1989 SAAB 9000 CD review from North America

I purchased this auto in Baltimore, MD. I flew there from Rochester, NY. As everyone knows, here in Western NY every winter we use lots and lots of salt on the highway. I only had this car for a couple of months when I discovered it had a blown head gasket. It doesn't have a bit of rust and I wasn't going to drive it in the winter anyway, so I parked it. I had an appointment to get the head gasket replaced. The day before my appointment (spring of 2003) I tried to start it and move it a little bit to make it easier for the flatbed to pick it up. It wouldn't start and the starter was making a grinding noise. I pulled the starter (backyard mechanic) and took it to the local parts store to get it tested. It tested fine. I came home and put my hand up into the hole where the starter was and discovered the flywheel (flexplate) was loose. Now, instead of $500 to replace the head gasket I was looking at $2000 plus to pull the transmission and replace the flex-plate too. I decided to do it myself. Over the next month (1-2 hours a day, 3 or 4 days a week and much consulting with the repair manual) I pulled the motor and transmission. I replaced the head gasket (it was blown when I bought it - lots of Bars Leak in coolant system. I have about $500 into it now, but I also replaced the water pump, thermostat, flexplate, struts, brakes, rotors, and rear shocks. It took me a while and a few bugs to work out after it was up and running, but I loved doing it and the car is just super. I figure it should be good now for another 150,000 miles with proper preventive maintenance.

Fast, Fast, Fast.

Slow to start out. But 30 MPH and up like a rocket.

Seats are comfortable.

New woodgrain dash kit makes it look super.

10 disk cd changer is nice.