UKSaabs

hi guys,due to the "problems"we seem to have regarding models,i was wondering if its possible to explain why we got our model of saab with out having a dig at the other models in the saab line up??
1998 9-3 verti-bought because i wanted the newest, cheapest, convertible that has a bit of style,that all 3 of use could fit into for my money,looked at astra,audi,bmw,but the 9-3 seemed to offer the best of what i could get for £1800,drawbacks, i have found,bulkhead crack (being fixed next week) and a general looseness of steering feel,positives,lots of room,nice quite hood,comfy seats,holds its own in the looks department .
remember lets keep it clean and unless you are giving the lowdown on your model only, no jumping in to contradict a member,this way new members might get to see the + and - of each model with out all the flack that usually goes with it.

My first Saab was a GM900, 2.3 non turbo and I loved it, it was just plain" different" - I had no intention to even look at it as i was viewing a C class Merc, but it just caught my eye, after a while I bought a 9-5 and within 24 hrs the engine failed!

The support I got on the forums at the time was immense and after a legal wrangle the sellar paid our friends Neos to fit a replacement engine..........soon the slippery slope to modifying began and I met Wessy........ah, history!

As he's now my best pal, it would be hard to own anything else!

Considering all that would seem to have happened today, do you think it a good time to be posting up such a question? Could it have waited for another day perhaps?

i was after an answere not a question as per thread title.

Ah, sorry. I don't drive a Saab then.

Well I for one am happy to contribute to you thread

I was offered a new car in 1986 by my employer and I was going to have a 190 Mercedes, I went to Alan Day MB and the guy more or less threw me out of his office because "I couldn't afford one". The lease company said I could and I wanted to have a look but after that I went to the local SAAB dealer and he was brilliant.

I asked for a 900 (now classic 900) but ended up with a 9000 (my boss had no idea) but this was a significant upgrade at the time. I subsequently joined a new company (after a 9000 turbo .. at the age of 21 .. wow!) but they didn't offer a company car so I biught a 900 T16S ... e661 ynm.. loved it to bits.. subsequently had a few 9000's and 900's but the 900's stuck with me and I ended up selling parts for them amongst the other models.

I've had loads of very good cars but I have never tired of my old shoe. It may not be expensive but it is distinctive and cheap to keep on the road albeit not the most frugal but I suspect it has appreciated in value and always makes me smile

Steve

I was a BMW 325i owner, but then had our 2nd child and was looking for something bigger. Started making the logical upgrade by looking at 530i sports, but then I kept noticing adverts for 9000 Aeros. More power, better economy, more kit as standard, cheaper parts, cheaper insurance, you get let out at junctions, people don't think you're a , for the same money a 2-3 year newer car...so I bought one...the slippery slope then started.....

Getting 225bhp for £750 was reasonable and it was great fun, but ended up selling it as I have a different car to play with.

My Dad has been a Saab driver for 28 years, now on number 13....

I grew up with them and when I could, I bought a 17 year old 99GL which I had for 2-3 years. Moved to Germany 6 1/2 years ago and through sheer fortune discovered IDS (Diplomat Sales, not Ian Duncan Smith) and bought a 9-3SS Aero for silly money. Kept that for nearly 6 years and had always promised myself a 9-5 Aero - never considered anything else, even when the future of Saab was uncertain. I just love the cars, flaws'n'all.

£3 per hp, not bad

The first SAAB I bought was a 1994 2.3 Griffin Manual with the Magic Carpet suspension. Unfortunately the seller decided that £450 wasnt enough and refused to sell.

The second SAAB I bought was a 1994 2.0LPT Manual 9000 Saloon with a dead clutch. Managed to get it from Bristol to Yeovil before the clutch gave up completely on me. I then had a really mad idea, why not buy another 9000 and strip it for bits to fund the cost of the repalcement clutch. This was the top of my slippery slope and I have now owned in the region of 15 SAABs in the last 3 years including a GM900T (bonkers car with no boost control and very aggresive re-map) and a 9-5 that didnt have a sludged engine.

