Mid 90s Saab 900 spec details.

[phlap]

Greetings Saab aficionados .
Im visiting from the TVR forums as Im considering a 900 as a daily driver. My budget is £1500 - £2000 and Im looking for something which will be a pleasant way to commute. Im not bothered about performance (I have a Chimaeara 500 for that), but want a good all rounder with a hatchback. I know little about Saabs but they have always appealed. The 900 2.3 seems just right although they seem rarer than the 2.0. Ive looked at one rough 2.3 so far but this had an engine management warning light on amongst other horrors so I ran away. Here is the issue. I am confused with the model range. I want as reasonable spec as I can get for my meagre outlay. What are the main differences between base, S, XS and SE trim levels on a 96/97 car?

Thanks

Phlap.

[900T-R]

I'd strongly urge you to consider early '90s examples of the pre-GM 'classic' 900 as well. The GM 900 is a pale imitiation of the original car that put Saab on the exec map, and you'd be well advised to go for a '97-on model in any case as it was rushed to the market and there were many subsequent improvements as a result. Late classic 900's are better built, vastly more fun to drive (if a bit noisier and less cushy, but as a TVR owner you'd have no problems with that - besided Turbo's make a nice noise that belies their humble cylnider count) and will hold their value.

[saf]

We used to run a 9-3 2.3i SE,1998 model. Saab only fitted the 2.3 engine in the 9-3 for 6 months, then went all 2.0 turbo. Would say the 2.3 in the 9-3 was not as good as the 9000 2.3 this seemed to be more responsive and torquey (both our cars were autos by the way) having said that it is still a good engine and fairly economical, and still picked up when kicked down. You should be able to pick up a 9-3 2.3i for around the money you've quoted, but as stated they are rare, and you may be better looking for a 2.0 LPT (low pressure turbo). By the time the NG900 was rebadged 9-3 a lot of the problems had been sorted, but don't expect perfect panel gaps - that's just not Saab well until the 9-3SS that is

Reason we changed - fancied a 9-3SS, only time I've missed the hatch was when I went to get my embroidery machine, they had to deliver instead .

[Prof Beard]

Engine management warning light on a NG 900 is, assuming the car appears to run ok, nearly always either a stuck thermostat, thermostat sensor, or some other temperature related gibbins I can't remember the name of. It came on on my wife's NG 900 (1994 900s) and was a stuck thermostat.

The missuses NG900 is one of the earliest of the NGs and has been fine, we've had it for six years - been very reliable (well we did have the auto box rebuilt, but that was at around 190,000 miles, so not to bad) still on original engine at 205,00 miles) - we've been very pleased with it - it pursuaded me to buy my 93 aero hot conv as well!

[phlap]

Thanks Gents.
I do like the 'classic' 900 also but the nice ones seem to be out of my humble price bracket hence the idea to go for the newer model. I'll keep hunting and let you know how I get on. At my current 15 mpg I'll have recouped the cost of a 2 grand Saab in 6 months from fuel and service savings alone!

[NiceCupOfTea]

Hi phlap,

My brother has an N-plate 2.3 and it's a nice car. Actually quite quick when you push it and it seems to get him just under 30mpg with mixed driving. It's comfortable and well screwed together although it's a fairly uninspiring drive as standard.

Avoid the 2.0 at all costs, it is gutless. My dad had one and it cost him a fortune in petrol as he had to thrash it everywhere - mind you it did replace a 9000 2.3 Turbo! Turbos will likely be better specced, and they have hit rock bottom so your 2k or so should see you into something decent. Go for the latest model you can - 96 on preferably as they are better built. A Talladega special edition will have some bits of 9-3 kit on as well (the nicer plastic trimmed bumpers rather than the IMHO rather tacky chrome trim.

Incidentally I have just found some jpgs of the spec/trim list from the gm900 range which should tell you exactly what you need to know!

Drop me an email and I'll forward them to you (about 1MB)

Edit: spec levels seem to go -

poverty - S - XS - SE.

Definitely go SE At the prices they are you might as well get the toys!



>> Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Tuesday 7th March 21:02

[NiceCupOfTea]

Nothing much on the trader at the mo, all the tintops are traders and the prices are bumped up. Private sales are all of ragtops.

Keep an eye on the forum classifieds:

www.uksaabs.com
www.saabscene.com
www.saabcentral.com

and also

www.saabtrader.co.uk