1985 SAAB 90 2.0 V4 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Cheap and fun

Faults:

Clutch needed to be changed.

Radiator leaked.

Minor faults with instrumentation.

Headlamp washers don't work, but I'm not too bothered about that.

General Comments:

This is a superbly styled and excellent looking car. It is also very rare (perhaps not so good as spared are hard to find. The performance (105 and over mph) is excellent for its age.

The car is in very good condition both inside and out. The interior is comfortable and spacious, although the fake wood capping leaves something to be desired.

Whenever I go out in it it leaves a smile on my face; it's really nice to drive and performance is (as I have already said) excellent.

The car is not economic (28 mpg), but it was very cheap to buy (£650) and is generally a brilliant all-round vehicle.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th May, 2002

1st Apr 2003, 16:17

Hi is this really a V4 petrol? if it is, I woud imagine it would be a car of value to Saab?

3rd Apr 2003, 09:12

Yes - the SAAB 90, being really just a 99 with the rear end of a 900 (though still stylishly done) was only available with the 1985 cc V4 petrol engine. Two-strokes were used on the earlier 92, 93, 95 and 96 models, though the 96 also had a V4 petrol option.

29th Dec 2003, 07:25

Wrong.

The SAAB 90 was never equipped with a V4 engine. It had an in-line 4 cylinder.

Only SAAB 95 and 96, plus the sports car "Sonett", had the V4 engine, which was bought from Ford.

18th Aug 2025, 13:28

The 90 was another great car made by SAAB. It was assembled in Finland, and besides being the predecessor, it was quite similar and shared many things with the 900.

As for the fact that it wasn't an economic car, that's true, but no Swedish car was, at least not until well into the 1990's.

Whoever bought a SAAB wanted reliability, not economy. Indeed, SAAB never made diesel engines; its cars were expensive and well built, and the 90 model was a prime example of that.