1977 SAAB 99 GL from UK and Ireland - Comments

Exhaust fell off almost immediately after purchase. However this was due to having been sitting around in the garage that I bought it from for a couple of months.

A certain amount of rust which required bodywork repair.

Losing a little coolant.

The Saab 99 is undoubtedly built to an extremely high standard and is a very solid car indeed. In fact my brother drove the car into a nissan micra which was written off and there was not a mark on the Saab, helped by it's huge bumpers. However due to the weight of the solid body the fuel consumption is rather poor.

Also the weight of the car makes performance a little sluggish, but the 2.0L Triumph derived engine is smooth and completely unburstable.

The rust on the car is only to be expected considering I original paid £800 and also considering the year of manufacture.

The steering is not assisted and is excruciatingly heavy during parking, but lightens up at speed and makes the car very relaxing to drive on fast A roads.

The suspension is firm and provides a well controlled ride although outright grip is a little low, but this is more to do with the 70s style of tyre than anything else.

Overall these old Saabs are stronger than any other car of the era except perhaps the old Mercs and if you want a classic looking continental cruiser look no further. There is of course the rare and collectable turbo version if you want truly brisk performance.

You're right - the Saab 99 is built like a tank, but the heavy gauge metal and all the complex pressings mean weight, and the 2.0 litre Triumph engine (1/2 a Stag V8 - now there's a pointless engine, but that's another story) is no powerhouse.

I found that my driving adapted to the car, from the 'sitting up straight' driving position to the need to plan ahead with respect to braking and acceleration.

Not a great car, but an interesting one.

I've had a 1977 Saab 99 four-door for six years in New Zealand and I agree with the comments above. Mine has survived virtually rust-free and has been a joy to own. I'm only the second owner in 29 years so that says something I think - it is still in its original shiny sky blue paint! I have the 1985cc automatic version which accelerates very well when it's tuned up by a knowledgeable mechanic - it accelerates very quietly past plenty of modern cars! I'd like to echo the solid description of the car; I've also had a Saab 900 Turbo with power steering, but the 99 feels much more solid to drive with the unassisted steering, and just seems to sit more sturdily as it drives. I recommend buying one if you're on the lookout for a classic Saab! Iain.