Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Use car advice

I'm looking at a very clean, late model,used Saab convertible to buy. Anyone have any experience or knowledge of Saab cars?

Pronounced "sob" for a reason?

What's the particulars? I can check the Consumer Reports site for ya.

They're nice, but you'll pay a lot for parts.

Fun cars, but pricey parts. Maybe if you lived in Sweden? I see a lot of them coming off lease for relatively low prices.

I guess it might not be bad if you had a dealer or good independent specialist nearby. Preferably one whose kids have already graduated Med school.

Here's a link to our local Saab club.

http://neflsaab.com

My wife has had one for 7 years,7 very expensive years.
Major problems with roof mechanics $1000,seatbelt replacement $1100,electronics $1350,That is only some things we had problems with,+remember SAAB is no longer they closed production last year.Just bought another car and trying to sell the SAAB.
My advice is DON'T

I hate working on sobs, I always cringed when ever I had to go under the hood for anything.Every one I have ever had experience with has been problems.I would stay away from Sob.

I had an old Sonnett III in the 80's. It was a true garage find. Very cool car. The only car I ever made money on. Today, I would steer clear of the last years of them.

I can tell you body parts are near impossible to get. Don't know about mechanical parts. I would have to agree with Pete don't do it.

my old man had a 900 turbo and then a 93 turbo. Fun to drive, but not sure Id ever own one. We didn't have a lot of problems, but when we did only one person locally would work on it, and he was a shade tree. Parts were pricey and overall it wasn't worth the headaches.

Just my $0.02

My last Saab was a three cylinder-two stroke, with a four speed manual transmission, shifted on the steering column.
Can a car be any more F'ed-up?

So many decades ago, it doesn't help you.

Yeah, those '60s era Saabs were a blast to drive. I had an elderly Norwegian neighbor that drove one. This was in the late '60s, he had to be in his '70s and he drove it like he was in his '20s, with his wife sitting by his side. I always thought it funny to see the blue hairs hauling ass - both of them grinning all the way. The smoke out the tailpipe matched their hair. The Johnson's were cool folks.

I lived in a unique neighborhood then. The Saab folks held Christian Study classes in their home for the neighborhood kids and their next door neighbors held Wiccan meetings for adults in theirs.

More info. I test drove it today before I read all youse guys. Really nice car. 1999,Turbo 93. The dealer is a good guy, my family has bought lots of cars from him, very honest. It was his wife's "fun" car. He couldn't get the top to work, but said he would look at it. 110 K. Two thousand to buy it. I'm really taking you guys advice to heart, but it sure is a sweet ride.

If its one you can leave parked in the garaqe on occasion and not have to depend on it for a daiy driver - then go for it. It's probably already depreciated most of the way anyhow. Our most fun adventures rarely make financial sense or we'd all be driving Toyota Corollas.

Just post pics.

True, I had an MG A and that was great fun. I would buy another if I found one I could afford but not a dependable car. I would buy an Opel GT too to play with but again not a dependable car.

Personaly i would stay away from the Saab's they have never been the most reliable car for some reason or other and many mechanics won't work on them, Volvo makes a nice car even the older one but parts are still an issue and can be pricey.......

Opel GT, loved that car!

The only advise I can offer in buing a used car is this.
Keep it simple. Get a 77 Mecury comet with that inline 6 cylinder.
Now thats a good car.

Yeah, well, you guys helped talk me out of it. Really was a cool car, but in addition to your advice, I researched a little on the net and other places. NOBODY had anything good to say about a used Saab. (Except for a Saab car fan site) All I kept hearing was, "parts are way expensive and hard to get, and, you'll need'm. I don't need another expensive toy, and I already have some that are broke. Guess I'll think about fixing those with that two grand. Thanks for the feedback fella's.

Yea man fix the toys ya got. If they dont turn ya gears turn some cash with em and find something more interesting.
Good luck and have fun.