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Saab 900 / 9000

2

Comments

  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    Yours in particular, jimrearden, or the model year in general?

    carlady/host
  • rfellmanrfellman Member Posts: 109
    What do you mean by total lemon? Did you not have the benefit of the manufacturer's warranty?
    Did your car suffer from systemic brakdowns? Was the Saab USA service unacceptable? Did you have engine, suspension, build quality, and transmission problems? Obviously, you have had an undesirable ownership experience, but how can any of us repsond to a general blanket indictment of the 97 Saab 900? Are you so angry that you remain incapable of articulating the basis for your anger and resentment? Please fill us in.
  • jimreardenjimrearden Member Posts: 2
    My SAAB was in the shop again!!!! Although this repair, an ignition switch, was under warranty, I still think It is a terrible car. I can't rely on it at all. I feel as though I am driving a 12 year old car with problems instead of a brand new one.

    It only has 28k miles and is just over 2 years old.
  • manjmanj Member Posts: 1
    hello i need help on deciding about this saab
    900se year 1995. it has 63,000 miles and i am
    tying to get a response from anyone who has had
    one, what kind of gas mileage did it get,
    troubleshooting, maintenance, anything. believe it
    or not, I need to decide between this car and an
    SUV. The reason is i live near new york city and
    parking is a problem. I just loved this car's look
    and thought it might be more affordable and easier
    to have in city. the cost is 12,900. Thank you
  • sashjosashjo Member Posts: 1
    Sounds like a good deal. I'm selling my 94 900 SE for the same amount. It has the same amount of miles.
  • maynardf1maynardf1 Member Posts: 127
    Be sure to check that the water pump pulley was replaced, as per a recall. If not,have it done because it will break and cause plenty 'o damage to surrounding parts.
    Also, see if the power antenna has been replaced. If not, budget to do that yourself soon.
    Is it a 6-cylinder or turbo 4? If it's the 6, be sure to change the timing belt regularly.
  • crascras Member Posts: 1
    I purchased a '96 900SE 2 door coupe with 55k miles in January for 13,500 in a private sale. What a deal! It had every option available and was in mint condition in and out (aside from a small tear behind the passenger side leather seat which looked to be caused by a ski that slid when in the rear seat pass through.)

    I love the car. It handles great, accelerates awesome and is the most comfortable car under 3500 lbs on the road (I am 6'4" 220 lbs).

    The best thing that ever happened to people like us who are after used cars is Saab's questionable reputation in the early nineties. Apparently, the car was pretty lousy with respect to frequency of repairs in the 94 and 95 models. Also, I guess people are terrified of paying the price to repair Saabs. This is why you are looking to purchase a car which five years ago retailed for around $31,000 for under $13,000. If you were looking at a maxima, camry or accord, all of which by the way originally sold for less than 30K and are far inferior to any Saab, the used price today would be about $16,000! What a rip off. As a used Saab seeker, you need not worry about its reputation any more. More than likely all the quirky repairs (if any were needed at all) were already completed. As far as drivetrain and hardware are concerned, you have little to worry about...

    I also own an 88 900 turbo coupe that just hit 200,000 miles on all original parts less the clutch (repaired at 179,000) and tires and brakes. Oh, I should mention the car turned 200k when it was @ 100mph! Something few car makers can boast.

    Before I purchased my car, I asked the owner to let me take it to the dealer and have it checked over. It costs about $60. Well worth it as with any car manufacturer.

    If you are concerned about its resale value, don't be. The car depreciation schedule is very flat after 80,000 miles. This means the price difference for a 900 with 90k miles and 120k miles is small. I think it might have something to do with the car's ability to last 300,000 miles!

    The bottom line is: if you purchased a new Saab in 94-96 and are looking to sell it, you're probably not happy. But if you are looking to purchase one....YAHOOOO!

    -Chris
  • mcostlemcostle Member Posts: 1
    I am looking at a '95 Saab 900S and did have some concerns about the reputation of costly and frequent repairs. It sounds as though you think this would be a good deal at $10,000 for the car fully loaded. Is that true? Of course I know it varies from car to car and I plan to take it to a mechanic before I purchase, but I am just looking for some positive feedback. The car I am looking at has 64,000miles on it. Sounds like I should be able to get a whole lot more from it.

