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Re: What to do with my 9000 Posted by JerseySaab [Email] (#666) [Profile/Gallery] (more from JerseySaab) on Thu, 25 Jul 2019 15:51:30 In Reply to: What to do with my 9000, TML [Profile/Gallery] , Thu, 25 Jul 2019 09:59:30 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I guess Canada doesn't have an import rule like the 25-year one that we have? (Cars over 25+ years old from date of manufacture can be brought into the U.S. for personal use even if they don't meet safety and emissions regulations. For a 9000 that would of course be the earlier models, but within a few years one could bring a Euro-spec late 1990s model here.)
I guess you could hold onto it until you're able to do the work. The problem with stalled projects is that "someday" tends never to come and in the meantime the car deteriorates, causing even more work to be required. I have project cars here that have been malingering for years. Additionally, getting older myself the work gets more difficult and less likely to be completed. (Sounds though like you don't have to worry about that problem yet, but it will sneak up on you!)
As far as safety I really don't worry too much about it. Saabs were always ahead of the curve in that regard and the 9000 is a very safe car even today in real-world accidents. Here's a crash test of a 1986 model, note the passenger compartment stays intact:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UP7j5TVuPc
(That was an early non-airbag airbag model. With airbags and belt tighteners in the later models you wouldn't get the "face into the steering wheel" effect.) I also found a used car safety guide from Australia that gives the 9000 a 4-star safety rating, not bad for a decades-old design:
http://www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au/1997/Saab/9000/CS-Hatchback-5dr-Man-5sp-2_3T/
I'd say a big issue is how bad the rust is. That's a much more difficult issue to deal with than mechanical repairs.
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