Current fleet includes a Carlsson, Griffin and Aero. We paid £350 for the Aero (manual) with some MOT and rusty wings. I make that less than £1.50 per BHP

It was the smile I got in 2nd and 3rd and also motorway cruising, worth every pound. Ended up with a Belmont Merit 1.3,

Although I will be getting another NG900 in the not to distant future hopefully as I deeply, deeply regret selling it.

When I was a student, I went halfers on a Cavalier with me mam. By the time it came to sell it on (or scrap it) I had been thinking about what to replace it with. This would be about 1999. I wanted a decent enough car and it had to have a hatch. I wasn't interested in an estate though. I'd thought about old 80's Land and Range Rovers but felt they'd be a bit slow. They were also more expensive than I felt I could afford. I can't really remember how Saab came into the equation. I think I might have read an article in Practical Classics about the C900 being a good 'workhorse' of a car. I then discovered one of my friends had a C plate C900 turbo. He thought they were great cars and easy to work on also.
So that's how the first Saab came about. I specifically looked for a C900 5 door. I think I bought the second one I went to view. It was owned by a mechanic who worked in a Saab dealership. It came with all reciepts from new. I had it for four years and the only things I replaced were the exhaust, brake pads and the idle control valve. That was it!
The other Saabs have just followed on. I don't think it's brand loyalty. I think they are decent, under-estimated cars.

I had less than £2k to spend and couldn't find a C900 vert in good enough condition, so decided to try a 9-3 vert.

Once I am flush again I will probably revert to the C900, even though i am starting to get used to climate control and dare I say it, a fractionaly more comfortable ride.

Lots to be said for both, but the C900 is the car I lusted after in my teens!

Mark

I got my first saab around 14 years ago, due to lack of finances I had a bog standard fiesta, only thing going for it was it was very reliable, then after meeting my partner who had a saab 900 turbo I got my first 99, what a fab car. Now onto a 9000 carlsson, also had a few good 900's. Cannot imagine driving anything other than classic saabs.

I was always under the impression that Saabs were for older guys and just another run of the mill car brand. But on the way back to work in Newmarket a red c900 cabrio came screaming past me on the M25!!!! Twin exhaust pipes, top down and sounded like a NASCAR!!! Awesome!
So I got searching and rally fancied a flat nose 9000 Carlsson. The guy I worked with mentioned he used to have a brand new 9k Aero in '96 and it was fantastic. Back then they were around 5k so out of budget...but a 9k 2.0 Anni was just affordable so I snapped it up. Hooked after that! Just felt great to drive and didn't feel like any other car I've owned. I tried a different make (mercedes) thinking I'd be happy with one, but have come back to Saabs.
Can't see me changing brands any time soon. Great cars with they're own little quirky characters, comfy, different from the crowd of 'normal' cars and FAAAAAAAAST

i bought mine becouse i liked the look of the car. it sounded fast at 185bhp and it was the same amount of money i had in my pocket. little did i realise i should have kept my maverick i do like the car but its too low for farm lanes so itts probably going to have to go over the summer

After being driven around in saabs since i was 1 (22 years in total) i became addicted and vowed that my first car would be a saab 900 no matter what. (had a few minor distractions with vw golf mk2's and minis but they were just pictures in books) Low and behold my dad gets persuaded to part with his 900 early last year. I pounced on the opportunity like a starving animal would on some food, and bagged myself a free car. (technically the wrong model as i wanted a c900 aero desperately, but the NG900 won me over, although i really would prefer a 3 door version)

Main reasons behind why i will stick with saabs and hunt down that ever elusive c900 aero in eucalyptus green, are:
1. They are uncommon around here (especially older ones)
2. I find the styling to be a thing of beauty
3. Good value
4. Comfy

Things about my saab in particular:
1. I'd already lived with it for 10 years, so i knew it well
2. I loved the colour and knew it was uncommon
3. It was free (though i would have paid up if required)
4. A better car than anyone else i know at my age. (especially my Clio loving cousin)

1. Big boot for a pushchair
2. Looks great
3. Big boot for other baby stuff
4. Really comfy on long (and short) journeys
5. Big boot...

Were you with me today, or what? Agree on all counts: same goes for this model. So long as I never take Ikea up on the offer of assembling stuff BEFORE I take it home, all is well.