Saab 900 S turbo

[Molydood]

I am looking at buying a Saab 900 turbo as a daily runaround, spending about 2k, anybody know if this is a good plan or if I'm asking for trouble?

It will likely have 80-100k miles on the clock, but you see a lot of high milers so I assume this is not too bad for a 900?

any other (better) suggestions, rear wheel drive is good, but I have also looked at track oriented peugot 205's, which would be fun also. does not need to hold luggage etc looked at mx5 too, but not too many in that budget range

lastly, anybody want to part exchange something interesting and impractical with something boring and practical (99 plate passat)?

cheers,

Martin

[oioi]

i have an impractical mx5 which i was looking to get shot of for 2 1/2k

not sure i want a passat,but could consider it. is it a diesel?

[oioi]

forgot to say, mate had a saab 900 turbo.  great car, very practical, hugely expensive when it went wrong (and it did)

[Molydood]

thow me some pictures and info if you like, I will certainly consider it.

my car is 1.8 20v se, not diesel. only 59k miles though

[Mike H]

Bloke at work had one - it had 250,000 on the clock and ran really well.

Swapped it for a Merc E-Class - so he'll be seeing the garage waiting room a bit more now!

Mike

[oioi]

ill show mine if you show me yours!

if you are seriously interested PM me and I will let you know the good the bad and the ugly

[Molydood]

go on then send me the details

[samcooke]

Had the first of the GM 900 Turbo SE 3 doors on a 94L, bought in 02 with 69k miles, sold it 03 with 94k miles and a FSSH.

Liked the car, but...

In the 18 months and 14k miles I had it :

All (and I mean all) of the rubber hoses perished one by one, which was fiddly and expensive.

The ignition cassette let go (best part of £200).

It popped a turbo (I've blanked the price from my memory).

A plastic pulley shattered and it shredded the poly belt.

I needed the AA four times.

It averaged 26mpg (Did better in my 528 BMW).

It devoured two full sets of front boots, one every 6k miles.

It handled and gripped like a rubbish thing (even after expensive Konis) and had no traction whatsoever in the wet.

However, I got a recorded 152mph out of it and no one hated me, unlike in the bimmer.

The coutesy car at http://www.abbottracing.com/ had 250k miles on it, which sounds impressive and it drove very nicely. Just don't ask how many bits have been replaced or how many times.

[Molydood]

thanks for the comments Sam, looks like I may be opening a can of works with the saab experience!

[GWatson]

My mate had one and the turbo went at 90k on the clock. Expensive to fix and run, he sold it within 6 months.

Good motorway cruiser mind you and it has a huge boot.

G

[Molydood]

seems like turbo going is a common theme, not good. I am sure there are good ones out there, but even with saab service history its not gauranteed solid mechnicals it seems. looking like a less nice option at the moment