1984 900 Saloon vs C900 Hatch? Which is better..

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Mike P - 26 Jul 2004 20:17 GMT

Just picked up a cheapo 84 T16 Saloon at first just for the recon gearbox it
has. Then I thought about the possibility of an engine/box swap, to turn
my 89 900S into a T16, because the donor is a good runner and will also have
all the APC bits to do the job right.

Now, the car looks like it might be better than thought. How do the older
saloons compare with the newer Hatchbacks for handling and reliability?
This one's done 160K. Obviously not as practical with no hatch, but it has 4
doors which is. Does the extra two doors affect the handling adversley
or is it just as good as the hatch?

Oh, yes. I know the 84 Saloon is a flat nose, and it's a bit "uglier". I
reckon though, with a bit of TLC and a set of decent wheels it'll look OK.
Bit of a rarity aren't they?

Thanks for any help

Cheers
Mike

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Grunff - 26 Jul 2004 20:37 GMT

> Just picked up a cheapo 84 T16 Saloon at first just for the recon gearbox it
> has. Then I thought about the possibility of an engine/box swap, to turn
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> doors which is. Does the extra two doors affect the handling adversley
> or is it just as good as the hatch?

The saloon body is actually quite a bit stiffer than the hatch, so
handles better. I just really, *really* hate the way they look.

> Oh, yes. I know the 84 Saloon is a flat nose, and it's a bit "uglier".

Bah! Flat noses rule!

> I
> reckon though, with a bit of TLC and a set of decent wheels it'll look OK.
> Bit of a rarity aren't they?

Some people like the sallons a lot. I think they're very ugly. They're
also comparatively impractical. But they do handle well. In all other
respects they are the same car.

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Grunff

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Mike P - 26 Jul 2004 20:43 GMT

> > Just picked up a cheapo 84 T16 Saloon at first just for the recon gearbox it
> > has. Then I thought about the possibility of an engine/box swap, to turn
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> The saloon body is actually quite a bit stiffer than the hatch, so
> handles better. I just really, *really* hate the way they look.

Nice to know the handling's good. They are a strange looking beast though

:-)

> > Oh, yes. I know the 84 Saloon is a flat nose, and it's a bit "uglier".
>
> Bah! Flat noses rule!

I agree, they look great. It's just the rear end that's bloody awful isn't
it?

> > reckon though, with a bit of TLC and a set of decent wheels it'll look OK.
> > Bit of a rarity aren't they?
>
> Some people like the sallons a lot. I think they're very ugly. They're
> also comparatively impractical. But they do handle well. In all other
> respects they are the same car.

If I kept it as is, it would be a second car anyway, more of a project so
impracticality is no problem. The ugliness/weirdness isn't an issue to me at
all. In fact, with the badges removed it'd fool a few of the boy-racers
around here :-)

Thanks for the info Grunff, much appreciated.

Mike P

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Grunff - 26 Jul 2004 21:15 GMT

> If I kept it as is, it would be a second car anyway, more of a project so
> impracticality is no problem. The ugliness/weirdness isn't an issue to me at
> all. In fact, with the badges removed it'd fool a few of the boy-racers
> around here :-)

Ah, well, if that's your aim then I suspect the saloon will be better
than the hatch anyway - they look so harmless.

> Thanks for the info Grunff, much appreciated.

Anytime.

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Grunff

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Mike P - 26 Jul 2004 22:39 GMT

> > If I kept it as is, it would be a second car anyway, more of a project so
> > impracticality is no problem. The ugliness/weirdness isn't an issue to me at
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Ah, well, if that's your aim then I suspect the saloon will be better
> than the hatch anyway - they look so harmless.

Well, not really an aim. I (sort of) grew out of that..It's always nice to
know you *can* surprise them
though isn't it? Just once in a while... :-)

I do like "odd" cars - had 2CVs, old RWD Skodas, Saabs, Citroen GSA. Saab
is the most fun though. It's got uniquess
and class all in one :-)

Mike

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Grunff - 27 Jul 2004 06:31 GMT

> - had 2CVs

Me too!

> Citroen GSA.

Yup, had an X reg GSA. Mad thing that was.

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Grunff

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Mike P - 27 Jul 2004 22:37 GMT

> > - had 2CVs
>
> Me too!

