It’s amazing and kind of sad it’s become a rarity to see original Saab 900s driving around on the street anymore. For the level of popularity they had in the 1980s, and a level of durability comparable to a Volvo 240, you’d expect to see more survivors. Perhaps their performance orientation means more have succumbed to accidents or engine failure, but in any case, it’s a treat to see one being driven. While ownership of a 900 sedan brings up some tough questions (try buying a Christmas tree with your non-hatch car, for example), at this point, the rarity means you should include the sedan in your search for the best car out there. And speaking of best car out there, let’s check out the best car for the price, a 1984 Saab 900 turbo sedan for only $450 in Simi Valley, CA.
This is quite possibly the cheapest running, driving car featured here. In fact, it’s amazing how clean it looks, with all matching wheels and a dent-free body, something you usually don’t find on cars for two or three times the money. What’s more, this is the seller’s daily driver and runs strongly, in spite of having over 200,000 miles. The earlier version of the 900 is now getting quite rare, and because of that, there’s something appealing about the earlier grill and wheels.
Now, the car does have some needs. The seller mentions the need for a new heater core, shifter, and power steering pulley, and it would be nice to have some more description of the problems that lead to these diagnoses. The paint is likely flat, and it’s quite possible the front seats are near, or in a state of collapse. But even with all that work, even with a new head gasket and rebuilt transmission, you’d likely come out ahead, especially if there’s evidence of good maintenance in paperwork or the condition of the car.
Now, if you’re feeling flush, or are impatient enough to want to skip ahead to an excellent car, you need look no further than this 1989 Saab 900 turbo sedan, available for $3300 in Bellevue, WA. It’s got only 125,000 miles, having been lightly driven the last six years, is a one-family owned car since new, and comes with a full service history. Is the corner on that bumper cover mangled, or is that just an odd reflection in the photo?
Is the hat included? It’s nice to find this car has the 5-speed manual – so many survivor 900s are now the automatic cars, particularly among the convertibles. This car even comes with a set of snows on steel wheels and an original ski rack for that true Scandinavian winter car look. While this looks like a great deal too, the seller does not mention any negatives, and there has to be at least one, so it’s an occasion to probe a little. You know you want a set of those 1980s lower-case turbo badges, and even better if they’re attached to a car!
Rusty But Trusty 
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