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Comments
There is neither any need nor any benefit to taking the car back to the dealer for body work. Neither is there any shame in doing so. But, auto body work is a "craft", and selection should be based on the quality of the work, not the sign on the door. Unless you have actual experience with one shop or another, you have to go on the advise of others. But one point to look for: PPG has a certification program for their customers, and they will stand behind the paint part of the repair if it is done by one of their certificate holders. (I'm vague on the exact details: call the local PPG distributor for info if you need it).
As for the "SVO" 900, the Saab web site (http://www.saabusa.com) has published the power and torque curves for the "new" motor. Timing of the release? With the 9-5 wagon being rolled out this spring, I'd guess the fall for the SVO 9-3.
Isn't it funny how it always comes down to that last, and sometimes the most difficult, question "which color?" what did you get?
Thank you, I always appreciate your honest response to people's inquiries. We still have'nt taken the car in for repair because mostly its just a minor scrape from my estimation.
I suspected that our "Saab" dealer wouldn't be any better at body repair than the average because they didn't even have a repair facility on site. When we had to replace a flat tire they ended up sending us to an off-site independent tire dealer for our new tire.
I actually like the fact that our dealer doesn't have repair facialities available becuase I know that in most dealerships use this is as a major revenue center. Our dealer seemed more than willing to send us to a variety of local independent repair shops for what ever I needed.
I'm no rocket scientist but I'd guess you have a slight problem with one of your mirade computer sensors. Don't fret too much just take it into your local dealer and ask them to check it out. If they charge you anything make sure that they know that you're a regular internet user and plan to post your experience on the internet.
I'm a relativly new Saab owner myself and I visit this forum regularly just to hear about the sort of problems you're having. I'm closely following Saab 9-3 postings because at the end of our 3 year lease I'm trying to determine whether buying our car or the new 9-5 wagon is worth it. Dealership maintenenace experiences are very importnant because Saab has be consolodating its dealership net work lately.
Best wishes and please keep us informed about your car.
Sincerely Federick
I don't regret walking out of the Audi and BMW show rooms.
Just wanted to echo frederick's post. I too follow this topic to pick up anything I can about the 9-3. Don't currently own, but hope to by late summer/early fall 99. Have to save my pennies first.
Enjoy your rides.
"Don't fret too much just take it into your local dealer and ask them to check it out. If they charge you anything make sure that they know that you're a regular internet user and plan to post your experience on the internet."
Have you found that when you say that, the dealer doesn't charge you? Or charges you less?
carlady/host
As for the "sport" mode on the 9-3 (and 9-5) automatics: I've found that it makes absolutely no difference: whether in "sport" or "normal", the Saab is impeded by the car in front =8-P
http://www.saabs.co.uk/saab.htm
And check out the 9-3 Viggen, could this be the new Aero? Or will it be Viggen? Or will it never come here to the US
Saab uses different model nomenclature in different markets. On the continent, the "wagon" is called a "Combi" (or Kombi), as derived from the Swedish word for "station wagon". It was not considered for the US: sounds too much like an agricultural harvesting machine. Similarly, the "Griffen" nomencature, which was used on a special edition 9000 CD, never caught on in the US. Too reminiscent of a football player, I suppose.
Is it your opinion that, the 9-3 SVO will not have the higher horse power engine and this engine would go to the 9-5? If so, would this 9-5 be an Aero, with better suspension and handling? I spoke to a dealer and he was quite cynical about the impending 9-5 Aero. He doesn't think it will materialize.
I am waiting to see what SAAB may offer in the near future, though I'm ready to get one right now. I'm still interested in a 328i, but I cringe at the thought of dealing with their sales people. Every time I walk into the BMW show room, they let me know how privileged I am. The sales people at SAAB on the other hand, are far more courteous and genuine- It would be a very difficult thing to give my money to BMW.
Audi is out of the question, I just don't like the way car looks.
I also want a car I can drive hard, I've spent the last few years with my "nose to the grind stone" and I'm itching to drive.
