Final Year Survivor: 1994 Saab 900 S Convertible

The Saab 900 is a model that often comes to mind when picturing the perfect summer cruiser. Yes, I know, many of us think of the Fox body Mustang or similar American muscle car as the drop-top of choice, but the 900 has impressive staying power as a preferred summer cruiser. Even with the brand effectively going out of business in the U.S., people who have never driven a 900 will still connect the convertible model to summers by the sea. This is a final year model of the original 900 and it features the naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder with the preferred 5-speed manual. Find it here on eBay where bids sit at $5,100 with no reserve.

One of the biggest selling points of this Saab is that it is a stick. I know that sometimes goes without saying, but it’s really a must-have for both die-hard Saab owners and even just non-car people who want a convertible. When I had my Saab 900 Turbo in rare Monte Carlo Yellow, I actually bought an automatic car and paid to have a shop swap it. To date, that is still the car I made the most money on selling, and the pandemic bubble certainly helped with that. But Saab people really do associate three pedals with their brand loyalty more than most, and it still holds true today (it also helps that the 3-speed automatic is a garbage transmission). The interior of this final-year, naturally-aspirated model is in outstanding condition, with beautiful seats and what looks like a crack-free dash, which is impossible to find.

The lack of a turbocharger is a bit of a bummer here; the turbo really does add to the fun of a Saab. However, the N/A engine choice is far from a deal breaker, especially considering it helps cut down on some of the front wheel hop that happens with the more powerful boosted cars. You got 140 horsepower and 131 lb.-ft. of torque, which when paired with the stick, is more than enough to get to the beach in a sleepy seaside town (where else would you own one of these?) Of course, if you’re a hearty New Englander like I claim to be, you’d be fine driving this up into the mountains of Vermont, which the second ancestral home of the Saab after Sweden.

The bodywork looks clean and the same goes for the top. The standard alloy wheels are a disappointment; swap them out for the larger and iconic 16-inch wheels from the 9000 Turbo Aero; you’ll thank me later. A slight suspension drop wouldn’t be the worst idea, either, as 900s look absolutely fantastic with a little less room in the fender wells and the aforementioned wheels swapped on. With under 80,000 miles, this 900 has likely just been used as a weekend car, and the condition looks as nice as the seller is describing. With no reserve, someone is walking away with a fantastic summer cruiser.