anybody own a Saab or a Nissan?

budslide · 02-21-2006, 07:47 PM

I am now in the market for a new car (well not really new)

I plan on just paying off my loan w/ insurance money and than buying a car for about $3,500 or less

Right now I'm looking at a 1995 Saab 900 5 speed turbo, and a 1996 Nissan Altima... They both have right around 120,000 miles on them, but both are reliable enough for me to not care about the high miles.

I'm loving the idea of the Saab, though I've never driven a manual in my life, I'm pretty sure I could get used to it easy enough.

So anyone own a Saab or Nissan?

Oh yea, I'm also thinking about a 99 Saturn SL1 w/ 70,000 miles for $3000...
What do you guys think?

Boondock · 02-21-2006, 07:52 PM

i would say yes to the saab if it were not for the high miles. that is an awful lot for a turbo. if that starts to fuck up it can mess shit up...

Boondock · 02-21-2006, 07:53 PM

if those are my only 3 choices and thats the money i had i suppose i'd go with the saturn but i don't know whats wrong with any of them

Makaveli · 02-21-2006, 07:54 PM

Boondock · 02-21-2006, 07:55 PM

Comments:
1994 Buick Regal, Gran Sport, 3.8L, 107K, all power, dark blue w/silver leather int, everything works, superb cond, $2850

stuff like that

Ta'veren · 02-21-2006, 07:55 PM

I wouldn't buy the saab unless you are down for either buying a new turbo in the future or some extensive work on the one it has

Boondock · 02-21-2006, 07:57 PM

tavern knows what time it is
that "could" be a fun car but if you don't know anything about cars and oil pressure and shit like that then stay away from that turbo...thats high miles

budslide · 02-21-2006, 08:11 PM

^ and I know jack shit... fuck, I was really hoping that Saab would turn out to be a good buy.

I just want a car that is going to last me 2.5 years until I'm out of college and have the money to make payments on a new car.

How much would a new turbo tranny cost? Is it still cheaper than an automatic? If it's less than $1000 to replace, I might think about getting this car anyway...

It's impossible to find a car with less than 100,000 miles for under $3,500... everything I can find has around 110k or more... so I was thinking I'd get something foriegn and hope the tranny doesn't die for three years...

You guys got any tips?
Lots of Saturn SL1's and SL2's in this price range. But I hear those cars are crap... also lots of ford tarus...

Oh yea, my dad said there is a 1995 Mercedes C280 Sedan a few blocks from our house for 4,300 obo... He'd probably give me a little loan if I asked him to... According to the guy, the car is in great running condition, but the interior is kinda fucked....

I know you can't say much without actually looking at the car, but any help would be great, my last car was such a fucking lemon

Ta'veren · 02-21-2006, 08:14 PM

also if you went with OEM parts a saab turbo is gonna be quite expensive seeing as it's a euro car

Ta'veren · 02-21-2006, 08:15 PM

but you could always go aftermarket..... maybe even a spoiler, some decals...

PSYCHE!

budslide · 02-21-2006, 08:16 PM

here are some links:
the nissian altima:
http://madison.craigslist.org/car/135211481.html

the saab:
http://madison.craigslist.org/car/134746671.html

What do you guys think about buying cars from Banks? Here is a 2000 Mercury Cougar for 4 grand w/ only 40k miles:
http://www.summitcreditunion.com/inf...heel_deals.php
^ just found that, that's a pretty damn good deal if I'm not mistaken

budslide · 02-21-2006, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by Ta'veren

also if you went with OEM parts a saab turbo is gonna be quite expensive seeing as it's a euro car

well I wouldn't be fixing it up unless it really needed it, this a college car for me. But I know what you mean, there are only a few places here in Madison that will even work on Saabs

Ta'veren · 02-21-2006, 08:17 PM

contact the guy with the saab to see if he has had any work done on the turbo or if he has replaced it

Ta'veren · 02-21-2006, 08:17 PM

I'm talking figuratively if it turned out that it needed work done

budslide · 02-21-2006, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by Ta'veren

contact the guy with the saab to see if he has had any work done on the turbo or if he has replaced it

I emailed him today actually, asked if there was any transmission work done as I read about the turbo's going after 100k-150k. Either way I'm probably going to go look at it.
Any tips for knowing if the turbo is going? or is it just all the normal tranny things?

Boondock · 02-21-2006, 08:23 PM

the turbo has nothing to do with the tranny first of all

Ta'veren · 02-21-2006, 08:24 PM

ur just gonne have to listen and see if it sounds fucked up. a normal turbo makes a sound that will kick in at maybe 3000 rpm's and at that time you will feel more power and the sound will get higher until you shift, that is the turbo "spool"

budslide · 02-21-2006, 08:24 PM

boon - yea, like I said... don't know jack shit, but I always act like I do when I'm looking at cars :zz:

Ta'veren · 02-21-2006, 08:25 PM

turbo is run by exhaust fumes spinnibg a little wheel that compresses air

Ta'veren · 02-21-2006, 08:25 PM

and then forces it back into the engine

Boondock · 02-21-2006, 08:25 PM

second, it says babied miles and 2750 or offer. maybe offer him a couple hundred under that if it truly si a cream puff.

listen to it as much as you look at it and try to keep it running as long as possible. even when you are just standing there. the hotter it gets you might hear or even smell something.

if it is a cream puff then it would probably be a good car but who knows.