Hey, I have the opportunity to trade my 2002 Focus ZX5 for a 1998 Saab 900 Turbo Converitible - a straight trade. Saabs being Swedish and all, what do you think is the weakest part of a Saab, and the most expensive (and likely) to need repair?
I already don't quite trust that nifty, multi-fold convertible top, which, by the way, has been replaced on this car a couple of years ago.
It drives very nice; it's a California car and in great shape with 90,000 miles on it.
What's your opinion? After driving it, we got back into the Focus to drive home, and it certainly felt more "normal" in the Ford. But with all its quirkiness, a drop-top Saab is kinda sweet.
Saabs weaknes..used to be their gearboxes...but that was on earlier models..90 000 miles are aprox 55 000 swedish..a busy saab..you should start testing the engine when its cold ...Turbo ?.....Stick or auto gearbox ? aluminium head on this engine..check for pressure in the radiator....if the engine has been overheated...the head could be twisted...and has to be machined straght...so...drive it again to check that its not a boiler....but as long its not coming blue smoke from the exhaust..engine should be OK..i will chec some more........
The guy who wants to trade bought it on eBay. He put $3,500 into a new convertible top right away. And then it's been sitting in his garage for two years. He figures he's driven it about ten miles.
When I got there on Sunday evening, the car's battery was dead from disuse. So we jump started it. The car fired up right away. No smoke, runs great.
The gearbox is manual. The car ran and drove beautifully. The only small weirdness I could feel was with my hand on the gearshift knob, when I would let up from the gas, or when I would accelerate from coasting, there was a slight vibration in the shifter at the interval between gas / no gas.
So when I let off the gas, there was a slight vibration for moment. And if I had my foot off the gas but then stepped on the GO pedal, there was a slight vibration again.
I don't know what it means. Could be an engine mount, or could be...?
As for the number of miles, 90k miles on an 11-year-old car is less than average, at least for U.S. averages. That's less than 9,000 per year and in the U.S. the average car is driven about 12k miles per year.
Biggest problem with this Saab: there are no cupholders.
Hahahaha .no cupholders....dont think that vibe should keep you from being a SAAB owner.they are not that common over here..the vibe could be the gearbox mount..i guess theres only one mount for that....replace the gearbox oil..and hand the Saab over to missus JP..i think she would look good in a SAAB
173,396 members
2,599,576 photos
7,002,315 comments
Upload
Explore
Make Friends
