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Take it to your local fire department and let them use it for Auto-X Training. We get old cars here all the time and its great training for the guys.

We even give out tax receipts for them

 
Bolt that Saab body on the Jeep chassis an go 4 wheelin in style.

That's what they'd do 'round here anyways...

:cowboy:

 
Alright, thanks very much for all the ideas. I must say that the car crusher, demolition derby, MX Track ornament and Mythbusters donation ideas all have great merit.

But I'm going to follow the most frugal and frequent advise of fixing it up for another year and then sell (or donate it (or blow it up)) next year with a current inspection sticker. I guess the cost of the parts isn't really all that much and I should get it back when I sell it vs just junking it now.

FWIW, I have had very good luck with SAABs in the past. This one is about #8 for me, and have an '03 9-3 Vector in the garage. The engine on this old '98 still runs very well with 150k and no engine work (yet). The body is what's taken the beating, living in (salty) New England winters.

 
Following up on some very old bidness...

I did eventually fix up This Ol' Saab (Norm!).

The cost came to ~$500 in discounted parts and my own free labor. Replaced the right front control arm, Rear mufffler box and both rear brake disks as well as the steering wheel clock-spring (for the inoperative horn) which was a darned spendy little item at $100. When I replaced the clock-spring, wouldn't you know it? But 2 days later the AirBag threw an error and now I have an SRS light on. :angry:

No worries. The state of NH doesn't care a whit if you have an SRS or ABS light on, so it got its sticker and is back on the road at U Albany for another year. I am not convinced that Airbags are all that they are cracked up to be anyway. I wear seat belts (and my kid does too) so I hope to never need an explosive bag-slap in the face to save myself (or my progeny) from a windshield headbutt.

Funny thing... After disconnecting the battery (so the airbag wouldn't explode in my face), I had to drive it for a good while to get the OBD2 emissions stuff to re-self calibrate. That is how this state does their extensive "emissions testing." You can't have a Check Engine Light on and the emissions functions of the OBDII have to say "Ready".

Anyway, while I was driving it around I was astounded at just how great of a car this thing actually is (or was), even in it's cuurrent dilapidated state. I was getting over 35 mpg while I was babying it so that the OBD would recalibrate, but on the way home the >200 hp 2.0L turbo engine was quite a bit of fun to stomp on. Did I mention this old whore has 140k miles on it now? Why the hell didn't these things sell better? :unsure: Good mileage and good fun factor... I dunno? Must be a style problem... :rolleyes:

1662913220186797781IM1MAIN565x421_A.jpg


Anyway, I appreciate all of the feedback that everyone gave in this thread very much. The demise of "Goldie" (did I mention it is painted a loverly gold?) has been deferred for yet another year.

:lol:

 
Those SAAbs had a cult following in NJ when I used to live there, and they were very popular here in the mountains when I moved to NY. They were expensive compared to similar 'merican vehicles and you needed the even more expensive turbo model to be competitive with the average V8 of the day. Still, I agree that they were great cars.

And I agree wholeheartedly with your perspective on air bags and seat belts. I always wear a seat belt, and I think air bags are an unnecessary expense in a car.

 
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Yep. Early on, back in 1990 I bought a SAAB 900 (not S or SE) non-turbo, 2.3L 4 cylinder Normally aspirated 5-speed. I actually bough the thing new, one of the few new cars I ever bought. Although it wasn't exciting, it was a very stable and reliable car.

The later model SAABs almost couldn't be bought without a turbo. And you are right they always cost a quite a bit more than the average Ford or Chebby new. But after 2-3 years their rapid depreciation hit them so hard they were just as cheap or less on the 2nd hand market and a whole lot more car. That's how I've bought all the rest of my SAABs, 2nd hand.

 
Ingredients to "fill 'er up" next 4th of July:

Ammonium nitrate

Fuel oil

Blasting cap

About a thousand feet of wire.

Ear plugs

:yahoo:

 
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