Got one on the cheep today. Like $500 cheep. It has 100k miles. It has the usual needs like tires brake pads and rotors. A couple bulbs wiper blades a battery. Has complete service records for oil changes and what not interior and exterior are in exceptional condition. No rust at all. It is going to be the replacement for the Corolla that my daughter crashed
So what do I need to know about these things?
Strizzo
PowerDork
7/26/18 11:22 p.m.
They were known for torque steer from what I remember.
Robbie
PowerDork
7/27/18 8:21 a.m.
That this year is the wagon class at the challenge.
How much boost can you add for $1500?
tuna55
MegaDork
7/27/18 8:24 a.m.
I heard the best upgrade path is to swap even for Tuna55's Accord.
How did you find such an animal for so cheap?
Wow, that's a really nice buy. Does it have the 2.0 or the v6? For a couple of years I DD'ed a 2003 sedan with the lower powered "little t" 2.0 engine. It was a nice driver, pretty reliable and easy to wrench on. I've always really liked the looks of the wagons.
Aspen
Reader
7/27/18 9:43 a.m.
Lotta car for $500. I had the 2007 Anniversary edition sportcombi. Yeah, you have to call it a sportcombi now and not a wagon. It's a Saab thing.
They are pretty decent cars. They don't ride particularly well and the handling is decent. I have heard of a few issues with ignition modules and key fobs are expensive. Don't lose both keys or you are in trouble. Body panels are unobtainium and could total the car in a simple fender bender, but since you have nothing at stake, no biggie.
Tunes are available if you are interested in more power, but I found the stock 210hp to be reasonable.
These are one of the safest cars of it day. The number of deaths/100000 was a super low number as I recall.
The Saab factory roof cross bars are excellent and you can put over 220lbs up there.
In the 4 years of ownership I replaced one strut bearing and a caliper bleed valve. I should have kept it as the Turbo X that I "upgraded" for was truly awful.
Aspen
Reader
7/27/18 9:46 a.m.
In reply to ManhattanM (fka NY535iManual) :
The 2006+ sportcombis were all big "T" or V6 Aero.
This is the Turbo 4 as far as I know. Picking it up this weekend.
In reply to tuna55 :
Been for sale for a while. Stopped in and offered $500 a while back but was turned down. Month or three later I get the call that they will take the $500. They had the local shop quote them $2800 in repairs. Things like $400 to change a battery and $200 for wiper blades. Anyway they did not want to spend the $$$ so they called me back. It also helps that the owner is leaving for an out of state gig in 10 days. I have cash they need it gone. That simple.
Oh this thing runs and drives fine. The battery is the OE battery (11 years old) and goes dead in 2-3 days. The shop they took it to diagnosed it and the charging system is fine and there is no drain just an old battery. Brakes were quoted as something like $700 for pads and rotors. Tires were another $600. oil change was listed at something like $160. It is all just little things that add up and if you are not a car person that can fix it your self these are the #'s that people are getting. I am looking at about another $1,000 in parts on top of the purchase price and maybe a day in the driveway or at my friends shop to get it back into every day driving shape. Most of it will be safety related so I could in theory have a significant amount of $$$$$ for challenge go fast stuff. In reality how well will a FF saab do in the drags and the autocross? AND concourse?? The plan would be to keep it looking as stock as possible. I am thinking euro sleeper look. It is black. Looks like this.
In reply to dean1484 :
Wow, nice buy! I have had mine for 4.5 years with relatively minor issues. The guides that hold the water pump drive train failed but it was cheap to fix. I just had my clutch done too, but my wife learned to drive stick on this car so that likely is part of that.
If you need the GM Tech2 tool, I have a clone you can borrow for round trip shipping. If you have to replace certain parts, it will require a tech tool.
tuna55
MegaDork
7/27/18 1:31 p.m.
dean1484 said:
In reply to tuna55 :
Been for sale for a while. Stopped in and offered $500 a while back but was turned down. Month or three later I get the call that they will take the $500. They had the local shop quote them $2800 in repairs. Things like $400 to change a battery and $200 for wiper blades. Anyway they did not want to spend the $$$ so they called me back. It also helps that the owner is leaving for an out of state gig in 10 days. I have cash they need it gone. That simple.
So when do we make the swap then? I paid more, but I'm OK with an even exchange.
tuna55 said:
dean1484 said:
In reply to tuna55 :
Been for sale for a while. Stopped in and offered $500 a while back but was turned down. Month or three later I get the call that they will take the $500. They had the local shop quote them $2800 in repairs. Things like $400 to change a battery and $200 for wiper blades. Anyway they did not want to spend the $$$ so they called me back. It also helps that the owner is leaving for an out of state gig in 10 days. I have cash they need it gone. That simple.
So when do we make the swap then? I paid more, but I'm OK with an even exchange.
Wait what??? What year accord?
My "real" plan here is to fix it up and then detail it and see what I got. NADA on thing thing is $5200 if it is cleaned up and sorted. So we will see if I like it or sell it. AND then there is the whole thing about owning an Architectural firm. I have been told It is kind of the expected transportation device. LOL We will see. I need to get it in my driveway and see what I really have here. The deal is done just need to get it moved. Either I borough a repair plate (if it is available) or just get a Uhall trailer tomorrow for a couple hours.
07 Saab 9-3 wagon for an 88 accord? I am not sure that math works. Ok it works great for you I think.
tuna55
MegaDork
7/27/18 2:23 p.m.
dean1484 said:
07 Saab 9-3 wagon for an 88 accord? I am not sure that math works. Ok it works great for you I think.
Who said anything about math!?
Wait was it base 8 or base 10?
Robbie
PowerDork
7/27/18 3:36 p.m.
Aspen
Reader
7/27/18 6:42 p.m.
Those part prices are nuts, there is no magic to these cars. Your $1000 bucks should get it done.
The plastic trim is actually supposed to be black, it has sunbleached, not much can be done for that. Paint looks OK, and should polish up real nice. I'm a little jelly.
It will do low 16s maybe high 15 in 1/4 mile. Not too agile, although I never autox-ed mine. Maybe good tires will help.
WHOA! That is a lot of car for $500! Is the paint that nice or does it just photograph well? Amazing buy!!
This means that I have to keep mine forever . It is a fine car but my AutoADD is hitting hard.
Ok a little more back story. I committed to purchase this but I had not looked at for at least a month. So this morning I went over handed them cash and I got title. Five gallons of fresh high test in the tank and jump started it. It had power but not enough to start. Checked fluids and all were good. Let it idle up to temp and moved it around and made sure everything worked. All seemed good. I just have a list of little things to do to it. So tomorrow I will hall it home and get going with it.
Photos of the actual car