Saab 900 S | Shed of the Week

As the chilly weather conditions strategies, Shed’s views change to weatherproofing the family members abode and specially to fixing at least some of the rot holes in the porch woodwork. Commonly, thinking is as much as he will get, but 2022 will be distinctive. This calendar year Shed has been in a position to secure the expert services of a significant Swede called Bengt who has just moved into the village. Bengt is about the exact dimension and establish as Thor, nearly as handy with a hammer, and most amazing of all prepared to operate at Shed’s Scroogelike fees of pay. 

So, whilst Mrs Lose enjoys the practical experience of a huge lad banging absent in her vestibule, Shed is more fascinated in Bengt’s well-informed views on basic Scandi metallic, like this week’s sub-£1,500 (properly, just £1,500 if we are staying pedantic) supplying, a 1995 900S from the glory days of Saab. 

Yet again, the pedants could possibly say that 1995 was six a long time into the much less-than-wonderful days of Typical Motors’ involvement with Saab. 5 a long time following our 900 was created, in 2000, GM amplified its share in the enterprise from 50 to 100 for every cent. A ten years or so later, the blended effects of world economical disarray and their own unique management approaches resulted in GM hastily offloading its ailing acquisition to Spyker. Right after many ill-fated makes an attempt by Chinese consortia to revive and leverage the brand from there the Saab name fell dormant. 

Will it at any time resurface? Who is aware. What Shed does know is that this 900 seems a large amount greater than the GM reputation would recommend. The worst advisories in the very last 16 years’ worth of MOT reports have been worn tyres, a little bit blocked washer jets and small exhaust blows. There has been just a single be aware in the last 6 many years, namely some light-weight electric power steering fluid seepage recognized in previous December’s take a look at. 

What’s probable to pop up this calendar year? As with the fate of Saab, no person appreciates, but the pics in the ad, the minimal mileage, the absolutely stamped vendor support heritage for the car’s very first ten yrs and the enthusiastic words and phrases of the seller counsel the response could properly be ‘not a lot’. 

If that turns out to be the situation, what may well your up coming year’s motoring be like? Properly, the first factor to repeat is that this is not a pre-1994 traditional 900. It can be a 1995 ‘New Generation’ transverse-engined 900 primarily based on the Cavalier/Calibra system. The 2.3-litre 16-valve non-turbo 150hp 4-pot beneath the bonnet has some heritage, while. It goes again not just to outdated Saab instances but, with strong adequate binoculars, previous Triumph instances. It’s a sound and easy device, the sort that Lose truly likes due to the fact he can sort so quite a few concerns by way of simple aged-faculty treatments like checking the plugs, changing the distributor cap, or, for that really experienced glimpse that the outdated villagers like, by squirting Easystart all about the engine bay.

If all else fails he can always talk to for a lend of Bengt’s hammer. These 900s have been injected and they did have ECUs which could conk out around time, triggering rough/no managing, but which is quite unusual. Heater hoses blow but premature engine blowups as a result of snapped cambelts (which occurred really a little bit on the 2.5 V6s) won’t be applicable listed here as the timing is done by chain.

Paired up with a 4-pace automobile box, as right here, the 1,295kg 2.3i will deliver ten-2nd -60 situations, mpg figures in the mid-20s, and yearly motor vehicle tax calls for of £295. The past two of people are the downsides of previous-university motoring, but on the plus aspect you will find a good deal of nice wooden and leather-based below to incorporate a little bit of luxurious to your day. Bengt says he’d soar on it no trouble and that age only matters if you are created of cheese. He really likes the Saab too.