I'm considering a classic Saab 900. I'm a fan of manual transmissions, but I'm a bit spoiled having only owned Hondas and Mazdas with their precise shift action.
Would I be nuts to consider a classic 900 turbo with an auto? Will it be no fun at all? Keep in mind I'm in flat, boring Detroit so canyon carving is not my life - more like freeway and boulevard cruising.
I've never had a convertible, so I'm leaning that way at the moment if it matters.
Follow up question: can you fit a rear-facing child seat in the back of a Saab 900 vert or coupe?
Pot hole carving isn't interesting? 
I'll let the experts weigh in...
I can only add that while I highly prefer a manual, if it's turbo and auto it's still fun. Brake boost launches, not loosing boost between shifts. Still not as fun as a manual but then again everything can be swapped to manual.
Older Saab autoboxes are weak and the opinion is avoid!!
weaker than the manuals?
That said, they are -very- old school and not a lot of fun. They do a good job of sucking the joy out of the turbo
They were all 3 speeds (by Borg Warner), stronger than the manuals, but not bulletproof, and not fun.
I can actually weigh in on this one. My wife and I have had two automatic C900s that weren't parts car-- one turbo and one n/a.
I had this beauty of a one-owner Amaranth Red Metallic '84 900 Turbo automatic. The worst part about it actually goes right against your needs: They SUCK on the highway. They rev to the moon, but hey, that means its always in the power if you want to hammer past something. The Turbo car was not slow from a roll. Nowhere close.
The transmission sucks the fun out of an otherwise wonderful car. I wouldn't have another one with an auto unless it was the perfect deal on the perfect car, and I've had more than a few C900s.
Without moving one of the front seats almost all the way up I don't think so. I'll look and see if we still have one in the basement- maybe I can get a visual for you.
This info applies to the sedan, not sure about a coupe or vert.
bastomatic wrote: Follow up question: can you fit a rear-facing child seat in the back of a Saab 900 vert or coupe?
This is our seven year old seat in the back of my 91 with the front seat all the way up:
<img src="
" />
<img src="
" />
I don't have my saab in front of me.. but I think my 87 has an anchor for the babyseats? The swedes were very far ahead in safety.
Thanks for the info guys. Looks like I'm going to pass on this one.
You'll need to log in to post.
