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Registered: May 2002
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SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 03:19
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I know TOYmods not SAABmods, but who has one, has driven one, or their family has one ?
How do you rate them? I find them exceptionally good value for the amount of car you get (especially the 1994-1995 SAAB 900S 2.5L V6) which can be had for under $10k
They seem to be a good quality car, well made and has a sweet 6 motor
Dont see many of these cars hotted up ... big rims lowered etc .. as they are a grandpa car, but hey .. its something to look into
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Location: Baulko Hillo
Registered: April 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 03:20
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How do I rate them?
I don't.
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Registered: May 2002
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Location: ghetto area 2745
Registered: November 2003
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 03:25
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i do rate them but not in australia as part prices are just stupid
not really made for this climate
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Location: c'town, NSW
Registered: May 2002
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 03:28
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SAAB engine bays are from the bizarro world
clutch at the front belts at the back WTF
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Registered: May 2002
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 03:42
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hmm not made for the heat im presuming - good point
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Registered: February 2003
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 03:49
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design features are absilutely extreme, safety and luxury at the high end.
ignition key behind the handbrake middle section WTF? oh wait, handbrake is left foot too i believe on some models
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Location: Sydney
Registered: September 2003
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 04:54
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don't even think about touching the 2.5l V6!!!!!!!!
they are the worst, made by GM. we had one for just over a year and it was a continuos nightmare. when it was running well it was great fun, but that was very rarely. we traded ours as we couldn't sell it for $13k privately and it was the 1996 900SE with leather sunroof etc. we thought that there was a blown head gasket and the thermostat was screwed as i drove home on a hot day noticing no rise in temp only to get home with coolant dripping down the grill.
i noticed one that was constantly at a local mechanics and asked him if it was there to get work or whether someone in the shop owned it because it was always there, and he just simply said that it was a continuous nightmare.
don't know much about the 2l or the 2.3l but i'm fairly certain that they are the original saab engine as compared to the 2.5l.
personally if i was ever to get a saab i'd only touch the aero's
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Location: Campbelltown
Registered: November 2003
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 05:00
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if you get a saab you gotta get a turbo very fool proof engine. Many easily rack up 400000km. Saabs are renowned for reliabilty but aren't exactly trendy. They are pretty drab design inside and out but none the less are pretty good. The turbo suffer from a bit of torque steer and once you start producing serious power aka Viggen etc they have pretty woeful handling
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Location: Brisbane
Registered: March 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 06:01
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My Mum's got a 2003 9-3, nice leather interior, nice strong pull from 2000 rpm, 5 speed tiptronic gearbox, and i love the look of it!
Possibly a bit pricey, but a nice car to drive
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Location: Canberra
Registered: October 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 07:19
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aren't Saabs renouned for being air filters/cleaners?
I heard that in newer Saabs and particularly in cities like Syney or Melbourne or other cities around the world, the air that comes out of saabs is cleaner than the air that goes in.
Obviously this would never happen in the country or away from cities where the air is much cleaner, but i though this was quite amusing.
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Location: Melbourne
Registered: May 2002
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 07:28
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I saw Jeremey Clarkson review one and the only thing that he could find about it to bring a smile to the face is the 2nd gear 40-70mph time of the 9-5 aero which was faster than a porsche 911 turbo they'd reviewed
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Location: Melbourne - NthSubs
Registered: January 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 07:38
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i was looking into one, once of those 900/9000turbos
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Location: NSW Engadine
Registered: June 2003
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 08:01
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Are the older style FWD?
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Location: Melbourne - NthSubs
Registered: January 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 08:06
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yup
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I supported Toymods
Location: Australia
Registered: November 2003
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 08:06
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Les wrote on Tue, 30 November 2004 11:19 | Dont see many of these cars hotted up ... big rims lowered etc .. as they are a grandpa car
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There's a very good reason for this.
