This one isn’t going to be popular, but here goes…..
A better man than me once said the incredibly truthful words “A man’s got to know his limitations”. I bought a car late last year with the notion that I would fix it up and learn a little bit about fixing cars up along the way.
I’ve since learned that the lingering thought occupying the back of my mind was an accurate one – I’m totally freaking useless at that sort of stuff.
The car, of course, was a Saab 99 Turbo in an rescuing this one, I hoped to rediscover the love that I had for my original Saab 99T, which I rescued some years ago and managed to get driveable again via the two gearboxes and the turbo I replaced at a considerable cost.
I’ve since found the help I need to be more voluminous than I thought and more difficult to secure in a timeframe that will keep me interested in the project. I also worry a little about what the endgame will look like – whether the car will really allow me to do some of the things I’d like to do. All of these points are things that I should have thought about more before I bought the car.
My Alfa 33 taught me that I can take a running car that’s less than optimal and make it a really well sorted and fun driving car. The Monte is teaching me the same thing. Perhaps it’s because I can enjoy driving it and seeing the results straight away? But bringing a car back from the dead is something beyond my scope.
I’m fickle and poorly equipped for such things, both in terms of skills and patience. I admit it.
Thankfully, I have managed to find a buyer with Saabs on the brain and a willingness to bag a bargain. The car will join his already considerable collection of Saab 99 Turbos awaiting completion and I’m sure all the spares that come with it will be very handy indeed.
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{ 33 comments }
It’s sad to hear about that.
But on the other side it is quite brave for a man to admit its own limitations.
Hey, the Monte is a very nice and exclusive piece of car, so be proud about him and let the more capable at fixing cars take care of the older SAABs.
I would love to own a 96V4 or even a two stroker, but I know, if something happens to the car, I don’t have the time nor the space nor the capabilities to get it running once again, and my wife would say we don’t have the money to get it to a garage.
it’s all part of life….
Don’t worry, Swade, you are not the first one
It’s brave for a man to admit his limitations, especially when it comes to cars related stuff….
So, you are doing just fine!
Cheers from Norway
-Olav-
Always on the longest road home when out there with my SAAB. Always!
Don
That’s not news – I always knew you were freaking useless!
I’ve got a nice on-owner Holden Gemini with 83,000 on he clock if you’d like it. Auto, too!
DB
I’m going way off topic here, but I don’t know where to post this so……-> I’m looking at reducing my debts so I’m selling my 99 Subaru Outback, and I’m currently looking to buy a NG Saab 900. I was talking to my mechanic today and as soon as I mentioned Saab, he told me to head for the hills and not touch a Saab with a ten foot pole, he reckons they have lots of problems. So my question is, is it indeed true that Saab’s have more then their fair share of mechanical problems?
Well, maybe not quite as useless as some, though!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8M5UEFThco&feature=related
Absolutely not! SAABs are fine and reliable cars, but make sure that the car has a complete service documentation.
Change your mechanic in a new one :/)
Cheers from Norway
-Olav-
Always on the longest road home when out there with my SAAB. Always!
Not if you look after them.
Sad but perhaps cathartic step for you Swade. I can sympathese as my mechanical skills are limited to bicycles, lawnmowers & snowboards. You know what you really need is a nice 95 for Mrs Swade anyhow.
Well the good news is that your garage has a free spot for a running Saab! VM, could you please fill that empty spot in Steven’s garage with a Turbo X?
Thats a bummer… but I did the same thing a few years ago. I bought a no engine 1980 Monza Spyder with the intent to hot rod it with a V8 and a 4 speed….
Then along came the killer deal on the Corvette and other things… so the Spyder got sold.
Now Ill be selling the Corvette and moving on to something else… it happens.
Clint Eastwood, Magnum Force. ” you’re a good man lieutenant, a good man always knows his limitations”
PT> was that a 95? Sheesh, the poor lady!
99T, Mazda Miata, Alfa 33,… Let me guess what’s next: Jaguar?
I’ve the same problem: absolutely no skills for Machanic, but always looking for a Maserati Biturbo…
Free your mind, free the space in your garage! No problem. The Monte is perfect.
How about the 9000, is it fixed?
So now take Mrs. Wade out for dinner, where’s the Donation Button for that:)
A brave decision, Swade. Someone will be able to turn that iconic piece of machinery into a beauty it deserves.
I am quite unskilled and I’m dreading of the day that something beyond my skills goes haywire in my 93F.
Your skills have been proven in running THE Saabsite. That is way more than most of us can say.
I envy you that you to be able to take a decision like that.
I have a rusty old Alfa Sprint-78 that I parked in a barn 1989, just waiting for me taking care of it.
Maybe this summer, or next, or . . . .
I had an 87 Biturbo- fun little car, but parts weren’t what you’d call easy to find over here in the states. Cap and rotor were $300, wires were $280, but for some reason the only spark plugs that fit it were the $1 copper cores and the brake pads were $40 a set.
That’s cold, Drew. Cold.
Hey, you’ve got to know when to punt. I certainly threw in the towel on my white 900.
Hey that’s life….. tough choices to be made, but it sounds like she’s gone to a good home
No worries SW and I bet this won’t be your last vintage Saab, either!
