1989 SAAB 900 Reviews

It had its fair share of problems upon purchase for being 20 years old.

The drivers seat had a rather small tear in the bolster from age.

The AC is not working (turns out the bearing froze previously on the tensioner pulley and has not been replaced).

The turn signal lever will not stay engaged when you move it to a right-turn position, and the instrument cluster illumination bulb contacts have spread out and no longer make contact with the bulbs. Obviously, that means no illumination. Smacking the instrument cluster results in temporary illumination.

All the problems are easily fixable for myself, but I'm not concerned enough at this point.

It's probably the most fun car I've owned so far. It's not that fast, but it merges on the freeway with ease, and is at the least, snappy.

There are no mechanical problems, minus a somewhat noisy lifter.

The interior, in my eyes, is pretty spacious.

The controls are very easily accessible, and were definitely designed for function.

The seats are comfortable even after 20 years.

The rear hatch has more space than you'll use. You could even fold down the rear seat, and sleep comfortably in the hatch.

As far as function (hauling your junk, carrying passengers, traversing the country), this car is perfect. They also have a certain cult appeal about them that you'll really love.

Water pump.

Transmission grinds - but hasn't broke (yet).

Oil leak in head gasket.

Transmission fluid leaks.

Frame bent in wreck.

Strut bearing started going out.

Turbo gauge broke.

When you take past 80 mph, the seat belts wildly go back and forth - but don't move otherwise... the fuse is fine though.

The car doesn't shift when it is suppose to unless you flip the car from second to drive.

The car vapor locks constantly.

The antifreeze leaks.

I drove this car pretty hard... and it really cost me. I don't know where you're from, but I live in Lewiston, Idaho and I had to travel about 40 minutes to get any service on it. An oil change and tune up was 400 dollars to give you an idea. The water pump was 600.

I got in a wreck going about 60 into a curb, and it put my alignment off 4 inches and bent the frame, broke the rim, and the engine started making some slight clicking noises. It was 550 to replace the rim and over align the tires so it drives correctly. I didn't bother fixing the frame... they wanted 1500 to fix it.

I also bumped into someone once - it bent the headlight and dented the hood. When I went to get a quote, it was 1,800 to fix IF I could somehow find the discontinued parts it needed to fix the head light.

The hoses are to find in the right sizes... and trust; I have had to replace at least 5. I would usually find a tube I would have to force to fit.

I haven't even bother trying to get a quote on the electric problems the car has. Half the time the electrical stuff works and the other half it doesn't (seat belts, windows, sun roof, gauges, ect). The sad thing is that I feel like I'm forgetting more.

Although I will admit... the car went really fast for an old car. Once you hit 60 you can get to 100 in no time. Once you pop the turbo going that fast - all bets are off. That was the only thing I like about that car. Oh... the interior wasn't bad :)