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Location: Sydney
Registered: September 2003
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 08:08
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yeah they are FWD, the only downside really. i'm not sure on the 9000's though... but i'm guessing they are.
i'd happily trade the rolla for any of the newer turbo ones, very nice and they do pull really well. mates mum has a 9-3 turbo and when they took it in for a service she was encouraged to give it a good thrashing hahahaha
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Location: brisbane
Registered: October 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 08:27
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i had a 900 turbo, was shmick - nice an straight, luxurious, mildly fast... good turbo technology and i got
it for a bargin... when it f&*ked up it got sold
ONLY a very new one would be good
BUT!!!!....
older saabs for enthusiests only!! what a waste of time and
effort and gay mechanics!! for f&*ks sake the motor is backwards, on a chronic angle and the head always warps, the
gearbox isnt hell strong and the back end consists of crap
suspension and the front end has all the weight and more wires
than a telephone exchange
not user friendly - general mechanics wont touch it...
to change the brake pads requires saab tool no. 104, to
do this requires saab tool no. 108...
falcon radiator hose $10
toyota radiator hose $12
saab radiator hose $55 and 3 days wait
roll insulation tape $3... and save $55
2nd hand untested gearbox $1500
recond gearbox $2700
bonnet $400
what i was offered for the whole car $300
at the same wreckers
i will never buy a saab again
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Location: Rooty Hill, NSW
Registered: November 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 09:31
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some guy rocked up at a party saying his saab is worth $250 000??
we were like wtf! 250 000 and you spend it on a measly saab?
apparently it was a 'hershey sport' google disagreed with the existance of such a machine
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Location: Castle Hill, Sydney
Registered: February 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 09:36
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wooops, that was me up there
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Location: 1st street on the right
Registered: November 2002
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 11:12
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There's a glut of late 70's/early 80's 900 models around the Blue Mountains with really boxy "aero" body kits that look like they were developed before they could make curves symetrical on each side of the car so they just made it square, massive offset wheels to fit the guard extensions (approx 8 or so inches per side).
Suffer the usual high power = torque steer/understeer fwd charachteristics.
Stick to a toyo!
Ps if anyone finds any pics of the early ones they are good for a laugh. I coudn't.
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Location: Potts Point, Sydney
Registered: October 2003
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 11:16
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i dont really mind the newer ones, look pretty good, but not sure of their performance
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Registered: June 2003
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 11:46
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I don't rate them at all - they are very pricey for what is an below average Euro car. They have some good knowledge with turbos but are simply not the hassle. The 16V Aero was intersting but thats about it.
The way I see it, if you have the money (and you will need a lot) to buy and maintain a Euro car, you may as well get a BMW or Benz or Audi. They look much better aesthetically and are more reliable and handle better.
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Registered: May 2002
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 13:50
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CrUZsida wrote on Tue, 30 November 2004 19:06 |
Les wrote on Tue, 30 November 2004 11:19 | Dont see many of these cars hotted up ... big rims lowered etc .. as they are a grandpa car
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There's a very good reason for this.
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n cressidas aren't ??!
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Registered: May 2002
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 13:54
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sounds like a general consensus of NO GGOOODDD !
im only interested in the 1994-6 Saab 900s, none of the other aero this and turbo that as they are way out of budget !!
my interest in this partic saab is because i have a mate selling one for 8k ... very cheap for what it is i think ... but yeah .. sounds like no go !
thanks all ... will stick to sumthing like a supra or soarer ! heheh
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Location: sydney
Registered: June 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Tue, 30 November 2004 21:37
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i used to work as a prestige car dealer ...80% of the time a saab will come back with a problem
saab peugot citroen scoda ...biggest problems
i had a BMW 535I 92model ...no joke a swapped it for a MA70 supra ...the bm had much more of a value but the supra was a better car and i had no problems with it ...any ways i rekon all european cars exept for MG Jaguar mercedes porsche are crap
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Location: Brisneyland
Registered: May 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Wed, 01 December 2004 01:57
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I had one of the V6 900's.
Worst tramp steer when you gunned it.
Shocking understeer if you weren't particularly careful.
