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My '88 Saab 900
Below is a picture of my 1988 Saab 900. It has aprox. 135,000 miles on it (and rising), but it's in pretty good shape. No rust, decent interior, good working condition. There's a big oil leak from the transmission, and since it was a southern car, some cracks in the dash. I'm quite satisfied with it. I've always been a fan of the classic 900s. I like their styling, practicality, and features. The trunk is so big, that I can fold down the rear seat and lay down completely flat in it. I'm 5'10" by the way. That's like a wagon!
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A Brief History Of Saab
SAAB was founded in Sweden in 1937 as an aircraft manufacturer. SAAB stands for Svenska Aeroplan Aktienbolgat. The company survived until 1944 with just airplanes. That year, they decided to build cars to support the business. Later that year, the prototype 92 came out. It relied heavily on DKW mechanicals. It was a streamlined, front wheel drive car; an engineering trend that is still in effect today. Saab's early cars were two strokes that looked very similar to the prototype. Later, Ford build V4s were used. In 1968, the more conventional 99 was introduced. A turbo version followed a few years later. This car is what really built Saab's reputation. The 99 evolved into the 900 in 1979. The "classic" 900 was built until 1993. The 9000 was a more up-scale car that was built in the eighties and nineties. 1993 is when GM bought Saab. A new generation of 900s came out. The 900 then became the 9-3 and a 9-5 is sold with it as a replacement to the 9000. |
The High Points
-Great driving position
-Typical Swedish solid build quality
-Excellent handling
-Unbeliveable amount of luggage space
-Smooth running engine
-Designed with saftey in mind
-Near perfect ergonomics
-Neat little features like auto heated seats and central locking
-Side lights get brighter when turn signals come on or when trans. is put in reverse
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Clutch Replacement: 136,000 miles
The Saab had been running well with few complaints. (Aside from the oil leak) I was quite happily driving through Fairview, when I noticed that the car decided it would not let me put it in any gear. I coasted the car into the Sunoco station, and was quite displeased by the whole situation. Later it was discovered that the car could be shifed by a technique know as "shove cluch pedal through floor and force into gear." I drove the car for one day like this. I was quickly realized that something had to be done. That meant it was time to pull the car into the garage and take stuff apart. After getting the old pressure plate out, (a job which required the fingers on it to be cut off just so it could be removed)we found that the flywheel bearing had completely fallen apart. The cluch disk itself was still ok, but needed to be replaced anyway. So, a new pressure plate, clutch, throw-out bearing, flywheel bearing and oil seal were ordered. One thing that we had not counted on, was the problem of finding simple rubber o-rings on a Sunday afternoon. These were needed for the hydraulic apparatus which actually releases the clutch. Naturally, by the time we found out that the rings we had were incorrect, all the hardware stores were closed. So, at 6:00 pm, we were ready to give up. Or at least my dad was. I, however, quite literally "pressed on." I managed to make the existing o-ring fit. Now it was time to put everything back togeter so that I would have a car to drive on Monday. Working into the night, all parts were fitted and the clutch line bled. At approx. 10:00 pm, it was time to try it out. It worked. All was done. And, to accidentally kill two birds woth one stone, the oil has ceased to be. (for the most part that is) So now I have a nice new cluch and the Saab drives wonderfully again. |
The Low Points
-Pedals too close to center tunnel and wheel well
-Somewhat sloppy shifting
-Heavy clutch
-Unusual interior door latches
-Wierd center tunnel mounted igniton
-Engine does not like to stay running on cold starts after cold start assist kicks out
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Some specifications
Engine: 45 degree Inline 4 cylinder
Displacement: 1985cc
Horsepower: 110
Torque: 119 ft/lbs
Transmission: 5 speed manual, front wheel drive
Brakes: 4 wheel Girling discs
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