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Julia,
An SPG is not simply a 900 turbo with bodycladding. The SPG was created as the higher performance version of the 900 turbo. By '90 both the base turbo and the SPG were pretty well evolved; by '90 the base 900 turbo had the big fat intercooler pipes people with <89 turbos add for enhanced performance and the upgraded pinion bearing (added model year 89 1/2) to make the gearbox hold up longer. The SPG should have a more aggressive APC box (the brain that controls the engine), lowered springs and a tighter performance suspension, and lots of little things that the "let's go faster" people add to their cars, as well as the beautiful body cladding. The SPG also is a bit of a collectors' car and the price may reflect that - - both at purchase and at resale. In other words, there may be reason why an SPG might be worth more than an otherwise comparable turbo.
On the other hand, people who purchase the performance cars often drive them in a spirited fashion, but they do not necessarily maintain them well or drive them properly. The careful exam by the Saab dealer or specialist is appropriate for the SPG (or for any other Saab, frankly). Look at the service records.
Let me disclose my prejudice. I have an 87 SPG which I dearly love; it is one of 2 "perfect" cars I have owned. I believe the SPG styling (the body cladding, lowered suspension and the debadging) add up to the most beautiful car Saab ever made. So I am biased here. But there are thousands of Saab lovers who covet the SPG as irrationally as I do... remember that enhanced resale value...
I paid more to get an SPG and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
One final note: in my opinion, the Classic Saab 900 turbo is a driving enthusiast's car: the things that make us love them are largely wasted on the passenger and are irrelevant to people who don't care much about the art and passion of driving. If you LOVE to drive, it may be a perfect car for you: it's predictable, solid, safe and you can tweak it to be quite fast and still quite reliable. You can push it to the limit, back off and recover in a very predictable way. But it is not the most comfortable or maintenance free ride on the road, although the maintenance isn't bad at all for a performance car. If driving is a way to get from point A to point B, you don't care much about what you drive and you can't imagine going out of your way to find winding back roads, consider these factors before making a commitment.
I hope you buy the SPG. Good luck, whatever you decide.
Jim Watts
The Stealthbomber: 87 SPG, Modestly Modified
(Open K&N, 24 lb injectors, 3.0 bar FPR, sport exhaust,
rewired APC, SPG9 AID, MBC in-line between turbo and
BCV for quick spool-up, solid SD motor mounts,
recently rebuilt motor and tranny with upgraded pinion,
braided s/s brake lines.)
All this means is that with minor modifications and modest expense, she now goes REALLY FAST and is REALLY FUN to drive. After all, she's an SPG.
posted by 209.46.11...
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