I truly am a coward

[babydriver]

I have always drempt of owning a Triumph Vitesse or herald convertible and as some of you know me laddo gave me £400 for Christmas, wellllllll I wont get much for under 2 grand in the dream world so I got to thinking that cos I really want a convertible and my mid life crises is like having screaming hormones I fancy a Saab soft top, Seen 2 on autotrader for under £1000 that are quite nice sooooooo I thought If I could get the trader to take me lado's micra and 500 smackers, give me lad my Xsara which for some reason he gets a bit of a boner over (oh to be 18 again)we will all be happy.Anyone know of any nasty's I need to look for, are they expensive for parts? I have been told that they are Renault engines. Im thinking modern comfort over 40+ years of possible grot. I will wait till Mr lotto smiles on me and then get a nice Vitesse when I am old. Spend the kids inheritance loyke!!Thanks in advance for any tips.

[wuvvum]

Anyone know of any nasty's I need to look for, are they expensive for parts? I have been told that they are Renault engines.

What, in Saabs? No, Saab never used Renault engines. Ford and GM stuff got used, plus their own engine which was distantly based on the Triumph Dolomite 1854cc lump. Parts can be dear, especially if bought from Saab, but there are enough independent specialists that you can usually get what you need at a sensible cost.Nasties depend on which model you're looking at. Gearboxes can be a weak point on all 900s - check it goes into reverse OK and stays there. Classic 900s rot mainly on the front arches, door bottoms and bonnet lip. GM 900s tend to go around the rear arches if they go anywhere. Later engines also tend to be less robust than the earlier ones, and 16 valve lumps are more prone to top end issues than 8-valvers. Oh, and all Saab soft tops scuttle shake like it's going out of fashion, but that's just the way they are.

[r.welfare]

For a bag of sand I'd imagine you're looking at the GM900 shape (1994-98 or so). These should be early enough to miss out on the engine sludging issue that appears to affect a lot of 98-03 2-litres and 2.3s, but I'd still listen out for any undue noises from the bottom end. Also, the electric roofs seem to be problematic at this age and price range if eBay is any reference. They do all have leather though, and look nice in a dark metallic IMHO.That said, if you want modernish open-air motoring for around the grand mark it's a struggle to think of an alternative - other possibles are Escorts, Meganes, Rover 214/216s and 306s if you don't mind something smaller, a 205CTI if you don't mind something smaller and a bit older, a Rover 114 if you are insane, or perhaps an Audi or BMW E30 (but probably a mid-80s Baur sort-of T-Bar type) if you want a prestige badge. Or a Eunos Roadster (import MX-5) if you don't need four seats?

[babydriver]

I'd love an Audi soft top, ooh yes but I thought they were out of that price league, not too keen on the sound of the scuttle shake though, I thaught the Golf was quite bad that I borried!! Nice looking Scrote in bournrmouth for £400 quid finishing on the bay today how bout that. 205cj sounds like fun.Been looking at mgf's all seem to have the head gasket problem. Guy near me wants £3200 for a j reg eunus mx5 when I asked him, I told him to go get his bumps felt.

[Guest]

Guy near me wants £3200 for a j reg eunus mx5 when I asked him, I told him to go get his bumps felt.

It'd need to be the mintiest, most unmolested, most OMG DRIFT YO Eunos ever for it to be worth that. You can get UK market Phase 2s for less than that.What a choad.

[babydriver]

121k miles, cracked brown leather seats, one naff cd player +side is its an auto.BRG scratched paint with tan roof i'd say 900 squids at the max

[Guest]

121k miles, cracked brown leather seats, one naff cd player +side is its an auto.BRG scratched paint with tan roof i'd say 900 squids at the max

Much closer to the mark chap. What a div.

[Andrew353w]

Check out the web site of "Two Strokes To Turbo" (www.twostroke.co.uk) who are Saab specialists in Cambridgeshire. Genuinely helpful people at the end of the phone and a garage with whom I've personally spent over £1000 without complaint. They keep a stock of Saabs for sale at reasonable prices. There's a "Y" reg convertible for £5k I'm looking at... A few weeks ago they had a "P" reg convertible, with full Saab history, new electric hood & 12 months' MOT for £2K. "It doesn't get any better than this!"

[andrew e]

I'd try the 306 - polished up it still looks quite presentable. Probally because its roll bar less. Saying that I can't stand driving the Mrs one.

[MrRegieRitmo]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1992-RENAULT-19-C ... 45f09e9ef0

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Renault-19-Conver ... 439b0ed3fc

[seth]

Check out the web site of "Two Strokes To Turbo" (www.twostroke.co.uk) who are Saab specialists in Cambridgeshire. Genuinely helpful people at the end of the phone and a garage with whom I've personally spent over £1000 without complaint.

I once came across one of their vans while in traffic on the North Circular. I was in the Saab at the time (V4 95) Didn't even acknowledge me

[Cavcraft]

There's a few cheap Saab convertables about, or was recently, including a few

[messerschmitt owner]

I'm also thinking of one too - they can be had for under a grand - but alternatives I have owned includethe Punto cabriolet - designed from the off as a cabrio and stronger bodily than the hatch - quite rare but v good cars.And there is the Astra cabriolet too - bought a fsh 1995 for £750 with ten months MoT. Not quite as nippy as the Punto cab, but definitely more space inside (and a bigger boot)The Renner 19 is OK ...Don't fancy the Ford Escort cabriolet myself.Saabs, though, are as cheap as it gets for a decent quality car that will go up in price at some point.I occasionally see BMW soft tops for under a grand!One advantage of a cabrio is they do tend to have done lower mileages and been more cherished than the equivalent saloon