New sensible modern small diesel daily (Saab 900)

[Mat.T]

So for the last month of so i've been looking for a new daily, in that time i've been driving around in my sisters citroen c3 which is quite horrible. My ebay watch list has been full of 90's french diesels and the like. I realised with my daily commute there isnt the much benifit to having a diesel so instead I bought myself something i've always rather liked:

 

1986 Saab 900, its the 2.0 carb doesnt seem bad on juice. 90K been well looked after, lots of new bits full exhaust a clutch various other bits. very smooth 5spd manual, pas.

I was on the look out for a Saab 99 but the prices have gone up alot since I last looked. Only issues I can see atm are a bit of rot on the front wings and the heater fan not working but appart from that it drives spot on!

[warren t claim]

£££££££££££££?????????????????????

[pogweasel]

Excelsior logic.

 

I thoroughly approve.

[Mat.T]

£650, I think it was up on cars and classics for more like 800ish

[Richard]

That's probably the best year to get, they had a rusty period just after that.

[dollywobbler]

Looks really nice! Top choice.

[AXrescuer]

Good choice - love it!

[dieselnutjob]

like that a lot

 

isn't the Saab engine derived from Austin O series (or somthing)?

so would a Montego turbo diesel engine drop in then?

[The Moog]

That looks mint!

 

Nice comfy swedish motoring

[Spottedlaurel]

Looks like a great buy. Good idea not to bother with a diesel, why pay the premium they'd command when you don't really need their plus points?

[Mat.T]

like that a lot

 

isn't the Saab engine derived from Austin O series (or somthing)?

so would a Montego turbo diesel engine drop in then?

engine was originally developed for the saab 99 and the triumph dolomite. The engine in the saab is mounted longitudinal with the gear box in the sump like a mini, unlike a mini the engine and gearbox dont share the same oil.

 

loads of space, belts on the back and clutch at the front.

arse end, huge bumpers, 5spd badge

econ rev counter

 

grot issue on both front wings

interesting head lining repair

[dieselnutjob]

engine was originally developed for the saab 99 and the triumph dolomite. The engine in the saab is mounted longitudinal with the gear box in the sump like a mini, unlike a mini the engine and gearbox dont share the same oil.

It seems a cleverer design than the Audi / Renault way which is to have a transaxle on the back of the engine which means that the engine has to go right forward with a huge nose in front of the front axle line.

 

My dad had a Saab 95 for twelve years when I was a kid followed by a 99. I remember as a teenage not liking the back seat of the 99 much as it had a hard ridge that ran across the back of my thighs and gave me dead legs after a while.

 

After that he had a Montego turbo diesel which I remember as being so comfortable that I pretty much always fell asleep in the back of that car.

[Mat.T]

So got some new tyres fitted yesterday, well 2 new budgets and 2 decent goodyear part worns. Whilst the car was having the tyres fitted I decided to have a poke at an interesting rust bubble (in the tyre place) on the rear inner arch, which got a bit bigger:

that bit on the end of the sill looks interesting too

funny how one little hole ends up as 3 bigger different ones

 

red bit on the suspension arm was where i got a bit carryied away with the cutting disc, so had to weld that too.

 

Welded both sides and now painted boths sides with zinc primer, nice you can get a paint bush into the sill. Once thats dried underseal on side and cavity wax the other.

[Owain-328i]

Looks nice actually, im not very clued up on saab's, are these OMG RWD?

[Formula Autos]

Looks nice actually, im not very clued up on saab's, are these OMG RWD?

FWD - as all (proper*) Saabs are. The full-fat turbos are a bit OMG though - in a good way.

 

*Some Saab badged SUVs have been sold outside the UK, as well as a Saab badged (and mildly tweaked, styling wise) Subaru Impreza. See Mr. Bo11ox's thread about big money shite for some piccies of the Imprezaab.

[Milford Cubicle]

SAAB was one of the most famous makers of front-wheel drive cars FFS!!

[Marshall]

 

Mothers Union sticker FTW!

 

Car looks nice though

[Mat.T]

more welding practice today!

 

started with this

 

went through this stage, after repairing the inner arch

folded the arch edge lip bit over and welded on to the new inner arch.

 

ended up with this then it started raining

needs a bit more work but as the arch lip is covered by a plastic trim I'm not going to go too mad with it.

 

after a set of front discs and pads the saab got its 12months ticket during the week, no advisory!