Buying a convertible in the off-season is one of the smarter purchases you can make if a drop-top is on your list of cars to own. If you live somewhere like I do where winter is an actual season, convertible usage isn’t nearly as appealing as it is in early autumn or late spring. Sure, there are those of us who pilot a convertible in all sorts of weather, but most buyers want it for use in the best conditions possible. This 1992 Saab 900 Turbo convertible is listed here on craigslist with a sharp color combination and the preferred combo of the turbocharged engine and a 5-speed manual; the asking price is a reasonable $4,500. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Barney for the tip.
The seller’s car sports a somewhat rare color scheme, at least from my own institutional knowledge of how often I see Saab convertibles for sale in maroon or black. As someone who previously owned a ’92 model in the rarest color available, Monte Carlo Yellow, one of the other details I immediately notice is the condition of the bumpers: in states with loads of sunshine or in the case of cars left outside for extended periods, this bumper trim is extremely susceptible to fading and other blemishes caused by exposure. The other key selling point of this car is the upgraded 16-inch “9000 Aero” wheels that came standard on Saab’s top-shelf sedan.
The seller notes that the top works perfectly, which is another detail you love seeing in any listing for a convertible. When I sold mine via auction, the top motor literally burned up while I was filing a video demonstrating the top operation! This Saab also sports a gray interior that includes the carpets, door panels, and lower dash/knee panels, which is a nice change of pace from the usual black. The seller notes he has owned this 900 for nine years, so it’s not a quick flip, but it also means he missed the window in 2020-2022 when prices for clean 900 Turbos swelled.
The 900 manual transmission can be a bit notchy, and grinding is a sign of needing a potential rebuild; they are sensitive gearboxes, to say the least. The cracked dash is pretty typical for 900s, and good luck finding a clean, crack-free unit: they go for a mint when they do come up for sale in the hands of a Saab enthusiast. If you check out the most recent auction sale prices for 900 Turbos, they have definitely come back down to Earth for all but the best examples. But with the 2.0L turbocharged four cylinder delivering the same 160 horsepower and 188 lb-ft of torque through the front wheels regardless of mileage or cosmetic condition, the driving experience will be the same whether you buy a low-mileage time capsule or a driver like this one that you can simply enjoy.
Somebody once described Saab transmissions as “glass.” Sell it while it’s working!
Why having 12 pictures of the trunk lid and not one of the engine compartment? Looks quite good but the interior is uninspiring with the cracked dash and damaged seats.
I have owned many Saab, 95, 96, 99, 900 and even one of the very last 9-3. I have used to say that I liked the Saabs but they never liked me back. Perhaps just bad luck but for sure I had more of serious problems with the Saabs than with cars of any other brand (and most of them were Italian, French or even British!) Head gaskets, turbos, cam gears on the V4… But I never had any issues with their gearboxes so not sure if that’s what would worry me most.
nothing here but another saab story
I really like Saabs in general, and this is a nice example, and both the price and the Aero wheels are a big plus in my book if it’s in good running condition. I’ve had three over the years, the first being a ’76 GL that I bought used from a doctor in Denver and the only problem I had with it was contamination of the engine oil due to a bad seal. The second was a white ’87 900 and it ran flawlessly up to around 67k miles when a Buick made a left turn in front of me and totalled it out. That really bummed me out because it was my wife’s car and it was in perfect condition. The last one was green ’94 900 turbo convertible that I took it on road trips to the west coast twice, to the midwest twice and down to FL from AZ. That car was an absolute blast to drive.
Jerry Seinfeld drove a car like this on the show, the golf club episode was hilarious. I’d like to know what Tony Abato ( Brad Garrett) has to say,,