1993 SAAB 900 Turbo 2.0 turbo from North America
Summary:
Power, different style, luxury and reliability- Saab 900 turbo convertible
Faults:
The 4th gear of the manual transmission popped out so the Saab dealer fixed it for $600. The convertible top is a little old and has moisture/ humidity black spots on it. I will eventually change it when my budget recovers from the $600 spent on the transmission!
General Comments:
I bought the car from a wholesale dealer with 58000 miles last January. It needed minor work on the transmission, since 4th gear popped out, I repaired it for 600 dollars at a Saab dealership. (Expensive isn't it?). After that the car hasn't given me any mechanical problems. The power convertible top has a few holes and some humidity black spots because the previous owners didn't have a garage, this made me a little suspicious about rust possibly appearing eventually. Anyway, the car runs great, the turbo power is impressive, specially on those 2 lane highways passing the trailers. It is really a powerful acceleration that kicks in on 2nd and 3rd gears. The car wants to fly. The only thing I don't like about the car is the transmission. When I am at a stoplight and shift to the first gear, sometimes it shifts to 3rd. Not a good thing to do on rush hour at a traffic jam. To sum it up, the car is great. Not for everyone, since the style is really different. But you will definitely get attention!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 20th February, 2004
27th Jun 2016, 18:00
It is true that red cars seem to suffer more from paint fading than other colors. It isn't a big deal however, as it is very easy and inexpensive to restore it to looking nearly new, provided that you have paint that is not 'metallic' and is not 'clear coated'. Just go to any auto parts or hardware store and pick up a can of DuPont 'polishing compound' (do not get the more abrasive 'rubbing compound'). No power tools or power buffer are required. Use a soft towel with some polishing compound and apply in a circular motion to the paint. After it looks shiny, repeat the process with an automotive 'cleaner wax' (like Meguiars) which has an even finer abrasive to remove the oxidized paint. Done properly, you can make a faded red (or other non-metallic/non-clear coated finish) look like new. Just exercise a bit of caution so you don't overdo it, you are removing a very thin layer of oxidized paint, but you want to retain as much of the good remaining and now shiny paint as possible. Don't forget to wax your car when done.