Get raped in the wallet if things go wrong.
Dodgy GM parts throughout.
Enough said.
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Location: Burlington, On. Canada
Registered: January 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Wed, 01 December 2004 01:58
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The two new versions of the 92x are actually Imprezas and WRXs. Just pop the hood and see what you see.
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Location: Campbelltown
Registered: November 2003
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Wed, 01 December 2004 02:35
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gm cost cutting
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I supported Toymods
Location: I renounced punctuation
Registered: May 2002
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Wed, 01 December 2004 02:52
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Front wheel drive.
Need I say more.
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Location: Brisbane
Registered: March 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Wed, 01 December 2004 07:04
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Yeah a real pity about the whole FWD thing, it's a nice car (im talking about the new ones) Could do with more imagination, well any imagination when the centre console was designed. We had a 2002 9-5 Aero wagon before the 9-3, I ate rice every time i drove that! Line up next to a lancer, then they see a wagon on steroids pulling hard!
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Location: brisbane
Registered: October 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Wed, 01 December 2004 08:21
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heres your request a Saab 900 Enduro
12 made it to aus and are pretty rare, boxy flares, better
suspension and steering and 17psi boost... and some other
stuff too....
http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A_0019/article.html
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Location: Parramatta
Registered: July 2002
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Wed, 01 December 2004 23:57
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my gf has one and to be quite honest they are shit. the reasons for my conclusion:
they are fwd
they have everything backwards
not made for the aus conditions (heat)
and the parts are so friggen expensive its ridiculas.
also the fact that everything is backwards makes labour costs through the roof.
ie head gasgets [costs about $1300 because its so labour intensive.
im getting my GF to sell hers i hate it. so if anyone wants a 1990 9001 its for sale. (2.0L 16v)
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Location: London
Registered: July 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Thu, 02 December 2004 06:05
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Aren't 900s Vectra in drag?
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Location: Tassie
Registered: October 2003
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Thu, 02 December 2004 07:43
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After reading this thread i thought i'd take up the offer of a spin in one.
it's a turbo but that's all i know about the model at the mo.
It's poo i would never buy one i wasn't impressed.
traction was pretty minimal. It got beaten by a stock SA63 coupe.
and the handling is woeful.
i don't know anything about fuel usage or anything like that tho they might run on the sniff of an oily rag 4 all i know.
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Location: Melbourne
Registered: June 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Thu, 02 December 2004 07:51
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SAAB's do get hot weather tested (since the mid 90's at least - not sure b4 then), but yeah, they are designed with cold weather in mind.
Drove a few of the last model and current 9-3's (all turbos, diesel and petrol) and they're o.k.
The diesel is a useless lump of shite if the turbo isn't puffing fairly hard (even at low rpm), the petrol turbo gave a useful shove most of the time, and the passive rear-steer suspension geometry lets you tweak the cornering fairly well, for a FWD.
I've seen a few turbos disentegrate (that's what u get for turning the engine off 2 seconds after being at max boost+rpm!) but can't really comment on reliability otherwise.
not really my bag anyway, so I don't really bother to rate them.
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I Supported Toymods
Location: melbourne.vic.au
Registered: May 2002
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Thu, 02 December 2004 11:13
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Hey All,
A mates father breaths and eats Saabs, he has 6 of them 1 rare one, one 9000 Aero, one sports version (9-3 Viggen slightly modded ) and now a AUD$120,000 Luxury turbo rocket .
My opinion... A lot of car/technology/gizzmos for money... Their range/look is ok but I love th look of the mid-90's 9000 Aero.
That is my opinion. If I had a choice for Saab or Toyota... Depending on what is on offer. I would go Saab for the resale value and quality (though expensive on parts ).
That is my 2 cents worth.
Cheers.
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Registered: June 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Thu, 02 December 2004 12:36
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I had a saab 900 1991 model previous to my celica. cost us 8 grand and spend 6 grand in the first year on repairs. Our mechanic had one that did over 300 000 k's without anywhere near as much trouble as ours had, but maybe the previous owner of ours didnt look after it well.
