How to buy a classic Saab 900

With their bulletproof bodywork, strong performance, and design cues niftily borrowed from their fighter aircraft siblings, Saabs have always offered something a little different to the discerning driver.

None more so, in fact, than the 900: the Swedish marque's best-selling model of all time, and one of the most admired cars of the 1980s and 1990s. But how does the Saab 900 stack up as a classic car today? As we’ll reveal, it could make a very attractive ownership prospect – especially when paired with some specialist vintage car insurance.

Read on for our guide to the highs and lows of Saab 900 ownership.

Why should you consider a Saab 900?

Back in the 1980s and early 1990s, a Saab 900 on your drive attracted envious glances – perhaps more so than an equivalent BMW or Mercedes, and roughly equivalent to an Audi, who were yet to become the mainstream upmarket brand they are today and who back then, like Saab, had something about them.

What was behind Saab's appeal? Probably the fact that the automobile maker was a small part of a much larger concern, the aerospace giant Saab AB. For the latter, its automotive arm was, relatively speaking, a playground where it could test and display technologies that were also going into its aeroplanes.

Saab AB had massive budgets, unlike the often restricted finances passed over to product development teams in other car makers. So Saab Automobile, the conglomerate’s car division, could build their vehicles just the way the engineers wanted them. That meant cars built from steel, with exemplary build quality (there was an old adage that you could, if you had the strength, lift up a Saab by its door handles without damaging the rest of the car) and very high safety standards. These were sturdy, beautifully built and rather different cars that came from a place where they also made fighter jets. What was not to love?

So much for the brand. What of the 900 in particular? Well, the car was an upgraded version of the firm's already popular 99 family car, which managed to extract impressive performance and torque from its two-litre, four-cylinder engine. For the 900, Saab stretched the 99, added in a few luxuries – this was a vehicle aimed at what we'd now term the compact executive market – and re-engineered the car to increase its reliability and durability, making improvements everywhere from crash protection to front suspension.

The funny thing is that the 900, which eventually became the Swedish manufacturers' best-selling model, wasn't even designed to be around for very long. It was supposed to move Saab upmarket from the 99, long enough for the design department to produce a brand new car. Well, that didn't happen, and the 900 lasted 16 very successful years. These are now ideal candidates for some classics insurance.

Which one should you buy?

You've got various engine options with the 900: but we'd steer you towards the Turbo, which is where the Saab added impressive performance to its already striking list of attributes.

The 900 Turbos are either Low Pressure Turbos (LPT), that put out 145bhp, or Full Pressure Turbos (FPT), capable of 175bhp (rising to 185bhp on the rare Carlsson and 'Ruby' editions). Unsurprisingly, FPT cars are the most highly valued, especially in three-door form. Hot-hatch-styled versions of the FPT and, later, LPT Turbo cars are branded Aero, and have a sporty bodykit.

Saab made very few changes to the 900 across its 16-year lifespan. There were some light styling changes – pre-facelift cars are known as 'flat noses', because of the different look to their front headlamps. And, come the late 1980s, the engines got 16 valves instead of the previous eight. But that's about it as regards changes.

You got a choice of body styles: two- and four-door notchback saloons and the more common three- and five-door hatchbacks. There was also a nice-looking, and very practical 900 convertible, available from 1986. You can also get this in the potent FPT engine. The body shell was reasonably well strengthened – but, as with many drop-tops of this age, you can’t escape that 'scuttle shake'.

What about durability?

Saab built their cars to last – after all, where they came from, cars needed to be tough. The Swedish winters were harsh, and snow- and ice-clad roads were hard work on the country's cars. Saabs, like Volvos, were built to withstand those conditions.

Thanks, once again, to that aeroplane parentage, Saab included some brilliant ideas and ergonomic features into their cars.

For example, the 900 had a deeply curved, wraparound front windscreen, which reminded everyone that Saab primarily made aircraft – and also gave the driver excellent side and forward vision. Similarly, taking good engineering practice from its airborne divisions, Saab designed the 900's dashboard in a driver-facing curve, allowing easy reach of all controls. The engineers placed all the controls and gauges in a precise system according to their importance or how often they were used – all of this so that the driver takes their eye off the road for the shortest time – and by the smallest angle – possible.

Other nice touches included ergonomically designed seats. Oh, and heated seats – something that you'd be grateful for on a chilly morning in Sweden, or Scarborough. Heating and ventilation were top-drawer, too. Touches like these make the Saab 900 feel – for a classic car – rather modern. A great car to invest in, in other words – all the style of another era, with fewer of the compromises than normal.

What’s it like to drive?

In a word: good. The 900 has a clever suspension setup (double wishbone for the front wheels, beam axle for the rear), which gives the driver a very direct, accurate steering experience. Alongside that, Saab designed the car to have perfect grip on Sweden's icy winter roads, which makes it a pretty wonderful car to thrash down your local B-road.

