Author Topic: SAAB 9-3 (Read 2818 times)

rsxca · « **on:** July 12, 2005, 10:43:59 pm »

When to look at the 9-3 linear today because of the GM employee discount. Seems thay are offering about $3800 off the price of the car. Just wondering if anybody has had any problems with their SAAB and how the service is??

Bullet Blue · « **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2005, 11:24:36 pm »

No personal ecperience but that doesn't seem like too much of a bad deal.

By the way, what happened to getting that Volvo V70?

ovr50 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 12, 2005, 11:41:45 pm »

One of the posters here, "Dip", has, I think, 2 Saabs. Maybe he will help you. Not too many on here with Saab experience. I had one briefly in 1983, but that is not relevant here today.

rsxca · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2005, 09:21:40 am »

Volvo was not willing to give me a good price for my trade-in. Also the timing was a little off. I felt rush into buying and I hate doing that because hate having buyer remorse.

I'm still trying to find that perfect car. Don't know if I'll find it buit the SAAB drives really nice and with the discount I could get a pretty fully loaded one for not to bad a price.

Shnak · « **Reply #4 on:** July 13, 2005, 09:27:39 am »

Buying a new Saab is suicide IMO... buy a 2-3 year old Saab for less than 50% of its original price. And besides, the 9-3s were better 2-3 years ago, before GM screwed them up. Plus they were still hatchbacks then, which is awesome compared to the plain jane sedan it has now become.

Scaerio · « **Reply #5 on:** July 13, 2005, 10:03:16 am »

A secend hand (2003 or 2004) 9-5 is a much better car. Scores well in CR reports, too.

Shnak · « **Reply #6 on:** July 13, 2005, 10:07:43 am »

I agree. The 9-5 is a hell of a car! Really, you have your choice... up to 2002 Saab 9-3 (hatchback), 9-5 (sedan) or 9-5 SportWagon... Personally I'd pick the 2002 9-3 for a fraction of its original cost...

articsteve · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2005, 10:22:05 am »

Buying a new Saab is suicide IMO... buy a 2-3 year old Saab for less than 50% of its original price. And besides, the 9-3s were better 2-3 years ago, before GM screwed them up. Plus they were still hatchbacks then, which is awesome compared to the plain jane sedan it has now become.

I agree that taking the hatch out of the car was a horrible decision made by GM in the USA. As for reliability I have a 95 900S with the V6 so I have a very jadded opinion.

I assume you are only talking in terms of new purchase so the plus is that they are very safe cars. The downside is that if you buy it you keep it because the resale is horrible. I will still buy another one for winter but it must be 4 cylinder in stick but must have a hatch.

No doubt GM wrecked this brand. Attempted to make it into a BMW competitor.

And btw, Saab parts are the same or worse than Jags for price.

Scaerio · « **Reply #8 on:** July 13, 2005, 10:28:44 am »

Other problem is the scarcity of service centres. I'd hate to break down in Marathon, Ontario in one of these cars...

THe only sensible "rural" area to own a SAAB or Volvo is Maine, Vermont, or Iceland.

(Message edited by gkjsooley on July 13, 2005)

articsteve · « **Reply #9 on:** July 13, 2005, 10:41:40 am »

Other problem is the scarcity of service centres. I'd hate to break down in Marathon, Ontario in one of these cars...

That can be said for many Euro brands though. Volvo, BMW, Porche, Jag, Benz

Shnak · « **Reply #10 on:** July 13, 2005, 10:46:33 am »

I'd say there are better chances to find a Saturn/Saab dealership in rural areas than to find a Volvo or BMW dealership...

rsxca · « **Reply #11 on:** July 13, 2005, 05:12:27 pm »

I don't plan on keeping the car past the end of the lease. It will be under full warrenty 48 months and 80000km. The residual doesn't bother me cause I don't plan on buying it back.

The car drives very nice and is not as common as BMW or Audi's. Looking at the TSX as well but doesn't have the lux feeling as the SAAB. Seems that evrybody thinks it's not a good idea so maybe I should do a bit more research.

BlackS40 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 13, 2005, 08:25:28 pm »

Nah Rsxca...I would easily take a chance on a Saab 9-3!!! Go for it...and take lots of pics!!

Bullet Blue · « **Reply #13 on:** July 13, 2005, 11:30:52 pm »

I agree with blackgrandma. It's a fun car and that turbo is a blast I hear.

articsteve · « **Reply #14 on:** July 14, 2005, 01:08:18 am »

I don't plan on keeping the car past the end of the lease. It will be under full warrenty 48 months and 80000km. The residual doesn't bother me cause I don't plan on buying it back.

OK, now that you have stated your situation more clearly and are only leasing under full warranty then I'd say go for it. The are very safe and the seats are excellent. Turbo is always nice.

toolatecrew · « **Reply #15 on:** July 14, 2005, 08:09:13 am »

Yeah if you are leasing it then I'd say go for it. You can get a good price on an expensive car and let Sabb eat the depreciation as I think the residuals are likley artificaially inflated to help them sell. If they showed true residual they'd never be able to get rid of the things cause depreciation is brutal.

Just curious what the residuals are like? have you looked into them? Also what is the difference in rates and cost between a 3 and 4 year lease I thought I saw the rate advertised as a 39 month or something.

If it were me I'd lease it for 3 vs 4 years. The new SportCombi wagon looks SWEET but I doubt it will be available before the GM deal is over. Too bad.

daniel7417 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 14, 2005, 09:12:36 am »

I have a 2004 SAAB 9-3SS with 30,000 kms on it. It has been trouble free, and a pleasure to drive.

The first year 2003's had some electrical glitches that have been corrected. Other than that, I have not heard about any serious problems on the various SAAB newsgroups except for general griping about the sub-standard sound system.

Dave

rsxca · « **Reply #17 on:** July 14, 2005, 10:16:46 am »

Residuals for a 48 month lease is 41% with 20000km. Payments work out to about 540 taxin with zero down and only 900 whenyou pick up the car and that includes the first months payment. This is for the linear package with the sunroof package. MSRP is about $40000 discounted price about $36000.

Bring my wife on friday to see what she thinks.

Shnak · « **Reply #18 on:** July 14, 2005, 10:48:48 am »

Wow that is way too much to lease a 9-3... Buy a 2002 (previous one, hatchback), or even a 2003-2004 (new one, sedan) for a fraction of that $540 payment...

I did a peeked a quick look on autotrader.ca and there are many 2003 9-3s going for about 24-25000$... So for the same price as leasing a 2005, you could OWN a 2003...

Scaerio · « **Reply #19 on:** July 14, 2005, 10:48:53 am »

If you get one, post pics!!!