UKSaabs

Hi, looking for expert insights because I have no expertise whatsoever. I bought my 2002 93 Turbo about five years ago and put quite a lot of work into getting her shipshape. She has been a fun run around ever since but is suffering because I no longer have anywhere indoors to keep her. Because of the car's age I don't know if there is any sort of classic value, and whether I should value it as a fun soft top, a cheap runaround or a project someone could turn into something wonderful. Mileage is 122,000 and the engine is lovely, starts first time and goes like a train, great fun to drive. Recently had new discs on all four corners. Some service history, (more since I got her). Good tyres. Soft top mechanics work every time. Water had got in before I got to her so it's electronics that let the car down on the operational side - sensors often lighting up on the dash when there's no fault, radio display bitty. Externally she's sound but there's a pair of dints on the driver's side. There's a sub frame corrosion advisory on the MOT. What's it worth? And is it old enough yet for someone who has the expertise and time to consider a classic worth renovating? Or just sell as a really fun to drive summer soft top with a fantastic look. Thanks in advance.

Hi 'ScottHam', If I was looking for a car such as yours, (which, for clarity, I'm not) I'm afraid that the corrosion advisory would concern me somewhat and I would want to see the car in the air before entering any serious negotiations. How recent is the MOT? I would want to see almost a full year on it; if it is running out, the rust has had almost another year to develop - potentially into a refusal.

With a year's ticket, and allowing for the faults that you have very honestly listed, I think your car is probably worth in the region of £1000 - maybe a little more if we ever get any summer!

There are still a fair number of cars around and I feel that one would need to be in very good condition and ideally a lower mileage to be worth significantly more than that. But, as always, others may think differently.

Regards, John.

Thanks John, that's really helpful, appreciate your help. Does sound like the best bet is to put an MOT on it.

ScottHam wrote:Thanks John, that's really helpful, appreciate your help. Does sound like the best bet is to put an MOT on it.

You're welcome. If the car does not have a current MOT then you'd be looking at little more than scrap value or selling for spares or repairs - maybe £3-500 max. At the very least, a fresh MOT will make the car more saleable and likely to realise a figure closer to the one originally mentioned. If you have confidence in your motor car, I would say that would be £50 or so well spent!

Regards, John.

Also bear in mind that the value of the convertible may be improving. The Saab convertible was the best selling used car in the UK last month (July).

Thanks SGould.

John Wigley wrote:Hi 'ScottHam', If I was looking for a car such as yours, (which, for clarity, I'm not) I'm afraid that the corrosion advisory would concern me somewhat and I would want to see the car in the air before entering any serious negotiations. How recent is the MOT? I would want to see almost a full year on it; if it is running out, the rust has had almost another year to develop - potentially into a refusal.

With a year's ticket, and allowing for the faults that you have very honestly listed, I think your car is probably worth in the region of £1000 - maybe a little more if we ever get any summer!

There are still a fair number of cars around and I feel that one would need to be in very good condition and ideally a lower mileage to be worth significantly more than that. But, as always, others may think differently.

Regards, John.

The advisory is for subframe corrosion. Subframes can be replaced. If I were interested, which I’m not, I would source a refurbished subframe and get a quote for fitting it.

Bodywork corrosion is a different matter.

GeoffR wrote:

John Wigley wrote:Hi 'ScottHam', If I was looking for a car such as yours, (which, for clarity, I'm not) I'm afraid that the corrosion advisory would concern me somewhat and I would want to see the car in the air before entering any serious negotiations. How recent is the MOT? I would want to see almost a full year on it; if it is running out, the rust has had almost another year to develop - potentially into a refusal.

With a year's ticket, and allowing for the faults that you have very honestly listed, I think your car is probably worth in the region of £1000 - maybe a little more if we ever get any summer!

There are still a fair number of cars around and I feel that one would need to be in very good condition and ideally a lower mileage to be worth significantly more than that. But, as always, others may think differently.

Regards, John.

The advisory is for subframe corrosion. Subframes can be replaced. If I were interested, which I’m not, I would source a refurbished subframe and get a quote for fitting it.

Bodywork corrosion is a different matter.

They can, 'GeoffR', but 'ScottHam' would still need to deduct the cost of said replacement from the anticipated selling price, to arrive at an estimate of the car's value as it stands - which was his original question. My apologies for any ambiguity on my part or confusion arising therefrom.

I still feel his best course would be to offer the car for a sensible figure with a year's ticket, with advisories if necessary, thereby giving both him and his buyer some confidence in the car. At the moment it remains an unknown quantity, which any prospective purchaser would value accordingly.

Regards, John.

John Wigley wrote:

GeoffR wrote:

John Wigley wrote:Hi 'ScottHam', If I was looking for a car such as yours, (which, for clarity, I'm not) I'm afraid that the corrosion advisory would concern me somewhat and I would want to see the car in the air before entering any serious negotiations. How recent is the MOT? I would want to see almost a full year on it; if it is running out, the rust has had almost another year to develop - potentially into a refusal.

With a year's ticket, and allowing for the faults that you have very honestly listed, I think your car is probably worth in the region of £1000 - maybe a little more if we ever get any summer!

There are still a fair number of cars around and I feel that one would need to be in very good condition and ideally a lower mileage to be worth significantly more than that. But, as always, others may think differently.

Regards, John.

The advisory is for subframe corrosion. Subframes can be replaced. If I were interested, which I’m not, I would source a refurbished subframe and get a quote for fitting it.

Bodywork corrosion is a different matter.

They can, 'GeoffR', but 'ScottHam' would still need to deduct the cost of said replacement from the anticipated selling price, to arrive at an estimate of the car's value as it stands - which was his original question. My apologies for any ambiguity on my part or confusion arising therefrom.

I still feel his best course would be to offer the car for a sensible figure with a year's ticket, with advisories if necessary, thereby giving both him and his buyer some confidence in the car. At the moment it remains an unknown quantity, which any prospective purchaser would value accordingly.

Regards, John.

I agree. These are not rare cars, one without an MOT is hugely less attractive and therefore less valuable than one with an MOT and advisory list. I always think to myself that if it would pass an MOT then it would have one. I treat cars without MOTs as requiring a lot of work.

This one doesn't seem to need a lot, therefore an MOT should be passed and be worth more than its cost in terms of increased value.