Saab 900 / 9000
I'm relocating this question from the "What do you
like about hatchbacks?" topic to keep us on track.
There must be some Saab hatchback drivers out
there who can come to the rescue!
Planet is asking:
What can anyone tell me about the saab 9000. I
want one if the price is right but don't know much
about them. Would their owners keep buy another
one?
like about hatchbacks?" topic to keep us on track.
There must be some Saab hatchback drivers out
there who can come to the rescue!
Planet is asking:
What can anyone tell me about the saab 9000. I
want one if the price is right but don't know much
about them. Would their owners keep buy another
one?
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
There is just no other "car that looks like a car" that will carry the amount of stuff you can cram into a FWD Hatchback, although a stylish "station wagon" is, IMHO, a viable alternative. The Saabs' rear seats employ a "flip and fold" strategy which allows for a comfortably proportioned seat and still gives a low, flat floor when folded. ("TLDAUL" Simca Collection featured a linkage which lowered the seat down when the back was folded, but current designs with the fuel tanks located under the seat would make that hard to implement.) The Saabs in particular add tremendous longevity and safety to the equation, along with sporty performance and handling. Living here in the "salt belt", corrosion resistance is important. The basic design and the paints and sealants Saab uses are extremely effective.
Saabs should be less prone to the kind of peculiar reliability glitches in minor parts which have plagued the marque in the past as these bits and pieces are replaced with items which have passed the General Motors certification process.
The only thing is I hear they depreciate VERY quickly
The 9-3 will have the 2.0 turbo as the only engine, rather than the 2.3 non-turbo in the 900S 5-door, the suspension has been upgraded, and the seating has been replaced with the new style seats like in the 9-5: i.e., they have the active headrests for whiplash protection and side-bags.
Any input out there would be appreciated!
Thanks.
carlady/host
I think your success or failure with a Saab depends primarily, in your case, on whether you have a good service facility nearby, perferably an independent shop. The year and model you chose is fine...it's new enough that most of the traditional Saab foibles have been corrected. But there's no known cure for bad service and Saab seems to be particularly victimized by this...oh, don't get me wrong, there are a few good dealers around, but it's hit and miss.
Without a good and reputable service garage, I'd say you won't be happy with the car in the long run.
Longtime Saab owner
carlady/host
As for your choice of a 900SE, I don't know how you value fast versus fancy and new versus cheaper.
The 1999 9-3, a renamed and updated 900, has the full-turbo motor as its only engine, and there have been a lot of minor and not-so-minor changes. These include some suspension upgrades, seating and heating/AC systems with componentry used for the more expensive "9-5", and a bit of restyling that, frankly, I don't even notice. A 1999 9-3 "S" would have all the power of a 900SE and would have all the updates and at a lower price (even with the end-of-year discounts), but would lack leather, sunroof, the fanciest radio, and the automatic climate control.
If you want an automatic and all the fancy trimmings, but are willing to accept a car with a few miles, log onto http://www.saabusa.com/preowned
They have a batch of cars which they placed in some Budget Rental fleets as part of their "PR" program. Since the models for sale have been significantly changed, they have called back the rental cars. You need to buy them from a dealer, but if you post me privately I can give you some guidance as to the "dealer cost" on the cars.
Good luck and happy hunting
carlady/host
I'll buy '84 to '90.....so I might have to monkey with a wrench or two.
What are they like to work on, reliable are they?
What should I avoid????
Dave in Canada
carlady/host
carlady/host
Saab, according to this 14 years sales veteran, has not been given the proper attention by the multi marquee dealers and therefore is consolidating its dealer franchises into those willing to go independent. Sounds like a tough road to hoe in this very competitive car market. Would you give up your Jaguar, or BMW franchise to only carry and sell Saab's? I guess the dealer in Monterey and the one in Manhattan Beach said no thanks.
We'll see how things turn out over the next three years of our lease. We don't want to have to mess with independent repair people for the initial years of a new car's break in period. Also we'll get to see if Saab's really are all that great of a car at a lower depreciation risk than were we to buy the car outright. With this dealership consolidation my bet will be that Saabs will have an even higher depreciation than calculated in the lease. They better get one hell of a great dealership system going in three years.
The hatchback is great! We have been amazed at what that car can hold. It doesn't have the same qualities as the Toyota, but when it comes to safety (active and passive) we'd take Saab first.
P.S. Ingrid was rear-ended on the Bay Bridge once - Spine and car (with exception of bumper) fully intact - stupid Maxima (tho not driver) totaled.
I just took a car load of boxes full of hats down to the UPS station for shipping and I told my wife that if all these boxes would fit into the 9-3 I'd really be a happy camper. I already knew they'd not fit in my Lincoln. Sure enough they fit although, I had to bungee cord the hatch back closed but they all fit!
I'm really a station wagon kind of guy and I'm hoping that by the time the 9-3 comes off lease the new 9-5 wagon will have proven its reliability. I like the Volvo wagons but they seem a bit too pricey for the higher horse motors. My wife and I both hated the base V70's engine.
I hope that 080586 will let me know about who his independent Saab repairman is in the Bay Area. We are likely to be moving there ourselves within the coming year.
In a word, yes, there is that much difference between the 900 and 9-3. The biggest factor, IMO, is that the 9-3's workings have been updated to be essentially like the 9-5. This means the same "safe seat" with side bags and whiplash protection, the same "data bus" connections which eliminated hundreds of wires and simplify fault diagnosis, and improved HVAC. To boot, the entire line is now fitted with the 2.0 turbo, which means that a 9-3"S" will run with a 900SE. That, and the handling improvements and body reinforcements point to the newer car as the way to go.
The pick up on this 2.0 ltr. engine w/ turbo is something else. We've driven mostly only American V-8's and inline sixes in the past and it's nice to find this engine has the umph to get us going in the manner were accustom to. Having a turbo is really good for wife's indecisive gas peddle pressure because rather than down shifting the transmission the turbo just winds up or down to compensate with out a gear change.
carlady/host
Can we please close this forum since the Saab 900 is no longer being made. I've opened a new forum under the new "Saab 9-3" title
For now, I think I'll leave this discussion open for owners of the Saab 900 or folks who buy a used one.
For those of you who are interested in discussing new Saab 9-3, please join us here!
carlady/host
Please, let's ask and answer questions here so we can all learn.
carlady/host
Suggest you move the forum if you truly desire to be noticed. Many comparison shoppers are missing out on the most underated near luxury car on the market.
carlady/host
And yes, I have a great independant mechanic that works on every imported car including Jags (now there is an expensive car to fix). Or do I need a mechanic that only works on Saabs?
The only possible warning flags: if this car is an automatic, check to see if it was a rental car, and if it is a 5-speed, check to see if it was one of the "company cars" used at the 50th anniversary Track Sessions. And of course, check the history to see if it is a reassembled salvage car.