Re: Found a 1985 900, looking for input ! - Saab 900 Bulletin Board - Saabnet.com
The banner above is an advertisment - if it asks you to download software, please ignore.
Site News -
[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
Re: Found a 1985 900, looking for input !
Like This Post: - Subscribe to Daily Digest for this Bulletin Board
Posted by Saab Junkie [Email] (more from Saab Junkie) on Sun, 6 Nov 2011 04:06:40 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: Found a 1985 900, looking for input !, Jajie, Sun, 6 Nov 2011 02:01:48
Alert me when someone posts in this thread:
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup

These are just my thoughts:

$1500 seems like a lot for a 26 year old 8-valve (I think it's not a 16 valve right?) non-turbo Saab with >200k miles and a few issues. I think $800-1000 would be more reasonable, if it were in really great shape. Based on what I've heard, I might not go above $750, unless the body were really in terrific shape.

Rust is the bigger worry in these cars than mechanical issues, although the latter can certainly be costly too if neglected. Often the rust is under the car, and not seen on the body. Check where the right front lower A-arm (suspension bit that connects the wheel to the body) bolts to the body. This area rusts, as do the bottom of the doors, floor pans, rear spring perches (body side not axle side) and wheel arches.

Transmissions are frequent failure points on these cars. The one listed is a non-turbo, which means less stress on it, BUT the reverse gear can get chipped by previous owners forcing into reverse when trying to get the key out. This happens as much on non-turbo as turbos (ask me how I know). Sometimes you can hear the chipped gear, as it will make a "tick-tick-tick" noise with the engine running and car in neutral. The ticking goes away when the clutch gets pressed in.

I have seen a number of Saabs that were in accidents, and hoods that are not perfectly lined up with the windshield are a dead givaway, as are signs of repaint (I would see if a magnet sticks to that one door with clear coat peeling, magnets do not stick to bondo).

Since this is your 1st Saab buy, if you do go forward, have a reputable independant mechanic look it over. Someone here can give you a recommendation, but you may need to ask on a seperate post. They can save you a ton of future headaches, and are worth the extra cost.

Good luck, and be careful.

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 © 1988-2024 - 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]

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!