    THanks,

    MG
  • smoarksmoark Member Posts: 1
    Help. I am considering buying a 1994 Saab 900 2.5 V6 SE 5 Spd with approx. 38,000 miles from a German Dealer (I live there) for around $8,500. This car was Dealer owned and driven (original tires still have 7mm tread)--all papers included + solid warranty. I only have experience with 84,86, and 88 Saab 900 -- basic maintenance and repairs self done. Can anyone share information concerning this model and year to help with my decision?
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    Only the usual from me: get a VIN check, review all service records (no records, no sale) and take the car to the mechanic of your choice for an independent review.

    What do our knowledgeable lurkers think?

    carlady/host
  • saab7saab7 Member Posts: 3
    Stephen - I own a '97 900s with 45k miles and I just love this car - it does not have the turbo and so I am missing the extra horses a turbo provides, but it still moves out when I need it to. I think the $18k is a fair price,just make sure it has the maintenance records. You will love that car, it has a ton of cargo space, it's fast, it gets great gas mileage and it's something a little different. My 900 is all stock and I still get compliments on it. Good luck.
  • alienship7alienship7 Member Posts: 1
    PLEASE HELP.IVE FOUND A SAAB900SE TURBO CONVT 1996
    WITH 44K IN MINT CONDITION.THE PROBLEM IS THAT I
    HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF SAABS,EXCEPT THAT I SEE MANY
    OF THEM ON THE ROADS.I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
    RAG TOP.I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CONVERTABLE.
  • jessemjessem Member Posts: 1
    A friend is selling a 95 Saab 900s w/ 129k all hi-way miles for $6500.00 that I am considering . I live in the city and would only use the car occasionally. Can anyone offer any insight or feedback? I have heard that Saabs will last forever if maintained but I can't seem to get over the mileage factor. He says that the car was serviced regularly and was very reliable.
  • bearbullbearbull Member Posts: 17
    My daughter leases a 1998 Saab 900 which she is
    due to return to the lessor later this month. Over
    the weekend, she ran over a pot hole and one of the
    wheels got bent so much so that it has affected
    the driving performance.

    The car has the standard wheels that came with the
    car and she is looking to replace the damaged
    wheel. She has been quoted a price of $240 by the
    dealership just for the wheel.

    Can anyone suggest a way to acquire the wheel at a
    lower price? Thanks.
  • vluthravluthra Member Posts: 1
    Hi all:

    I am planning to buy a SAAB 900SE. It has 38K miles on it and still has 1 month of original warranty left on it. The dealer is asking 19,500. But carmax has one in black (not the color I like) with 38K for 18,000.

    How do you all feel about the car? Is it great? Is it fun? and Is it eye catcher - I desperately need that??

    Moreover is it worth spending $1200 to get additional 50K miles warranty. Please respong.
  • spencer14spencer14 Member Posts: 1
    My 1994 900 Turbo blew a head gasket (at 58K miles). My mechanic who works exclusively on SAABs, informed me that the gasket was a symptom of a more serious problem. He's informed me that the Engine Block needs to be replaced because it has corroded to the point that the gasket does not fit with a tight enough seal. He believes that the chain of events that caused the problem started with the Antifreeze "going bad" and circulating through the cooling jackets and the engine block - causing the block to corrode which eventually led to the head gasket problem.

    This sounds strange - anyone heard of something like this happening - does the mechanic's explanation seem legitimate? It does not make sense to me, especially given the car is a 94' with less than 60K miles and has ran great up until now. Any other possible explanations?

