Another trip to the junk yards yielded a cool find.. A Saab 900 4 door. It really didn't belong in the junk yard. The interior was mint and the body was rust free and just needed to have the paint buffed. I wish I knew what sent it to the junker. But the coolest thing about it as when I opened the hood. It like, rolls forward, then tilts up on the nose. I was like.. this is almost as cool as the vertical hood feature on my car. Seriously, this car was nice. I closed the door and it still had that very solid "thud" sound. The seats were very comfortable and jeeze, I like the weird meatball of a car.

My uncle had one just like it but in red. I remember it being really different because the key/ignition was in the center console by the shifter, on the floor!..

Automatic transmissions on this model were fairly crappy...

There may a worse place from which to select a car to drive, than from a junkyard, but for the life of me, I cannot think of one

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Mabey the ones the junkyard would take, such as the ones in line for the crusher at the scrapyard...


Wth Don? You're an oddball...

O well, me too
~Nate

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

I like weird looking and or quirky cars..

Here's a cool site for you to check out:

http://www.strangevehicles.com/content/item/12085.html

Here's a cool car from the pictures gallery:
http://www.strangevehicles.com/content/item/137247.html

A VW school bus:
http://www.strangevehicles.com/content/item/125804.html

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Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

The way the hood opens is unique, but it comes with an added bonus. It is a very simple one-man operation to remove and replace the hood. Once it is open (and the washer hose disconnected), you simply remove the two bolts holding the hood to the hinge. The hood still balances on the hinge, and you can lift it right off.

In the area of practicality, I can't think of a quirkier car. I had an '88 and a '91 900S. Safe, fun to drive and somewhat reliable. Not bad if you're a DIY'er however.

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'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

They (the 900's) go for a good price. I would have to find one in red with a hatch back. But w/e its just another one of those "not an exotic or rare car" I'd want in my garage

The hatch-back (Wagonback per SAAB) is a very good design. You can fit a full-size washer in the back.

I used to drive 99's, which is the precursor to the 900 and shares a lot of parts. I could change the clutch in mine is less than one hour. The transmission remains bolted to the engine, but the radiator must be removed. I didn't have A/C though, and having that would increase the time required for the job.

I don't know if this is still the case, but parts for the 20+ year-old 99 were easily available at SAAB dealers, and were not as expensive as you might think.

When I opened the hood I noticed the engine was mounted like a RWD car but upon further inspection, no differential in the rear. Really, really, weird. Those engineers... born from jets alright.

Look closer next time. The engine is mounted in reverse. The harmonic balancer and alternator belt sit right at the firewall, and the clutch is up front.

Of course, there is a differential at the rear of the transmission case. Also note that the transmission case on this car contains the engine oil sump. I don't know if it is possible to remove the engine separately from the transmission, but it wouldn't be easy. It is not possible to remove the transmission with the engine in place.

I test drove an 07 9-5 or 9-7 forget what model it was last year. Nice car but it was FWD, didn't do anything for me.

New Saab's are cars ment to be leased, because they lose like 75% of their value in 3 years!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

weird... Plus the cylinders are not set straight up like our engines.. but more or less at a steep angle.. very cool.

I wish I could have bought that Saab and played with it. It was immaculate inside.

weird... Plus the cylinders are not set straight up like our engines.. but more or less at a steep angle.. very cool.

I wish I could have bought that Saab and played with it. It was immaculate inside.


i think it had AC since the vents on the hood led into what looked like some form of A/C condenser