Faults:

If you want higher-end power -- power for freeway passing -- the 8-valve Saab 4 cylinder engine is not for you. It's downright pokey at cruising speeds -- takes quite a few seconds to get from 50 to 60, for example, and from 60 to 70 is forever. But if you are willing to wind the engine out to its 5500 or so redline, you can get some performance out of it. Shifting isn't very quick or intuitive, though that may just be this particular car's gearbox. A short-throw shifter is available in after-market.

There doesn't appear to be any way to improve the performance of this engine over stock.

The '900 classics' tend to rust in one or two spots that can get structural and ruin the car. This one had rust behind the control arms on the unibody near the right front wheel -- I had a welder do a nice job of 'recovering' what could have been a fatal flaw. Rumor has it that this is caused by the nearby battery leaking acid, plus there are no engine parts on the passenger side that leak rust-inhibiting fluids, such as power steering. Saab mechanics say that small amounts of rust in this one spot have ruined many a car.

Driver's seat cover (velour) had shredded at the door-side shoulder -- replaced the seat with a used one.

Another problem that is ubiquitous for this model is the plastic chrome strips around the windshield and rear window -- they have faded to a color that can only be described as 'bird droppings'. There doesn't seem to be any easy fix for this -- it is a defect in materials that Saab themselves don't have a fix for, except to replace the stuff -- then it supposedly fades quickly again. Something to do with UV rays burning the chrome coating off the plastic.

Heater valve was stuck when I bought the car -- my mechanic freed it up -- not too costly a job unless you let it go and have to replace the heater core. Watch out if your main heater/A/C knob starts to move sluggishly or stick!

Gearbox is mushy coming out of 4th -- hard to find 5th -- mechanic tried to adjust it, but it still has a very imprecise feel -- I often hit 3rd when I want 5th. Something's wrong there... not sure what it is, but it's drivable. I'll live with it.

Car had a slight power-steering leak, not worth replacing the rack ($500) -- I fed it some sealant and the leak seems to have stopped.

Analog dash clock has stopped.

Noice reducer fastened under the hood had started to disintegrate, dropping mushy yucky stuff everywhere -- egg-crate foam insulation that had stopped being foam and become something else. I took it off and threw it away. That stuff could cause real problems if it got in the wrong place.

Car needed a clutch when I got it -- I had my mechanic put in an upgraded clutch kit for a turbo model -- supposed to wear longer.

Bumper clear-coat has largely peeled off.

Black dashboard has heat cracks -- rare not to find them in the 900 classics.

General Comments:

This car was well-taken care of by its previous (original) owner. Miles are very low for its 20 years of age.

It runs like clockwork, smooth and strong in the lower gears -- hesitates just a bit when cold.

Engine is phenomenally tight -- oil is nearly as clear when I change it as it was when I put it in. Does the fan -- the one that goes on automatically after you stop the engine -- help to prevent fluids deteriorating?

This car, driven conservatively, will get 33 mpg on the highway.

Maybe it's the midnight blue color, but this car gets admiring looks everywhere. Classic, understated styling. I took off the steel rims and replaced them with Saab alloy wheels for the same year -- this really helps the looks too.

Car handles very well despite the fact that it's a low-end model and it's suspension is all stock. Fun on these winding Vermont roads! I'd only add anti-lock braking ... but you can't do that with this model, to my knowledge.

I previously owned a '93 900S and I like this car much better... it just has more character.

Faults:

When I purchased the car it needed a new transmission due to a curb accident, a new clutch, and I replaced the shocks with aftermarket Bilsteins to increase riding comfort and control. A Gerret T3 turbo has also been replaced as the original which worked fine, but I wanted extra boost since it's a heavy car. After these repairs the car looks, drives, and is as reliable as it was when it was new, if not more so.

General Comments:

My 'new' Grey/Blue 1987 Saab 900 Turbo is a serious car to drive, with 18 PSI Turbo and suspension upgrades it's a Rolls Royce of a classic 900 Turbo.

Its been very reliable and other than regular maintenance like brake pads and new tyres the car is rock solid in the reliability column and with still having less than 100,000 miles I'm honoured to drive a classic saab that feels like it did when it was new, but with select components added as sensable practical upgrades.

The interior is a very cool feeling dark blue leather, my previous car was also a 1987 saab 900 turbo identical in model to this one, but with burgundy leather interiour which sounds nice, but in actuality is very gloomy and depressing to live in day to day. The leather in a saab 900 as in many cars becomes very hot and sticky during the summer and cold and stiff in the winter.

The heated seats are a nice addition, but mine tend to get warm just as you are pulling into work in the morning, however the heater of the car is amazing and I can comfortably drive around town in the winter with the sunroof open if my heart desires to do so.

The car handles superbly in the snow, granted I have a hefty set of snow tyres installed, but I think its mainly due to the engine being practically in front of the front drive axel.

Visibility in the car is superb and even with it being a hatchback the rear windows extend back more than enough to know where every corner of the car is at a given time.

Very nimble in traffic for a full sized car that weighs almost 2 tons.

Fuel consumption is around 32MPG, more than the owner's manual's stated 28MPG. Town driving however brings that figure down to more like 10MPG.

Overall the car is a blessing to own in the safety departments, very overly constructed and the body will last 500,000 miles if you can keep the car working that long.

Preforming many typical maintenance procedures on your own will save you a small fortune in repair bills and the parts are very reasonably priced.

All and all definitely a car I will hold on to and recommend to someone like a student or practical businessman who wants more quality then quantity in their automobile.

Brandon B.

Faults:

I had to fix some minor rust spots on the front edge of the hood.

The front right speaker blew and had to be replaced.

General Comments:

This car handles great and has nice brakes.

It's acceleration is poor off the line, but gets a lot better at 40-60 mph.

The seats are comfortable for long highway drives, and offer lateral support for driving fast.

Great gas mileage around town.

The shifter is a little rough on downshifts.

Faults:

I had to have the engine replaced about one year after I purchased the vehicle due to a minor oil leak. The leak was not a fault of Saab, as the previous owners knew how to take care of a car, but not a Saab. The engine had been mistreated and just needed a little attention, even though "a little attention" cost me about $2500.

General Comments:

This is the perfect first owner vehicle. I would highly recommend a Saab to anyone who is looking for a fun, quick, and responsive car. You need to be a little gear-minded at times, but the benefits are well worth every minute of time spent.