    Thanks
  • benjamin4benjamin4 Member Posts: 1
    I hope jimrearden's report at #52 is a relatively isolated case. I have been planning to buy a used Saab 900 S. I would love a newer 9-3 or 9-5 but just can't afford it. I decided after reading Consumer Reports' reliability guide that 97 was a year that might not be so risky- average/slightly above average reliability(CR indicated that the 99 Saab 9-5 is very reliable. But, I don't have enough money for one right now). I am a little concerned about the cost of repairing Saabs. Can any one give me feedback on experiences with the the 97 Saab? How much more will I spend on fixing a Saab than any other foreign car (Japanese, German)? I mean, If I spend $470 replacing the brake system on my Toyota, how much more would the same repair cost for the Saab? In your experiences is 97 known to be any better or worse than any other years in terms of reliability?
  • mfarmer2mfarmer2 Member Posts: 67
    I know that www.intellichoice.com offers detailed information on vehicle maintenance costs. Also, www.carpoint.com has information about reliability, including the types of problems and repair costs, on used vehicles. Hope this is helpful.

    Mary
  • jji7363jji7363 Member Posts: 33
    I have a 1993 Saab 900S (the last year with the "classic" design) with 58000 miles. It's the base model with auto trans (no turbo or ragtop) and I just love it. However, our family has grown to the point that it's no longer practical. I'm trying to determine a reasonable asking price to list it in the Auto Trader. I would appreciate any input that folks on this bulletin board might provide.
  • pocahontaspocahontas Member Posts: 802
    In addition to the feedback here, you should try using Edmund.com's Used Vehicle Appraiser.


    Also, place a free ad in Edmunds' used vehicle MarketPlace. You'll find the link to that in their Used Vehicle guide.


    Good luck. ;-)


    Pocahontas
    Host
    Hatchbacks Message Board

  • alex18talex18t Member Posts: 117
    I own a Saab 900S no turbo on it. it's a 5spd and it is just so darn quirky. i love the way the car looks and the interior is very european but the transmission is just baffling. the shifter moves and vibrates pretty violently when shifting and accelerating. also the exaust sounds like the average 17 year old kid's rice burnin' souped up civic. i know nothing of saab engineering but im guessing that i can attribute the shifter movement to the transmission or engine mounts that have gone bad and therefore the whole drivetrain moves durring acceleration. have any other saab owners experienced this?... umm... other than all that bad stuff, i can say that the car is very functional, has the most comfortable seats of any car and has brakes that nearly rival Porche. it's scrappy and can handle the corners even though the body roll is unnerving. the saab makes by 2000 Celica GT seem like a go kart because it's so much smaller and there is so much more feedback not to mention no ABS.

    For people looking to buy one all i can say is test drive one extensively and remember that you are buying one of the last truly unique makes of cars available to the average joe.
  • gretchen8gretchen8 Member Posts: 1
    What year is your saab 900, alex18t? I just bought a '95 turboSE. It came with 81K miles and all the options. I have the same complaints. Kinda noisy at Mcdonald's drive thru plus the shifter vibration (not wildly or anything). I really love driving it . . .except for the stick shift. I took it back for an adjustment because I have to push the clutch pedal through the floor to shift and I don't have long legs. They replaced a cable but that made no difference. In fact it was impossible to shift after the cable change. That finally improved after a little driving. The mechanic said I needed a new clutch, the owner said no, it didn't, but said he would replace it if I still had problems. I was hoping for feedback from this message board. I think I will have the clutch replaced anyway. After all, it's still under the short term warrenty. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.
  • alex18talex18t Member Posts: 117
    it's a 95 900S bought it with 64k and im pretty sure the guy who owned it before baybied it. the clutch effort you describe sounds strange to me. my clutch uses a good amount of effort when compared to my celica but it is essentially a luxury car style clutch... if that makes any sense. it's easy to use. in 1st and 2nd gears i need to push it pretty much to the floor but from 2nd to 5th i barely use the clutch, it shifts very smooth. your turbo might have a more heavy duty clutch to handle the power and with that usually comes inresed pedal effort. there's few good saab mechanics but maybe he's right about the clutch.

    and as for this being a sign of things to come. all i can offer is that a friend of mine has owned something like 4 - 6 saabs and he bought them all after 100,000 miles. he says they drove great right up till the day he sold them! Rock solid cars in his opinion. I happen to agree. a company so based on building up an already existing design as opposed to redesigning it must have some kind of advantage when it comes to build quality.
  • maabmaab Member Posts: 41
    There are a few things that can damage a head gasket (other than high milage and age): over reving the engine, and overheat (due to bad circulation, bad thermostat, clogged heater core, etc.).