They are nice cars, but be weary of ones that arent well looked after. As stated above parts are expensive.
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Registered: May 2002
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Thu, 02 December 2004 13:41
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ZZT231 wrote on Thu, 02 December 2004 22:13 | Hey All,
A mates father breaths and eats Saabs, he has 6 of them 1 rare one, one 9000 Aero, one sports version (9-3 Viggen slightly modded ) and now a AUD$120,000 Luxury turbo rocket .
My opinion... A lot of car/technology/gizzmos for money... Their range/look is ok but I love th look of the mid-90's 9000 Aero.
That is my opinion. If I had a choice for Saab or Toyota... Depending on what is on offer. I would go Saab for the resale value and quality (though expensive on parts ).
That is my 2 cents worth.
Cheers.
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no resale value on saabs mate !!
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Location: Castle Hill
Registered: August 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Thu, 02 December 2004 14:18
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SHEwiththe18RG wrote on Tue, 30 November 2004 20:31 | some guy rocked up at a party saying his saab is worth $250 000??
we were like wtf! 250 000 and you spend it on a measly saab?
apparently it was a 'hershey sport' google disagreed with the existance of such a machine
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Hmmm was that at a Kenthurst/Annangrove party??
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Location: sydney
Registered: July 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Thu, 02 December 2004 22:12
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saabs arnt to bad
tho they r mechanicly a nitemare
but then again all euro cars are crap when compared to japanease cars and the price u for them Vs quality and bang for buck
they just dont compare
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I Supported Toymods
Location: melbourne.vic.au
Registered: May 2002
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Fri, 03 December 2004 03:42
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Fieryisles wrote on Thu, 02 December 2004 23:36 | I had a saab 900 1991 model previous to my celica. cost us 8 grand and spend 6 grand in the first year on repairs. Our mechanic had one that did over 300 000 k's without anywhere near as much trouble as ours had, but maybe the previous owner of ours didnt look after it well.
They are nice cars, but be weary of ones that arent well looked after. As stated above parts are expensive.
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In the second hand market there is from my understand... but hey... it might be that I am miss informed.
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Location: Brisbane
Registered: June 2004
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Fri, 03 December 2004 20:18
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I dont care what anyone has to say SAABS are extremely good cars many get up to and including 300 kays on the clock before needing yet another major rebuild the engines the noises they make with all the ratttles just sound great, almost reminds me of my old wornout 8 with 10000000000000kays. The uglyness of thir design really blow my mind. The overpriced parts and the absoloutly retarded way that they are put together really makes my day. Seriously STAY away from the european shitboxes SAABS peugots merc`s BMW`s any I may have had the pleasure to have finnaly got out of my mind are all of poor design overpriced and not designed for Australian conditions and in my eyes a BA XR6/8 falcon or Commodore feels miles better to drive and cheaper to. Stick with mayor brand JAP crap (Toyota, Nissan and to a way lesser degree Mitsubishi) atleast their engineers obey the laws of logic and dont make things needlessly complicated and overpriced. If you must by something retarded by a Exploder 4X4 they are overpriced their gbox is shit get poor fuel economy and handle as good as a SAAB and a added bonus is you can kill people in small cars when you hit them with your bullbar. And will be as hard to get rid of when you finaly wake up to it.
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Location: Sydney, OZ
Registered: May 2002
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Re: SAABS ? How do you rate them ?
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Mon, 06 December 2004 01:58
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My GM always have like them and I don't know why, The last one had it's H/G change over four times before it even had 100,000Km's on the clock and at this mileage, his cars get past on to lower employee's of which No one wanted it! So dissapointed he got and S70 volvo instead (again BMW, Merc etc wer options, but he chooses a VOLVO!?). The one before which is still part of our fleet is a bigger heap, interior falling to bits, gearbox crapped itself at 150,000km's and it over heats when someone looks at it the wrong way! And the one before this, well, same problems and was off loader to some poor bugger at the auctions.
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