Newbie, help me!

[thefeez]

This is my first post so let me start off by saying hi to everyone and that all the knowledge and information I have gained just by reading threads is already very helpful. I am considering buying a 1991 Saab 9000 turbo and fixing some minor things with it and getting it inspected then selling it for a profit. The first thing is it has 196,000 miles, needs barkes and rotors all around, and will need shortly a right front cv joint and shaft. After consulting my dad about it, I was prepared to buy it and the owwner called me and said he broke the shifter cable so now it is stuck in park. My question is is all this worth fixing and reselling with so many miles? I heard the car start up and run for a few minutes and sounded great. He is only asking $300 for it. Thanks for your replies.

[Stefano]

Welcome on board!

selling it for a profit.

If you can sort it out properly, you will not can do it, you'll want to keep it.


Anyway. $300 is dirty cheap for a '91 (many says it's the best year for 9000s, if manual). Tha problem with that car is the transmission. Automatic transmissions in 9000s don't like to last long, like 100k miles is already a lot and that car is double the mileage. So either it's still the original transmission, so that car has a ticking bomb bolted to the engine, or it's the second one, so chances are that it's on its last legs anyway. You should check it. It's maybe the third one, or the first one was so longlasting that this one is pretty new...... just make sure that trans doesn't have 196k miles on it, if it has you should condsider like $1500 for a rebuilt one.

If you can build the car up to specs, being a '91 (which is a great year for the 9000), I think it would be worth between $1500 and even $4000, depending on the part of the US you are, how in a hurry to sell you are and of course the overall conditions. Maybe a bit less since it's an automatic (if the autobox is fresh: if it's not consider $2000 less). You could consdider to convert that car to manual, it might be worth it if the car is in good shape. You'd need a donor car, though, because the amount of parts you need is large.


I'm not sure about the shifter cable, but it doesn't soulnd like a bad job to sort out (if it's really just the cable). For the all fours brake rotors, consider $500.

Hope this helps (and that some people more knowledgeable than me would step in! )

[valbowski1980]

If you want to make a profit you are doing it with the wrong car since you actually might lose money here. The most you could get for it is not much more that a grand and with all the repairs you can expect to spend another 600 bucks at least fixing it. A profit of 100 is hardly worth the effort IMHO. If you are looking to fix cars for a profit stick to the Japanese or lower end American.

[boxman]

if you are a compitant machanic and have a shed load of bits then you may have a chance at a profit, if not then walk away, no run away, a 1991 with that milage if its a 2.3 will be about ready to blow the engine as well as the tranny as stef' and val'have already said dont wiast your hard earned cash on this motor.

ps welcome to saabcentral

[thefeez]

Mmmm...ok, I won't get it. But now after looking so indepth at that one and reading page after page of stuff 'bout Saab's in this site...I want one for myself. BTW I'm 19 and thanks for the feedback.

[Stefano]

Originally Posted by thefeez

I want one for myself.

I told you.....

[valbowski1980]

How is the rest of the car? If the are enought good parts in it then maybe it's worth the 300 bucks as a parts/donor car. What you don't use you can sell since there is no shortage of takers for good second-hand Saab parts.

The great thing about a Saab is you can snag one on the cheap. My 93 only set me back $3100, no turbo but hey, it's still a nice Saab. There is quite a bit of good mid-90s turbo 900s and 9000s kicking around if you can afford one.

Best of luck with your search.

-Val

[boxman]

if you do buy the car for parts remember to use the classifieds not the forums for selling, and good luck in the hunt for a saab for your self nice chioce