I have this habit of getting really hung up on a very specific car, and then obsessing over it until it becomes a reality. Wish I could harness that skill for something productive or career-related, but it hasn't happened yet.
A few weeks ago, I mentioned a seller dangling a one-of-300 Monte Carlo Yellow Saab 900 SE Turbo convertibles in front of me, just to yank it away and say he wasn't going to sell. I'm not sure if that was his plan all along, but when he mentioned a few days later he knew of another one nearby - albeit with a slushbox - I passed, still hoping he would change his mind.
This didn't happen, and after learning a local shop would be happy to swap out the automatic for a manual, I made a deal to buy the Orlando automatic from the original Florida owner, with a clean title in hand. A few days later, it arrived in Rhode Island with most of the flaws I was expecting revealed, and a few minor faults I didn't know about. The good news is that overall, it was better than expected for a sight-unseen purchase.
The short list of immediate needs includes diagnosing a fuel pump fault; an oddly tight ignition barrel; worn steering rack bushing; and a radiator leak. Obviously, there are other minor issues to sort out, but nothing frightening. I've already got some Koni adjustables, 16" "Super Aero" wheels, lowering springs, and European headlights on order. The Saab community has proven itself pretty awesome already, so I'm excited to add this one to the stable.