Brother still has 2, along with the T16. One of them's a van..

> > Citroen GSA.
>
> Yup, had an X reg GSA. Mad thing that was.

Yes. Weird in the extreme. Mine rusted away, so we got hold of an Ami
super, disposed of the body, engine and box, dropped the GSA bits in and
stuck a 2CV body on the top. Now that did surprise a few people.. :-)

Mike

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MeatballTurbo - 28 Jul 2004 10:48 GMT

> > > - had 2CVs
> >
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> super, disposed of the body, engine and box, dropped the GSA bits in and
> stuck a 2CV body on the top. Now that did surprise a few people.. :-)

I fancy another Skoda, mad porsche like tail happy ahndling, 90mph+ on
the motorway, fair space and comfort, and 45MPG.

Oh and I know where I can get one with 6 months ticket for arround £100,
and has been owned and daily driven by an enthusiast, inlcuding a
replacement head when it cracked as they sometimes do.

Very tempted, even though an Alfa, a Honda prelude, or a 9k Aero were my
target fuel economy improvement cars.
if I could get 45mpg out of a C900, it wouldn't be going anywhere.

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Paul Halliday - 27 Jul 2004 23:05 GMT

> I do like "odd" cars - had 2CVs, old RWD Skodas, Saabs, Citroen GSA. Saab
> is the most fun though. It's got uniquess
> and class all in one :-)

I'd like my next car to be a Skoda 130 :) ... Or a Citroen DS :))))

In terms of SAAB, I've always loved the flat nose ... It rules ... "period"!
I've always liked the sedan shape, but the 2 door is the one for me. That
said, I drive a 3 door Aero. If I get another SAAB, it will be a 2 door flat
nose injection, or carb'ed model.

I've kind of lost track of where you were going with your thread, but SAABs
make for unique cars ... Unique SAABs make for interesting cars. It'd be a
shame to lose the flat nose, or the sedan shape for improving a 3 door post
face-lift shape.

Paul

1989 900 Turbo S
http://saab.go.dyndns.org/

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Chris - 27 Jul 2004 04:36 GMT

> Some people like the sallons a lot. I think they're very ugly. They're
> also comparatively impractical. But they do handle well. In all other
> respects they are the same car.

Hatches well they have a nice profile (the 3-door) but have you driven
behind one recently? They just look gawky and dated to me thesedays...
Saloons however have an understated and quite sporty look in 2-door form -
almost attractive!

And cabs, well they're nice with the hood down but otherwise....

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MeatballTurbo - 28 Jul 2004 23:17 GMT

> Hatches well they have a nice profile (the 3-door) but have you driven
> behind one recently? They just look gawky and dated to me thesedays...
> Saloons however have an understated and quite sporty look in 2-door form -
> almost attractive!

Yeah, I've noticed just walking upto it, which is a shame. because from
the side, especially the squarenosed ones, have a very nice almost
sharklike profile.

But I gave new shaped Scoob WRX a bit of a shock today, when he flew up
behind me, so I floored it, in fourth at 60, boom gone, bye bye.

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MeatballTurbo - 27 Jul 2004 10:09 GMT

> Just picked up a cheapo 84 T16 Saloon at first just for the recon gearbox it
> has. Then I thought about the possibility of an engine/box swap, to turn
> my 89 900S into a T16, because the donor is a good runner and will also have
> all the APC bits to do the job right.

Bugger, so you don't want mine then ;)

> Now, the car looks like it might be better than thought. How do the older
> saloons compare with the newer Hatchbacks for handling and reliability?
> This one's done 160K. Obviously not as practical with no hatch, but it has 4
> doors which is. Does the extra two doors affect the handling adversley
> or is it just as good as the hatch?

Body is stiffer, the 2 door is stiffer than the 3 door, and the 4 door
is stiffer than the 5 door.

> Oh, yes. I know the 84 Saloon is a flat nose, and it's a bit "uglier". I
> reckon though, with a bit of TLC and a set of decent wheels it'll look OK.
> Bit of a rarity aren't they?

2 door T8's are pretty rare, 2 door T16's are very rare, and very sought
after, if you can sort it, do it. Might even make some money on it if
you decide you need a 3 door after all.

