1987 Saab 900i
Discussion
A month or so ago, I found myself looking at an advert for a Saab 900. I didn't need one of course, but a classic car is always difficult to argue against. Especially one as practical as this. I have owned a Saab before, but a GM one, I have always wanted an original 900.
After impatiently waiting for the seller to return from Italy I was able to go for a look.
The morning after I brought it home.
It's been parked up for a month or two under a tree with an expired mot.
My initial plan was to spend some months going through everything and getting it ready for mot.
After having a proper look over the car my plan changed.
Apart from some crustiness on the arches, the body is good.
I ordered a service kit and got to work.
The tyres where a bit perished so I replaced them, I had spotted in the advert photos that it wore a matching set of Michelins and I always think that's a good sign of no scrimping.
The history is very comprehensive, its first oil change was at 3k and it's been well looked after ever since.
I gave the outside a basic wash for now to remove the greenery.
Inside needed a good going over, I just have to, a car isn't mine and doesn't feel comfortable until I've done a proper cleaning.
It went for mot and passed.
So I have used it a few times a week and a couple of weekends. No better way to get to know the car.
After impatiently waiting for the seller to return from Italy I was able to go for a look.
The morning after I brought it home.
It's been parked up for a month or two under a tree with an expired mot.
My initial plan was to spend some months going through everything and getting it ready for mot.
After having a proper look over the car my plan changed.
Apart from some crustiness on the arches, the body is good.
I ordered a service kit and got to work.
The tyres where a bit perished so I replaced them, I had spotted in the advert photos that it wore a matching set of Michelins and I always think that's a good sign of no scrimping.
The history is very comprehensive, its first oil change was at 3k and it's been well looked after ever since.
I gave the outside a basic wash for now to remove the greenery.
Inside needed a good going over, I just have to, a car isn't mine and doesn't feel comfortable until I've done a proper cleaning.
It went for mot and passed.
So I have used it a few times a week and a couple of weekends. No better way to get to know the car.
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Teddy loves the 'big growling Mercedes' but after a couple of outings in the Saab, I think he maybe a convert. Until such time as we need air conditioning again anyway.
Now I've had a bit of a chance to drive this car I am really enjoying it. It's not fast of course, but I don't drive fast on the road so that's not a problem. This was bought as a classic car and that is how I use it, but it's also expected to be practical. Lots of things taken for granted now are a consideration, even down to things like rear seat belts that make a car more usable.
It's an interesting car to drive, bit of an odd driving position and no adjustments to the steering wheel to be had. This is standard non sport suspension so combined with the high profile tyres bumps are floated over much like being in a Range Rover classic. Body roll is also very similar to an RRc. Get past the body roll and it actually handles quite reasonably with excellent road holding. Mid corner bumps and corrugation make absolutely no difference even when pressing on. The view out is great. The car feels absolutely solid. The way the doors open and shut etc it just feels like a tank and is something everyone that has been in it noticed.
Just touching once more on practicality, we had 4 humans, a big pushchair, lots of stuff and I also bought a 5 foot long painting while we where out and despite me telling the shop owner we may have to come back in a sensible car, in it all went.
Thank you all for your nice comments.
One of the main problems I noticed when I went to see the car was the heater blower not working. I always check this as I don't particularly enjoy taking dashboards out and all the faff that goes with it.
After giving the car its first wash I took it for a drive around the fields as this was before I got the MOT.
After taking the photos somewhere higher in the thread I started playing with the heater controls and listening to the hisses they make as they are vacuum controlled and all of a sudden I felt heat blowing.
I had found my first Saabism. The fan switch has 1,2 and 3 but no zero. However it turns out you can switch it off by turning the heat direction control to 0. Glad I found that before I got balls deep into the bulkhead.
The radio, no signal just hiss. The aerial is broken but I hopefully have a new part for that.
I tried a known good cassette in the deck and no joy.
No bother, while I'm getting to know the car I'm happy to listen to it's noises.
However I tried one of those tape to aux adapters I had laying around and bingo, that worked.
So the last time I drove it I had some Erasure 'blasting out as well as the absolutely horrific speakers could manage.
Have some mildly satisfying random photos....
One of the main problems I noticed when I went to see the car was the heater blower not working. I always check this as I don't particularly enjoy taking dashboards out and all the faff that goes with it.
After giving the car its first wash I took it for a drive around the fields as this was before I got the MOT.
After taking the photos somewhere higher in the thread I started playing with the heater controls and listening to the hisses they make as they are vacuum controlled and all of a sudden I felt heat blowing.
I had found my first Saabism. The fan switch has 1,2 and 3 but no zero. However it turns out you can switch it off by turning the heat direction control to 0. Glad I found that before I got balls deep into the bulkhead.
The radio, no signal just hiss. The aerial is broken but I hopefully have a new part for that.
I tried a known good cassette in the deck and no joy.
No bother, while I'm getting to know the car I'm happy to listen to it's noises.
However I tried one of those tape to aux adapters I had laying around and bingo, that worked.
So the last time I drove it I had some Erasure 'blasting out as well as the absolutely horrific speakers could manage.
Have some mildly satisfying random photos....
Some details for the detailing enthusiasts.
Stainless trims and wheels where cleaned with some kind of iron fallout remover bleeding style cleaner.
The trims where polished with Autosol, then waxed with some Bilbury wheel wax.
After being very impressed with Angelwax H2GO on my windscreens for the last couple of years I decided to try out some more of their stuff.
