Driving Impressions

Saab's chassis work has paid big dividends in the 900's ride and handling. The engineers developed the new chassis from two Opel models, and the result is a unibody that's markedly stiffer than the old one. Although the new 900s still fall short of the knife-edged response favored by BMW, they certainly qualify as sport sedans in our opinion, and the convertible is equally nimble. There's more body roll than you'd get with a BMW 3-Series, and the suspension is more compliant. As a result, all the 900s, including our convertible, are smoothies on rough roads. But even so, they're responsive and agile, which is one of the reasons they've commanded such loyalty over the years. The rack-and-pinion power steering, though somewhat slow at 3.7 turns of the wheel from extreme left to extreme right, has excellent road feel, and the braking performance of our test car left absolutely nothing to be desired. Another element that keeps 900 owners coming back for more is the power and flexibility of Saab's 2.0-liter turbo, the engine in our test car. Even though the new V6 is a pretty peppy engine, with a bit of an advantage in stoplight acceleration, the turbocharged 4-cylinder delivers a delightful liquid rush that's pure pleasure. That rush is particularly welcome when you're making a hurried pass on a two-lane highway. We should add here that the Saab 900 is almost as much fun to drive - and about $6500 cheaper - with the basic normally aspirated 4-cylinder engine.

Final Word

As with the previous model, the 900 isn't a car for everyone. It's expensive by midsize standards, with the convertible priced north of the $30,000 luxury-car border. Besides pricing, the 900's styling continues to separate it from the rest of autodom. Though softened, its profile is still unique, and not everyone thinks it's beautiful. That's just fine with the 900 faithful. They like the idea that they're not going to see multiple duplicates of their car every time they pull into a supermarket parking lot. That's why most 900 owners aren't zealots seeking converts. If the 900's unusual styling and stiff price structure don't scare you off, you might want to consider joining this conspiracy. Besides the exclusivity, you also get a rare blend of handling, comfort, quality and safety.