Thinking about checking out a cheap CL Saab 900S. 1989, 2dr, 5spd. What do I need to look for? It's got some rust in the fenders and doors (waiting on detailed photos) but the floors are reported solid. Otherwise a pretty clean car, has maintenance records going way back. These things are huge under the hatch, yes? How useful is this space for hauling stuff (big stuff, like from Home Depot or taking a load of crap to the dump)?
They have a huge amount of space with the back seat folded down. They tend to rust in the front where the suspension attaches. That's what took my last one off the road.
Got it. I'll ask for photos of that area. Thanks.
When I was in the Air Force we used to put 8 of us in my 87 900 for 2 hour trips to New Orleans. I loved that car but not sure how much I'd like a non turbo.
It's a 16v if it makes a difference, but I'm not looking for a hot rod. A cheap, efficient, utilitarian vehicle that doesn't bore me to tears will be just fine, thank you.
World's easiest clutch job. Engine and trans both remain in car, clutch comes out like a record from a juke box.
I love the early 900’s... been a while since I’ve been around them but heard parts are getting tough to come up espciLly good heads for them
is this the 2.1 litre engine? Compared to the 2.0 it is the problem child of the saab world. It is a "big bore" version of the engine and tends to blow head gaskets every 250,000 miles or so.
The 16v engine has a reputation for being even longer lived than the 8v, at least in the UK. Plus, the somewhat fragile transmission holds up better behind a non-turbo.
BTW, did you check that it's a 2 door + hatch? At least in Europe I'm pretty sure you could also get a two door sedan (ie, no hatch), and those are a lot less practical (and a lot uglier) IMHO.
In reply to BoxheadTim :
They were available stateside in all body configurations. The 2 sedan is less common then the hatch, but it does exist.
It is a hatch. I believe it should be the 2.0 vs. the 2.1.
It's a 2.0L -- 2.1L was 91-93
The amount of stuff you can cram in these things with the seat down never ceases to impress me.
(A couple thousand 2-doors with trunk, or notchbacks, came to US 85-86 only. Rare here now - I own one, as does another GRM'er.)
Not much else to say that hasn't been - trans can be longer lived if nonturbo. 89-90 were the best years for trans. Pretty sure the 89 NA has a one-year-only funky coil with some extra crap on it, the details of which escape me now. I have not had issues with parts availability - I usually get stuff from eEuroparts or my local indy. Note that some "genuine Saab" parts are now no better than the crappy aftermarket stuff (there is a company selling "oe" Saab parts). If you buy the car, a Robert Bentley manual is a good thing to own; imo saabnet.com is the best forum, but use Google to search it, and you'll need to get beyond the anachronistic look of the site.
These cars have a double wishbone front suspension and so handling can quickly be improved by adding shims for more camber.
Edit: Almost no one who's ever driven my 900 walks away without telling me how fun it was to drive, from "car guys" to my sister, who couldn't really care less about cars.
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