Nowt wrong with a flat nose. Has character. If you can find the bumper,
lights, indicators, and grille, and washer motors/arms you can swap on
later front end, just need to splice in the indicator wiring and the
rest just bolts on.

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Mike P - 27 Jul 2004 22:34 GMT

> > Just picked up a cheapo 84 T16 Saloon at first just for the recon gearbox it
> > has. Then I thought about the possibility of an engine/box swap, to turn
> > my 89 900S into a T16, because the donor is a good runner and will also have
> > all the APC bits to do the job right.
>
> Bugger, so you don't want mine then ;)

Probably not :-( For ?69 this one was too good to miss. I went and picked
it up just now, 60 miles away. Luckily it still as T&T for another couple of
days, so I drove it back. In the last 12 months it's had.....

A recon gearbox at a cost of ?600
A recon turbo ?350
2 new calipers on the front end, with pads and discs.
New radiator
2 new tyres 13 (yes 13!) miles ago.

It's the pale interior, and the headlining is still up!! It's needs a damn
good clean though. Paintwork is generally tidy with a rust spot in the usual
place on the wing, other than that it's spot on. It drove well, better and
as you say, more solid than the 3 door hatch. It boosts all the way up to
the red/orange line and pulls well - well, it kept pace with my mate's mint
1991 T16 up the M40 at *ahem* mph :-)

It's got a few problems - loose exhaust is one, and the other main one I
will detail in a fresh post, because I reckon it's going to be the stuff of
nightmares to sort out - heater vac hose in the dash!!

> 2 door T8's are pretty rare, 2 door T16's are very rare, and very sought
> after, if you can sort it, do it. Might even make some money on it if
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> later front end, just need to splice in the indicator wiring and the
> rest just bolts on.

I prefer the flat nose TBH. I've just parked it up outside next to the 89
900S and it looks "better" < In what way I do not know :-), it just does!

I'll take it for an MOT, get the alloys refurbed, give it a good clean and
T-cut and see how we go from there.

Thanks for the advice everyone, much appreciated as usual!!

Mike

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MeatballTurbo - 28 Jul 2004 10:45 GMT

> Probably not :-( For £69 this one was too good to miss. I went and picked
> it up just now, 60 miles away. Luckily it still as T&T for another couple of
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> New radiator
> 2 new tyres 13 (yes 13!) miles ago.

Oh my god, pretty much what I've either done, or fancy doing if I keep
mine.

> It's the pale interior, and the headlining is still up!! It's needs a damn
> good clean though. Paintwork is generally tidy with a rust spot in the usual
> place on the wing, other than that it's spot on. It drove well, better and
> as you say, more solid than the 3 door hatch. It boosts all the way up to
> the red/orange line and pulls well - well, it kept pace with my mate's mint
> 1991 T16 up the M40 at *ahem* mph :-)

Seem if you can find a gentle steam cleaner, rather than a full on
industrial one. Should sort the headlining out without trashing the
backing, and will clean the seats and carpets too.

> It's got a few problems - loose exhaust is one, and the other main one I
> will detail in a fresh post, because I reckon it's going to be the stuff of
> nightmares to sort out - heater vac hose in the dash!!

Don't know if you've looked at the exhaust yet, but one hook on the tail
pipe behind the bumper, two on the rear box on the otherside of the
axle, two on the middle box, and it should bolt to the transmission
case, and the turbo flange. If it is anything like mine, one of the rear
box hangers get unhooked over speed bump, and it hits the axle on idle
especially when loaded with shopping. Never have managed to sort it,
just have to hook it back on.

I see you got the heater description sorted.

> I prefer the flat nose TBH. I've just parked it up outside next to the 89
> 900S and it looks "better" < In what way I do not know :-), it just does!

Yep, that is what I thought too. the facelift ones are very nice,
especially as Carlssons, but the flat noses look right.

> I'll take it for an MOT, get the alloys refurbed, give it a good clean and
> T-cut and see how we go from there.

If the front calipers have been sorted, then that is your most likely
fail out of the way (the handbrake). check the pads, if they are
anything less than 50% swap them before the MOT, and reset the
handbrake. German and Swedish have pagid pads for about £8 for the front
set, and the handbrake always works better when setup with fresh pads.

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