1997 SAAB 900 S Convertible review from North America
"Fun, but Expensive to drive!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Overheating and coolant seeping is a problem with many of these engines.
Head gasket seeps oil at 85000 miles and I found out that the head bolts that were installed were weak and do not retain torque.
I have been through 3 tonneau cover motors. Rebuilt motors are about $600 and a new one is $1200 with installation running about $300 with programming. Poor design and a constant problem for any Saab NG900 (94-98) owner. I'm not sure if I'll replace this one or get rid of the car. Beware when buying a NG900 convertible as this is a problem for all of those years.
Parts are incredibly expensive. Even the aftermarket parts available on a few websites offer no relief from the high pricing of parts.
General comments?
The car is a blast to drive, when it isn't in the shop. I only drive it in the summer and it seems to be in the shop every month for one reason or another despite being meticulously maintained. The convertible top, especially, has been a major problem, yet Saab doesn't feel the need to rectify this by offering repair due to faulty design.
When it runs, it runs great, however, I'm not sure if the maintenance costs justify ownership of this vehicle.
Recommended reviews
| 1997 - 900 900SE Covertible 2.0 turbo I love my Saab, and if I am fortunate enough I will never drive anything less |
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| 1996 - 900 S CONVERTIBLE 2.3 LITER 4 cylinder Beautiful convertible that is fun to drive and looks newer than it is! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model year | 1997 |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2004 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.3 Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 3 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 1 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 76000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 92000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 27th March, 2006 |