tune o'be-do-da-day > Rose Royce - Car Wash > http://www.dexterdyne.org/888/072.RAM

Return to Main Index
StateOfNine.com
SaabClub.com
Jak Stoll Performance
M Car Covers
Ad Available

The content on this site may not be republished without permission. Copyright © 1988-2024 - The Saab Network - saabnet.com.
For usage guidelines, see the Mission & Privacy Notice.
[Contact | Site Map | Saabnet.com on Facebook | Saabnet.com on Twitter | Shop Amazon via TSN | Site Donations]