Another day, another Saab 900 Turbo cabriolet. This time, it’s an even lower mileage example, with just over 23,000 miles on the clock. When it comes to convertibles, it’s hardly uncommon for a car to show only modest signs of use, especially if reserved for summertime cruising. This 1988 model features the preferred turbocharged engine and appears to come with every last detail as it relates to the owner’s manual, boot cover, and other items that typically get lost over the years. A sale at the current asking price of $29,950 as listed here on eBay will require the next owner to assess whether they can look past the 3-speed automatic transmission.
When I was a young(er) man, I had zero tolerance for automatics. I felt if you were going to drive a car that could be optioned with a manual, it was your God-given duty to only order it with three pedals. I have softened on this over the years in certain cases, but not all. In the case of my 1989 Isuzu Trooper RS, it has a wonderful combination of the 2.6L 4-cylinder and an Aisin-built 4-speed automatic. It’s a great transmission. However, in some cases, it’s harder to make the argument for the slushbox; the Saab 900 Turbo is a car that really needs the 5-speed to be enjoyed to its fullest.
However, in some instances, the rest of the car is simply so good that it’s compelling to look past the automatic, and perhaps even buy it with the intention of converting it to a manual. I did exactly that with my 1991 Saab 900 Turbo convertible, mainly because the swap in the 900 is fairly straightforward (really!) Obviously, you need to track down the parts and find a shop willing to do the work, but as far as conversions go, it’s one of the easier ones to tackle. Given how immaculate this Saab is inside and out, I’d say it’s worth the investment if you want a forever convertible and it needs to have a stick. No cracks on the dash, beautiful leather seats, and really no discernable flaws in the cockpit.
Under the hood is a 2.0-liter 16-valve DOHC inline-four engine, good for 160 horsepower and 188 lb-ft of torque. These are perky little motors, and they really deserve the manual for the purpose of winding them out. Regardless, if a transmission swap isn’t in the cards, you can still enjoy this Saab for in-town jaunts and quick runs to the shore. If your plans include longer-distance drives and the occasional backroads blitz, I’d set aside some budget for the manual conversion. It’s worth every penny. What say you: would you leave it as-is or start sourcing manual swap parts as soon as you got it home?
This is a nice looking SAAB but I’d SAAB if someone converted it to manual, since it’s in such nice original condition. Besides, parts aren’t getting easier to find. A more logical mod to make if you really must would be an (dare I say it) LS swap complete with 4L60 transmission. Forget three pedals, they become tedious if you live in my land of endless red lights and stop/go.
Jerry Seinfeld had a car like this on his show with several hilarious episodes. The one with Brad Garrett, “The Obsessive Saab Mechanic”, and the golf clubs was tops. Seinfeld said, “Saab represents, everything everyone else is doing, we’re not doing that”. THAT,,,was a funny show!