Goodbye to an old friend

[Luke]

My '86 900 turbo is no more
A less-than-aware woman decided to make a u-turn across traffic from the shoulder. I was going about 35 and had about 20-30 feet to try to slow down - she literally turned right in front of me.
This car has been my daily driver for about 10 years (besides a short stint in a 9-5 that I regretted) I've driven this car on cross country road trips and just a month ago to the far reaches of northern Nova Scotia and back and it has never-ever let me down. The ODO stopped around 295k and that was about 3 years ago - I estimate about 350K or so. Body had some soft spots but it was fairing pretty well all things considered.
It had just mounted up fresh snow tires and it had passed inspection last week.

I was clearly not at fault and initial insurance discussions are going ok... although trying to explain why I want to buy back for salvage a 25+ year old car with 300K is not making sense to them....

Highlights of the car included:
-Euro Headlights and Chrome Grille
-Sport and Rally Skid plate
-Sport and Rally Steering wheel
-Minilites summer, super inca's winter
-'86 SPG kit
-SPG springs
-Koni Adjustables
-SAAB rubber floor and trunk mats
-SAAB triple gauge set

I grabbed a quick cell phone photo, hard to see how bent the car really is, its definatly beyond salvage even for a crazy person like myself.

Just about a month ago in Nova Scotia:

capebreton.jpg (71.67 KiB) Viewed 3849 times

[DeLorean]

Dang, that was a solid hit... Other drivers How did the other car look? Typically in most C-900's they seem to fold up real nice protecting the driver very well but also do a lot less damage to the other car in the process. What was the old advertizing campaign? "A Saab will give up it's life to save yours"

[Luke]

Other car was a 2008 BMW X5, I hit it right in the B-pillar. She was able to drive it home, but the repair is not going to be cheap, both doors were done and the b-pillar is going to need to be pulled on a rack - but like you said, the SAAB took the hit and did its job. I'm really sore but that about it.

[SwedeSport]

Bummer. At least you're telling the story after the fact.

[99Super]

Oh, That SUCKS!

If you pull all the cool bits off, we could find you a nice rust-free body out here

john

[airsweden]

Wow that is a bummer... on the other hand, there are some great deals on cool 900's right now on Blocket! I think that's where my next SAAB will be found.

I think a nice clean '86 5dr T16 sure would look good in your driveway

[sjones]

I'm very sorry for your loss

"Can you just take it to the dealer to fix it?" - heard after I was rear-ended once.

[formulasaab]

Luke,
You have my sympathies.

It always feels like a personal affront this happens to a car that has, through it and its (various) owners' qualities, managed to survive longer than most folks on this list have had their licenses. Especially when the other car is a new vehicle that adds nothing of value to the current automotive landscape.

[SwedeSport]

There's an 86 spg for sale on ithica craigslist. My phone won't let me copy and paste the link. Might be worth a look.

[Geoff]

Some people need to have their heads examined.
I mean really, who would want to drive around in an old car?

One of our '86 900s got T-boned a few years ago. We had it towed home. The insurance company didn't care enough to send someone to pick it up so I just started pulling parts out. I think scrap prices were low at the time.

There's a Hot Pink '91 900 in VT
http://burlington.craigslist.org/cto/2607293979.html
I think it might belong to Jungletits

[nutcase]

Ouch glad you're relatively unscathed. There are much worse cars to be in when a moron interacts with your personal space...

[Hans]

Sorry to see a nice one gone.

If you want a salt-free replacement and can't find a good one nearby, I'm sure a couple of us Seattle folks would be happy to help find a clean replacement for you.

[hutch]

Ouch, these sorts of stories are never fun to read

As others have said are you thinking of replacing it with another 900 or do you have a different car in mind this time around?

(Or should we expect a "2012 Build: Luke finds blueprints of Saab tooling and stamps his own sheet metal to recreate a 900")

[Luke]

Ouch, these sorts of stories are never fun to read

As others have said are you thinking of replacing it with another 900 or do you have a different car in mind this time around?

(Or should we expect a "2012 Build: Luke finds blueprints of Saab tooling and stamps his own sheet metal to recreate a 900")

Haha, it will be replaced with another C900, theres no doubt about that. A rebuild with a clean western shell may be in the picture, but not until spring. I need something already rusty and running to drive this winter.

[DrewP]

You sure showed her who's boss.

Sorry man, that blows. Hitting things that are not trees = losing.