And this is why the Classic 900 is more Saab than the 9-3 and 9-5. A Saab made by Saab engineers, not by GM accountants. I am happy that I swapped my 2004 9-4 Sport Sedan with 160,000 miles on the clock for a 1998 9000 CSE with only 100,000 miles done when I got it a year ago. Forward to the past!
Rubber spoilers and automatic seatbelts were both quite common on cars from the mid '80s to mid '90s. And other cars had flow-through ventilation vents, such as the original VW Beetle, but the SAAB 900's were probably the largest. I'm surprised you didn't mention the "positioning lights" (next to the front parking lights) which light up when you shift into reverse, to help illuminate the sides of the car at night.
These cars are so cool. Initially, I was a little on the fence about some of the color choices for the engine, but every time you show it I realize that you made the right call for everything.
I own a 5-door hatchback from 1984 with 175 hp and it already has a „Turbo“ sign on the steeringwheel instead of the typical Saab/Scania sign. And it also has the bis front and rear bumpers.👌🏽
The rear parcel shelf can be placed at a 45 degree angle to help with loading and unloading items...It clips into place..When done, you just unclip and put back down. I.might be able to send a photo to show if you want. I have a Convertible, but , might be to locate a photo of it clipped into the holder.
A few of the quirks aren't as Saab quirky as you think, they just went out of fashion before you went over to solid food. The rain guards were on about all cars produced between at least the 1950's up to the '90's. And as the 900 is basically the successor of the 99, which is 1960's design origin, the guards are there. It is often the joint line of the roof plate with the sides. The head lamp wipers were on a lot of cars that were exported to countries where head light cleaning devices became mandatory. On quite a lot of cars where wipers were not part of the original design it was easily visible they were an add on where some extraordinary tricks had to be pulled to get them incorporated. In the early 2000's they were mostly replaced by the cheaper pressure washers as also seen on the 9-5 after the wipers were phased out. But there is a quirk that should be mentioned and that is the way the door closes against the sill and not over it. This was typically Saab, aging back to probably the Ur-Saab. The pluss sides being always having a clean sill so no risk for dirty trousers and much less chance that in case of an accident the door gets wedged. Downside thousands of doors with rusted bottoms because of the archaic way of keeping moist out with that rubber flap being riveted without any proper rust protection. And don't forget the other function of the gear stick lock: car theft is quite hard when you only can get away in reverse 😀.
"And don't forget the other function of the gear stick lock: car theft is quite hard when you only can get away in reverse". Especially if you park with the rear end close to a wall. :0)
I had a 900 a long time ago. One morning when i came ot and started it nothing out of ordenary. But when I tried to put in a gear it didn't work. The carehad been broken into and the gear lever was broken. Many did not lock the car properly in reverse, so they were popular to steal. I repaired the plastic ball that broke with super glue
What a beautiful car! Love from Sweden! Thanks for keeping those legends alive. edit: regarding the seatbelt, that has to be US only thing? I never in my life seen this in Sweden...
The Carter administration mandated that by 1983 all new cars sold in the U.S. have automatic seat belts. The Regan administration removed the automatic seat belt requirement. But car companies may have bought auto belt parts, so they installed them until 1990 when air bags were installed. 2 main reasons automatic seat belts were discontinued: they stopped working like Jacob's & more important could not be fitted to child safety seats
Carter also mandated the maximum MPH on the odometer to be 85 MPH. If a cop stopped us for exceeding 85 MPH & asked us how fast we thought we going, we'd say how are we supposed to know? It's mystery speed. Didn't keep us from getting a ticket
They definitely do not handle like modern cars (which isn’t really a far comparison anyways). It’s alright, but it wouldn’t be my first car of choice for a twisty mountain cruise
You still mean a C900 engine and transmission, right? If not, no. If C900, likely yes, but different years had some different setups, so I’d recommend posting on the 900 Facebook group with a year range in mind to confirm. The transmission should work regardless of year
Thank you! Yeah, I have a 900s 4 door sedan, '92, with a non-working transmission. And, since it's leaking oil and antifreeze, I thought it might be better with a new engine too, and to source from a newer year for newer gaskets and such. The engine is the original. Thanks so much for any help! :)
Thanks for being one of the only young people doing 900 videos. And once again, I cannot believe we have the exact same car, right down to the sun fading on the hatch HAHA
Cool video, but it would be better if you discussed the brilliant reasons for some of the quirkiest 900 quirks. There was always a method to their madness at Saab/Scania.
ive owned multiple saab 900 classics. and never ever have i ever seen nor even heard of automatic seatbelts! that and the unleaded fuel badge must be some US market exklusives stuff
Saab was the first car manufacturer to put a turbo in a car engine so i its maybe not quirky to put all the stickers on the car, more like to show that they was first
It's not quirky, it's genius!👍
Those two things aren’t mutually exclusive! 👍🏼😄
Nothing like a Classic 900 Turbo. Still miss mine. Coolest euro car I ever owned, imho.
