Kyle,

My parents owned an '83 Saab 900S for 10 years, and I learned to drive stick on it. Here's some areas of concern that I know about these cars.

1. Manual transmissions are quite fragile on the classic Saab 900 body style, and fail frequently. Transmission replacement on this car will run you $4000, for parts and labor. And this would be a rebuilt tranny, not a new one.

2. Many electrical gremlins are present. Dash lighting often develops glitches (it did in our Saab, and also is acting up in one friend's 1990 900S 16-valve and my roommate's '88 900 Turbo Convertible).

3. Parts prices are fairly expensive. Saabs are pretty unconventional cars (the clutch is mounted in front of the engine...don't ask) and generally need someone who knows 'em to service them. Additionally, we've found that Mercedes and Volvo parts are often a good deal less expensive used (plus, you can find Mercedes and Volvo wrecking yards where I live. Try that with a Saab!)

In conclusion, if it's reliability you're looking for, I'd suggest you take a look at that "other Swedish car company". You could pick up a nice Volvo 740 Turbo or GLE for under $3000, spend $500 or so replacing needed items and have it run like a top!

For the record, my parents owned a couple of Volvo 240s when they lived back in Wisconsin, and those things would start even when it was close to 30 below zero (farenheit). I'd avoid the 240 body though, interior and electricals aren't as good as the 740 series.

Plus, with weight in the back, I've taken the 740 Turbo in my sig over absolutely horrid roads in the mountains of Washington State in the winter. It has a good amount of road clearance and won't get high-centered very easily. Good tires are important too...

You could always look at a 190E 2.3 too, but I dunno how good an early W201 would be. Opinions vary.

-Sam