Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2002 21:22:16 +0000 From: C Sutherland <cggsnopsam.freespam.demon.co.uk> Subject: Re: Where can I find a buyer guide to the classic 900 (not the newer 900/9-3/9-5)
In article <MPG.183f0b5d2fc9a482989f06nopsam.cis.dfn.de>, SkodaPilot <carl.robsonnopsamcing-czechs.com> writes >However, I fancy something with a few more creature comforts. >There are a few cars over the years that have been >performance/comfort/luxury orientated family saloons/hatches that I have >liked, among them the Audi GT Coupe (and the Quattro turbo coupe of >course), the Volvo 480 Turbo, the Porsche 924, and the Saab 900 >(Especially the turbo). Hi Carl, I have owned various 900s over many years-carburettor to turbo16 (as family transport) and for 9 years a Porsche 924 (self) concurrently. In fact the line up at present is a just-purchased 9-3 Tdi, a c900T16S aero - awaiting sale- and a Porsche 924S (my daily driver) Both c900 and 924 are very solid reliable well built cars. The saab turbo 8 or 16V is much quicker than the 924 but the 900i is about the same in a straight line. Handling is completely different ie FWD v RWD, The Porsche (audi 2litre) has a rather coarse 125bhp engine which is not fast in 0-60 but has great cruising ability and terrific well balanced RWD handling which is really flattering. You can hang the tail, it responds perfectly to throttle and steering inputs and makes you feel a better driver than you are. My old audi 924 was a slower but more fun (read chuckeable) sporting car than the present 924S with its smooth and powerful 944 2.5 engine, softer suspension and the curse of power steering. They were built to a similar quality to Saab and from 1980 they were fully galvanised and shouldn't have much rust. The mechanicals are simple, cheap and mainly VW sourced. The van-derived engine will go for 250k not unlike a Saab. You can pile a huge amount of gear into the hatch but only little people into the back seats. The breakers yards are full of them. Nobody wants them, Porsche owners despise them with a vengeance and yet they are a stunning and practical economy sports car for the impecunious. Get a perfectly nice one for under a grand and like a Saab, big mileages need not put you off. Unless you get a Saab 900 turbo with an S pack handling deal, in the 900 you have a car which is good to drive but with a front heavy feel and a fair bit of understeer. The 900i is a fantastic, safe, quick enough, roomy family car, full of character but not really a 'sports' or performance machine. A 900turbo however has phenomenal grunt particularly in the 50-70 overtaking zone where there is little to touch it. Add the S pack - (lowered springs and anti roll bars) the understeer vanishes and the suspension is transformed to give neutral handling and much more fun. This is now widely recognised and well maintained nice survivors of the turbo breed especially the S-aero are assuming collector status with concomitant high prices. In the cheap zone under a grand there are many abused dogs which could have expensive problems looming and few decent turbo models. The 900i is fairly bomb proof. Blown turbos are easily replaceable but the gearbox is a notable and quite expensive weakness. By no means are all rust free. In both Saab and Porsche electrical failures (windows etc) are a nuisance. It's horses for courses. I respect both the 924 and the 900 and both are highly useable and enjoyable old cars in their own way. You need to try driving them. I hope this is helpful. If you want any more specific details particularly on the 924 let me know off the list. (BTW alt.autos.porsche is imho, with the exception of a very few helpful individuals, an appalling place where if you mention 924 you're likely to get a torrent of abuse) Chas ps -(prejudice section) - have driven a 480 turbo - forget it imho. Audi quattro is an awesome car by all accounts but could be v. expensive to maintain. If the Audi coupe, which admittedly looks attractive, drives anything like the Audi 80 from which it is derived it will be somewhat lacking in sparkle although undeniably robust. --
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