🙌🏼🫡
Come for the unique excitement, stay for the quirks. Just makes me love 'em 9x more! ❤️ 🇸🇪 😊 Thanks, Jacob!
Thanks Joe, much appreciated 🙌🏼😁
i own a saab 900t16s (euro version ) i had no clue that some version had automatic seatbelts or fuel type signs around the car , Awesome car dude!
Thanks! Glad I was able to teach you a thing or two about our US cars 🙌🏼😁
And this is why the Classic 900 is more Saab than the 9-3 and 9-5. A Saab made by Saab engineers, not by GM accountants.
I am happy that I swapped my 2004 9-4 Sport Sedan with 160,000 miles on the clock for a 1998 9000 CSE with only 100,000 miles done when I got it a year ago. Forward to the past!
Rubber spoilers and automatic seatbelts were both quite common on cars from the mid '80s to mid '90s. And other cars had flow-through ventilation vents, such as the original VW Beetle, but the SAAB 900's were probably the largest. I'm surprised you didn't mention the "positioning lights" (next to the front parking lights) which light up when you shift into reverse, to help illuminate the sides of the car at night.
Position lights are a good one!
I'm a big fan of the Clarion cassette decks that Saab used in the US market, and feel like two worlds are converging right here.
These cars are so cool. Initially, I was a little on the fence about some of the color choices for the engine, but every time you show it I realize that you made the right call for everything.
🙌🏼🙌🏼
I own a 5-door hatchback from 1984 with 175 hp and it already has a „Turbo“ sign on the steeringwheel instead of the typical Saab/Scania sign. And it also has the bis front and rear bumpers.👌🏽
Fabulous Saab!!! Great video!!! 👏👏👏
Thanks!
There are 2 notches for y8rear parcel shelf to hold it up in place when you are loading items.
What do you mean?
The rear parcel shelf can be placed at a 45 degree angle to help with loading and unloading items...It clips into place..When done, you just unclip and put back down. I.might be able to send a photo to show if you want. I have a Convertible, but , might be to locate a photo of it clipped into the holder.
3:30 VW MK2 Sciroccos have a very similar rubber rear spoiler.
cool!
Had a 900 and a 900S. I'm still in love!
👍🏼👊🏼
I had a 900 and a 9000. I miss those cars dearly.😔
A few of the quirks aren't as Saab quirky as you think, they just went out of fashion before you went over to solid food. The rain guards were on about all cars produced between at least the 1950's up to the '90's. And as the 900 is basically the successor of the 99, which is 1960's design origin, the guards are there. It is often the joint line of the roof plate with the sides. The head lamp wipers were on a lot of cars that were exported to countries where head light cleaning devices became mandatory. On quite a lot of cars where wipers were not part of the original design it was easily visible they were an add on where some extraordinary tricks had to be pulled to get them incorporated. In the early 2000's they were mostly replaced by the cheaper pressure washers as also seen on the 9-5 after the wipers were phased out. But there is a quirk that should be mentioned and that is the way the door closes against the sill and not over it. This was typically Saab, aging back to probably the Ur-Saab. The pluss sides being always having a clean sill so no risk for dirty trousers and much less chance that in case of an accident the door gets wedged. Downside thousands of doors with rusted bottoms because of the archaic way of keeping moist out with that rubber flap being riveted without any proper rust protection. And don't forget the other function of the gear stick lock: car theft is quite hard when you only can get away in reverse 😀.
Good ones 👍🏼👍🏼
"And don't forget the other function of the gear stick lock: car theft is quite hard when you only can get away in reverse".
Especially if you park with the rear end close to a wall. :0)
Thanks!
Thanks Jonny!
I had a 900 a long time ago. One morning when i came ot and started it nothing out of ordenary.
But when I tried to put in a gear it didn't work.
The carehad been broken into and the gear lever was broken. Many did not lock the car properly in reverse, so they were popular to steal.
I repaired the plastic ball that broke with super glue
What a beautiful car! Love from Sweden! Thanks for keeping those legends alive.
edit: regarding the seatbelt, that has to be US only thing? I never in my life seen this in Sweden...
Thank you! Must be US only thing, I suppose. It was sort of a pre-airbag technology
The Carter administration mandated that by 1983 all new cars sold in the U.S. have automatic seat belts. The Regan administration removed the automatic seat belt requirement. But car companies may have bought auto belt parts, so they installed them until 1990 when air bags were installed. 2 main reasons automatic seat belts were discontinued: they stopped working like Jacob's & more important could not be fitted to child safety seats
Carter also mandated the maximum MPH on the odometer to be 85 MPH. If a cop stopped us for exceeding 85 MPH & asked us how fast we thought we going, we'd say how are we supposed to know? It's mystery speed. Didn't keep us from getting a ticket
A finely and innovatively engineered car.
