I am looking for a daily driving car and it has come down to two different cars. Both are older and are $2,000.

One is a 1988 Saab 900 SPG and the other is a 1991 Volvo 940 Turbo.

Now, i don't much about either make aside from they are both known to be reliable...but which would you think is better?

 

Saab 900 is a lot smaller than Volvo 940. I would personally go for the Volvo, turbo + rwd = fun, even though the car is one huge tank

 

well, I know both makes pretty well. They are made next door
Both are kinda like driving a tank, especially that Volvo. Safe.
It's also pretty quick (considering its size) but VERY thirsty!

just my 0,02 €..

 

darn, Sami beat me by 2 minutes

 

Well, considering a recent TV ad by Volvo showing a motorcyclist almost causing an accident - I'm boycotting their products. Go with the Saab (that's the only reason I'd need).

 

SAAB!

My first car was an '87 9000 and it lasted for 177k miles, AND managed to get a good trade-in value for the 944 NA
*sigh*
oh the memories...

 

I read the specs on the latest 90 series Volvo. They scale in at 4700lbs! No wonder they drink a lot.

 

I would go with Saab. My father used to have a '88 900. it was very reliable car.I don't like that Volvos designed by axe looks

 

i have a 740 turbo. It has 267,800 miles.. and i still redline without a problem. besides the turbo lag, it is a fast car, beats many sedans, and to have the room if youll use it. Handles fairly well too.
i don't know much about saab's, besides a kid at my school had one and it had 250,000 miles on it and he had a friend of mine turn up the turbo and he blew the rings or something. so that's not exactly a good example.

Good luck with whatever you choose

Edit - oh , and mine gets good gas mileage (over 20 i think) unless your pushing it. not sure if the 940 is that different of weight or anything.. but just my observation.

 

I have an uncle who collects Volvos ( and fire trucks...but that's a whole different story! )...got my 1st car from him...a 1971 142E which had 143,000miles when I got it.....ran like hell (meaning great..) and always started...I had it until about 183k when he bought it back from me! I know my sister had a sabb 900 and had nothing but troubles ( it was a great car when it ran though! )

I'd go VOLVO! ( and the turbo's are a blast! )

 

Why whats wrong with the 951?

 

true.. just wondering though, why my garage is full of Volvos..

 

The old Volvo turbos are great fun. If you get any ice or snow in North Carolina though, these are the worst cars ever built. My dads old 740 turbo was nearly undriveable from Dec-March. Thats how dangerous it was. If you dont see slick roads though, they are a blast.

 

I'd go for the saab 900 SPG (special performance group)

Rare car.

 

SPG all the way! One of my HS friends had a normal 900T, and that thing was awesome. Well, actually it was a piecer due to its previous maintenance, but you could tell it was originally a good car. The turbo kick was awesome, it layed down rubber when it hit boost in 2nd, and that was with a leaky wastegate only allowing ~6PSI.

If you can find a good example, buy it. If I remember right the things to look for are rust, and get the transmission spline shaft checked out, as those sometimes crack on higher mileage. I believe, check this for sure, but I believe 1988 is when they switched to a water cooled turbo (much more reliable)

Check out This Link for Saab info.

oh yeah, it has good cargo space and will grab the road like velcro in bad weather.