Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > General Discussions > Off-Topic Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-22-2006, 11:50 PM
davestlouis's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 571
mid-90's SAAB 900 sedan

I have an opportunity to get a tired SAAB 900 sedan for $100...light green metallic, tan mouse-fur interior, non-turbo 4 cylinder, automatic. Does anybody know anything about these cars? I don't know doodly-squat and want to know what a mess I'm getting into.

__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-23-2006, 12:35 AM
John Holmes III
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I used to be a "parts specialist" at a foreign only auto parts store many years ago. I can tell you that Saab parts are very expensive. They tend to have weak transmissions.

That said, how can you go wrong for $100.00??? If it runs and drives down the road.

They are fun to drive, they have a funny ignition switch located between the seats, a heater that can broil a steak, and they are very safe.


Good lauck.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-23-2006, 09:47 AM
davestlouis's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 571
The little I have seen of this car makes me think they built things differently for the sake of being different...key in the console, narrow tall cockpit, doors are cut really far underneath, it's like the rocker panels are set inboard. I sense that there is some airplane-style engineering going on here. I'd really rather have a 5speed but I may just cross my fingers and go for it. Around here the salvage buyers are giving $75 anyway so I won't get burned too badly even if it turns out to be a POS.
__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-23-2006, 11:37 AM
OMEGAMAN's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 705
$100 for a runner is a good deal. If you have never jumped a car now is a good time to do it. Get together with a couple of friends and take that thing to a gravel pit or off road trail and let it have it! I have done this on many occasions and let me tell you it's a blast. It's truly amazing how much abuse a car can take. It's almost as though they like it, kind of like a car thats into S&M.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-23-2006, 11:50 AM
davestlouis's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 571
What I really want to do is shoot a car full of holes...see what different handgun and rifle cartridges do to sheetmetal and interior trim. I'd hate to ruin the large capital investment I'd have in the SAAB to do that though.
__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-23-2006, 12:04 PM
davestlouis's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 571
Good grief, between 7 kids, the house and a bunch of business write-offs I have no burning need for any more write-offs. Although I do know someone who would really benefit from a "free" car...dammit you're spoiling my fun.
__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-23-2006, 12:27 PM
rg2098's Avatar
Detailing Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Rochester Hills, MI
Posts: 2,415
saabcentral.com is a good resource. Remeber Saab started out as aan aircraft company and most of what they do it for a reason. Example, the key in the center council started way back when to that in a collision you wouldn't cut your hands as they flew forward and hit the dash.
__________________
Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-23-2006, 12:28 PM
John Holmes III
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Quote:
Originally Posted by davestlouis
What I really want to do is shoot a car full of holes...see what different handgun and rifle cartridges do to sheetmetal and interior trim. I'd hate to ruin the large capital investment I'd have in the SAAB to do that though.

If you have kids and a place where you can "play" with car it will be the best money spent. Better than any video game. I knew a guy that once bought a AMC Hornet to beat on for $75.00. He couldn't kill it and ended up driving it around for a few months before he sold it at a profit.


That brings back some good memories. Many years ago, a friends wife had a mint early '80s Celica that was rear ended. Being a cop, he bought her a Crown Vic. He kept the car in his barn. We had lots of fun with that thing. We welded the spider gears in the rear end and stripped the doors, hood, and hatchback off the car. We used to drive it around his property like a go kart. It was scary fun. I never knew a Toyota engine could rev that high.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-23-2006, 01:58 PM
TheDon's Avatar
Ghost of Diesels Past
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 13,285
im thinkn about getting a saab now.. so cool
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-23-2006, 06:53 PM
davestlouis's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 571
I went and looked at it again...needs paint on 2 doors on the left side, has a small tear on the lower portion of the backseat. 121xxx miles. It is older than I thought, 1988, but fairly clean and almost no rust. Oddly enough the fuel door is rusty, but the quarter panel is OK. New fuel pump and filter within the last 100 miles. It was reportedly purchased as a parts donor for a 900 convertible the seller has, turns out it is one year different and nothing interchanges.
__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 04-23-2006, 07:21 PM
Breckman99's Avatar
TURBODIESEL
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 541
Worked on many a Saab. The years before GM were just as any other euro car. Engine is in there backwards so belt changes are fun... other than that I like the goofy things.
__________________
1983 Mercedes 300SD
1987 Mercedes 300SDL
2001 VW Passat 2.8 AWD
2007 OM642 Jeep WK 4x4

Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 04-23-2006, 10:23 PM
dmtinker's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Baltimore
Posts: 394
I've owned 6 of them. I love them although they do have their quirks. I would not buy an automatic, that's for sure. Contrary to popular believe, parts are not expensive. There are several web sites that have parts that are reasonable. They are a LOT less than what I've spent on my first Mercedes. I just bought a 300SD and had to spend $600 on 2 exhaust pieces. I could be a complete stainless exhaust for my 900 for that amount.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 04-23-2006, 10:42 PM
davestlouis's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 571
Yeah, I'd rather have a manual transmission in a normally-aspirated 4 cylinder anyway, but like my mom used to say "beggars can't be choosers". I wonder how gutless this car would be...can't imagine it's very heavy, but that's not a lot of engien either. I have been vaguely interested in SAAB cars for years, but have never taken the plunge. Honestly, I really would like to find a tired Volvo wagon for lugging parts around.
__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 04-23-2006, 11:02 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,263
Quote:
Originally Posted by dmtinker
I've owned 6 of them. I love them although they do have their quirks. I would not buy an automatic, that's for sure. Contrary to popular believe, parts are not expensive. There are several web sites that have parts that are reasonable. They are a LOT less than what I've spent on my first Mercedes. I just bought a 300SD and had to spend $600 on 2 exhaust pieces. I could be a complete stainless exhaust for my 900 for that amount.
When I drove Saabs (99's), I would buy most of the parts I needed from Saab dealers. They were not expensive at all.

One example that I recall is less than $190 for a clutch kit, including disk, pressure plate, release bearing and slave cylinder. Compare to any car, and you'll find that it's a good deal. That was a walk-up to a parts counter in St. Louis.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 04-23-2006, 11:36 PM
davestlouis's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 571
The SAAB dealer situation is St. Louis is sort of hairy...St. Charles Automotive got one franchise when MidAmerica went out of business and they are running sales out of a rental trailer in their used car parking lot. Dave Sinclair runs a few out of his Buick/GMC store, and West County SAAB/Volvo is likely the only legitimate "serious" SAAB dealer. It just makes me wonder how serious these guys are about selling and servicing these cars.

__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:08 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page