Sweden’s car maker put a charge in a compact convertible …
And now for something completely different!
A 1994 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible with 100+k miles on the odometer, a friend’s car. Checking my files, it looks like my last Saab drive was 2008, the Saab 9-3 Turbo X Sport Combi, a wagon.
That was a GM-influenced Saab as it had purchased the Swedish carmaker in 2000, and the end was near in 2008. Things got messy when GM spun off Saab to Dutch carmaker Spyker Cars in 2010 and to keep this brief, Saab went bankrupt and stopped production and US sales late in 2011. Hej da!
But Saab had been cranking out somewhat aerodynamic shaped 900 Series cars since 1979. They had a following in the US and naturally sold well in Sweden.
This Scarabe Green Metallic 900 Turbo was special, a convertible model sold as a 1994 and representing the final year for the first generation 900. GM launched a revised (and it was time) model in late 1994 with a variety of improvements, then revamped it further for 1999 and relabeled it as the Saab 9-3.
Driving a 31-year-old car that has served as summer only transport for much of its later life, was interesting because the car offered so much that is now common on today’s vehicles, but was not at the time.
First, the turbo. While today’s cars and trucks are not shy about tacking a turbo onto a small I4 engine, that wasn’t so common in the mid-90s. Turbos were considered fragile and likely to fail. Some muscle cars had tried to up their waning power in the 1970s and 1980s, but mostly cost owners a lot in engine and turbo repairs.
Saab had figured out turbos already and didn’t overwhelm its 2.0-liter I4 with too much pressure, so they lived longer. Saabs had plenty of other problems to worry about, but the turbo upped power here to 185 horsepower with a 201 torque rating. In a 3,140-pound car with a 5-speed manual transmission that translated to sporty.
Some considered the 900 Turbo a touring car of sorts, enough power to be fun, but a decent ride despite its shortish 102.4-inch wheelbase. Online reports put the Saab 900 Turbo at 6.9 seconds in a 0-60 mph run. Respectable for 1994.
While there was a four-door hatchback model starting around $26k, the two-door convertible listed at $38,875 with the turbo. That was on the pricy side back then, but both convertibles and perky ones were not well represented in the marketplace.
What else did the Saab 900 Turbo deliver that is common today, or was ahead of its time?
Well, cruise control, a tilt steering wheel, CD player, and power windows. I loved the unique dash switches on either side of the instrument cluster to rotate the mirrors. Most makers even then had decided such controls belonged on the door panels, but not Saab.
Leather seats were standard too, gray in this blue-green model with its tan cloth convertible top. That lid required a couple latches to be flipped and secured before powering it down. Chilly day so I only drove with it up, but the roof folded neatly and fairly quickly too.
Like today’s vehicles the Saab used disc brakes at the four corners, with vented discs in front. Impressive at the time. Tires were low-profile (for handling) steel-belted radials, and steering was rack and pinion. The engine was electronically fuel-injected and the turbo had water-cooled bearings with an integrated wastegate.
On the practical side, trunk space is decent at 10.7 cubic feet. Most convertibles are usually short on luggage room, what with the top folding into its top portion. This would easily hold several suitcases.
The back seat though is basically for show and insurance purposes, not much legroom back there.
Note there was a Commemorative Edition convertible in 1994 too, just 500 made for the North American market. All those were Nova Black with tan roofs and tan leather interiors. Cost was $40,415.
My last drive in a Saab convertible had been in 2006 with a 9-3 turbo model. By then power from the turbo I4 was up to 210 horsepower, the lines had been slimmed down and it now added a navigation system for $3,890. Now our phones supply the nav.
Sorry to see Saab disappear, like so many other makes I grew up with, but …
Editor’s note: Wrapping up the year with a Car Spot of my own. Usually, Paul does all those for us, but I couldn’t resist after taking a spin in this Saab. Have a great New Year!
One more thing, if you’re a Saabophile, this 900 convertible is for sale now. Email if you, or a friend, have some interest.
Savage On Wheels 
Leave a comment