Angelwax Ceramic coating tyre black was put on the brand new tyres and 3 weeks later they are still looking great and no fling.
Stainless trims and wheels where cleaned with some kind of iron fallout remover bleeding style cleaner.
The trims where polished with Autosol, then waxed with some Bilbury wheel wax.
After being very impressed with Angelwax H2GO on my windscreens for the last couple of years I decided to try out some more of their stuff.
Angelwax Ceramic coating tyre black was put on the brand new tyres and 3 weeks later they are still looking great and no fling.
New PIAA bulbs. So far only gone down the drive to shut the gates but quite a difference.
Dash grill out and LED instrument cluster illumination in.
Noticed the main cable to the starter was chafing a bit on the gearbox case so applied some bike inner tube to sort it.
Remember these? I had to dig mine out of deep hibernation as the lack of security was playing on my mind.
Some more Saab related observations.
The instrument cluster is always illuminated while the engine is running, regardless of headlights.
The passenger seat has some kind of seat occupancy mat as the dash warning for seatbelts comes on if someone sits on the passenger seat without a belt.
Great stuff, well saved - it should serve you well and looks to be very much into the 'solid' end of the Saab 900 spectrum. Not too much rot to cut out I hope!
It looks you are getting well acquainted with all the quirks, and your effort on the wheel trims is superb. Great to match the window chrome surrounds.
Safe driving & happy fault hunting.
One item I noted was the coolant looked red/pink - OAT type stuff. I may be wrong, but I don't believe any classic shape 900 should be run on red coolant, and if its not been chnaged since you started this refresh perhaps look into a thorough flush, scrub and check if it should be 'back to blue'.
It looks you are getting well acquainted with all the quirks, and your effort on the wheel trims is superb. Great to match the window chrome surrounds.
Safe driving & happy fault hunting.
One item I noted was the coolant looked red/pink - OAT type stuff. I may be wrong, but I don't believe any classic shape 900 should be run on red coolant, and if its not been chnaged since you started this refresh perhaps look into a thorough flush, scrub and check if it should be 'back to blue'.
It's been a while so an update.
Back in November on the way home from one of our regular visits to IWM Duxford we where cruising along the A14 until our exit, and on the slip road down to the roundabout the brake pedal went to the floor. Obviously this isn't ideal at 70mph, luckily I was able to pull the handbrake up a couple of clicks before pulling the shifter down to select 2nd gear (yes it's only a 3 speeder) as this was occuring I pumped the brake and after probably 4-5 pumps I had some pedal and we where able to make a complete stop in plenty of time.
After assessing everything we made very steady progress for the last couple of miles of country road.
What we found was the two brakes on the drivers side had seized on and got very hot.
So it's had the front calipers rebuilt and the handbrake mechanisms stripped and sorted out.
The rear calipers have also been rebuilt, discs and pads and wheel bearings have also been replaced.
All the oils and fluids where changed again and it is now better than ever.
We covered around 800 miles over Christmas and then on Friday we drove another 250 miles to Wells, Binham and then Blakeney.
Parked next to another unusual car. The number plates where from the Alfa Dealer in Hitchin where 20 odd years ago I went to look for a 156.
As I have used the car more it has improved no end. Also the rear wiper is now working, I did wonder as there was no switch for it weather it had a different tailgate fitted but it turns out that it sweeps three times when I use the front washers. The headlamp washers and wipers also work now.
I fitted a MOMO Astra 4 spoke as it looks very much like the options available at the time and it meant I could fit a spacer so I can actually reach the steering wheel now while being able to move my legs.
I really enjoy driving this car, and I'm getting a bit bored of the Merc daily so it will see more use.
My thoughts are turning to another car to rotate with this one for all duties and I think I shall be looking for a new shape 900 or an early 9-5.
Back in November on the way home from one of our regular visits to IWM Duxford we where cruising along the A14 until our exit, and on the slip road down to the roundabout the brake pedal went to the floor. Obviously this isn't ideal at 70mph, luckily I was able to pull the handbrake up a couple of clicks before pulling the shifter down to select 2nd gear (yes it's only a 3 speeder) as this was occuring I pumped the brake and after probably 4-5 pumps I had some pedal and we where able to make a complete stop in plenty of time.
After assessing everything we made very steady progress for the last couple of miles of country road.
What we found was the two brakes on the drivers side had seized on and got very hot.
So it's had the front calipers rebuilt and the handbrake mechanisms stripped and sorted out.
The rear calipers have also been rebuilt, discs and pads and wheel bearings have also been replaced.
All the oils and fluids where changed again and it is now better than ever.
We covered around 800 miles over Christmas and then on Friday we drove another 250 miles to Wells, Binham and then Blakeney.
Parked next to another unusual car. The number plates where from the Alfa Dealer in Hitchin where 20 odd years ago I went to look for a 156.
As I have used the car more it has improved no end. Also the rear wiper is now working, I did wonder as there was no switch for it weather it had a different tailgate fitted but it turns out that it sweeps three times when I use the front washers. The headlamp washers and wipers also work now.
I fitted a MOMO Astra 4 spoke as it looks very much like the options available at the time and it meant I could fit a spacer so I can actually reach the steering wheel now while being able to move my legs.
I really enjoy driving this car, and I'm getting a bit bored of the Merc daily so it will see more use.
My thoughts are turning to another car to rotate with this one for all duties and I think I shall be looking for a new shape 900 or an early 9-5.
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