Affordable Turbo: 1992 Saab 900 Convertible – SOLD!

April 6, 2022, Update – We confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we’re now able to call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

With the convertible season upon us, you might expect to see prices tick upwards for desirable drop-top models. However, this 1992 Saab 900 Turbo convertible with the preferred manual gearbox and great colors seems to be bucking that trend, as it was originally listed in March 2022 on Craigslist in Durham, North Carolina with 155,000 miles and an asking price of $7,000. Comparing that price against the NADA Price Guide shows us that the seller is asking a fair price for a 900 that seems to be in decent nick, with the “High” retail pegged at $8,150 and the “Average” retail listed at $6,025. The 900 has a few issues noted in the listing, but certainly, nothing that would make it a hard pass at the current price. 

Now, there are a few different reasons for someone listing a car for sale at a good price, especially a model that’s been known to drive fairly strong interest within the enthusiast circle. It could be the seller is hiding some issues that would become rapidly apparent during a test drive; there could be a lack of potential buyers where the seller is located (and let’s face it, the Durham boys do not typically ride around in Saab convertibles); or it could be because locally, the seller knows the car can’t pass inspection with state agencies. For instance, the listing notes that the ABS and brake wear lights are illuminated, and in many jurisdictions, the ABS light will cause the vehicle to fail inspection. Now, this is actually a pretty simple fix on the 900 (and many other European cars from this era) as most likely the ABS accumulator has gone bad. You can get a good used one for $100, and the brake light is likely a faulty sensor that is sending a message indicating the pads are spent. Who knows why the seller is cutting the Saab loose, but those two flaws are largely insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

The Saabhistory YouTube Channel reminds us how the brand pitched their 900 ragtops as four-season convertibles:

This 900 has a lot going for it, with the biggest advantages being the turbocharged powerplant and the manual gearbox. Many convertibles came with the more powerful turbocharged engine but were also saddled with the truly awful three-speed automatic gearbox. If Muffy wanted a vehicle to take to the country club during the summer months, the Saab 900 convertible with a slushbox was a logical choice; therefore, finding one with three pedals in droptop form isn’t as easy as it is with, say, an SPG hatchback. The colors also work in this car’s favor, as emerald green over gray leather is a great look no matter the time of year. The seller listed the price as $7,000 or best offer and that he “needs gone,” which is a phrase that absolutely reeks of desperation. Even more confusing is that he lists the paint and interior as both being in 10/10 condition, which – if true – is not a car that needs to be listed for a below-NADA price with language that indicates he’s pushing it off the lot as soon as he can. Overall, it strikes me as someone who doesn’t know what he has, so hopefully, a savvy Saab shopper can scoop it up for below the asking price.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“1992 SAAB 900 TURBO CONVERTIBLE

5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION

155K MILES

CLEAN NC TITLE

ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE JUST ASK!

THE CAR IS ALL ORIGINAL EXCEPT FOR THE AFTERMARKET RADIO FACE… ORIGINAL RADIO IS STILL INSTALLED

*THIS IS A PRIVATE SALE*
NO DEALER FEES OR TAXES

MINT CONDITION
9/10 OVERALL

PAINT IS 10/10 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BUMPERS THAT COULD USE A TOUCH-UP

INTERIOR IS 10/10

THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WORKS CORRECTLY AND DOES NOT LEAK. NO TEARS OR RIPS IN MATERIAL.

CAR RUNS AND DRIVES AMAZINGLY. HAS AN ABS LIGHT ON AND BRAKES ARE A BIT STIFF BUT WORK JUST FINE.

$7K OBO… NEED GONE.”

Hot or not: does this Saab 900 Turbo check all the boxes or is there a detail that holds this one back from a quick sale at the full asking price?