My 1986 900 still going strong.

Posted on 21. May, 2001 by Ryan in 2000-2009, 900, New England, Saab Stories

My 1986 900 still going strong

I recently applied for membership and on your application you ask for interesting Saab stories. I thought you might like to read the story of my 1986 900, purchased for a mere $100.00 3 years ago and still going strong.

My husband is a Wildlife Rehabilitator. The Wildlife Center property where he works includes several “dirt lots” used for storage, and cages, etc. The Staff Veterinarian has also found a unique use for this property–as a home for his collection of “dead cars”. These being cars previously driven that have “given up the ghost” for various reasons such as transmission failure, blown engine, etc. The cars consist of various Toyotas and Subarus. My husband came home one day to tell me his boss had added to the dead cars–one 1986 Saab 900. His boss was purchasing a new Toyota (why I don’t know considering the make of most of the dead cars)and had left the Saab for dead which my husband thought strange because it still ran fine.

We were looking for a second car at the time, just for local driving for my husband and I figured, what the heck, call the boss, find out the scoop, and see what he wants for it. Well, he said it needed some work, was making funny noises, but I could have it for $100.00 if I was interested. You bet I was. Having heard how long lived Saabs could be and having had an uncle with an old 99 that kicked butt in the snow I went to check it out.

The car was full to the top with green trash bags, old food wrappers, papers, and in the hatchback there was a little bird’s nest. Instead of a 5 speed shift lever there was a metal rod and instead of an ignition, there was a screwdriver you had to spin a particular way to start the car. Well, probably anyone else would have run screaming, but I started the poor thing up and actually was able to drive it around (with difficulty) the Wildlife Center grounds. The transmission, clutch, brakes, steering, all felt fine. The “funny noise” was a loose bracket under the hood. The wrong sparkplugs were installed and there hadn’t been an oil change in about 4 years but I figured if the thing could run despite all that and it had only 111,000 miles on it, I had to have it. To make a very long story short, three years later and about $2500.00 in repairs, it has become our most reliable car. My 1993 Dodge Shadow is dying(with only 80,000); I have commandeered the Saab and will ! save it for my 4 year old for his first car(I’m sure it will still be running)!

Elaine J. Laing, Braintree, MA

Contact Information
New England Saab Association
Post Office Box 119
Keene, New Hampshire 03431

E-mail info@nesaab.org

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