The above is an advertisment. If it asks you to download software or create an account, please ignore it.
Site News - 11/25: Special Ad Rate | 11/1: Members: Log In to See Fewer Ads!
[General | Members | C900 | 9000 | NG900 & OG93 | 93 | 95 | NG95 | 99 | Sonett | Vintage Models | Clubs | Other Cars | FAQs | Gifts | Member Photo Galleries | Member Directory | Classifieds | Manuals | *Buddy Registry | *Mileage Registry | Polls | What's New | Raffle | Photo of the Month | Sponsors]

C900 Bulletin Board
1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest]
(Search Author's Posts: e.g. Keyword:username)*Members Only

[Main C900 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ | Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ] Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
Tweaking c900 dashboard/interior
Like This Post: - Subscribe to Daily Digest for this Bulletin Board
Posted by MattWiltse [Email] (#263) [Profile/Gallery] (more from MattWiltse) on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:40:23 Share Post by Email
Alert me when someone posts in this thread:
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup

Okay, so I bought a new stereo and a nice alarm for my old 'vert. Found a nicely done veneer dash, too. (Had to find one that didn't look garish with the dark red interior, but eventually one was found... and looks SO sweet. That is a cherry-stained dark walnut burl.) Also, did the horn buttons in a brushed aluminum finish (same used for the wheel caps).

This is the best part- I had pulled the storage console out of my old sedan (years ago), and really appreciated the extra foot space that opened up. (Width is not the c900's most "generous" proportion, is it?.) I wanted to do that with my newest SAAB, but the convertible top switch lived down there (really the only component besides the ashtray that does- on my old sedan back in college, I just let the power sunroof switch dangle... God I was an idiot.) My previous experience is that this area is finished behind and below the console (except for a very small metal brace that can be topped with carpet from under the rear seat lip), I do not smoke, and had hard wired a 4-point switched hot-spot below the dash (for my Garmin, laptop, and fridge that I use when on business trips), why not use the space so I can sit "high, wide & proud"?!?

So, you will see if you zoom in to the center section photos, the convertible top switch now resides between the switches where the lighter once lived. This took some doing, but it looks better than new! The top is the focal point of the car, not the ashtray, shouldn't the switch for it be right there in front of you?!? (BTW, my switches have all begun sitting "caddywampus", as my dad would say. Is there a fix to make 'em sit right again? Flipping 'em over works for some, but it makes the rear defroster symbol look like a urinal! That just will not do.)

I don't claim to be on the road to having the best c900 interior (Jouko's amazing work is probably the final word, see the photos below, and there are likely many others of you) , but I really like the way this car is coming together! Take a look at my photos, let me know what you think.

Next, I want to get some high-end sheepskin custom seat covers (I have always appreciated how comfortable those are to sit in for hours on end, and that on my Accord's lousy, flat seats. On the wonderful SAAB seats, in the same dark red as the rest of the interior, how nice would that be, especially on real hot or real cold days.

Also, the fabric insert on the doors is fading, and the glue is releasing. Replacing that will not take much effort, but what sort of material should I use? More red would be okay, but why not bring something different to the party? One thought I had was using the same black speaker fabric I used to cover the ugly black plastic speaker housings in the back seat (again, a very easy touch w/ 3M spray adhesive). But how 'bout something different... some kind of wild fabric/upholstery pattern, or maybe leather, or some other neat texture, and what color? I'm open to suggestions here! Let me know.

Please bear in mind that I was still finishing my project when I snapped these photos, and that I had not yet cleaned my car (usually it is spotless, inside, outside, and under the hood). Also, the flash makes the discoloration of the dark red leather worse than it is, although it certainly is noticeable. Oh, the moisture that you see on the carpet is water from my shoes, not some kind of heater core or windshield leak... this is Seattle, and was raining outside. It is always raining here. If I waited for nice weather, I'd be waiting for 30 minutes of sunshine in late July! ;-)

My photos: http://saabnet.com/tsn/members/gallery.html?memberID=263&do=show&id=14229

Matt
'88 c900 Turbo 'vert auto 119k

Interior Photos

Posts in this Thread:
Alert me when someone posts in this thread:
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
Post a Followup

No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.

Name: Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
E-Mail: (Optional)
Re-Enter E-Mail: (Confidential & Secure - Not revealed to other users!)
Note: Please check your spam folder for BB responses.

Subject:

Posting rules are simple - No for sale/wanted ads may be posted here - use the site classifieds.
You may not cross-post your message to multiple BBs.
Not permitted: political/religious topics and being disrespectful (personal attacks, insults, etc...).
 Site Members do not see any red text, inline ad links, bottom of page anchor ads, box ads, or anti-spam check.

Message: (please no for sale/wanted classifieds - post those in the Saabnet.com Classifieds)
Links are now automatically made active, no need for any special code (or use the Option Link field below) - don't put links in () or end with a '.'
To add inline images to your post, use [img]http://www.domain.com/img.jpg[endimg] (or use the Optional Image Link field below).

Links are now automatically made active, no need for any special code (or use the Option Link field below) - don't put links in () or end with a '.'
To add inline images to your post above, use [img]http://www.domain.com/img.jpg[endimg] (or use the Optional Image Link field below).
Optional Link: (e.g. http://www.saabnet.com/)
Link Title: (Optional)
Optional Photo/Image Link: (e.g. http://www.saabnet.com/img.jpg)
Photo/Image to Upload: (Please be patient while file uploads)



StateOfNine.com
SaabClub.com
Jak Stoll Performance
M Car Covers
Ad Available

The content on this site may not be republished without permission. Copyright © 1988-2026 - 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]

Random Saabnet.com Member Gallery Photos (Click Image)
This is a moderated bulletin board - Posting is a privilege, not a right. Unsolicited commercial postings are not allowed (no spam). Please, no For Sale or Wanted postings, SERIOUSLY. Classifieds are to be listed in The Saab Network Classifieds pages. This is a problem solving forum for over 250,000 Saab owners, so expect to see problems discussed here even though our cars are generally very reliable. This is not an anything goes type of forum. Saabnet.com has been a moderated forum since 1988. For usage guidelines, see the Saabnet.com Mission and Purpose Page. Please remember that you are not anonymous. Site Contact | Site Donations | Other Sites by SP - Poverty2Prosperity.org | Run Club Menlo Park | ScreenBot


Site Members do not see red text instructions, bottom of the page anchor ads, or box ads.
Click here to see all the Site Membership Benefits!