Sad moment. You got a 99 turbo with a lot of spare parts which is normally a good starting point. But having no time, not enough tools and less knowledge is a limitation
I tried last year to get a good in shape VW Westfalia camper (end of the 70s) from california as good restoration base and had no luck in getting one in acceptable look and acceptable price. So i never reached your level. So having tools, knowledge and some (limited) time is no advantage
And i’ve sorted all things out (regulations (US car to switzerland), approval for more performance, how to get emission approval, bla bla). And i had only up to 2009 to get the car on the street because this year regulations are changing here.
So no camper vacations with the family in the camper. This was also a sad moment for me. So i can understand your feeling to say good bye.
Well Swade sometimes it’s good to know when to quit. I learned a similar lesson the hard way with a Fiat Spyder years ago. By the time I had it running and drivable I was out of money and patience for doing the cosmetics and sold it on at a significant loss. Concentrate on the Monte and keep your eyes out for other interesting projects down the road.
Well that’s kind of a bummer. I love project cars but sometimes it just ends like this. I bought an old Porsche with every intention of getting it running. I ended up giving it away. It happens.
Sad indeed.
On the bright side, it seems to have find a new loving owner.
Swade, I’m sure that you would have been able to get it running again, even with a bit of help. Unfortunately it’s not always a matter of capability but also of the amount of time you are willing (and able) to spend on a project. Especially with a family it is impossible to defend lying under a car every frikkin free moment.
So, you’re a wise man. Enjoy the Monte!
Many, many years ago, back in the early eighties, I restored a BMW 2002 Ti Alpina. Even the car was running and not in a extremely bad shape it took me many months, patience and a lot of money to complete. It ended up as a beauty in all aspects until it was crashed a year after. I haven’t started a new project since……. ;/)
But I really want to start another project. If I go for it it will definately be a SAAB. What else?
Well, I would have loved to have a Spyker Aileron off course, but I’m afraid that I have to keep on dreaming on that one ;/)
Cheers from Norway
-Olav-
Always on the longest road home when out there with my SAAB. Always!
Not just a good service history as my parents found out two summers ago. One owner, full history and a good carfax but when we when to see the car I got a bad feeling because it didn’t look like they had taken very good car of it. I was right…… It only lasted 6 months and was in the shop at least once a month.
The best Idea is to find a saab dealer you think you can trust or by recommendations from saab owners in the area and get him to check out anything you buy. When we have done that the cars never go wrong and they often spot hidden costly repairs.
The name of the beneficiary of the 99T wouldn’t start with B by any chance???
Ok, not a ninety five, a nine-five. Picky, picky. Mind you, a ninety five would be interesting. Perhaps you should loan yours to Swade for a month.
About fifteen years ago I bought a 1971 Audi Coupe S I wanted to restore. I did Never regret that I gave it to someone who had the skills, the funds and the patience…
Bad timing, but perhaps Saab could have paid for the renovation of Swade’s 99T, as a gesture towards his efforts in coordinating public response to it’s survival? Maybe now they can help him secure a good Sonett instead? I think that would be fair recompense.
Hey, Swade…did you ever find out what was wrong with your 9-5 not starting after a short trip to the store? Several of us suggested a faulty CPS, but maybe that got lost in all the flood of comments.
Totally unacceptable. I post 40.5 mpg highway, and now I guess your going to post X miles divided by 0 gas used, so your getting Infinity for your mpg. Not fair.
This situation boils down to time, energy, and money. I think I know where your time and energy are going. And, saving some money is OK with me. So, it’s alright.
I have never myself undertaken car repairs. I don’t change my own oil even though my father did change the oil himself.
My brother however kept his 1970 Opel GT, bought new, running until he gave it away to a friend in 2008. He owns 2 Corvettes, purchased used, but does not have enough space to work on them now. They do run, however. Instead he now works on motorcycles because he can fit them in his current garage. Where he parks the Corvettes I don’t know.
If you don’t have the space or time it is better to focus on something else. Good luck.
I have had two NG900′s and I love them. It *is* important to get a good example though. Service history is important – more so if it’s Saab (dealer or independent) service history. As with an earlier comment it’s much better to have a car that’s been looked after than one that has been abused. but you should be able to see this on inspection – get any prospective purchase inspected by somebody who knows Saabs
in 70,000 miles in my first NG the only thing that went wrong was the temperature sender on the manifold. nothing else. that was a great car. the second NG900 I have only just bought so we’ll see how that one goes. but so far so good.
If however you are in a right hand drive market (i.e. UK, Australia, Japan, New Zealand) make sure the car has had it’s firewall/bulkhead repaired for cracking. Left hand drive’s are not affected by this.
here’s a buyers guide from SaabCentral
http://www.saabcentral.com/techhelp/gm900_93/NG900_buyers_guide.php
there’s also one on saabtrader.co.uk/buyers_guide_3.htm
and one on saabtec.co.uk/guide.php
A well cared for NG900 should cost you less to run than your Subie, and last you longer
oh and Swade, you did the right thing – I know how hard it is to give it up as well. things will work out right this way
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