what to do...Volvo or SAAB?
 

I am looking for a cool, cheap beater. The local CL has a 1990 Volvo 740 wagon, and a 93 Saab 900s 3 door hatch, for similar money. There's also a Saab 9000 CSE floating around out there, but I think that may be a money pit. I have owned both brands, and enjoyed both.

The cars are in decent condition, they look presentable enough to park in the driveway. We're talking about $1000, or a smidge over, so the expectations are limited.

I'm leaning toward the 900s, largely because it's a 5 speed (non turbo thankfully). Any thoughts?

Go with the 1990 Volvo 740 wagon. The B230 is indestructible and very easy to maintain and work on, especially the non turbo, one of the best engines ever build.

Saab's are great cars but a hassle to work on.

Aesthetically speaking I like Saabs- owned an 87 and 91 900s. Safe and fun to drive for fwd, reliability is so-so. I had a bad accident with the 91 and it may very well have saved me from seroius injuries.

Volvos are ok, no personal experience with them.

Saabs are aesthetically more pleasing then the wagon and sedan 700's and the interiors are very nice. Not as nice a my Volvo 780 Bertone tho, but that one was build in Italy.

SAABs are one of the best cars, built like tanks. (not the poor GM thing)

a freind of mine had an old 9000 Aero - which was a bit mad to drive. you booted the pedal and shifted from 1-2 gear like a grampa, then the super long second gear and the turbo pushing it hard would launch it like a cannonball. Talk about toying with sports cars.

They are quite a pain to work on though.

I'd go with the Volvo.

Buy a Mac... I meant, BUY A VOLVO, the older ones in the 240 series are bullet proof as they say. Our 1986 240 wagon had 300,000 miles on it when I sold it, and I saw it drive past my shop 5 years after I sold it. :)

The trouble I've had with beaters is that I get something I like and then waste money trying to turn it into a non-beater.

My beater is more beat than your beater.

Beater fight, beater fight...... :eek::D

I have had no actual experience with either, but I would go with the Volvo. The later SAABs, including this one are GMs. I religiously scan the CL ads and see a number of SAAB needing engines. Never a Volvo of that ilk. I personally like the older "classic" SAAB, but even that would not be as reliable as a Volvo B230.

IF you choose the Saab 9000, make sure that you DO NOT get the autobox.

The most SAABs I come across that need engines are usually ignition cassette jobs or timing chain slap caused by using jiffy lube service.

Or a turbo failure causing to smoke like crazy.

The SAAB engines are very tough to kill. Meaning just like our MB diesels - if you pour jiffylube 10W40 gasser oil in it and run it for 10,000 miles between changes then MB is not to blame for bad workmanship.

Parts availability comparison?

"timing chain slap caused by using jiffy lube service"

please explain...