👊🏼👍🏼
how is the steering rack doing on this car, iv'e found they go really mushy on older saabs. really fab color also.
They definitely do not handle like modern cars (which isn’t really a far comparison anyways). It’s alright, but it wouldn’t be my first car of choice for a twisty mountain cruise
@@AutoAutopsy steering rack might need a rebuild then. buddy of mine did on his 900 and it made a huge difference.
Here's my quirk. The handbrake activates the front brakes and not the rears on the older 900's.
Good one! 👊🏼
@@AutoAutopsy Still waiting for a belt replacement video. I'm lost looking at my engine bay of my Turbo 900.
74-83
Great video!
I am wondering if a later year transmission or engine could be used in a 1992 900s?
Thanks!
You still mean a C900 engine and transmission, right? If not, no. If C900, likely yes, but different years had some different setups, so I’d recommend posting on the 900 Facebook group with a year range in mind to confirm. The transmission should work regardless of year
Thank you!
Yeah, I have a 900s 4 door sedan, '92, with a non-working transmission. And, since it's leaking oil and antifreeze, I thought it might be better with a new engine too, and to source from a newer year for newer gaskets and such. The engine is the original.
Thanks so much for any help! :)
Thanks for being one of the only young people doing 900 videos. And once again, I cannot believe we have the exact same car, right down to the sun fading on the hatch HAHA
lol! you should DM me a photo of it on IG or email! I'd love to see it 😂
Saab 96 & 900, great cars.
👍🏼👊🏼
Most unique, kool cars ever. SAAB🏁🏁🏁📽😁👍
🫡🙌🏼
Hi, it's not fake vents in the back. They prevent from dangerous changes of pressure when you close that huge trunku cover.
I mentioned they’re functional in the video! See 5:45 mark.
Great video! I'd like to know what color (code) that is, if anyone finds out. Thanks.
Thanks! It’s malachite green
@@AutoAutopsy Thank you so much!
Cool video, but it would be better if you discussed the brilliant reasons for some of the quirkiest 900 quirks. There was always a method to their madness at Saab/Scania.
Thanks! Unless I’m misunderstanding your criticism, that is exactly what I did for many of the quirks shown 😅
ive owned multiple saab 900 classics. and never ever have i ever seen nor even heard of automatic seatbelts! that and the unleaded fuel badge must be some US market exklusives stuff
The more you know! 😂👍🏼
fun fact! the biggest reason for the 45 degree angle on the engine is becaus they had plans for 4 extra cylinders on the engine😁
I thought it was for clearance issues as well. I’m sure there’s a bunch of odd reasons 😂👍🏼
Wait….what the…but you’re…..how the……Auto explain this socery
RIP boys, my 9³ Aero's clutch took a shit today...hopefully nothing else.
Nooo 🥲
🫡👍❤️🇸🇪
#10 no kickerpanels, on the body, they are on the doors.
Good one!
you will find a rubber spoiler on an 80s Alfa Spider
definitely seems like it was an 80's feature lol
Did any other cars have those annoying mechanical seat belts besides Saab & Saturn?
I think a good bit of 80’s/90’s cars had them
The belt thing is not exclusive to Saabs. When I was a kid, my family owned a US-Spec Jag XJ-S and the belts worked the same way.
Just because it’s not only on Saabs doesn’t mean it’s not a quirk! ;) cool to know!
No doubt.
Quit teaching people these quirks! How else will I have conversations about how to get the key out with valets or the guys at the tire shop.
It's my only social interaction 😂
🤣🤣🤣
You are doing a great job, interesting topics about these legendary SAAB cars. I have a few of them myself, 9-5, 9-3 and 99. Greetings from Finland 🇫🇮
Audi had a similar set up for their front wheel drive cars.
With the transmission under the engine?
@@AutoAutopsy no behind the engine , but the engine was not mounted sideways that is common in FWD.
Saab was the first car manufacturer to put a turbo in a car engine so i its maybe not quirky to put all the stickers on the car, more like to show that they was first
I’m not sure how that means it’s not a quirk! No other car brands really did that
@TractorSwede BMW put a turbo in the 2002 before SAAB and a US company ( I can't remember the name ) before that.
Quirky
🤗
The only problem with the classic SAAB 900 turbo is...THEY DON'T MAKE 'EM ANYMORE!!! That's a problem!!
🥲🥲
I had one loved it
Pölsa From My Summer Car
👍🏼😁
lol he said the quirk word teeheehhehehebeheheh
Was this commentator out of kindergarten in 93?
Is this supposed to be some sort of insult against my knowledge of the car and brand based on how old you think I am?