Vilhuer

Last Saab's are Opel's underneath with all good and bad what comes with it. Might as well buy Opel Vectra, that is if it had been available in US market.

Nicole

^^That would give you a more bland look and less complex engines. My brother still has his 1991 Vectra CD Hatchback (he doesn't drive much), and it's amazing how similar it feels to the Saab.

Anyway, I think Ron may have taken his 928 for granted, but driving a car that's closer to average might make him appreciate his shark more in the future. It sure helps me stay grounded and appreciate the privilege of owning one of those machines.

sweanders

Ron, a Saab won't make you normal.

And Nicole, the Swedish name of the pictured animal is Älg.

dr bob

Ron, a good Saab can be addictive. I haven't been in a post-GM Saab so don't really know the one you have. But... Think of that tall seat as a throne. For longer-distance touring it's a very comfortable sitting position. If they continue the trend set in the earlier cars, the seats were very supportive and durable.

I sold my last 900 turbo with about 300k on it, and it looked and ran great. Shortcomings were the GM AC system with the compressorunder the exhaust manifold and just aft of the turbo, and the Saginaw-supplied steering rack that started leaking a little at around 200k. If Nicole's car is anything close to the quality and durability of my earlier car, you'll need to get used to driving it 'cuz it will be hauling you around for a while.

On the 928-- Steering rack, MM's, all one project. Th eradiator is a know solution, just tough it out and get it fixed. The rear lights? Simple as a bulb? Or the connection in the battery well where the gear selector/backup lights/reverse lockout wiring all pass through? Does the "R" light come on in the instrument cluste in reverse? Any of those light up? These are clues...

SharkSkin

Ron, I'm sure you'll survive, and this will give you something to look forward to! Besides, I think you'll make a better rolling chicane than most.

sweanders

I feel confident that the car can be driven faster than most realize, depending on driver of course.

Nicole

^^^^^^

Who would know better than you?

sweanders

I have never taken the car all the way to it's limit (the tires loose grip long before that)..

Ron_H

Well, I'm liking this Saab more and more. The 928 won't speak to me because I am ignoring it (and it's strange recently developed coughing and sputtering when cold at light throttle from rest behaviour.), in favor of the just-jump-in-and-go convenience. Everything works and it is in good aesthetic condition too, thanks to Nicole's care. I've already used the folding rear arm rest to cart some long stuff from Home Depot. The fuel guage seems stuck on the same place as when I picked it up at Nicoles, unlike the visibly declining guage of the 928 (something must be wrong with it! It really drops visibly when I happen to wander into Nevada for some strange reason). Since I still can't get the V-1 power plug to work in the cigarette lighter, I tend to poke along in the right lane like the other "normal" people; hey, maybe that has something to do with that guage that's stuck on 1/2!!

I like this car. Considering it replaces an '84 Rabbit, I really like it. Jane will like it too, I'm sure, though she has yet to ride in the front seat. It has good throttle response and adequate power for its purpose. And I even got the cassette player to work (after extracting a books on tape cassette that Nicole left in there. I'll return it soon when you get your seat details Nicole.) And it has a large truck. It is small enough to park easily too. Of course it doesnt' have the sensuousness of the Porsche, but that's not objectionable. And the kicker is it is green; I'm a vegan, and my company name is Verdant Ventures. Ha! I must get the proper plate for this car, and it is no mystery what it will say with its seven letters.

Bob, one of the gremlins in my 928 is the light in the dash signifying gear selection. It is burned out methinks. But since I plan to remove the dash and heater core, I'll get to that too WIAIT. I have a list so long it hurts to think about it all at once; just take one thing at a time each weekend and some day the monster will be back in action the way it was meant to be running.

Erik N

Well now, what are you going to use to merge onto southbound Hwy 85 from Moffett Blvd? That on-ramp was made for a 928, especially if it's rainin!

Nicole

Ron: Glad you are bonding more with waSAABi!

I'd like to see what might be the issue with plugging in your V1 - do you want to drop-by the office tomorrow, so I can help you figure it out? I will be bringing my V1 power adapter for comparison (just tried it again on the 9-3 - works perfectly). Just call me on my cell phone to set-up a time!

We can also hard wire a connector just as I have it in turbo zzZAABi. Either way, we'll figure out something.

Expect to get between 300 and 380 miles out of a tank of gas - depending on what type of driving you do. The needle seems to move a bit faster in the lower area for some reason... could be a psychological one. This translates to approximately 22-26mpg. Not too bad for a 2.5 liter V6 Automatic from the mid-90ies. BTW: It has 170hp, in case you were wondering.

Ron_H

I am quite busy until after Saturday and will probably be sleeping/recovering all day Sunday. After that we can meet.

The best mileage I have ever been able to get out of the 928 was on a trip back to Sunnyvale from Santa Monica one day. I coasted into a station in Sunnyvale after not stopping at all after filling up in Santa Monica. I think it was around 22 mpg. But I concluded it made little sense to own a 928 and drive it like a Honda Fit. What a drag. Hitchhiking would have been more fun. So now I just drive the 928 like a 928, suffer the financial consequences and use face cream to soften my face skin and prevent cracks from all the grinning.
The Saab will likely change all of that. Think what I can buy with all the money I'll save on fuel. And I even am liking the wheels too. A long time ago, in the time of 356 ownership and gymkhanas, I remember some embarassed 356 P car drivers who had the misfortune of competing against Saabs in those events; we called it a Saab Story when they posted such good times and made the P cars sob and sob. Now look at me in this Saab story.

SharkSkin

No doubt about that... I was alluding to the fact that Ron is a more aware driver than most, and I doubt that he will be one of those left lane hogs that we all love to hate.

Ron_H

That's the truth! Punishment for past sins is when I find myself heading to Los Angeles on I-5 (two lanes in each direction) and battling my way from one cluster **** to another cluster **** of left lane hogs all the way to the Grapevine. I know it is because I did something bad or I would not be forced to endure this madness. It is hell on earth and planned that way I'm sure to aggravate all of us because no one could have designed a more absurd highway in all the world. The truck speed limit of 55 doesn't help either considering the closing speed of the right lane drivers who must pull into the left lane to pass and slow even the left lane hogs in doing so. One more lane would resolve that deficiency, but that would make sense; what makes sense seems impossilbe for Sacramento to comprehend.

Of more concern to me is the fact that I can't get the #$*$&#@@!! CD player to play CDs. Aargh!! Nicole, can you clue me in to the magic method I must not know that will give me uninterrupted tunes? The CD changer is the best feature of the Saab, since I must stay in the right lane until I figure out how to make my V-1 work. I have a ton of CDs I made from iTunes purchases and am just itching to listen to them.

Nicole

Ah, driving on I-5... It's annoying as it is, but with a fast car like the 928 it's outright frustrating. You "could" so much, so often, but then there is some numbnut in front of you or riding your tail... There should be a law that requires people to move to the right after passing.


The CDs must be in Audio CD format - if you copy MP3 or iTunes files onto a CD, it won't be able to read them. Remember, this is a 15 year old system. Today's audio file formats didn't exist then.

Otherwise all you have to do is put the CDs in the right way, and you should be in business.