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Go8
The term "wagon" isn't in vogue. People would rather buy an Avant, Variant, Sport Cross, Sport Combi, Touring, et al.
As far as the 9-5 goes, I believe there will be a refresh for the 2006 model year with an all new model based on the next generation Epsilon platform for 2007.
Let me say that I don't envy the job of salesmen. I had two salesmen who were directly competing for my business. I qualified my negotiations with each of them by telling them that I felt some sort of obligation to the other (which I did), and that no matter what they put on paper, I was going to give the other guy an opportunity to beat it. Price started at just over 30. After two afternoons of negotiation, I had the price down to 27,500. I continued going back and forth with each of them and ended up at 27K. I liked both guys (granted, it's their job to be likeable) and in the end, opted for the lower price and my estimation that one of the dealers was likely to provide a higher quality of service than the other. That 'winning' dealer also provided a 10 yr extended power train warranty and free annual detailing for the term of my ownership of the car.
In the end, I believed that I could have held out until Sunday (tomorrow, and the end of the April business month) for a price of $26,500 (my target price all along). Except that I believed that I had already eaten a substantial portion of the dealer's hold-back and started to feel uncomfortably greedy.
My reasoning on the price was (i) 3500 in factory incentives (taking the price down to 28,800), (ii) the car is 8 months old (I think that the '05s came out in August of '04) and hence the price should reflect partial 8 month depreciation (only partial 8 months because the car has not actually been driven during the last 8 months) which further reduced my target price to 26K even but (iii) the dealer needs to make something (i.e. the dealer cannot give up all of his hold-back and some of the depreciation is captured by some of the 3500 incentive; price back up to 26,500).
My worry is that I may be a sap and really should have held out. Further, that lots of people are buying '05 Arcs for substantially less. Please let me know.
Complained to SAAB soon after delivery. They politely said, in effect, "go pound sand." Since then numerous squeeks and rattles, and electrical glitches.
It's painfully clear that GM has ratcheted SAAB quality way down to GM levels.
Ten months left on my lease, then I can ditch it and get a car with at lease average quality AND will be able to listen to music again!
Too bad, SAAB could have been a contender against Volvo ... but obviously GM has decided to turn it into a brand of nothing more than low quality, badge-engineered GM vehicles.
I haven't finished negotiating yet and don't recall exactly what the overall price came out to, but the 36 month 12K mi lease price they offerred was $397/mo (zero down). The model they had in stock didn't have a sun roof. The only option included was heated seats.
For the price you got, did you end up doing any financing at all or did you just pay cash?
Also, were you choosing between any other cars? I am still considering the Audi A4, but the price there was $421/mo.
Thanks,
Gary
It's asking a lot for them to replace/upgrade a stereo that is functioning because you didn't bother to try it out earlier.
You haven't driven a GM car if you think the 9-3 is down to that level. Not that many other GM Cars are among the safest and highest performers in all crash tests. Not many Cavaliers make 90mph on the highway feel like you're going 60. And not many have seats as comfortable as the 9-3.
You lease a near-lux sedan, which is an expensive way to drive a car, even with incentives on them. Yet your main reason for ditching it seems to be a stereo system that you could have affordably upgraded if you owned the car. Certainly for much less than what you'll be wasting by leasing a new car every 2 years. Interesting. There is no magic math that makes leasing cost less than buying and holding a vehicle for a few more years, then selling it yourself.
The 9-3 isn't perfect. I could pick it apart. Fwd, turbo lag, some interior materials, even rear styling. But it's been a more satisfying and trouble free vehicle than either of the two much more expensive BMW's we've owned.
Rattles annoy you? Try broken door handles and cup holders, broken window regulators, broken coolant guages, tire problems, catalytic converter failures, gauge cluster failure needing replacement, notchy 6 speed transmission shifting, and a DOA condition that required a tow. The $50,000 plus (in 1998 and '97) cars were worse. And just about any brand will go tell you to pound sand if you complain about stereo quality.
If you want a nice affordable appliance type vehicle that won't rattle too much and has a stereo, try an Accord. You'll be boring and feel bored, but you will get your needs met. Or shovel out antoher $10,000-$15,000 and get a Lexus GS or Mercedes E class. But before you do, go check Mercedes' reliablity records lately.
The current 9-3 is overpriced for what it delivers (w/o discounts and incentives). But you can get a safe, nice looking, good handling, reasonably refined, pretty cool car for under $30,000. In a time when the "bargain" Acura TL and Infiniti G35 drive out for over $35,000, it's an option.