    The only time I've heard of potential corrosion due to anti-freeze is with 100K mile anti-freeze (ones you change at 100K mile).

    Did he remove the head, and measured the block to be no longer flat? It just doesn't sound right.
  • patbcampatbcam Member Posts: 2
    I need a fair source for a rebuilt auto transmission for a 91 900S. I'd appreciate any references. I'm in the MidAtlantic area (PA/NJ/NY)
    Thanks. Pat
  • alex18talex18t Member Posts: 117
    ofcourse your tranny is killed. that's what you get for driving in the middle of the ocean.
  • patbcampatbcam Member Posts: 2
    And who says SAAB owners don't have a sense of humor?
  • alex18talex18t Member Posts: 117
    i think i will recall that saab recomendation. my car just had about every warning light go on, the headlights slowly went off and the car began to stall. luckily i got it infront of my house right before it died. this is gonna be expensive. it's an ECU problem. i have no idea what makes these saabs go so im gonna have to pay a mechanic a fortune.
  • huntzingerhuntzinger Member Posts: 356
    My current daily driver is a '95 900S with 50K miles... anyone interested in buying it?

    On clutches, this Saab has a flawed manual transmission design IMO:

    My first transmission died of a seized throw out bearing at 36K miles.

    The second one manifested irregular clutch force last month at 47K miles (11K miles after the first one) and has been rebuild. The claim was loss of gearbox lubrication, but because its a dry clutch system design, I don't really see how it could not again be the same throw out bearing problem...it was a clutch problem, not a shifting problem.

    BTW, I recommend that we all go read the fine print in our warranty. You'll find that Saab has an escape clause: clutch plates are considered "wear items" like brake pads & wiperblades and are only warrantied for 1 year or 16K miles.

    However, per their most recent email to me, Saab also classifies release bearings to also be exempt as "wear" items, even though they're not listed in my warranty.

    I'm a Mechanical Engineer and IMNSHO, anyone claiming that a bearing is a "wear" item is full of "it".

    I've also noted that my rebuilds have gotten different part#'s each time it has been rebuilt, which is evidence that they're changing the design. The only time you change the design on an old product because there have been problems.

    In any event, the moral is to complain. Firmly.

    Each rebuild ran around $1000 at the Dealer.

    My Dealer used 'goodwill' to cover parts on my first one ($400) and Saab USA paid for 100% of the second one, although in both circumstances they only paid because I specifically challenged the validity of me having to incur the entire cost on something that should last far, far longer than 36K (or 11K) miles.

    Moving on, the wonderful motor.

    Experiencing metallic noise under the hood means one of two things: (a) trade-in the car for something else TODAY, or (b) prepare for a $2600 repair bill. Unfortunately, I didn't think of option (a) last year.

    For some reason, the 2.3 4-cylinder suffers from loss of lubrication of the timing chains for the counter-rotating shafts, etc, and it eats the chain alive, along with the gear sprockets. I never had a loss of lubricant, never failed to change the oil on schedule and never had the oil pressure light come on.

    Having looked at the motor while apart, it looks like its a splash lube system run through a dip (collection) tray...my guess is that a blockage occurrs in an area where the oil pressure gage is unable to detect it, so the oil never gets to the dip tray, so the chains run dry without lubrication. There's no leak, so the dipstick remains happy.

    Insofar as the costs on this one, Dealer told me to get lost. It has been a long battle with Saab USA, but they've finally made good and agreed to pay for half of my out-of-pocket cost.

    In the meantime, I no longer follow the book's 10K oil service interval, nor the modestly more frequent interval I had been following: for the remainder of this car's life in my garage, its going to get nothing less than a 5K interval with 100% synthetics.

    In summary,

    I've had 3 major repairs required to get from zero to 50k miles. I don't expect a car to always be trouble-free, but I feel that problems before 50K should be the rare exception: if I only were to have had one problem, I wouldn't have really been all that ticked off...bad luck, and all of that. And paying half was reasonable IMO. But I didn't have one anomoly: I had three. That's no longer simply "bad luck".

