The owner of this 1989 Saab 900 Turbo convertible admits it’s “not perfect,” and that’s something of an understatement. But the car is said to drive well, and the asking price on Craigslist in Boulder, Colorado is only $3,300—cheap for a manual turbo “vert.” Thanks Jack M. for the tip. The owner is honest about the car. “If you are looking for a fun classic Saab 900 Turbo convertible, welcome to the party! She’s a zippy, unique, open-top experience mixed with Swedish-funk and safety. If you need something perfect —100 percent reliable, rust-free, ready for a Pebble Beach Concours… well… you may wanna pony up the extra $$ and find a nicer example. This redhead is a solid and fab runner, but not perfect.”

I own a 1993 car with near-identical specs, and the advantage of these 1989s is that they were made the year before Saab added airbags and ABS brakes, two great things but frequent failure points on these Swedish automobiles. My car also had a lot of issues when I bought it, but not many now. The car for sale looks like it has more than 180,000 miles. Old Saabs can have many faults but still run well.

The turbo motor and five-speed transmission are said to be “excellent,” with the car shifting “perfectly through all gears. It’s super easy to drive. Feels quick and happy!” The power top works and doesn’t leak, though it’s definitely rough around the edges. All the power windows work, which is nice. It may be that the windshield has a rock chip, which is a bit concerning—convertible glass repair is tricky.

The “new high-quality waterproof” seat covers look kind of cheap, and they’re covering rips and tears. When someone (especially in Colorado) says they “don’t know” if the seat heaters work, they don’t. The glovebox cover is falling off. The radio doesn’t work (and the speakers are beat), interior is peeling all over, and the whole effect “lacks grace.” The rubber floor mats are new, though.

The right quarter panel looks like the surface of the moon. It apparently had surface rust, then was sprayed with rust prevention, “and sealed with Saab red and clear coat in what may be considered the world’s worst paint job. Just saying. At least it is ‘custom’ and ‘one of a kind’ just like every Saab owner.” The hood is not the same color as the rest of the body. The owner says it’s good from 10 feet, I’d say you need at least 30.

Mile-high Boulder seems to preserve metal. It’s claimed that there’s no rust in the frame, suspension, or “anywhere that matters.” The Bridgestone rubber is in good condition, and the toolkit is in good shape.

The owner concludes, “So yeah, spicy fun redhead convertible Saab. Plenty of delightful imperfections that can be addressed (or not). Ready for you to rip around town, the mountains or the beach! We have too many cars and she’s not being driven and sitting isn’t for any car and she needs a good home.”

OK, honest enough. Also, honest is the fact that you might be able to find a nicer 900 Turbo convertible for $3,300. Values of Saab 900 Turbos are a bit down now, but Hagerty puts one in good condition at $15,500. This one is not on that level, but it seems to have good bones.