Are you really surprised about this?

YES, SAAB PEOPLE ARE CHEAP BASTARDS.

I'm almost embarrassed for you right now.

 

Who are you calling old???*


Well, lessee. I kept an account of the restorations of both classic 900's. Between the new leather x2, new top x1, new old stock carpet x2, paint x2, new brakes x2, new exhaust x2, etc. etc....

I bought the 'vert for $9k and probably have spent about $8k more on it.

I bought the Commemorative for $9k and probably spent another $10k on it.

Did I pay too much for them? Did I spend too much on them? I personally don't think I did, given the results -- they're essentially brand new 18 and 20 year old cars. But to someone else? I don't know. I'm not "someone else".

 

Jim, you are the sort of person I wish owned more C-900's, cause if more owners were like you, there would be a much better market for quality reproduction parts for these cars.

I wish there were enough people willing to purchase a stainless steel heater control valve that it would be economically feasible to manufacture! instead, people are willing to either not care that they cant turn off their heat or they get coolant on their feet, or buy the scam-tech units that last 6 months and cost $76.12. I would prefer to pay $300, do the job once, get a part that's made out of metal, and have it actually work for the life of the car.

 

Hmm. Almost sounds like your doing a market feasability to start a business. "If only the buyers were there..."

Srsly tho, I'm with you on all points. I'd pay to have the right part once and done. Far more worth it in the long run. And cheaper in the long run.

 

Both old and young Saab owners are cheap bastards, it's not an age thing

 

Jeff...you used to be the definition of cheap

 

Yes, but I am not typically a penny wise and a pound foolish. I will always pay more for a component that will last the life of the car, rather than pay less for something that won't.

I have a broken heater control valve in my notchback. Why should I bother replacing it with another one that will be broken before next summer? I would pay much more for a product that will work. If I have to do the job once, rather than twice a year, the more expensive product will SAVE me money.

So, I am still cheap. Just logically.

 

Speaking of cheap or reasonably priced, find a source of reasonably priced C900 transmissions! We can get reasonably priced 9000, 9-3 transmissions but no reasonably priced C900 transmissions.

 

BTW, the 'vert still isn't really "done". My quest continues for new a-pilar trim, new-ish dash (holy grail for us...) and a couple other odds and ends. (Welting for the SPG panels, rubber trim around the windows come to mind) So it's hobby whose budget doesn't really end. Just throttled as the ecconomy waxes and wanes...

 

I am, most assuredly, a cheap bastard.

 

Comparing Deloreans to C900's is like comparing apples to oranges....totally different vehicles, market demand, enthusiast following, etc. For c900 owners, spending huge $$$ on stainless headers or other high quality, custom made parts, just doesn't make sense for most. It's not being cheap, it's just being smart. Why? Because there's just no ROI for such on most c900's out there. A Delorean is way different though, especially when a nice, running one will be what, 20k? The cleanest c900 on earth would be lucky to fetch that. Apples and oranges....

 

A good running DeLorean is still worth less than a new Kia... That explanation does not hold water. Is the "personal value" of a C-900 that low? I am not speaking of resale value, DeLoreans have shit resale value too - relative to the amount it takes to keep one going. If one was to pay $15K for a DeLo, they could easily spend $4000 in parts getting it into proper working order. And then? Likely it would still be worth $15K. Same could potentially be said for a $2000 C-900.

If you are planning on keeping this car, what has initial purchase price, as well as potential resale price have to do with it?

 

I pay for a good mechanic, no reason I wouldn't pay for good parts.

 

In my experience, nearly all vintage-Saab people are pretty cheap, but that's also because almost no Saab owners that I know do any work on the cars themselves. It's hard to overlook the ROI when it's "just" a mode of transportation.

I started out as an enthusiast and was lucky enough to meet the right people who were willing to teach me how to keep my SPG going (plus lots of my own time and research).

When I started out I had very little money, but quickly learned the value of quality work and parts - it does me no good if I have to keep re-visiting the same job over and over again.

There is a big difference between owners who happen to have an older Saab that they just need to get them from place to place, and someone who is a brand enthusiast.

Seems to me like there are very few brand enthusiasts left who drive C900's, and even fewer who drive the two-digit cars, so you're back to there being not much market.

It's a tough call, maybe the cars will start to climb back up in value, but we may also just end up like those kooky Triumph or MG or Morris owners too. There is pretty good supply for MGB or Spitfire or TR-7 reproduction parts, but I'd go so far as to say that there are actually more of those on the road even in the US than there probably are C900's.

Hell, I just bought my brother a '73 99 notchback to match my race car, and we probably own easily half the model 99's in the LA metro area.

 

I'm now finding that whenever I drive either of the classics, heads do turn and/or I get comments. It wasn't really that long ago when they were a pretty common sight.

 

yes, saab people are cheap, When c900s go up in value you will see a number of things happen, one of which will be lots more bodywork, and less fear of rust, its tough to justify fixing rust on a car thats peak value is 6k.

a gearbox? id love if somebody made a 400whp ready trans for these cars, and by ready i mean hard launches with slicks, and clutchless shifts to second gear ready. With shift feal like a miata. i would even pay REAL money for it (3-5k or so) for it.

but they dont exist

 

a gearbox? id love if somebody made a 400whp ready trans for these cars, and by ready i mean hard launches with slicks, and clutchless shifts to second gear ready. With shift feal like a miata. i would even pay REAL money for it (3-5k or so) for it.

but they dont exist

you are asking not for a replacement but a complete reengineered piece for 2x the power.

weren't erikkson transmissions somewhat close to this?

