I might be given a '96 Saab 900S.. BUT.. do I really want it?

Now.. I haven't mentioned this to my Mrs. yet but the last couple days at work have been interesting. About a month ago, a co-worker came to me to tell me about an issue he had with his '96 Saab 900S. He has had the car for about 6 years and has had very few issues with it. The car has approximately 180,000km on it, 2.3l engine and auto transmission. Fully loaded with all the bells and whistles. Now, this fella is from India as are quite a few at my work. Most of them tend to keep any dealings, such as car repairs, in their own community (even if they don't have a clue what they are doing).
He had told me that he was driving the car, stopped at a red light and all of the sudden all the lights on the dash lit up and the car died. The car would turn over, had a full tank of gas and the fuel pump was only 2 years old. He had it towed to his buddy, the mechanic's place a month ago and this guy could not figure out what the issue was. I don't know how much time he spent with it but I told my co-worker that if it was turning over it obviously wasn't the battery. I asked if there was a spark. His mechanic said yes. I asked if there was fuel getting to the F.I. and his mechanic told him he "thought so." I didn't speak to him about it until yesterday. He told me that the guy could find no reason for the car to not start. He said he was happy driving his Son's BMW anyway and asked me if I wanted the Saab because he had no faith in this guy getting it back on the road and he wasn't going to take it to a Saab dealer. I said to him.. "For free?" and he said yes.. He would even have CAA tow it to my place and put it in my driveway.
I then had a brainwave.. :) :) and asked him if the car had an anti-theft device installed in it. He said it did. I told him that "perhaps" there was a malfunction with it and it was sending a false signal to the fuel pump telling it to shut off. That is when he mentioned to me that his Daughter ran over a piece of tin a couple months ago and it did something to a couple wires near the fuel pump. His mechanic spliced them back together. ******** Hummm.
Today he came to me and told me that.. guess what... THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. the car was fixed and running like a charm again. This guy had done something to the computer that sends the signal to the pump, by messing with the wires. So I said to him, "Great.. you now have your car back." To which he replied, "Not my car.. I offered it to you."
So.. The car has no rust. The interior is like new. Fully loaded. And I know he had it regularly maintained.. not sure by who though.. :( I really DON'T need another vehicle here but I know my Daughter would like a second car. Free is a great price. I have read up on this model and it seems to get a good review. What should I do? Tell him to keep it or grab it and hope for the best?

Paul

I've heard it said, "If you don't take some thing for nothing, it will never be offered again".

The fella that said that to me, had a barn full of everything imaginable. Never an MGB. On his passing, his kids spent months hauling scrap to the recyclers.

Call JDW. He likes those things.

Jack

I loved my 900S. It was one of the best cars I've ever had (not including classics). Far better than the Volvo I had - much better made. I would grab it. You can always change your mind later and get rid of it.

www.chumpcar.com

It is a no good brand of a car so just send it over here and I`ll dispose of it in a proper manner for You.:thumbsup:
I like them SAABS,great car,grab onto it while the grabbing is good.

SAABs are extremely nice drivers. Take it yourself, drive it this winter, and flip it in a couple months.

Take it by all means, even if you have to go to his place and drive it home instead of having it delivered. Drive it a little while and you'll love it. W drove or old '80 for 12 trouble free years and a couple more with nit picky stuff happening and swapped it off. I bought a '94 with a bad engine for fifty bucks, dumped in used engine and drove it 2 or 3 years, and swapped it in on my Ranger pickup. I don't need another car or I'd work something out with you on that one if you don't want it.

FWIW The Saab seats are an easy swap into an MG Magnette.
Now you have an excuse to get one. :beer:

Tell him you live in Acton :)

Yup!