1988 Saab 900 SPG

I have too many cars and this one needs to go. I was originally going to use this as a donor for a really nice 85 Turbo that I own, but have decided to go another route with that car.

I have been using it as a daily driver for a few months with no problems.

1988 Saab 900 Turbo SPG 172,xxx Edwardian Grey

First the bad:
-black hood
-Dash lights don't work
-air only blows from the defrost vents and only one blower speed works (high)
-rusty front fenders (see pics)
-typical C900 oil leaks
-Power steering decides not to work sometimes. Works 90% of the time, seems to be no rhyme or reason and I haven't cared enough to investigate.
-The exhaust was falling off when I got it so I removed EVERYTHING and installed a side pipe that exits in front of the passenger side rear tire. It is very loud and sounds awesome. If you consider this a good thing then just pretend this is under the "good" section.
-hatch struts are bad
-idle is very moody when stone cold

The good stuffs:
-CD player with auxiliary input
-Nice Falken Ziex tires
-brakes and suspension are in great shape
-new battery
-new heater control valve and heater hoses
-new spark plugs and wires
-oil and trans fluid changed less than 1000 miles ago
-still has full SPG kit and whale tail (foam on whale tail is questionable but is still there)
-A/C compressor clutch engages and cycles when you turn it on, don't know about actual cooling

Let me know if I missed any crucial info or you have any questions.

Located in Louisville, KY
Asking $1200 but OPEN TO OFFERS.

Call or email Nathan@ (502) 718-8247 or nsteinke1984@gmail.com



















Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/27/2012 01:22PM by chestercopperpot.

Damn. If it wasn't rusty, I didn't have bills, and didn't have an Xratty that needs to be gutted and caged, I'd want that. I don't know what it is about 80's 900's.

---

Something about something....dirt.

Quote
Houdini91
Damn. If it wasn't rusty, I didn't have bills, and didn't have an Xratty that needs to be gutted and caged, I'd want that. I don't know what it is about 80's 900's.

Add a good clutch plate LSD and they're really amazingly good cars...
Such a shame about the rust...
The Saab 16v turbo is a marvelous motor---very easy to make a reliable car that can clean the tooofies right off 3rd gear.

It is so close to the YB Cossie its not even funny... I built 2 16v and one 8v using YB Cossie pistons. About 140g lighter and it was noticeable.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Quote
john vanlandingham

Quote
Houdini91
Damn. If it wasn't rusty, I didn't have bills, and didn't have an Xratty that needs to be gutted and caged, I'd want that. I don't know what it is about 80's 900's.

Add a good clutch plate LSD and they're really amazingly good cars...
Such a shame about the rust...
The Saab 16v turbo is a marvelous motor---very easy to make a reliable car that can clean the tooofies right off 3rd gear.

It is so close to the YB Cossie its not even funny... I built 2 16v and one 8v using YB Cossie pistons. About 140g lighter and it was noticeable.

I'll browse CL and see if I can't trade my Tore-Ass in for one. It'll be in about the same condition as the one in this ad, though. Because I'd take good, fast, and interesting over fast and boring. I tell ya hwhat.

http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/cto/3500751277.html

Dern. This is what I was expecting.

---

Something about something....dirt.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/31/2012 05:45PM by Houdini91.

Quote
Houdini91

Quote
john vanlandingham

Quote
Houdini91
Damn. If it wasn't rusty, I didn't have bills, and didn't have an Xratty that needs to be gutted and caged, I'd want that. I don't know what it is about 80's 900's.

Add a good clutch plate LSD and they're really amazingly good cars...
Such a shame about the rust...
The Saab 16v turbo is a marvelous motor---very easy to make a reliable car that can clean the tooofies right off 3rd gear.

It is so close to the YB Cossie its not even funny... I built 2 16v and one 8v using YB Cossie pistons. About 140g lighter and it was noticeable.

I'll browse CL and see if I can't trade my Tore-Ass in for one. It'll be in about the same condition as the one in this ad, though. Because I'd take good, fast, and interesting over fast and boring. I tell ya hwhat.

http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/cto/3500751277.html

Dern. This is what I was expecting.

Turbo is just a T3 and comes out easy.
The big thing is: does it engage reverse with no crunch? The go right into 1st.
Is the oil in the box the correct oil (motor oil 15W40 or 80W NOT GL5 HYPOID stinky stuff)

If the box is good, then that's a good car,

Wheels are 4 on 4 1/4" so Xratty wheels fit...Bilsteins are cheap for 900s.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

The great thing about an SPG is there's plenty of room with the hatchback to carry an engine hoist, jack, all your tools, and a spare gearbox for a roadside R&R.

