Some cars I've owned

[ERNO]

Just thought I'd post a few pictures of some of the cars I've owned. I've had a thing for Saabs for quite some time but I've had a few other bits and pieces over the years too.

 

1996 Saab 9000 CSE LPT I own this currently. It's up for sale in another thread you may have seen.

 

 

1982 Saab 99GL in metallic brown. This picture is from summer 2000, parked by the side of the A895 between Kincardine and Dunfermline.

 

 

 

 

1992 Saab 900S LPT

 

 

1987 9000 and 1984 99GL

 

1990 9000S

 

1986 900 Turbo 8v

 

1996 900S

 

Some other non Saab stuff...

 

 

1990 Eunos Roadster 1.6

 

1990 VW Vento CL

 

1987 Renault 5 Campus

 

1979 Mini City E

[Jim Bell]

Nice spread there fella.

 

I effing love 9000s.  They were the last unloved classic (in my eyes) Saab.  Even they are creeping up in value.  The B230turbot is such a lust after-able engine.

[HillmanImp]

I effing love 9000s.  They were the last unloved classic (in my eyes) Saab.  Even they are creeping up in value.  The B230turbot is such a lust after-able engine.

 

I still sometimes wake up on a cold sweat thinking about that time Skizzer (I think) had a mate selling that WEAPON gold Saab 9000 for about £500 and I didn't buy it.

 

WHY DIDN'T I BUY IT?

[ERNO]

The low pressure turbo engines are excellent. Surprisingly economical for a 2.0 turbo around town if you're gentle with it, but still have tons of torque cruising at 70. With the turbo spun up they zip up to 90 and back to 70 no problem.

[Wilko220]

Saabtastic. What a great selection.

[Jim Bell]

WHY DIDN'T I BUY IT?

We have all been on that bus mate.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

I have long liked SAABs.

[forddeliveryboy]

Tell us more about your Saabs. My favourite would be the '86 turbo, going on what I know. What were the unblown 9000s like?

[stripped fred]

Nice portfolio there. I like Saab's but am a bit embarrassed to admit I have never owned one. I need to rectify that soon. A 9000 with a LPT engine sounds promising but i've also been looking at the 9-5 with the 2.2 diesel engine although that's modern enough to have a greater potential bork factor I should think.

[ERNO]

Tell us more about your Saabs. My favourite would be the '86 turbo, going on what I know. What were the unblown 9000s like?

 

My 900 turbo wasn't a very good one. I had to change an alternator and steering pump. It needed a steering rack so didn't steer very well. Lots of lag then scary boost through front wheels controlled with a horribly notchy steering rack. I swapped the 900 turbo for two 99GL's, one of which is the '82 in the picture. Ran that daily for a year or so quite happily.

 

I like normally aspirated Saabs. They aren't as fast as the turbos, but take to being driven with lots of revs well. One of the best drivers I ever had was a poverty spec D plate 900i 8v two door. Really rough, needed hotwired since the centre console ignition barrel had succumbed to years of fluff and crumbs. Was a great drive though, totally different to a turbo car but definitely not underpowered.

[forddeliveryboy]

Yep, I had a dog of a turbo, too. But also a really sweet early 16T. Happy days. I was always amused by the imperial threads on the engine and metric elsewhere - or was it tother way round?.

 

I had a best mate at school whose Dad was a Saab nut, I remember a trip to Billingham ice rink up the A1 in an '81 or '83 900t, with amazing seat decor. That was a very Saaby Saab. He replaced it with one of the first 9000T16s, 1985 I think. Blindingly fast and it felt bland after the other one, but so competent.

 

All gorgeous cars, so sad such quality has gone all Audi-orrid.

[ERNO]

My 900 turbo was pretty knackered. Now I think about it, it jumped out of second and whined in every gear. Bought it from a guy on Loch Lomondside somewhere. He didn't let me drive it but scared the living daylights out of me bombing around the backroads on boost. So yeah, kinda sold a pup as my first Saab.

 

9000s are definitely blander than the swoopy, curvy quirkiness of 900s but I like driving them. The white F plate, I bought for £300- odd quid and put 20k miles on it before giving it away. Hardly cost me a penny.