Saab produced the first generation of 900s from 1979 to 1994. The model was as close to mainstream as the quirky company would get. In the last few years, the 900s have been increasing in value. Although this example is less desirable with a soft-top and automatic transmission, it still presents the opportunity to own a factory turbocharged vehicle with lots of character at a reasonable price. This Saab 900 Turbo was listed for auction on eBay with no reserve. The bidding ends November 26th.
The Saab is finished in what looks like factory Scarab Green with a khaki soft top. The exterior appears to be in good condition for its age. The seller notes that the convertible top can be operated manually. The car was owned by a single family which often leads to it being looked after properly. The car’s aerodynamic shape was ahead of its time with an extremely low drag coefficient.
Saab’s roots in aviation are apparent in the cabin as well where all switches are easily reached. The 900’s interior is tan leather with some minor wear in line with its age. The dash is black with what appears to be wood around the gauges. The 900’s odometer reads just over 67k miles which is very low for this model. The car is equipped with heated seats and a unique center console-mounted ignition switch.
A 16-valve 2.1-liter inline-four sends power to the front wheels via a 3-speed Borg-Warner automatic transmission. Saab 900 owners often rave about the driving experience of these oddballs. The car was designed with excellent weight distribution and handling. Despite having just 160 horsepower the car is said to be very fun. There’s a whole cult following around these cars and it’s not without reason. If you want to become the newest member of the Saab 900 fanatics bid on eBay before it’s too late.
Low mileage garage queen will make a nice car for someone after taking care of the deferred maintenance and replacing the top cylinders. Leather is still supple and I didn’t see a crack in the dashboard which is a unicorn these days. The automatic transmission is the elephant in the room but overall not that bad reliability wise. This car could be a real score given presentation isn’t doing it a favor.
The automatic transmission used in the original Saab 900 is a front-drive variant of the ancient Borg-Warner Type 35 or 37. This is probably the last production vehicle that trans was used in, at least for the U.S. market. From what I’ve read over the years that transmission will usually last only about 100,000 miles, and swapping the slushbox for a 5-speed stick shift is a popular conversion for these cars.
I’ve also read that there are no replacement windshields available for these convertibles so be careful on gravel roads and stay away from construction vehicles!
My late friend was a Saab fanatic, owned several including a convertible like this one. Only a stick for him though. He didn’t follow the crowd and these cars didn’t either.
“Unique center console ignition switch”….and a colossal pain to replace (ask me how I know). BTW, this color combination (green with beige top) was a very common one for these convertibles, perhaps because it is so attractive. These are not the easiest cars to work on (I’ve had 2 – an 85 turbo/5 speed my ex-wife came to our marriage with, and an 88 non-turbo 5 speed I bought for my son). Nice cars when they didn’t have any issues, but troublesome to troubleshoot when they did.
The weak point is the top of the strut towers for the front suspension, they rust out. Possibly repairable, but not easy, but when the punch through, it is toast. But a joy to drive then, and even now.
The original (often called “Classic”) 900 didn’t have strut suspension. Dual A-arms and tube shocks were employed in front, much like you’d see on a ’65 Chevy.
It is too bad that this color combination was only available with an automatic, I believe, in 1993. We actually looked at these at the time and compared them to the 94 commemorative edition that did come with a stick, but was not as desirable color in our eyes. Now we own what is probably the only monte carlo yellow convertible from 1986 ( repainted – they were all silver) and an ’85 Turbo hatch. Both 16v and stick. I would say that the online support for these is tremendous, even if parts are getting harder to find for some things.
I bought one of these at a charity car auction ($2,100.00). It was in great shape- black with black top and tan leather interior. I couldn’t understand why it was there. Shortly afterwards, I was driving it and had to apply the brakes hard. This resulted in the car veering suddenly to the right, on to the shoulder of the freeway. Consulting the internet, I came across a post describing the problem and the correction. I went to Pick and Pull and bought a used ABS system accumulator from a wreck ($8.00). Problem solved. About a year later, a Lexus pulled up behind me on a rural road and flashed its lights and honked its horn. A stop sign loomed up ahead and I thought I was going to be a victim of road rage. The Lexus pulled up alongside me and the driver motioned to roll down my window. He yelled out, “That used to be my car! I loved it, but nobody could figure out what was wrong with the brake system. I was scared of it.” I didn’t tell him about the fix. But he was a cool guy- he gave me his number and eventually I went to his house, where he gave me the cover for the top when folded, a car cover, a spare radio and some other SAAB odds and ends. It was a great car- I should have never sold it. SAAB trivia: Why doesn’t the windshield wiper assembly come right out of the engine compartment without additional disassembly (despite the factory manual saying otherwise)? After turning it every possible way, I gave up and called my SAAB guru. It turns out that the bulkhead on a 900 convertible is about 2” closer to the engine than a 900 sedan.
Seller is disingenuous in his description of what I assume is a failed power top mechanism. Makes me question everything else he says. Barnfind writeup says it is less desirable as a convertible & automatic. The convertible top is the only reason I’d consider it. But agree that the automatic is a negative, at least for us performance loving “Boomers!”
I bought a used hydraulic pump for my SAAB convertible for $30.00 on eBay as a spare- it looked brand new. Is there a blown fuse in the circuit? The no power to the top problem could be several things, but it wouldn’t put me off of buying this if I needed another car. As far as the transmission goes, yes, it isn’t as much fun as a manual, but SAAB 4 speeds are notoriously fragile- bearings and synchronizers. The guy who bought mine munched first gear within a few days due to fast, sloppy shifts (he normally drove a Honda)- even after extensive instruction. There is a number on the transmission that you have to match, supposedly, to the existing transmission in your car for a replacement. I looked in several yards for a spare for my car, but never found one.
Many moons ago , i went to see and try one with money in hand , boy was i ever disappointed when i realized it was a front wheel drive !
I bought a ’94 convertible in Phoenix back in ’99 and drove it all over the western and southern US and never had any trouble with it. One day I pulled into a parking spot in Sedona with my readheaded girlfriend and a guy came up and thought we were Hollywood stars come to hang out in Sedona for a while. That was a riot, especially considering neither one of us looked like any actor or actress, so I guess it was the vibe of the car. :-)
I have a ’90 Turbo ‘vert…Fiona began life as a slushbox. 105,000 miles later, the slushbox grenaded, which is a common occurrence. The torque converters usually give it up around 100K. We had the autobox replaced with a five speed. The manuals are pretty bulletproof…I have five Classic 900s and I’ve never had any issues with the gearboxes. Slave cylinders, yes, gearboxes, no. Saabs are cult cars and those of us who love them usually have more than one……