Making Room for the TJ

[lBasket]

Today was a bittersweet day for me. I sold the car I'd be dreaming of through college, and bought myself when i graduated. A 1999 Saab 9-3 convertible (who likes Saabs, right?). I always loved them growing up, and ended up with a well loved one with 106k miles. I ended up buying the Jeep as a "winter car" when my older Pathfinder started to crap out on me.

I put a lot of love into that car, from ball joints, tie rods, detailing and waxing, a full turbo swap, etc etc. It's not the first car I've wrenched on but definitely the one I committed most to and really wanted to improve/restore rather than just barely keeping it running like I could afford in college. I think what I did with this car really gave me the confidence to try to build a Jeep into something great.

Well, it only took about 6 months until I was starting to grow spite for the Saab for taking my money and only garage space, when all I wanted to do was work on the Jeep. So I sold it today. Always sad to sell a car you love, but it'll get me out of some debt I've been fighting since graudation and make room for the project I really want to work on. Figured this might be the place where people would appreciate selling a car for a TJ, haha.

Some pics in lamentation.

Anyways enough crying, the Jeep needs some work in the garage!

 

[Rick Flair]

You have to choose sometimes.


But like hobbies for me, they ebb and flow. You find another someday if it’s still a passion.

 

[Chris]

I've always hated Saabs. Not because I've ever owned one, just because I could never find a single Saab that didn't look like it belonged on water more than it did on land. Of course that's just my personal opinion, but I do get it!

Congrats on making room for the TJ. I'm sure it was hard to part with a vehicle you were so fond of.

 

[billiebob]

oh wow a Saab, never owned one, always kinda loved them. Driven a few. And I understand the pain of selling such an iconic car which is forever gone. But you have a TJ, you'll love it more. You will be amazed how well a TJ does against a BMW on a canyon 2 lane blacktop. 318 Cabrio vs 9-3 Cabrio..... cool but no one expected you to lose. 328 vs 4.0 TJ you will grin forever when you pass him. The TJ really is a great handling 2 lane blacktop vehicle.

Keep it close to stock and it'll do it all, off road and canyon carving.

 

[lBasket]

You have to choose sometimes.


But like hobbies for me, they ebb and flow. You find another someday if it’s still a passion.

Yup that's a good way to put it. I loved it so much... then it waned. Although it may be hard to find one of those 20 years down the line...

I've always hated Saabs. Not because I've ever owned one, just because I could never find a single Saab that didn't look like it belonged on water more than it did on land. Of course that's just my personal opinion, but I do get it!

Congrats on making room for the TJ. I'm sure it was hard to part with a vehicle you were so fond of.

Those are my best pictures! You even hate it in them? Haha.

It helps that the jeep can facilitate a certain lifestyle, while the convertible that I've been making faster can only bring my tickets or worse. I definitely look more forward to driving the Jeep (camping, wheeling) than I did with the Saab (going what is probably too fast over mountain passes hoping to not get pulled over...) even if the wrenching isn't that much more exciting.

 

[Chris]

Those are my best pictures! You even hate it in them? Haha.

It helps that the jeep can facilitate a certain lifestyle, while the convertible that I've been making faster can only bring my tickets or worse. I definitely look more forward to driving the Jeep (camping, wheeling) than I did with the Saab (going what is probably too fast over mountain passes hoping to not get pulled over...) even if the wrenching isn't that much more exciting.

The pictures are good, I just don't care for the lines of any Saab. I've never liked them honestly.

I had a nice Miata for a long time. It was a fun car to own and a blast to drive, but it wasn't nearly as fun as my TJ is, that's for sure. That and I also drive a lot slower in the TJ which is probably better for my driving record

 

[lBasket]

oh wow a Saab, never owned one, always kinda loved them. Driven a few. And I understand the pain of selling such an iconic car which is forever gone. But you have a TJ, you'll love it more. You will be amazed how well a TJ does against a BMW on a canyon 2 lane blacktop. 318 Cabrio vs 9-3 Cabrio..... cool but no one expected you to lose. 328 vs 4.0 TJ you will grin forever when you pass him. The TJ really is a great handling 2 lane blacktop vehicle.

Keep it close to stock and it'll do it all, off road and canyon carving.

Honestly, I had a few Infinitis before the Saab and I felt that with the turbo, it would crush any NA vehicle on the higher altitude passes. Especially the beamers I'd see, with the 2.5 inline 6... Plus, it helps with a tune and a turbo a bit bigger than stock!

But yeah I agree the TJ does awesome up hills... when I was going over Cottonwood pass (steep!) in my Pathfinder, I couldn't go over 15mph. The ONLY vehicle passing me that was about as old was TJs and Cherokees with the 4.0, which I why I wanted one after that thing started to crap out.

I had a nice Miata for a long time. It was a fun car to own and a blast to drive, but it wasn't nearly as fun as my TJ is, that's for sure. That and I also drive a lot slower in the TJ which is probably better for my driving record

A Miata would be awesome! I'd love a little car like that. Part of what I loved about the saab was that as a taller guy, I really "fit" into the cockpit tightly with everything in reach.

And yeah, the tickets is part of the reason I started seriously thinking about selling. I got pulled over going way over the limit once and got let off, and was a little scared to drive it from then on. Definitely got lucky with that one.

 

[L J]

you made the correct decision

 

[Aviatortroy]

Saabs are cool, there’s no denying it. In the ’80s Aspen cops drove Saab 9000 s. Buuuuuut they don’t make great mountain cars. Have had several friends that had them and the first thing that drags is the (fragile) aluminum transmission pan.

Also, TJs are a lot easier to work on!

 

[qslim]

I wouldn't worry too much about it dude, the key goes in the wrong place on those anyway.

 

[Squatch]

I always loved the uniqueness of that SAAB brand (before General Motors got involved), and I always wanted a vintage one. Well, a buddy had an '87 SAAB 9000 for sale, so I bought it. Not exactly vintage. Hell, not even unique. Even the key was in the "normal car" location (unlike the 900). Fixed it, drove it for two weeks, then sold it. Was the single most boring vehicle I had ever driven. Yours, on the other hand...nice. Still, you made the right choice.

 

[lBasket]

I always loved the uniqueness of that SAAB brand (before General Motors got involved), and I always wanted a vintage one. Well, a buddy had an '87 SAAB 9000 for sale, so I bought it. Not exactly vintage. Hell, not even unique. Even the key was in the "normal car" location (unlike the 900). Fixed it, drove it for two weeks, then sold it. Was the single most boring vehicle I had ever driven. Yours, on the other hand...nice. Still, you made the right choice.

Can you even call it a Saab if the key isn't between the seats? Yeah mine was the last generation before GM started to drag them down luckily. Still some GM influence but not quite enough at that point to turn it into the cobalt. Already enjoying having the jeep in the garage more though so I definitely agree