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They were a bloody good motor up until GM got involved 
| bm52 Member Since: 04 Apr 2010 Location: Kent Posts: 2189   
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agreed. question is: do I keep my 9-3 conv. or sell it in the spring? BM52
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26th Feb 2012 9:12pm |
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| Zagato Site Supporter Member Since: 08 Jan 2011 Location: Billingshurst West Sussex Posts: 5013
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Flog it or run it into the ground, parts won't be a problem.
Apologies but it's not a real SAAB, it's the same as any euro box convertible, the early 93 had bulkhead splitting problems, and they shake and vibrate like anything  Bloody GM killed the company  |
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26th Feb 2012 9:20pm |
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| bm52 Member Since: 04 Apr 2010 Location: Kent Posts: 2189
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again agreed. it's not a proper Saab you may argue, but it is still very individual.
 Click image to enlarge BM52 |
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26th Feb 2012 9:24pm |
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| kingofthesparks Member Since: 06 Jan 2011 Location: Very close to Watford gap services , northants Posts: 987 
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Looks like the price of my 900 turbo has just shot up
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26th Feb 2012 9:32pm |
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| Defender SVX Member Since: 29 Jan 2009 Location: Co Durham Posts: 728 
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It made me want a Saab now
 Formerly mao99999
16 Focus RS Nitrous Blue. 11 FFRR TDV8 Vouge SE Black Black. 08 DEFENDER SVX SOFT TOP (SUPERB) 08 DEFENDER 110 DCPU Stornoway grey (Overland Exploration Unit) 05 Fiesta ST 150 Van 04 Jaguar XKR 4.2 Supercharged V8 02 DEFENDER 90 TD5 (next years soft top project) 95 DEFENDER 110 CSW 300 TDi Phoenix black 95 DEFENDER 90 HT Monti Carlo blue COUNTY 300 TDi 67 109" SERIES 2a TUNED 200 TDI 64 DAVID BROWN 990 rat look 55 86" SERIES 1 |
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26th Feb 2012 10:16pm |
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| davew Member Since: 02 Jan 2012 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 888  
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Can't have been that good if they had to get out and push them as per your photo. At least with two Land Rovers you'd expect one of them to keep going. Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  |
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26th Feb 2012 10:40pm |
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| Naks Member Since: 27 Jan 2009 Location: Stellenbosch, ZA Posts: 2645  
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Guys,
Took delivery of my convertible on Saturday morning in Johannesburg and drove it back to Cape Town. We did 1400km over 2 days, avg fuel consumption of 8.1l/100km - bloody good for a 2.8 v6 turbo ;ol; First impressions of the car: - Awesome ride - smooth, quick. Envious/appreciative stares everywhere we stopped (Saabs are rare in South Africa) - Amazing fuel consumption on the open road, went down to 8.0l/100km after our first day's driving - Not as much wind/road noise as I expected. Even our A3 makes more noise than this! - Shakes a lot on uneven tar (it's my first convertible) - Cruise control is not as user-friendly as Audi's, you cannot just cancel it momentarily - The Saab is not designed with short people in mind. Both SWAMBO & I are 1.6m tall and finding the perfect seating position was a mission - Why didn't they wire up the eyebrow lights to act as DRLs? - Trip computer does not have actual/current fuel consumption - I like to use this feature in the Audi to 'draft' in order to save fuel - Door locking system is a bit retarded. Every time we stop, I have to press the unlock button twice to let SWAMBO out - When you unlock just the boot, it does not re-lock automatically. Too used to the Audi's system. - Car does not beep loudly when you lock/unlock it Most annoying thing: it doesn't have the 1-tap=3 indicator clicks feature Click image to enlarge -- 2010 Defender Puma 90 + BAS remap + Alive IC + Slickshift + Ashcroft ATB rear 2015 Range Rover Sport V8 Supercharged
Defender Puma Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zZ1en9 Discovery 4 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zXrtKO Range Rover/Sport L320/L322/L494 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zc58JQ |
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27th Feb 2012 7:25am |
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| Honker Member Since: 26 Jun 2011 Location: St Albans Posts: 353  
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Surprised they missed the rally heritage out, there's plenty off footage. The main reason for SAABs demise was hinted at quite a bit, cars we too expensive to build (pre GM cars) and once GM bought them the plan to move to the J car platforms went horribly wrong as Opel built to a budget (badly) and SAAB went on a spending spree taking the Opel platform and effectively re engineering it. Both parties to blame in the management of the process but GM always seen as the worst offender.
