1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
A couple of additional items and some corrections.
1987 and older had the old style brakes, oil only turbo, older style headlights,turnsignals, stop lights, bumpers AND wheels. 1988 as stated before in this area, but rememeber that the wheels went to bolts rather than lugs and this means that 9000 wheels can be used (Aeros and Super Aeros). Also rear brakes bits are the *same* as the 9000, and if you want to you can upgrade to 9000 front brakes too (work involved about the same as putting in new calipers, plus a couple of cuts on the backing plate). I have two 1988 SPGs, one withstandard belts and old style mounts for the front seats (inverted "T" at the rear mounts on the seat), the passive bels (which as another noted can be changed) but that car has the newer seat mounts - means 1991 and later 900 AND all 9000 seats can bolt in (Aeros seats included) so you can get power seats! Of course you want ones that tilt in a 3 door. the four door turbo was offered in 1985 (first year of the 16v and of the 16v turbo too) but that model was not offered in the states with the 9000 introduction. It came back for one, maybe two years 1990 maybe?
As Larry said 1990 (or 1991?) went to black window trim on the non turbo units, but *also* got then entire black trim like the turbos, meaning black door puts and key surrounds too. The silver handles are all right as is the key bit, but the window trim on the windshield and rear window was plastic chrome with metal chrome corner connectors and after a few years turned green black... ugly and a maintenance issue, the doors used real metal chrome and always looked sharp!
The rust on the lower A arm mentioned was on the left side only TSB. Remember that the A arms are different side to side, the rear most weld on the left side A arm was not perperly done on the circa 1987 run, when driving forward no issues as the stress was pulling on the front weld which was strong, and compressing to the rear weld where the issue was, eventually the rear was at a breaking point, and when you drove in REVERSE the stresses were reversed, the pulling on the rear weld would break there and the car would "fall down" with the wheel arch sitting on the tire look. Usually just a repair of the A arm, sometimes the Tripod bearing and maybe companion driver too got hurt, seemed to depend upon speed at the time it happened.
With all the above very Excellent details from Larry and others, and my personal likes/dislikes, I think the decision matrix could look like this:
1 - any rust is a deal braker, move on, there are still cars available *somewhere* with out rust, or such a small bit that it's ok.
2 - if you WANT ABS, Airbag you need to look at 1990 or newer
3 - if you DON'T want ABS/Airbag etc... The better years are the 1988 and 1989, they have the better brakes, turbo has the water line (although you CAN upgrade an oil only to oil/water with a replacement turbocharger and some other minor bits).
4 - If you WANT the old style look then 1986 is better, 1985 has different placement of the APC (under left rear seat) and other incompatibilities with 1986/1987 that make sourcing parts more difficult.
5 - You may note that this leaves the 1987 all alone, still a fine car but it is the first year of the updated bumpers/lights etc, but the last year of the old style brakes. Go up or down a year and you get a pair instead...
, Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:23:16
1
, Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:48:35
, Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:08:36, Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:30:37, Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:28:21, Tue, 4 Aug 2009 04:28:35, Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:33:57
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
