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Jun 16, 2004 19:29:13 GMT
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First off hi, been lurking on the board for months but finally registered and posted...anyway. I was thinking of buying a car that had a sense of luxury, leather seats etc unfortunatly my budget is just over £2000 Two cars i've been looking at are the mercedes 190e and the saab 900, so whats the better car to get and why? Both would be around 1989-1992. I like the sportyness(spelling?) of the saab but would give that up for a car that felt executive, again though bear in mind that i've got a budget so i know that the cheap mercedes would not exaclty feel exec but its better than a fiesta for example(no offense to fiesta drivers/owners  ) Both will be black or silver. Mercedes 190E Or a Saab 900 16v Turbo (classic shape pre 93) so which is it to be? |
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BigWig
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,101
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Jun 16, 2004 19:45:26 GMT
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Do a poll! I vote Saab.
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Jun 16, 2004 19:51:45 GMT
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why the saab and how do you do a poll?
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Jun 16, 2004 20:27:34 GMT
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GrumpyOldMan
Part of things
Addicted to unreliable cars ?!
Posts: 182
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Jun 16, 2004 20:55:16 GMT
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Mercedes 190s are rather slow and boring to drive (apart from the 2.3 & 2.5 16v ones), but are very reliable, comfortable and luxurious. If the road is (...very...) slippery, you may be lucky and get some nice oversteer, too.
Saabs do have a sportier feel, but they are not very reliable, usually suffering from electrical problems, and lack the build quality of the Mercedes. Turbo versions are very fast, but I don't like the way they handle (= they always understeer).
I would go for the 190E.
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Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
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shootout MERC 190E VS SAAB 900Davenger
@dminifreak
Club Retro Rides Member 140
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Jun 16, 2004 21:17:09 GMT
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I beg to differ, they are extremely reliable as long as you don't abuse the gearbox.
Being from te same country as Volvo, they are extremely sturdy and well built to meet thier strict safety regs.
The Turbo's are quick and can be made quicker still by Abbott Racing in Essex (the top SAAB tuners in the country IMHO) and they can sort out the handling too.
I've had a go in a standard 900 T16 (16V turbo) and an abbott tuned one and the difference is amazing
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Shortcut
Posted a lot
I won't be there when you cross the road, so always use the Green Cross Code.
Posts: 3,037
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Jun 17, 2004 10:16:00 GMT
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I can't say that I've ever hear SAAB and unreliable mentioned together before. OK so they arn't quite in the Merc class but...
Buy the SAAB it's classy, idiosyncratic, stylish and has a top retro heritage.
Slightly biased though because designers like SAABS almost as much as Citroen DS's (although in real life we ALL drive Golf GTi's!!)
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This space available to rent. Reach literally dozens of people. Cheap rates!
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GrumpyOldMan
Part of things
Addicted to unreliable cars ?!
Posts: 182
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Jun 17, 2004 11:24:10 GMT
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One more comment on the reliability issue : Two of my friends' families have owned Saabs, a 9000 2.3 Turbo and an 900 2.0 16v. They both suffered problems with the engine electrics, and I have experienced these first-hand [failure of the ECU of the 9000 + Athens traffic = disaster  ]. It might have been a problem of these specific examples, but I have also heard about Saab electrical problems from a variety of sources  |
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