New Member Introduction

[Finlandia]

Hi Thought I'd better introduce myself. Long-time lurker, had a user id for a couple of years, and been a guest for a couple more before that.

 

How do I come to be here? Years ago I followed a link from "The Blue Forum", and here just seemed like a "Jolly" corner of the internet. Friendly people who like the unusual, "odd-ball", and just plain obscure or forgotten. Sounds good to me.

 

Me? Early fifties, carrying far too much weight, and having done a number of "office jobs" find myself back working on the family farm.

 

Cars? When I was younger, as a family we had all sorts of British & European "Shite". Mk1 Cortina, Humber Sceptre (Super Minx type), Hillman Minx & Hunter "Arrows", Sandglow (Cheese Wedge) Princess 1800HL, assorted "proper" Minis, and a couple of mk1 Astras amongst others.

 

Since the mid 1980's I been lucky to have bought & sold (and killed) SAABs, something like 30 of them. 99s, including two turbos, a 90, 8-valve c900s in 2/3/5 door & carb/ injection/ turbo flavours, & a very fast but subtle "flat-front" T16 and four or five 9000s, mainly 9000 2.3 full pressure turbo autos. Parents have had a couple of 5 door c900s, and three 9-5s -my 80+ year old mother currently drives a 51-plate 9-5 2.3 turbo estate.

 

Why SAABS? Cheap to buy "pre-enjoyed", roomy, fast when needed, will take the hammer of the farm lane & across fields, and with the back seat down, one of the biggest boots this side of a Volvo estate, with no high step to lift heavy "tackle" over. We've had a couple of Volvos too. A 144GL and there's a late 245 still kicking about.

 

My "better" half's first car was an Allegro, followed by a number of mk2 Cavaliers. Next was an Omega estate -great car, but "a bugger to park", apparently. Next came a Laguna 2 (!), which always had some sort of electrical "naughtiness" going on, and to this day I can't see how a keycard is an improvement on the good old-fashioned key and keyhole. Eventually the dephaser pulley started to rattle it was was on borrowed time, and eventually self-destructed, taking the cambelt and rest of the engine with it. A Zafira B beckoned, and has just destroyed its gearbox. Should've kept the Omega...

 

There's also a K-reg L-R Defender that we've owned since it was maybe six months old. Its towed heavily-laden cattle trailers all over the north of England, and various SAABs bought from all over the UK, so worked hard, and only "failed to proceed" once -the starter motor failed at less than 12 months old. Plenty of other failures though, and it had thousands of pounds of warranty & "goodwill" work done in its first three years. Its always craved regular attention, and just has to mark its territory when parked, thing is though, its like an elderly Labrador. It may look a bit frayed at the edges, and smell a bit, but its been one of the family for the best part of 20 years.

 

Right, that's enough of me waffling-on (I'm starting to fall asleep myself to be honest). I'm struggling with picture re-sizing for posting, so just one picture of my current everyday taken earlier this year. 1996 9000 CSE 2.3fpt.

 

Hope a new topic is OK? I tried the link to "New Member Introductions" in the "Before You Start a New Thread" thread, but it doesn't work.

 

 

[chaseracer]

Welcome along.  Swedish chod is popular here, especially the right-angled stuff north of the border.  Tea/biscuits over there in the corner next to the broken Almera.

 

We'll knock on the basement door and ask the technical department to check that link...

[Uncle Jimmy]

Valkommen fellow Saab tinkerer.

[Twiggy]

Welcome - a grand introduction, and you`ll fit in well here..........................

[Guest Hooli]

'ello, plenty of saab bothers here too, you'll fit in

[wuvvum]

Welcome along.  I do like a bit of Sibelius.  And Saabs.

[Talbot]

You are Vodka AICMFP:

 

 

Also, Welcome along!

[Mrs6C]

Welcome from another with a family farm and some Volvos!

[tooSavvy]

I have a reputation......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

........ for saying Hello!

 

[Finlandia]

Thanks for the warm welcome.

 

Finlandia? Like the suggestions, but clue is in my profile picture.

 

Also forgot we had a couple of Triumph Toledos. Lovely little cars, but bald cross plies and wet grass are not a good combination.

[stuboy]

welcome aboard sailor

[iainrcz]

Willkommen Timothy.

 

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk

[GeordieInExile]

It pleases me that your mother is in her eighties and drives the same car as me. Welcome!

[Saabnut]

Welcome.

 

I may* like Saabs myself.

[DSdriver]

Despite my forum name we have two Saabs as well as the DS in our fleet. Welcome to Autoshite.