    And in any event, I feel that 1 year warranties are a cop-out. The intent of "Bumper to Bumper" includes all the internal goodies and the only exceptions that I can honestly accept are those products that are ablative in design function, such a brake pads. Excepting a bearing is simply out of the quesion.

    Looking at costs, the repairs topped $4500. Had I not complained, I would have had to pay all of that. Because I did speak up, sent faxes with service records, and most importantly, DID NOT accept "no" for an answer the first time they declined my requests, I'm out of pocket "only" ~$2K.

    And when looking at this five year $4500 cost, I have to say that this exceeds my repair costs for my '84 VW Scirocco (11 years & 100K+ miles), my wife's '90 Audi 80 (10 years & 100K+ miles) and believe it or not, my toy car, a sixteen year old 1985 Porsche 911 (which I've owned for 8 years & 25K miles).

    Would I buy another Saab? I'm borderline. They did eventually make good, more or less, on these costs that really should not have been incurred by me, but by the same token, I do feel that I had to fight tooth-and-nail in order for them to accept responsibility.

    The one thing that I would definitely do is to amend the purchase contract to make the warranty terms far more customer-friendly. Specifically, I would make notation on what products are excempted from the 1-year loophole and mark that list as being 100% comprehensive. Similarly, because I only drive ~9K miles/year, I'd want longer duration coverage. If the dealer wants to do this through an extended warranty contract, that's fine...but it comes out of their pocket, not mine. The thing to remember is that a car purchase is nothing more than a contract and in a contract, *EVERYTHING* is negotiable.

    -hh
  • tobestertobester Member Posts: 9
    Does anybody know where I can get some information on the trouble codes for a 1992 900 Turbo Convertible? The check engine light keeps coming on at various times. I would like to see if I can diagnose the problem by myself, before taking it to my mechanic. Any FAQ's on the web that will help?
  • pocahontaspocahontas Member Posts: 802
    In addition to the feedback here, you can check with the nhtsa website for any tsb's, recalls, or consumer complaints on these cars. Look for a link to this information in Edmunds.com's Ownership section under the Safety area.

    And for those that weren't aware: Edmunds.com's Used Vehicle guide provides even more information now, than they previously did before with the old format. In addition to customized TMV pricing, reliability, specs, and safety ratings, you'll also find a list of standard features and options for any given year.

    To Maw1982- One more thing, when looking at Std Features in Edmunds.com's Used Vehicle Guide, look for the term "keyless entry" instead of remote entry. I know the factory remotes did come standard with later 900 saabs... not sure about the 95's though. Good luck with your decision/purchase. ;-)

    Pocahontas
    Host
    Hatchbacks/Station Wagons Message Boards
  • vigorous1vigorous1 Member Posts: 15
    The car of my dreams (some assembly required) 2001-04-25 [TEXT] [WITH GRAPHICS]
    Barbara Davenport Under the hood there's just an empty space where the engine should be, and though the transmission and the oil pan are in place, I can see the cracked asphalt below. I open the driver's-side door. A layer of greasy dust films the instruments, thick dust that comes from sitting untouched for months. The odometer reads 184,340. There are no seats, front or back. The head liner is torn, and smells of mildew. I shut the door and step back. The navy-blue paint is oxidized an... (894 words)

    The mystique is captured here at the Christian Science Monitor but it's cost you $1.50 to re-capture it.
  • dguelich1dguelich1 Member Posts: 2
    I'm in the market for either the Saab 95 900 SE or an Acura Integra 96 SE, but similar market price. I need the car for 4 years and live in Chicago, so most of the miles are city. I hear that the Saab usually requires more upkeep and I'm wondering if anyone could chime in w/ their experience w/ either or both vehicles.
    Thanks!
    David Guelich MD
  • shaboom1065shaboom1065 Member Posts: 3
    In l998, I bought my first Saab, a new l998 900 S. After 3 years of trouble free and pleasurable ownership, I gave it to my son and just bought a new '01 9-3 5 spd. So far, I am thrilled with it, as well and have found no defects or items requiring follow-up repair from the dealer.Saabs are safe, handle beautifully, are powerful and are joys for the "car enthusiast" who appreciates a special automobile. While Saabs do require meticulous maintainence and some TLC, they are worth it. If you want a perfectly reliable workhorse of a car that requires little attention, buy a Honda.You won't go wrong. But if you want aun unforgettable automotive experience, drive a Saab. It's true---You probably will buy it!
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    ...but I'm here to announce the new Saab Owners Club now available on Edmunds.com Owner's Club board. Please stop by and introduce yourself in Meet the Members and let me know how I can help build your club.

