Comparatively Easy Chod Collection...Saab

[Cheggers]

I'm feeling kind of inadequate after reading of Wat's epic journey, but here's mine anyway...

 

I managed to score a decent looking Saab 900 Convertible for little more than scrap money. The description seemed honest & well-written and the car was only* 180 miles from home

 

So yesterday morning I started my epic rail journey from Reading to Welshpool - A bargain at £31, especially as I had £28 in vouchers following a long OMGSNOKAOS delay a few weeks earlier. £3 to get to Wales, beat that Six Cylinder!!

 

Start point:

 

 

End Point:

 

 

Phil the seller picked me up from the station and drove me to his remote cottage to pick the car up (it was during this drive that I saw Wat in the BX, pre-breakdown...). The cottage wasn't completely in the arse end of nowhere, but you could see it from an upstairs window.

 

Money changed hands and I started the long plod home. Compulsory part-way-home shot:

 

 

Having finally reached the M54, I decided to stretch the cars legs a bit, only for the front section of the exhaust to let go...'kin noisy - Oddly, the last owner had replaced the back two sections, but not the (cheapest) front one. In fact, he'd managed to shear the flange while fitting the new bits and bodged it up with Gun-Gum & chicken wire. I did the same and continued on my noisy way South East without further adventure.

 

Fast forward to this morning and a chance to have a closer look at my purchase, and I'm very pleasantly surprised. The engine & gearbox are strong and the bodywork is incredibly solid & rust free, with just a bit of lacquer peel on the bonnet. The hood looks as good as new too. The only immediate issues I can find are the borked exhaust section, faulty hood which I understand needs to be reset using Saabs Tech-2 magic, jammed seatbelt (hopefully just the ratchet pawl needing lubrication) and a handbrake which is less than useless. Looking good in the watery winter sunshine:

 

 

Lying in the boot in the original folder were all the manuals, a bundle of old MoT's and, best of all, the full service history with a book full of main dealer stamps

 

The bundle of paperwork is fascinating - I have the original company lease agreement & all subsequent receipts. The car sold in 2000 with 99k on the clock for £7,800, which makes my £300 seem like even more of a bargain, and digging deeper, it's only travelled 23k in the last 10 years (total is currently 131k). Finally, if the V5 is to be trusted, I'm only the 4th owner.

 

All in all, I think I've had a bit of a result.

[theorganist]

That is a very nice looking car and a bargain too by the sounds of it.

[Cavcraft]

That looks suspiciously like Dinky's on the layby on the A458, just before you get to Shrewsbury on the left. Had many a nice bacon and egg on toast from there whilst skiving in my last job.

Surprised there was no FLOOD CHAOS round Welshpool, the bit by the roundabout on the A458/A483 was always a nightmare, and the surrounding area. Anyhow looks like you've done bloody well with that, they're quite fit those open top SAABs.

[Cheggers]

That looks suspiciously like Dinky's on the layby on the A458, just before you get to Shrewsbury on the left. Had many a nice bacon and egg on toast from there whilst skiving in my last job.

Surprised there was no FLOOD CHAOS round Welshpool, the bit by the roundabout on the A458/A483 was always a nightmare, and the surrounding area. Anyhow looks like you've done bloody well with that, they're quite fit those open top SAABs.

 

That's exactly where it is!...sometimes you guys worry me.

[Rocket88]

These seem to be incredibly cheap at the moment, these and early Golf ragtops seem to be as cheap as there hardtop brothers!

[eddyramrod]

That looks like a bloody good deal! Well found sir!

[Spiny Norman]

One of the few drop tops I'd consider, looks like a bargain.

[Cavcraft]

*Also there used to be a tramp who lived in the toilet block at that café. I know you wanted to know that.

[barmatt]

Nice find, these are a bargain atm for some reason, I almost bought a '99 plate one of those a few months ago for £750, don't know why I didn't do it?

 

Oh yeah the missus said the bumper looked a bit big last time I listen to her

[Alexg]

Great work, and a brill bargain!