Quijote has just posted this one in comments and as it’s a prospective purchase (of a Viggen, no less) I figured time was of the essence…..
I just came across a beautiful Viggen convertible that I think I may snatch up.
In fact I was about to pull the trigger when I receive this video, as requested, of the soft top motion. There is a pretty loud pop when the lid opens up, whether the top is folding in or out of the compartment. Can you please check out the video, I’d like your opinions on what that may be.
Cause for concern?
Hydraulic leak?
Soft top failure on the way?
Or just an annoying noise, but nothing to worry about like the dreaded SIDs?
I previously owned a 9-3 SE and Viggen convertible and it never made this noise, although the 9-3 SE did suffer from quite a few soft top failures, the Viggen was solid.
Your thoughts? Can you post them here please?
And here’s the video:
Any of you convertible owners with similar issues, please feel free to advise.
Related posts:
{ 17 comments }
Sounds like a mechanical problem. Maybe with the Tonneau cover transmission or even the U-joint. You would have to take down the convertible storage cover off to see. If it was a hydraulic leak, the soft top would move very slow or none at all. Beautiful car by the way.
Swedish Motors Inc.
mmmmm…. I’d buy a Bimmer
Pay no attention to Richo. He’s just missing his old Viggen.
Hard to say without seeing it. Sometimes they pop when they hang up on the tonneau latches, but this one sounded like it popped after it was released and clear from the latches.
Like Thegriffin37 says, It could be the U-joint or the shear pins the connect the u-joint to the drive shaft. Or it could be something as simple as loose mounting bolts for the tonneau drive. The tonneau drive on this car is hydraulic and much simpler and generally less expensive to fix then the NG900 electric motor/transmission tonneau drive. Other then that noise, the top looked like it moves very nicely.
One of two possible things.
Shear pin on drive arm broken or worn.
Refer pdf
http://www.genuinesaab.com/psi/files/cv+shearpin.pdf
and photo
http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149309
Or worn motor refer pdf
http://www.genuinesaab.com/psi/files/900+cv+top.pdf
Most probably the shear pins.Replaced lots of them.
And how nice it is to have Matt the fudgepacker back in comments! Welcome back, mate. SW
Buy the Acura NSX in the back ground, a manual top with no popping sound!
9-3 doesn’t use a motor. It uses a hydraulic cylinder for the tonneau drive. That link you gave is for the 900 top that used a electric motor.
Just refer to the first pdf then.
Quijote,
get that car – stunningly beautiful and Viggen at that!
Seems that mechanism can be easily fixed, following Saabologist’s links.
Wish I could get my hands on that car…
Maybe just me, but you-tube links no longer working from IE?
A guy walked up to me at the service station a few weeks ago and said, “Wow, you’re driving a Viggen! I used to own a Viggen but I traded it for a newer Ovlov.” I could almost see tears starting to well in his eyes.
Everyone I know who used to one a Viggen regrets selling it. The handling is horrible and I’ve been told that the convertible shakes a fair bit when you step on it. But wow, what a feeling! It’s raw power on tap and you actually have to learn how to handle your throttle and be the driver instead of relying on traction control.
If the Viggen is sound and in good condition, mechanically, I would buy it. That “popping” noise doesn’t sound like a major problem. The seller may even be persuaded to fix it. Also, I think there were only 1,305 soft-tops built in total. Go on, get one again, Quijote! Acceleration is boring without a Viggen.
I’m one of those individuals. I had a SE conv that was a lemon, really it was Saab took it back. I leased a Viggeb afterwards, didn’t want to buy after the SE experience. That was one amazing, reliable, well executed piece of machinery. Handling is bad compared to perhaps an TT Quattro, otherwise it was better than your average car really. But that’s why made it so special, it was a raw car made the man and machine experience that much more intimate. When lease ended Saab only had the initial weak engines in the NG 93. It’s been a few years with my Audi cabrio and I miss the Viggen trendously, and Saab in general I take my parent’s 9-5 out as much as possible lol not that my father always let’s me because then he’s stuck with the Audi hahaha.
Thank to everyone who gave their feedback, very helpful much appreciated.
I never understand why people are calling Viggens badly handling cars. It looks like everyone is pretty much spoiled by all the control features that make it possible for even the worst driver to do well on a track, the Nissan GT-R is a good example of this.
On the way feeling the road and what your car is trying to do has left the building. Before I drove a car I had a motorcycle for 12 years. The Viggen experience comes very close to what I felt on a motorcycle. It comes down to having respect of your vehicle and the road and, in the end, you are left with a much more enjoyable drive. This is why I’m a bit hesitant to install all kinds of upgrades to improve the handling of my Viggen. I’m afraid it will also take away a lot of its character.
Just a thing about safety. The issue of falling asleep at the wheel came up during a safe drivers course I was participating in (brings down the insurance premium!). Lots of people were complaining about this and my hypothesis is that it is caused for a big part because the modern cars are driving themselves. I always had problems with staying awake while driving for hours. I don’t have that problem anymore since I got my Viggen 2 years ago. It’s an engaging drive and a lack of respect will kill you.
So, yes, if you have a chance, buy a Viggen. Hold on to the one you have already and don’t destroy it. They are quite a handful new classics.
I’ve also heard that adding the steering rack brace to a Viggen negates a lot of the torque steer and enhances the driving experience. Back when I got my 2000 9-3, I would have bought a Viggen if I could have afforded it.
That’s a great tagline GerritN!
Saab Viggen
“Show it a lack of respect and it’ll kill you!”
Almost as good as:
Toyota: they keep on going (even if you don’t want them to).
I own a 2001 Viggen Vert – Laser Red, It is a driving car and you have to respect it because it is fast but personally it is the best handling car I have driven and I love mine. There will be some issues because of age but if it is in overall good shape get it, it is worth the fuss.
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