Stu |
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27th Feb 2012 8:52am |
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| megatoad Member Since: 07 Jan 2012 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 358 
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Yes, very dissapointing tribute, but then what do you expect really.
I recall a review of the original Nissan Skyline when Jeremay raved over it, he then went onto say that you didnt need to waste the money and recommended buying a 900 converatble T16 It was a bit annoying to hear him disparage the 900 classic convertable, yes it had terrible scuttle shake but it introduced the concept of tripple lined roofs and kick started modern convertables that were warm and toasty in the winter. Anyhow here is my own archive of my previous vehicles, though I diddnt have an image of my blue 99. The brown/Bergundy B998RWX was owned by my fater from new and i traded it in against the T16S with 180K on the clock.
The 9-3 was my last as I went back to Land Rovers. Ironically my step son just bought a GM900 2.0T convertable on fleabay last night  |
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27th Feb 2012 11:42am |
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| pjb Member Since: 08 Apr 2009 Location: Sunny Oxford Posts: 1244 |
Sadly Saab was left in a bygone era where you build quality & build too last but that cannot be done at a budget that todays car buyers demand.
Look at how many old saabs are about, my two next door neighbours both have saabs one a v reg and one on a cherished plate but simitar vintage - both circa 200k miles Saab & Volvo never could achieve the economies of scale enjoyed by BMW etc but they had to charge a similar price to be competitive. There is an irony especially on this forum in that both Saab & Volvo had to dumb down to the market place to try & remain competitive, but Land Rover have gone in the completely opposite direction, their cars have gone upmarket and in my opinion are a lot better than the products of the 80's & 90's & sadly a lot more expensive. Not sure what we will be saying about Land Rover in ten years time, doubt there will be a defender forum !! 2020 P300 HSE |
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27th Feb 2012 11:48am |
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| Zagato Site Supporter Member Since: 08 Jan 2011 Location: Billingshurst West Sussex Posts: 5013
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My list
1 x SAAB 96 Two Stroke 12 x SAAB 96 V4  (love em!  )
1 X SAAB 95 3 x SAAB 99 2 x SAAB 900 1 X SAAB 9000 1 x SAAB 9-5
Two of my nicer ones, both under 40K and mint, sadly they are both VERY rough now
I was never allowed more than three at a time 
The 900 and 99 in particular were both under 20,000 miles and absolutely mint, factory fresh, won many cups with those two
Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated Last edited by Zagato on 27th Feb 2012 12:11pm. Edited 2 times in total |
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27th Feb 2012 11:51am |
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| megatoad Member Since: 07 Jan 2012 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 358
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I was once in my favourite scrap yard in Leeds once and came accross an immaculate looking Dark Green 96, superbly polished and a smart interior, after a good look round we could see nothing wrong!
At that point I ran my finger underneath !  crunchity crunchity crunch !!!!!
I believe it was only wit hthe 99 that they started using proper underseal. I still regret leaving it in the breakers but it has been crushed these past 20 years now. Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated |
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27th Feb 2012 12:09pm |
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| Zagato Site Supporter Member Since: 08 Jan 2011 Location: Billingshurst West Sussex Posts: 5013
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No the 96 V4's had full on under-seal (like Dinitrol!), and squirted into the box sections etc as well as electrolyte dipped or whatever they call it and about 20 layers of paint - imagine LR doing that
The best 96's for rust can be pin pointed to 1972 (the 99 didn't fare so well as they went around the wheel arches !) . Even the best protected vehicles will rust eventually and it will have been the sills that you would have put your fingers through, easy enough repair, you should have got it 
I am DEFINITELY going to get another V4 one day |
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27th Feb 2012 12:18pm |
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| Honker Member Since: 26 Jun 2011 Location: St Albans Posts: 353
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They made a lovely sound, can;t believe you had 12 of them ! A dead engine configuration now , makes them all the more collectable. Stu |
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27th Feb 2012 12:26pm |
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