It's all about getting your expectations in line. Cars are much more complex than the '83 Toyota we all want to compare them to, the one we never had a problem with. They have to pack in all this complexity (airbags, stability control, abs, trac control, fancy stereo controls, emission controls, etc) that they didn't have to deal with in the past.
I would buy a stripper sport sedan if they sold one, to avoid all the hassles of electronic problems and keep the cost invested in engineering where it counts. But they don't. People don't want simple and good, they want fancy doo dads. Doo dads break.
I don't like rattles either. But I either fix them myself (it's just common sense and testing) or live with them if the dealer can't handle it. Most people who can't stand rattles, I find that they have never had the lovely experience of being broken down on the side of the road at night 15 miles from the nearest expressway off-ramp. You appreciate your 'low quality" car a little more when you realize that it actually runs pretty well.
Is this for the standard 150W unit, or for the 300W prestige sound system they offer as an option?
And are these problems with the 2005 model, or for earlier model years?
Any help would be appreciated.
How long does it take to get a new car once you order it? I would like to get an '05 Arc and was curious as to whether they are still shipping this model and how long it takes.
Thank you.
By the way, does anyone know if wiper blades are covered in the wear and tear 1 year warranty? I just paid to replace them, and didn't know where to find that info...
tyia
I'm assuming it's not Bluetooth, there's no mention of it anywhere. So, is there a list of compatible phones / providers?
And is there a cradle for the handset, located in center console perhaps?
Thanks!
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/RepositoryFiles.cfm?module=RECALLS&IfsDocId=05V- 236
Tx. :sick:
I have some questions about leasing a Saab 9-3 Linear. I have been looking at a couple of dealerships already and at the latest one, this sales person seemed to give me some interesting deal (or is it?).
And here is what this sales guy quoted me:
SAAB Linear 9-3 with a manual transmission and a moonroof in a metallic paint
MSRP: 29295
Sales price: 26665 (with the GM employee discount price)
Rebates: 3500 (in addition to the discount price)
RV: 39%
MF: 0.0015
Term: 48 mo
No down payment, no upfront money, just the first monthly payment
Monthly payment = $345
Does this seem like a good deal? Compared to the one I got from other sales reps previously, this looks better. What do you experts think? Thanks a bunch for you opinions.
JS
So based on your no money down offer - I would guess the price should be about $30-$35 higher than what I was quoted. That is for a THREE YEARL lease though. I am not sure I would recommend a 4 yr lease.
This test drive was in Santa Monica, CA.
I am not sure where you are but the guy I met seemed decent.
It seems they owe us a refund or something for selling an expensive option that we cannot use. My wife chose this car over (our third) Subaru Outback, because the SAAB had more comfortable seats. She now wishes that she had bought the Subaru instead of the SAAB. Our next step is to see an attorney and see if we can get someone to do something. I have never had such a bad experience with any car purchase before. Thanks, GM. It's been a pleasure doing business with you.. Just don't look for us in any of your showrooms again.
red-walnut trim, Driver's-side 3-position memory, power windows with express up and down and remote opening, auto-dimming mirror with integrated garage door opener and compass, 6-disc in-dash CD changer, wiring for hands-free phone, Saab Park Assist System, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
Does the Outback even offer this feature? I don't see it on their website...
I'll check the tire inflation, and then talk with them.
So, I guess my question is, how does the Aero handle? Above, I read some comments how the 9-3 isn't quite up to the standards of the 325i, yet the price is pretty close -- normally. Now, the incentives seem to be really good. I'm now thinking I should look into the 9-3 more, but I really don't know much about it.
The 9-3 is FWD and won't handle quite as well as a RWD 3 series, but it does handle very well and about as good as any FWD car.
An Aero under $28K is a steal, IMO
dave
About the Prelude putting down power during turns, don't forget, it's FWD too, so it does have its limitations.
I need some work done on my bumper; unfortunately, while i was away for a few months someone rammed into the car and bolted. I don't want to get my insurance involved as of right now as my deductibles are high. I have the car in laser red, and feel a bit weary about the paint match-up. If anyone knows an honest and reliable body-shop near/in Chicago please let me know.
Happy 4th o' July.
-renee-
I agree that the stereo is disappointing but I'm here to say that it's fixable. I listen to CDs all the time and a good stereo is important to me. Talk to a car stereo guy and he should be able to set you right.
It's all been taking care by "Cars Collision Center" at Naperville. You will find its address and phone number from internet search. They did excellent job. honest and fast. They are actually offical bodyshop for AAA insurance at south/west chicago area. Hope this helps.