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Saab 9-3 SportCombi
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Comments
I asked the dealer if he had any Aero's on the way. He said they had one sedan in and a few more coming. Sounds like it may be hard to find an Aero wagon for a few months.
We got fusion blue with parchment (beige)interior. The car really looks great - lots of compliments and yet to see another one on the road.
It's still front wheel drive. We looked at some other all wheel drive cars but with the Saab traction and stability controls, didn't think it would make a big difference in the New Jersey winter.
Overall it is a great deal for the $28k we paid (moonroof and cold weather options).
I did not bother driving an Aero as it was more than we wanted to spend.
Go to www.saabusa.com - select the SportCombi and click on "build your own" to see colors.
A Saab is one of those cars where you either like it or you don't. I happen to like it because its a nice blend between comfort, performance, and economy, but I don't drive one because I need something reliable with not a lot of depreciation. (although I would have done some hunting for a new 2004 9-5 if I knew they were still out there)
The 9-3 actually shares a platform with the Malibu (GM Epsilon) but its tuned differently.
Good luck with your car shopping. Perhaps you can try a 9-5 SportCombi. It's the last "genuine" new Saab out there, but it will cost you more than a 9-3, and it'll be running on a turbo four cylinder.
Also, the price doesn't sound that great? Are you sure that's the legitimate GM price? Also, an arc would be cheaper and have a softer ride.
dave
My wife is turning in a company car - a Chevy Impala - at the end of the month that we are replacing with a SportCombi. While I'll miss the free gas, I will not miss the vague floaty handling, the automatic transmission that can't deiced what gear it wants, the undersized brakes, or the pathetically weak motor.
I hope GM keeps Saab independent because I'm never buying something like that with my own money.
I would drive both the Malibu Maxx and the 9-3 2.0T. The 2.0T model costs less and has a softer ride than the Aero.
Have fun test driving
I haven't driven a 9-3, so I wouldn't know how they handle or brake. From what I've read they're pretty good though, but you might want to double check with an extended test drive.
Of course, if it's too small, and rides too rough, you won't be happy, so there's no point. But just putting a bug in yer ear that it might be worth a second look.
dave
My 36 mo, lease on 9-5 wagon has two payments remain. They "offered" New and loaded 9-3 sport combi (the new wagon) for 36 mo. lease, 15K miles/year, prepay my two payments, they prepay my $350 disp. fee, and write lease for $464.00 per MONTH!!! Outrageous - compared to the last post at 299 or 199.
I was mailed an ad for the 9-7 for $359 pert month lease: the killer is 10K miles and 24 month lease. I ask myself where is benefit of 9-3 combi at that price?
Also, i misspoke, the combi is $319 a month. And, their lease is $2,499 down, 12K miles a year, and 24 months, and there is a $350 disposition fee. Also, the advertised lease doesn't include taxes, and your probably does.
So, i didn't crunch the numbers, but if the 9-3 combi you are talking about is well-equipped, and is $0 down and $0 disposition fee, the offer may not really be that bad.
My local volvo dealer is also offering an s40i for $199/mo. However, i think a 9-3 for $199 a month is a much better deal. The 9-3 has leather, stability control, and a much better engine than volvo's non-turbo i-5.
An audi 2.0T can be had for $0 down ($900 due at lease signing) and $349/mo. Of course, that's without tax as well. But, it is a pretty darn nice car.
dave
If you don't like the Saab dealer you'r working with now, find a different one. If that's the only one in your area, buy your Saab in a different area. Just take your test drive down at the local dealership and do some poking around Edmunds.
Good luck, and Have Fun!
dave
It's just a silly car.
If i hate it i can trade it for another one.
The key thing is, get what you like, because you need to be happy with it. I think the 9-3 is a cool car but that doesn't mean it's right for you. Because i think it's neat i encouraged you to try it again, but maybe i should keep my big fat mouth shut.
My grandmother through marriage just traded her '91 caddy for a 2 years old one, and i would have encouraged her to buy something else, not just because i don't like the caddy that much but because i think it's not the right car for her, and i also think she got ripped off by the dealer. But, she didn't ask me, and she's the one who has to drive it everyday, and she's happy with her car, so why should i make her unhappy?
Maybe whatever you do you should see if you can get it on a lease or a "smartbuy". This way you can tell yourself "if i realize i made a mistake, i can back out in three years" and if you like it you can buy it out at the end just as if you were financing. Might help you sleep better, just to think you have a way out. Of course, this won't work if you were planning on buying cash.
Just an idea from one over-shopper to another. As i said, i want my car to keep me happy for a few more years so i don't have to go through this again. If i had to buy today, i'd try to make myself look at just a bmw 330i, a 9-3 aero, and a volvo s60R.
I imagine the saab will cost somewhat more than the malibu to service as it gets older, though all cars are most costly nowadays than they used to be. You can get a 7 year 100K warranty on either, probably worth thinking about if only for peace of mind.
I typically spend about 5-6 months researching soft data (online reviews, message boards, etc) and about 2 weeks test driving. But that's just me.
If I were you, I'd try the new BMW 3-Series Sportwagons, the A4 Avant, 9-3 SportCombi, and Volvo V70. Life's short. Buy something you like driving. Don't buy a car just because you can get a discount- A bad car with a discount is still a bad car.
A good car with no discount is still a good car.
A good car with a discount would be the best possible situation (like my Infiniti)
Winter break is a great time to do some back to back driving. I'd pick out a day, and set up various appointments like this:
8AM- BMW dealer
10AM- Saab dealer
1PM- Volvo Dealer
3PM- Audi dealer
5PM- Chevy dealer
7PM- Final test drive of the Saab to compare it wit the Chevy
Sounds like a good reason to me!
dave
8AM- Saab dealer
10AM- Chevy dealer
2PM- Saab dealer
4PM- Chevy Dealer
I'd set aside a day to just shop shop shop and drive sales people crazy.
I once had a dealer who was a family friend loan me a used Honda Prelude for a week while I shopped for other cars. I bought the Prelude at the end of the week.
If she is driving a Saab to and from other dealers, she’ll probably buy the Saab.
Its a nice way to get a great feel for the car.
I wonder how many SportCombis will end up as loaners. None?
Driving a 9-3 Sedan feels exactly the same (we drove both). As long as you don't look behind you, you won't know the difference.
Saab needs to get their MSRP's down and stop discounting so heavy. Most people compare stickers and think the discounts are similar. Audi, BMW, MB and surely Lexus, Acura don't come off sticker too much but have similar price points with Saab @ MSRP. But Saab will discount heavy, why do they do this? Get closer to their selling price and they move some cars in this country. I have had four Saabs and I don't put them up there with BMW, MB or Audi (maybe Volvo). But I don't pay what those car cost.
I would also say that Saab had the worse resale value there is of all these models. Saab needs to sell their enginering, perfomance (finally some of this is here), at a fair price (near luxury, not luxury). Just my thoughts.
A 9-5 sticker for 45K is wrong, same as a 9-2 for 32K? Sticker shock, hell people run from the dealers and Internet with these stupid MSRP's.