Summary:
Breaks down, unreliable, too many repairs needed
Faults:
Gosh, can't remember them all.
Thermostat, hoses blew, U-joint/axle, alternator connections, brake lines, slave cylinder, starter, ABS module... the list really goes on.
Some things needed general replacing (clutch, oxygen sensor), but I had to put loads into this thing. Also, completely unreliable in that it broke down or overheated on the road multiple times, causing me to pull over & need a tow.
Plus, starting it was a matter of crossing my fingers & hoping it got me to my destination.
Also, a lot of mechanics hate working on these. Especially since they're old & defunct, as well as hard to learn & different from typical car setups. I encountered a few who basically said they'd rather not do the work, than spending all day learning & figuring it out, just to do it once, since it's likely no one would ever bring one in again with the same problem.
General Comments:
Could be a good 2nd car or summer vehicle, especially the convertible, which mine was. I liked the car, its look & style, and what it was. A niche car. However I couldn't justify the repair costs nor the unreliability of it. Had to scrap it and get something reliable, which this was not.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 6th February, 2013
7th Feb 2013, 16:09
150,000 miles is like 241,000 kilometers. This thing was worn out way before you bought it. Most probably why the previous owner offloaded it, on to you.
8th Feb 2013, 02:41
My advice to you would have been to get yourself a mechanic that was interested in working on it. I have a 1990 900 for 23 years. They have their issues, but on the whole it's a good solid car. Had mine in for a service the other day. My mechanic confided that he preferred working on these, rather than modern electronic nightmares, as diagnosis on older Saabs is usually straightforward, whereas on modern cars this was not the case... Then again, he was trained on these in the 1980s, so he probably knows them thoroughly.