SAAB Queries

[Randy Welch <rswelch@wco.com>]

On Tue, 19 Jan 1999, you wrote:
>
>
>Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 18:37:12 +1100
>From: Tony Guttmann <tonyg@ms.unimelb.edu.au>
>Subject: Query about SAABs - and comparisons with Audi
>
>Dear q-list,
>
>With some hesitation I ask:
>1. Does anyone know the URL for a good list for SAABs?
>

www.saabnet.com/tsn

There are news/info and discussion groups and a weekly chat session on Saturday
evenings with Saab master mechanics.

>2. Anyone have views on the comparative merits of an FWD
>Audi 90 of late '80s vintage and a comparable SAAB? 
>
>(Reason for query is I'm looking for a car for my
>daughter, and most of the '90s here have slush-boxes
>which she detests - so due as much to availability as
>anything else, I'm considering the SAAB alternative,
>but have heard mixed responses - from "great car" to
>"unreliable, expensive, slow, poor handling and steering."
>since I've heard a similar range of views on Audis -
>and know the former to be true - I'm hoping that that may
>be the case for SAABs too.) 
>

Performance wise it really depends on which variant of the Saab motor you get. 
The turbo's are sweet motors that get up and go, the 16V motors are nice and
fairly responsive.  The Saabs are also great for carrying things around.  The
900 hatch and 9000 are great for hauling fairly large stuff, something that the
audi's don't really do as well in.  The saabs really handle quite well in
inclement weather, even for a FWD, for those quattro types... ;-)

As always when looking have it checked out by someone who is familar with it. 
A well maintained example will eaisly go 100-200K miles.

I've owned 5 of them and will probably own some more.  (There's a few things on
our 9000 that I prefer over my A4.)  I don't think you'll go wrong with either
choice.

-randy
98.5 A4 2.8qMS   16K
93 Saab 9000CSE 100K