1993 900 Turbo Aero Black (& Black Leather interior)

[Phillie]

Hi, I'm about to put this up for sale on Ebay and thought I'd mention it here first as you wouldn't need any introduction to the virtues of this beautiful car - pearls before swine sort of thing

I'll attach the draft ad copy below so you can get some idea of details. And please don't point out that I shouldn't be moving on as this is proving difficult enough as it is!

Someone's put up some photos for me here: http://picasaweb.google.com/basicfol...eat=directlink


I have some more photos if needed.

Here are draft copy details of ad:

Unique, Powerful, Beautiful... An Instant Design Classic

If you love design, you'll know this car, which instantly established itself as a design classic. (If you're a serious design aficionado you'll notice another reflected in the bonnet).

I looked long and hard for this car - I wanted the Turbo version, with the Aero body kit. In black, naturally.

There are few of these about, so it's highly collectible as well as highly regarded among designers & experts (see: http://www.hagstromsaab.co.uk/journa...rnalEntryID=12, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_90...ero_or_900_SPG, http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/cars/saab-900/1003906,


It's also enormous fun to drive, with some serious kick to play with. The acceleration is fantastic and so is the road-handling. Check out the last video below to hear this sexy beast's motor.


The Last Great Modern Classic Car...

According to Wiki, "In the UK the Modern Classic definition is open to the discretion often by Insurance Brokers and Insurance Companies who regard a Modern Classic as a vehicle that is considered collectible regardless of age."

I have insured this car under "classic car status" (which makes insurance and tax if not a steal, then extremely good value).

And the fan base - especially for a rarity like this - is serious: which makes its used value considerable. For example, here's Matt from a Saab blog:

Why it's my favourite

individual (a) single characteristic of single person or thing; distinctive

individualism (b) principle of asserting one's independence

Collins English Dictionary 1990

Since its inception in 1978 the Saab 900 has held my undivided attention as one of the most individual and distinctive cars in the world... Put simply, nothing looks anything like it. You can see a Saab 900 coming a mile off and that is probably half the story as far as I'm concerned. From the tip of its front bumper to the tip of its rear, the Saab 900 has always been (in design terms) one of the most cohesive and yet enthralling pieces of automotive sculpture ever to grace the upper executive car market.

It has a real style to it that says so much about the person behind the wheel. It's not as quick as its rivals. It's not as fuel efficient and it has to be said that the styling of both the exterior and interior are an acquired taste. Saying that, it's alarming how quickly you acquire it!

One of the most clever dashboards to ever grace an automobile. The result was something that looked beautifully built, striking and yet really different.

An instant kudos... Something almost undefinable about it that generated respect.

All the side windows formed a progressive line toward the tip of the bonnet. In 1978 square boxes ruled, so anything as avant garde as this would have really stood out in the traffic and on the suburban driveway. The fact that the rear spoiler finished off that side window line so perfectly was merely the icing on the cake. (Incidentally most manufacturers now have copied this). But all of this pales slightly when you first drive a Saab 900. The first thing you notice is the weight of the car. It feels so heavy to drive. Not the steering, the steering weighted perfectly, but the fact that this is a very heavy car is obvious as it glides its way down any road you point it. And it's that sense of weight that becomes re-assuring and relaxing. It's that sense of weight that adds to the feeling that you're driving something with real class and breeding that, previously to its existence, you would have had to pay through the nose to get.

Finally, after you've started to really appreciate all the refinements, the poise, the road manners, and the really beautiful lines of the thing, you actually start to feel a bit sorry for all the tasteless drivers in their even more tasteless Dagenham dustbins and the Luton leftovers. Which is when it strikes you, and it makes you feel really good about yourself. The stark realisation of: my God I've got really good taste!

That is why I love the SAAB 900

.
http://www.hagstromsaab.co.uk/journa...rnalEntryID=12


The History

I bought the car in 2005 when it has 113k miles on the clock.

The first thing I did was have buffalo grey leather fitted to all the seats.

I like how smart this car looks, so I regularly had it valeted inside and out.

It has a full service history and I continued to full service it regularly at specialist Saab garages.

I've lavished an lot of love and attention on getting stuff properly - all that stuff which sooner or later needs doing with a classic:

I've given it new shock absorbers, a new radiator, a new gearbox, a new slave cylinder, a new engine mount, a new clutch, a new fuel pump, new rear brake discs etc etc (as well as the usual business of brake pads, tires, oil changes, air filters, spark plugs and so on.

Mechanically, then, it's in remarkably good condition.


The Small Print

That said, there are some cosmetic bits and the odd thing that need attention.

The driver side electric window is iffy, and so is the automatic door locking relay. There's a patch of headlining coming down (see picture) and a little bit of something in the corner of the windscreen (see picture). Also the aerial/antenna on the radio got bent in the winter and makes a grim little noise when it goes up and down.

But that's about it in terms of substance.

However, I work as an upmarket interior painter & decorator, so with the best will in the world internally it's had some wear: I've put up relevant pictures to show where the leather has taken the odd hit or got tired, and where there's the odd bit of paint.

So, all in all I'd say for a car at this age and mileage, mechanically it's well above average, but cosmetically perhaps below average. (Difficult to know for certain, though: what's average?)

The reason I'm (very reluctantly, frankly) selling is that I've moved to a country cottage up a muddy lane and two cold winters have convinced me to get a four wheel drive."

[bridgewater]

Hi

I can surely sympathise with how you feel about the tough decision you have made to sell your beloved 900. I lost mine 5 years ago, a victim of my divorce.

Anyhows, I am now back in the market looking for a replcament from my 900 turbo in white. When were you thinking of listing it? I would be very interested in this car, given the way you speak about her, you have clearly loved her and cared for her well.

Any more pics and information would be really useful, thanks

[Chris 9-5]

Originally Posted by Phillie

Hi, I'm about to put this up for sale on Ebay and thought I'd mention it here first as you wouldn't need any introduction to the virtues of this beautiful car - pearls before swine sort of thing

Quite correct Mr Pollock, we enthusiasts actually need very little of the massive text "cut and pasted" here........... perhaps however a price and MOT/TAX status would be an advantage?

[Phillie]

Yes, sorry about the massive cut and paste - or though fortunate, as while away Ebay deleted the draft so at least there's a record...

As said, been away. Loading up to Ebay later today.

Viz questions so far:

12 months MOT
Taxed to June
143k (I think) on clock (see one of the photos). More photos https://picasaweb.google.com/basicfo...eat=directlink

Open to offers.

Sorry if any offence given to existing norms not intuited from the FAQ!