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regards,
kyfdx
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They did that and applied "camper tape". It seems to help.
I have noticed lately, however, that the black plastic door handles have become discolored from the hot sun. Has anyone else noticed this?
Comparo
FWIW, Motor Trend inexplicably tested the 9-3 Arc instead of the 9-3 Linear with the Sports Package or the 9-3 Vector. Both the TSX and C230K SS they tested both had the sports suspension package. Not exactly apples to apples.
Test drive both and decide for yourself.
Handling and power were fine. The interior looks nice in the pictures, but the "titanium" finish is just silver paint on plastic. All the little doors and panels felt thin and cheap, as did the steering wheel. Numerous fit/finish issues (fuse box door wouldn't close, sunglass holder jammed half-open, etc.). Not even in the same league with the eurosedans.
On the other hand, I think the new Saab's a little too minimalist/teutonic in styling. And it's got so many buttons on the panel, it's like driving a computer down the road. I couldn't really feel the "virtual rear-wheel steering." Other than that, I like it a lot, and I don't think GM ruined it much. Of course the big question mark will be reliability.
Needless to say, I'm really happy with my choice.
Thanks for replying about the door rattle. The dealers I have been to have been very uninterested in the problem too. They all claim that they can't reproduce the problem but I get it on my way home!
The dealer who I bought the car from would probably fix the problem (or at least try to) but that excellent dealer (Saab Exchange, thanks for the tip Lou is in Chicago and I'm in Ann Arbor, MI.
From mm experience it seems like some dealers are excellent (usually the guys who sell just Saabs or just imports) and most of the large all -encompassing GM dealers don't give 2 hoots about Saabs.
Will try the tape thing and report back.
Now if someone could chime in about the discolored door handles that someone asked about 2 posts up, I would be a happy happy man
Has anybody else noticed this discoloration of the plastic door handles?
Has anybody experienced this clutch pedal "clicking" sound that I described a few postings back?
I do not know how Saab works their Buy Backs. However I work at a Chrysler Jeep store and Buy Backs go "Back" to Daimler Chrysler, they are never re-sold by the dealership. There are no additional incentives. A Buy back is essentially a lemon. What may have happened in this case is that the dealer may have taken the Saab back from the buyer because they complained. The dealer fixes the car and resells it as a used car. If it were me - I would not buy it - there is too much money on the table for a new one. Even a certified pre-owned would be better in my opinion than a "buy back".
It just isn't worth it. By the time you've finished paying off the lease, you could have bought the car. Sure, at the end of the lease, you can buy the car, but at that point it just isn't worth it. And make sure that you're not going to go over the agreed-upon mileage and that the car is very good condition when the lease is up. Otherwise, you are going to get hit with all kinds of additional charges.
In my opinion, most people lease cars because they really can't afford to buy them. You should really research the "leasing vs. buying" issue further. Live within your means.
"The STS will be based on GM's Epsilon platform, and sports a Northstar V-8 engine and rear-wheel drive. It will have a significantly bigger cabin than the smaller CTS. "
Also, never take advice on leasing from someone who says they will never understand why people lease.
regards,
kyfdx
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(1) They can write it off as a business expense.
(2) They want to impress people by getting a car that they couldn't really afford in the first place.
There is no financial upside to leasing if you cannot deduct part or all of the costs from your income or business.
Period.
http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying/articles/47079/article.html
On a separate note, since the Arc and Vector came out later in the model year, does that mean that many of the problems which plagued the earlier 9-3's are less likely to be found on the Arcs and Vectors?
First, Get the "bi-xenon" headlights is important to get better view for yourself also for others.
second, Arc does has better engine performance for much quite road feeling. But Linear for my daily funtion commute is plenty from my experience. driving 80 mile everyday. got average 28 MPG is good for me now.
Thierd, Saab USA already announced all program got updated completed. Once you send in for service either buying before April or after all got same bug free car.
more, wood trim on ARc and plastic trim on Linear all bother me a lots. I like the metal trim from Vector more.
for 300W or 150W sound system, I don't know why the audio system in my house only got 70W but perforamnce lots better than both of them. Must be the system set up problem not the output power.
Hope this can help you. Wish you have buying experience.
Package, Touring Package, Wheel Upgrade Package
MSRP = $33,385 Invoice = $31,420 Sale Price = $27,420 + tax &
lic.
For $27,680 I can get an auto Arc (the only thing the Linear has over the Arc is the sunroof and bi- xenon headlights) from Carsdirect.
Decisions, decisions...
Does anyone know how the 2004 models will deiffer from the 2003's?
Other questions:
Will the Arc and Aero's have the 300 watt stereo or the 150? I would assume the 300, but am getting some conflicting info on that too.
Does anyone know what the MSRP and invoice prices will be for these cars? I have heard $39,995 for the Arc and $42,500 for the Aero.
Non-related: I must have read through most of the posts on this board today and there does not seem to be any firm resolution as to whether there are additional Saab -> Dealership incentives other than the 2500-3500 for buying/financing on your own (ie w/o Saab Financial). My girlfriend is thinking about buying a 9-3 Arc this week and will probably be going for the 0% offer. She is getting a price that is about $300 over invoice (including dealer holdback of $652)but maybe she should be looking for another 2-3G off that price?
This is the breakdown as I have it:
9-3 Arc Vert (MSRP/Inv)
MSRP.......39,995..........38,065
Auto........1,250...........1,238
Tonneau.......300.............270
Cold Pkg......500.............450
Touring Pkd.1,195...........1,076
Xenon.........500.............450
Onstar........699.............629
Sprt Pkg.....????............????
Dest..........699.............699
**The only price I can confirm is the base MSRP. All others are good estimates based on carsdirect pricing and other models.
I have an order guide for both the 2004 convertible and sport sedan. You can download it here if you wish Bowellville Garage. They are in .pdf formats.
The Red Linear caught my eye. As I thought about it, the driver could have been the person in the picture you linked way back when you first got the car.
I am probably going to trade the Miata for the 9-3 Convertible later this year or early next.
As for your car stereo, I would keep the base unit and add an amplifier and better speakers. I think the Linear has a spot in back for a subwoofer as well. I am partial to Alpine speakers myself. But there are a number of good choices out there.
We're s'posed to be talking about a specific vehicle here, not leasing vs. buying.....
Thanks.
Can someone explain the extra $480.00 which Carsdirect includes in its "invoice" price for the 9-3. $130 of that appears to be for "dealer prep" but that still leaves their invoice price higher by $350 than every other site I've checked such as Edmund's, Carpoint & KBB.
Are these charges, whatever they may be for,legitimate and can they be negotiated down? The "invoice prices" I've gotten from dealers so far are more in line with Carsdirect than with the others.
There is always debate over whether these fees are legitimate. A lot of unscrupulous dealers will tack them onto a modified invoice.
However, I know that in my state (Washington) all factory invoices do carry an advertising fee and a dealer prep. I don't think it totals out to be quite as much as you've said but it's close (forgot the exact number).
However, in Oregon, the Saab factory invoices I've seen only have the dealer prep, and no advertising fee.
If you don't want to worry about all that, then don't mention the invoice when trying to strike a deal.. The bottom line you pay is all that matters anyway. But, if you are intent on only paying a certain amount relative to the invoice, then you have to be aware that those are on the invoice.
regards,
kyfdx
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