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Help me evaluate my car and rationalize this...
1986 900T (3 door) with 177,000 miles. I purchased in 1991 with 50,000 miles as the second owner. The original owner purchased as a European delivery. It has a SAAB Airflow ground effects kit (kind of the precursor to the SPG) and I installed e-code headlamps about 6 years ago that gives it a unique look. The car also has the "red box" (ignition module(?), The car spent it's entire life in Southern California. It has no rust, except on one corner of the sunroof skin. I have had all the regular maintenance, and typical 900 repairs done at an indie SAAB repair shop. I did oil changes myself every 3k - always Valvoline and Mann filter. I fell in love with the look of the 900T in 1980 (a year before I learned to drive!) And the look still catches my attention. I love walking though the parking lot of boring silver colored sedans and SUV's and then coming across the unique shape of the 900T. The car has been great! It has never left me stranded. It's in decent shape, although it needs a good going over. (typical 21 year old car) It's due for a big service, brakes, shocks, etc, etc, etc. I could easily dump $2000 into it, just to get it back to "normal" good condition. The driver's seat needs to be rebuilt and re-upholstered (or replaced), as well as the rear headrests, but the rest of the leather is in good condition.
Now, here's the tough part.... The car failed the State of California smog test, once again, which it has every time for about the last 8 years! The State has a "repair assistance program" where they pay up to $500 (after my $100 co-pay) toward smog related repairs at a "State approved" repair facility. I've done this twice already for the last two smog checks. They usually replace the CAT and the O2 sensor and some other miscellaneous item. They pass it, It costs me some odd figure like $103.99 total, and then I'm good for another two years. The State also has a "vehicle retirement program", where they offer $1000 to purchase polluting vehicles and get them off the road. They crush them and recycle the materials. I NEVER would consider this option before, but I'm actually thinking about purchasing a newer car. Something reliable that I can comfortably and safely drive longer distances.
Looking at the classified here on TSN and craiglist, I see people selling classic 900's asking anywhere from $800-$1800, depending on condition, mileage, etc. (There's the exceptions - like the nicely kept and restored SPG's) I don't know if people are actually selling them for what they're asking. These cars seem to stay listed for a LOOOOOONG time! As sad as it is for me to "let go" of this car after 16 years, It is especially sad to know that it will be crushed. But it seems like the $1000 is not that far off of what (might) actually be able to get for it, especially if I consider the headaches of trying to sell it. All my non-SAAB "friends" (oxymoron?) think this is a no-brainier and would not hesitate for a moment.
What do you think?
posted by 209.223.116...
, Tue, 13 Mar 2007 21:22:52
, Tue, 13 Mar 2007 18:17:38
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