GM Saab 900/9-3?

Hmmm so what about these examples:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/3892095232.html

http://monterey.craigslist.org/cto/3881658845.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/3899206172.html

Those are all 9000s, predecessor to the 9-5, different, bigger car. More solid but also a lot heavier and many had Saab's dreaded drive-by-wire TCS setup. I personally am not a huge fan of the 9000 dash & seating position. The 1992s will have LH2.4.2 engine management which isn't really tunable, the 1996 would have T5. Two of those three are automatic though, which you want to avoid if you can...

thread resurrection from 2013, somebody talk me down.

I am thinking of a "rally tribute" car http://chambana.craigslist.org/cto/5375267414.html

http://chambana.craigslist.org/cto/5377073278.html

http://chambana.craigslist.org/cto/5353950888.html

Do the transmissions hold up? why do I think the transmissions are weak?

In reply to EricM:

You are thinking of the "classic" 900 transmissions from when they were mounted underneath the engine with the clutch at the front. Like, '79-93. All the newer stuff has nothing in common and is fairly stout, as noted earlier in this thread a variant of the same gearbox was used in the Cobalt SS.

Also, the three cars you posted are VERY different from each other. First of all, you do not want a 2003 9-3. First year of the "sport sedan" body style with many one-year-only parts. Second, the 9-5 and '99-02 9-3 have true Saab engines with much more performance potential and DIY tunability, the '03-up 9-3SS has a turbo Ecotec which isn't bad but is much harder to get more power from and has the more difficult T8 engine management.

The 9-3SS is a good car but is basically an Opel, there was not much Saab left in the 9-3 from that point on. Get a 9-5 or pre-2003 9-3/900 if you want to experience true Saab goodness.

pointofdeparture wrote: ...you do not want a 2003 9-3. First year of the "sport sedan" body style with many one-year-only parts.

Like what?

In reply to foxtrapper:

The first thing that comes to mind is that entire secondary air injection system on the 2003 is unique. IIRC the gas tank and many related components are different as well. Also, '03-04 models had a weird tendency to destroy automatic transmissions from coolant contamination via the radiator. Not a problem if you like rowing your own, but worth consideration nonetheless.

There are also a few weird build-related gremlins on the '03-04 that makes them worth avoiding, but it's more annoyance type stuff than anything (speed sensitive volume doesn't actually work, primitive TPMS system was ditched for '05). The SAI system is the single biggest reason to avoid the '03, as it's known to be a CEL-generating nightmare and parts are pricy.

Adding my build into this... Stuff for these things is SOOO CHEAP. I've recently picked up a full exhaust, turbo, and two intercoolers, used, from the viggen, for $460 (250 exhaust, 130 turbo, 80 for 2 IC's).

Add that to the $250 purchase price, I'm hoping to have a 250 hp daily driver for less than a grand.

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/the-cheap-green-saab-99-9-3/107562/page1/

Bgkast has a cheap one going too!

I don't know what happened to good ole me. I had a 500 HP fox body coupe and many Amurrican cars for most of my life. But a 91 900 convertible saved me when I needed it to. Transitioned to an SPG and just now to a 2000 9-5 Aero. You just cannot get cooler more interesting cars for this money anywhere ever. Saab goodness is a super double secret. Do not share !

The older 9-3 is closer to a classic Saab and would probably make for a better tribute car in the looks department. The 9-5 is a great car. I really liked the handling and the interior. Cars with the Trionic 5 and 7 have huge followings in the tuning world and there are even some relatively easy ways to tune at home. Check out ecuproject.

I really like the NG93 cars too though. The ecotec is a lot less quirky than the old H engines, but tuning is not as straightforward. 03-07 have some pretty complex electronics too. Its nothing really difficult, but most people aren't familiar with fiber optic loops. Anything newer than that gets a little more pricey to buy into.

On the NG93, I don't really like the way the stock shifter feels. There is a kit to fix that (BSR?).