    I have linked this discussion into that folder, but it will always reside here in Sedans.

    Looking forward to meeting everyone!

    KarenS
    Host
    Owner's Clubs
  • aew88aew88 Member Posts: 3
    This was originally posted as a new discussion but has been moved here at the kind suggestion of the moderator.

    I've been trying for several weeks to find out what kind of airbags are in the various Saab models. I have a 5'2" wife, and we are looking for used 900 for her (I have a '97 9000). She is properly wary of airbags.

    When we purchased the 9000, we were told by the dealer that it has second
    generation bags, but I've not really been able to confirm that. Saab customer support
    has not been able to answer my air bag questions, but the technicians at my dealer
    say that second generation bags went into Saabs in '95 and dual-stage bags in '99. However, they are not 100% sure of this.

    Anyone have a clue or two? If we can confirm that second generation bags are in 900s, then we'll get one. If not, we might have to go for a 9-3 (but we'll still have to find out what kind of bags they have).
  • boonsboroboonsboro Member Posts: 22
    I can tell you that 1989 900s do not have airbags.
  • rdeschenerdeschene Member Posts: 331
    My wife is also quite short, but the way our car is set up (93 Corsica) she can still sit 15-18" from the airbag. I have considered, however, pedal extenders. A good resource for this is:


    http://shortdwarf.com/dwarf_products.htm


    Obviously, a group of people interested in adaptive driving devices.


    Good luck, safe driving.

    Rick D.

  • PAmanPAman Member Posts: 207
    Thinking about buying one for a weekend fun car. This one has 80,000 miles, a new top, and appears to have been very well cared for. I know the dealer, and as best as I can tell, he passes on buying junk, and only buys nicer quality cars in good condition for his retail business. By the way, it is an automatic, not the 5-speed, and is in the South with absolutely no rust.

    Any REAL experiences would be appreicated, but opinions such as "I think all Saabs are...." will do me very little good in making a decision.

    Thanks in advance for your help.

    Joe
  • jspears2jspears2 Member Posts: 19
    I recently bought a 1989 900s non-turbo 5-speed. I picked it up for 1200. It came with 188k miles, new tires, axles, radiator and battery. The car and engine are in excellent condition being that it is 13 yrs old. The car has a few quirks that I am trying to work out and I was wondering if I could get some info from fellow 900 owners. First off, there is a grinding/squeaking/rattling noise that occurs after the car has warmed. It disappears when I apply the brakes. I am hoping that it is only the pads and rotors. The other item of concern is the A/C, it cannot decide if it wants to blow cold or hot air. When I test drove the car it blew cold air the whole time. Well the next day when I picked it up it was hot. On Saturday morning it decided to blow cold for about 2 mins then I changed the fan speed and it went back to hot air. I thought it may have been out of freon but the more I think about it I think it maybe a short in the wire going to the compressor. Any ideas on how to fix the odometer it suddenly stops rolling over at periodic times.
  • avnutavnut Member Posts: 10
    If you look at the depreciation and reliability of a SAAB, you'll see why there are so few customers loyal enough to buy a second NEW one! My '84 Turbo bought new with 3 miles on it (meticulously maintained by a SAAB Dealer) was in the junk yard with 75K miles (not a scratch on the flawless exterior). SAAB can only survive by finding NEW customers. Most former owners look elsewhere after having experienced the mechanical anomalies of a SAAB.
  • boonsboroboonsboro Member Posts: 22
    Saab has become much more reliable now then they were back in the mid 80 or even mid 90s. In fact I've seen written that Saab has one off the highest owner layolty (repurchase) rates. See http://cartalk.cars.com/Survey/Results/Demographics/General/loyalty.html