The engine – especially in Turbo guise – is hugely entertaining. The late, full-pressure 'Aero' turbo engines are particularly thrilling, pootling along happily at low revs before giving you a monstrous (but manageable) boost when you hit the gas.

Another part of the Saab AB empire were those Scania lorries that you often see pounding the UK's motorways. Saab Automobile took a cue from its Scania siblings and provided the car with huge amounts of torque, meaning that the turbo boost came in at lower revs. Result: the Saab was a brilliant overtaker, and a great motorway cruiser – and relatively economical, being able to do a lot of its best work between 2,000 and 4,000 revs. Performance, refinement, economy and effortless overtaking: by 1983, Saab's 900 Turbo was the best – and best-selling – turbo car out there.

What’s it like to live with?

Being essentially a long, hatchback shape – subsequent cars like the Audi A5 and VW Passat CC seem to have taken inspiration – the 900 is a practical car to live with. It has a longer boot than its 99 predecessor, and that hatchback space is a very decent size. The fact that Saab never saw the need to build an estate version of the 900 should tell you all you need to know about the car's practicality.

The car also has a certain classless feel, like a Volvo or a Golf. It doesn't have the overt badge snobbery of a Mercedes, or proclaim 'I've made it' quite as loudly as a BMW. It was a slightly leftfield, and always much-admired choice. After all, in its slightly off-kilter way, the 900 ticked a lot of boxes. It went fast and was great to drive, it looked very attractive with that long sloping rear end, it had plenty of space for a family and all their stuff, and – as we've seen – it was packed full of clever features and admirable bits of ergonomic design.

Stylish in a rather discreet, for-those-in-the-know kind of way: no wonder it was the car of choice for both James Bond (in the 1980s Bond novels penned by John Gardner) and DI John Rebus in Ian Rankin's gripping Edinburgh detective novel series.

What should you look out for?

A beautifully built and exactingly engineered car, the 900 should not be a troublesome ownership prospect. However, as with any classic, there will be some rusty and poorly maintained cars on the market. This high-performing classic may also have been driven quite hard, with resulting wear and tear to moving parts such as the gears and drivetrain. You need to find a 900 that has been driven sensibly and whose maintenance schedule has been kept up to date. To cover all bases, we'd definitely recommend some specialist classic car insurance to protect it for the future.

Bodywork

Rust or flaking paintwork can build up in a number of places. Likely trouble spots include the bonnet, doors and tailgate. Elsewhere, look for damage to the front valance and under the doors. The inner and outer front wings and wheel arches should also be inspected carefully for rust or other damage. Corrosion can also pop up in other, more hidden areas, such as the boot floor or under the battery tray.

Engine

Saab engines are as tough as the rest of the car and, if they are looked after, can put in 300,000 without needing a comprehensive overhaul. There are things you will want to look out for, though: check for oil leaks from the crank front seal, as well as leaks from the water-pump. Timing chains will need replacing after 125,000 miles.

The turbos themselves can last 200,000 miles or so. Check for rattling, or blue exhaust smoke when the engine revs hard – both will be signs that the turbo is on its way out.

Gearbox and drivetrain

The 900's gearbox can start to fail much earlier – particularly if they've been worked hard. Make sure the car doesn't jump out of gear, and listen for any gearbox rattles or ball bearing noise. Be vigilant here, as gearbox repairs can mean taking the whole engine out (the box sits beneath the engine) – an expensive procedure.

The brakes can fail – especially the handbrake, a common cause of MOT failure for the 900.

Electrics

Controls can fail, especially on a car of this age, so check all the electrics, including the mirrors, windows, sunroof, central locking, heated front seats, and headlight wash/wipe.

What should you pay for a used 900?

You'll probably pay about £5,000 for a good Turbo, such as the Aero with its attractive sporting bodykit. The very best cars in the best condition may go for double that figure. The most potent versions are the late, limited-edition 'Ruby' cars – these will be expensive, although they only add an extra 10bhp, and lose the nice Aero details.

Is there support out there?

Saab Automobiles sadly went bankrupt in 2011, so you won't be able to take your Saab into a dealer for servicing and general support.

However, in reality this shouldn't matter. Saabs have a large and enthusiastic following in this country, which means that you will be able to source repair parts fairly readily. What’s more, many mechanics will know the car well enough to carry out the work you require.

There's also a large Saab ownership community, centred on the Saab Owners Club of Great Britain and the UK Saabs forum. Both these will be great places to find copious amounts of Saab expertise, spare parts and more.

Insure your classic Saab with Lancaster

Powerful, reliable and with bags of character: we can definitely recommend looking into a Saab 900 as your next classic car.

But whatever classic you opt for, we’ll be delighted to help improve your ownership experience by providing some specialist classic car insurance.

Contact the team at Lancaster today to find out more.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.