 

you sure sweden or england don't have some of this already?

 

Dan Haugh (Landjet) started a bulletproof c900 tranny project. He hit a snag though. Brad from KC sold "Shadow Lou" to Paul Dolmetsch. It was offered to Dan but Dan hesitated for a day and it was gone. That car had a one-off custom transmission that Brad built. It's what we're all looking for. Dan was supposed to go down to Paul's shop and blueprint it so that he could make a batch of trannys with custom-machined parts, but they couldn't work things out. As far as I know, Dan is still on the case, but it would have been an easier project if he was able to see the internals in Brad's creation.

 

Curious what one of these things would cost, as the original post indicates, its tough for many to justify dropping the coin for something like this. On the other hand, I for one love the idea of not walking on eggshells every time i drive my spg lol

 

also, if brad built it, why cant someone contact brad to make a second one a reality.... i spoke with brad last year about the adjustable suspension and afcos, he was very helpful and pointed me in the right direction. I know thats not even close to the amount of work and direction needed for a trans of this ability, but im just saying he could be helpful no?

 

Dan and Brad are good friends--they've talked. Unfortunately, Brad made things up as he went along. Nothing is blueprinted. last time I talked with Dan, he said he's got a cache of transmissions ready to go if he can just get the dimensions he needs from the trans that Paul has. He had a shop ready to machine the parts needed. Unfortunately, Paul is being uncooperative. He's putting the trans in a project car and he's afraid Dan's involvement will just slow him up--unfortunate turn of events for the rest of us.

The car is headed up to Lake Placid when it's done. That may be close enough for me to make arrangements with the new owner to have Dan get a look. I'm Paul's northeast troubleshooter. If any of his customers up here develop problems that it's not easy for him to come up and see, they call me. The new owner has already been given my name. Dan told me he doesn't need to pull the tranny. Just peek through the access panels on the side.

I think Dan's also working with Chris Myles (SAAB tranny guru) on the project. It's happening, just may take a little longer.

 

I agree that as the collector value of the c900 rises, more parts will likely become available. I have yet to find a Sub $1000 delorean on craigslist.

 

As for drivers of older saabs Delorean is right. They are for the most part cheap! They worry about radios and won't fix rust, ect. I see it all the time in my shop. All they want is for tha car to last another year and then another and another and only fix what absolutely needs fixxing. This happens through all the model years. (how many 9-5's are out there with bad heated boxes, sid's, smokey turbos, ect. and they just keep running them) They usually complain about the cost of the car when the estimate is given for $1,000.-$1500. to fix everything. They turn around and get rid of it, the next guy buy's it cheap and then complains about fixing it again. This makes for good cars for the handy people to buy and usually sell for a profit.

As for parts availability for C900's it will come. I love the old 2-strokes and can remember when you used your best junk to keep the motors and transmissions working. In theose days used to carry a used motor with for long trips. Now days the first thing after buying a stroker you rebuild the motor. Now you can get completly rebuilt crank shafts with ALL new parts except the weights, your choice of pistons and sizes, all ne gaskets, (basiclly all ne internals). Transmissions the same, all new bearings just used hard parts. Granted now these parts are not cheap! But if you like the old cars you (I) will pay for peace of mind and knowing I can go out and fire it up and go on a 3-6 hour drive.

 

Funny you describe it that way. I can't stand to have anything wrong with any of my cars and want to fix whatever is wrong immediately. Whatever the issue is, I want it fixed NOW and if I can't do it, I'll spend to get it done right at the shop.

S&S and Viking both know me well. I think I've helped send S&S' kid to college -- and it just so happens their daughter goes to my alma mater, I kid you not!

 

Funny you describe it that way. I can't stand to have anything wrong with any of my cars and want to fix whatever is wrong immediately. Whatever the issue is, I want it fixed NOW and if I can't do it, I'll spend to get it done right at the shop.

Same. If I don't stay on top of things, I get behind!

 

I adore SPGs and would maybe own one if there were a viable transmission option...

 

I did say MOST. Sure we have some customers who fix EVERYTHING that goes the least bit awry (sp) and thank god for them. But I will still say that most of the cars bought 10 years old or older are neglected. V-6 timming belts were the big one for along time. We would tell the owner it needed it and they would put it off and trade the car. It would show back up in our shop with a new owner and he would bitch when the belt broke at 150k And Drew, the transmissions are not as bad as everyone makes them out. Just don't OVER boost them. I have cars here with well over 300k on the original gear boxes, and have had folks that can't get 10k on highly tunes cars.

 

I am willing to pay, and have paid, good money to restore my C900s and make them even more fun. I would pay $5k for a very strong gearbox, maybe more. I am jealous of a family friend who owns a Ford Model A, because all of his parts needed are available, granted it is a simple machine. I lust after Jon Williams 17+ parts cars. I want quality parts, not cheap failure prone copies too.

I am already hoarding spare C900 parts (I have 8 aero wheels, 2 ABS units, 2 good dashpads, several grills, instument clusters and too many ECUs to name)!! My shed looks like a C900 warehouse.

 

we are thrifty....

 

Nothing wrong with being cheap... Hell these day you have to be! On that note, common sense goes a long way! Id rather pay full price for a "quality" part that is a pain in the ass to change and use a junk yard pull for something that is a easy fix! I scratch my head at people that install used items such as clutch components and heater cores... It is almost as stupid as replacing a bad head gasket with a "good" used one!