Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 21:56:13 GMT From: Paul Halliday <pjghnopsamyonder.co.uk> Subject: Re: should a buy a saab
in article biiria$9mtck$1nopsam34476.news.uni-berlin.de, Dave Hinz at davehinznopsamcop.net wrote on 27/08/2003 18:59: >> Owning an older car is a different matter altogether. This is where sheer >> passion for the brand can be mis-interpreted as pig-headedness or zealotism. >> As I said, I doubt I'll be buying a non-Saab for a few years to come. I love >> the classic 900 and have gone backwards from there. I had a brief lust for >> the 99s, but I find the late 96s and the Sonetts to be something really >> desireable. > > "Corners like a jackrabbit on speed" was one quote from a review of > the Sonett III. It's true; when your butt is 9 inches from the > ground or so, it's even more noticable. Fun little car...maybe > next summer. Maybe. They're *VERY* rare in the UK. I think a 96 might be feasible. I fancy fiddling with carbs again <--- Masochist :) >> Saab cars are solid, strong and reliable and I'd always recommend anyone to >> buy one. > > Well, I know a few people who are completely "a car is an appliance" People don't buy houses like that, do they? >> I would never suggest that, say, a late 80s 900 would run like a >> new car though. I wouldn't say it would be in a better condition than any >> other car that old, but I would say there is a greater chance it has been >> looked after better than another car of that age ... Saabs that have been >> abused do take an amazing amount of punishment though. > > The "fun to drive" factor is significant as well. I've said it before; > over a sample of nearly 4 decades of production, all of my Saabs drive > very similarly; the center of gravity, weight distribution, > feedback to the driver...it's all there. That's pretty much it. Fun. The classic 900 certainly drives like a small car, but has the power of a family saloon. You can slide it with your bum round hard corners. Everything is in the right place and it all feels just right. I found I could thrash my '85 900i much better than either of the late '80s 900 turbos I've owned. I consider the 9000 to be very much the same; just more so :) I'm intrigued to try a Sonett. The power to weight ration sounds nice - very much like the Triumph Spitfire from what I've heard, without the dangerous-at-best back end, and much smoother than the MGB. BTW a UK car mag called 'Retro Cars' has an article about the Sonett this month, featuring Trent Saab owner's Sonett. Cheers all, Paul <--- 4 weeks without smoking!
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