Much like a Subrat, when the boost levels get to serious fun, the gearboxes say, "Hey I was designed in 1967 to handle 80 hp! WTF???" BANG!

Seriously, aside from the fragile gearboxes, they are a fun car to drive! But a V4 96 is funner!

---

Andrew Steere
Lyndeborough, NH
KB1PJY

Quote
fiasco
But a V4 96 is funner!

So much fun poor Robert rallymech got all spoiled by the excellent handling and unbelievable grip of the 96 and after driving his in the snow he got lulled into not paying attention in his Toyota PU---and rolled his truck into a little ball all cause of a little tiny bit of ice.

After a 96 everything else is just a mere shadow.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

It's funny that almost 13 years after I drove that 96 on the road (l drove it around a little bit after I rescued it from Stoneham, but only a mile or three), it still rates as a high point of stuff I've driven, and that includes brief stints in some Cozzie Fords. Flicking the four on the tree back to second and smoking that Mk 1 GTI on the way back from OtterZone STILL sticks out in the "giggle like a schoolgirl" driving moments -- even more than when I was racing a 70 Torino with my 69 Cougar on the same stretch of road!

---

Andrew Steere
Lyndeborough, NH
KB1PJY

Quote
john vanlandingham

Quote
Houdini91

Quote
john vanlandingham

Quote
Houdini91
Damn. If it wasn't rusty, I didn't have bills, and didn't have an Xratty that needs to be gutted and caged, I'd want that. I don't know what it is about 80's 900's.

Add a good clutch plate LSD and they're really amazingly good cars...
Such a shame about the rust...
The Saab 16v turbo is a marvelous motor---very easy to make a reliable car that can clean the tooofies right off 3rd gear.

It is so close to the YB Cossie its not even funny... I built 2 16v and one 8v using YB Cossie pistons. About 140g lighter and it was noticeable.

I'll browse CL and see if I can't trade my Tore-Ass in for one. It'll be in about the same condition as the one in this ad, though. Because I'd take good, fast, and interesting over fast and boring. I tell ya hwhat.

http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/cto/3500751277.html

Dern. This is what I was expecting.

Turbo is just a T3 and comes out easy.
The big thing is: does it engage reverse with no crunch? The go right into 1st.
Is the oil in the box the correct oil (motor oil 15W40 or 80W NOT GL5 HYPOID stinky stuff)

If the box is good, then that's a good car,

Wheels are 4 on 4 1/4" so Xratty wheels fit...Bilsteins are cheap for 900s.

Sounds nice. Any other parts for an Xratty I can steal from a 900? And from what the ads on CL say, no Saab can go backwards.

Quote
fiasco
It's funny that almost 13 years after I drove that 96 on the road (l drove it around a little bit after I rescued it from Stoneham, but only a mile or three), it still rates as a high point of stuff I've driven, and that includes brief stints in some Cozzie Fords. Flicking the four on the tree back to second and smoking that Mk 1 GTI on the way back from OtterZone STILL sticks out in the "giggle like a schoolgirl" driving moments -- even more than when I was racing a 70 Torino with my 69 Cougar on the same stretch of road!

I was seriously thinking about buying a red 96 V4 rally car from one of John's friends. But then....Xratty.
And I raced an Infiniti G35 in my Tore-Ass last week on I-70. Either the owner had tiny balls or that thing was slow, because DAMN.

---

Something about something....dirt.

in tank pump same on xratty, 900 and 240 as are electric motors for the windows. Radiator and twin flat fans from turbo 900 is the desirable rad in an Xratty. I use the in rad fan switch from 900 or VW and eliminate the annoying Ford junk and wiring.
The window winding gears and shaft is the same stuff and same spline all the way to old 69 96, so that and the handles whe actual winder interchanges with a little creativity.. The old 96 stuff his much higher quality with a hardened pad for thrust surface.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Quote
john vanlandingham
in tank pump same on xratty, 900 and 240 as are electric motors for the windows. Radiator and twin flat fans from turbo 900 is the desirable rad in an Xratty. I use the in rad fan switch from 900 or VW and eliminate the annoying Ford junk and wiring.
The window winding gears and shaft is the same stuff and same spline all the way to old 69 96, so that and the handles whe actual winder interchanges with a little creativity.. The old 96 stuff his much higher quality with a hardened pad for thrust surface.

Awesome! Thanks. How are the little ones?

---

Something about something....dirt.