    David

    '89 900S

    '02 9-3SE

  • jspears2jspears2 Member Posts: 19
    I have an 89 900 that I thought was a 900S. A lady that I know has an 89 900s that has different equipment as mine. She has the sunroof and back wing, automatic seatbelts and seat warmers. My car has none of these items. How can you determine what your car is and if it is equipped with a turbo or not. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
  • boonsboroboonsboro Member Posts: 22
    The quickest way to tell the difference is to look at the rear of the car. The 900S has the S after the 900. My 89 900S has the sunroof, power windows and doors, heater seats (probably an option), but no black wing (mine is a 4 door). I'm pretty sure the 900 did not have the power doors and windows.
  • revkarevka Member Posts: 1,750
    "How can you determine what your car is and if it is equipped..."

    In addition to Boonsboro's advice, you should also try contacting Saab customer service. With the VIN, they should be able to tell you all the factory features that were installed on your vehicle. Good luck. ;-)

    Revka
    Host
    Hatchbacks & Station Wagons Boards
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    If you actually have an (U.S. equipped) '89 900, it should have automatic seatbelts (if 90 or later, it will have a big steering wheel with an airbag). All 900S have sunroofs (manual til '89, power after). Heated seats were standard on all Saabs, IIRC, at that point. The '90 and later had a seat heater switch on the left side of the dash, earlier models were 'automatically' heated (maybe driver's side only) when the heat was turned on (look on the side of your seat, it should say 'automatically heated seat' or something like that). If your car has crank windows, it's not an S, it's a base 900 ('92? and later base 900 had power windows, otherwise power are on 900S and Turbo only after about 1983). Lastly, not all 900S have a rear spoiler (aka 'wing'), it was optional most years. Do you have a 4-door or two-door hatch (3-door)?

    You definitely do NOT have a turbo. The 'S' in '89 has an non-turbo 16v 4-cylinder, the base has an 8v non-turbo 4. All Turbos have sunroofs, most have leather, all have rear spoilers. There is no 'Turbo S', the S and Turbo are different models, similarly equipped but with different engines. You're mistaking the questions, 'do I have a Turbo or an S?' with 'do I have a 900S or a base 900?'
  • jspears2jspears2 Member Posts: 19
    I have an 89 900 and I have had to install a new starter and after disconnecting the battery cable, the radio needs to be reset. Is there a universal code for the radios or can I call Saab to get one? Without knowing the radio was screwed up I turned it on and hit a preset button which has put 4 numbers on the display. I have tried taking the radio out and putting it back in but the numbers still appear. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
  • revkarevka Member Posts: 1,750
    Someone may be able to offer some help in our Aftermarket & Accessories Audio Systems discussion. Good luck.

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  • mmangahasmmangahas Member Posts: 6
    I drive a 97 SAAB 900 SE equiped with the low profile 205/50 ZR16 tires. For years now I've been having problems with the tires wearing unevenly and too quickly. Saab blamed the tires, and the tire companies blamed the car. I just received information on a class action lawsuit against SAAB regarding this problem, and it seems SAAB will likely reimburse SAAB owners for the money spent on replacing tires within 4 years or 40,000 miles of purchasing a SAAB with these tires. Has anyone else out there had the same experience as me? My tires just don't last long. It's nice that SAAB may pay for one set of tires, but I'm going to have this problem for as long as I have this car
  • jspears2jspears2 Member Posts: 19
    I purchased an 89 900 about 2 months ago and I have had ongoing problems with the starter. I have gone through 2 of them and I am about to install the 3rd one. Has anyone that presently or previously owned one had problems with the starters shorting out or burning up? I think I may have a short in the radio, because when it happened the last time, the radio was making a loud screeching sound and I was in the process of downshifting to make a turn and the car went dead and now it will not turn over at all. Everything works when I turn the switch on but I can hear a slight clicking sound that seems to be coming from the starter. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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