In response to your #66 response/question posted I'll respond in this manner. My wife and I looked at Saabs 3+ years before we bought our 9-3 in Aug. 1998. The original dealer we went to in So. Los Angeles (Orange County) was selling out of a "diversified" dealership that was also liquidating the last of the Alfa Romeo 164's. Since then the internet has exploded and the dealerships seem to have taken notice when you let them know it.
To see Saabs in such a shockingly desperate sales enviroment was somewhat alrming to both my wife and I. Saab had a reputation in the early 1980's for its turbo's and sold a lot of cars to well heeled neiborhorhoods like Newport Beach, Irvine and Laguna Beach, CA but over a relativly short amount of time the slight good will that Saab had worked so hard to build up in the 1980's has rapidly eroded.
There has been a definite consolidation of dealerships in the U.S. in recent years and the ones that have survived are far more brand and market savy than the "diversified" brand dealerships of the past. Saab has moved to consolidate dealerships in an effort to service its "brand" identity better.
Saab in the U.S. market is in a rather precarious situation. They must lure back their loyal 1980's customers with new models without disauding new millinium customers. Saab is in a tight spot here in the U.S.
The brand has a lot of potential but its majority stake owner G.M. has a lot of fires to fight within it's own domestic brands. Saab can fight through these problems by being the voice within G.M. for the new millenium.
Take a look at the time line of responses to the "new" Saab 9-3 forum and you'll quickly understand how wired Saab customer really are. Saab buyers by nature are differnet in that they embrace the new, the alternative, and technilogical advancements. These are the components that have made the web such a phenominal success today.
I belive that the typical Saab owner is far more wired than just about any other automobile owner today. What we say in forums like this will make a diference. Automobile ownership involves a hell of a lot more than just point A to B transportation other wise we'd all own Honda Civics. Automobile ownership entails passion and life style. Saab is the vehicle of choice for the digitally connected and internet informed.
Before we bought our Saab 9-3 we did a thorough search of the internet to determine exactly what we should pay. In fact it was through Edmunds that we determined that the Saab was our best buy in it's class. My wife and I had driven every other car in its class so that we could comfortibly add our own objective opinions to our internet search.
Ultimatly when we went to but our car both my wife and I had a extremely good idea about how much this car was going to cost us. We ultimatly bought from a dealer no where near our neighborhood because he happened to have the car we wanted on his lot. Becuase of our internet research we were stillable to get the car at exactly what we knew to be the "ideal" internet price even though the dealer knew that we really wanted the car in the color, etc., etc., etc., that they had.
We've gone back to this dealer on once in our past 5k ownership for a punctured tire. They sent us to a local tire store that carrried the brand and type of tire we needed. No small feat at the time but I won't get into that.
We as Saab owners must remain true, open, and honest and then I believe we'll get the kind of service, respect, and return loyalty Saab deserves. Remain connected and you can change your world!
carlady/host
Re your post #75, especially "We all research the purchase to death". Have we met, or did you just talk to my wife?
rfellman,
My solution to your worst problem is to get the 5-spd. Although my wife is not very fond of the 9-3 looks anyway, she's less fond of manual trans. Not so sure I want to say this in this topic, especially after reading some of your posts, but....I currently lease a 96 A-4 2.8 which I'll probably buy at lease-end in May. Then if I can convince my wife to give up her 89 Camry for the A-4, I'll begin some serious bargaining on a 9-3 for myself. Although may not be until end of summer/early fall. Hope the good lease deals are still around.
I liked the Audi, I just could not fine one with quattro that was not fully loaded. Thus, either I bought a loaded Audi for the bloated MSRP or I walked on priniciple. My price resistance point was 30K and I sought to get as much value as possible for less than that. I was really close to buying a BMW 323i but again, I just could not justify paying too much for a depreciating asset. Well, at least BMW was willing to deal. That is if you think 5 to 6% over invoice is a deal. I thought it was too much to pay to join the legion of BMW lemmings. Still, I would buy a BMW if the price was right. Why have dealer invoice so low and then have MSRP so high and then require buyers to shell out thousands for different suspensions and options. I utilmately identified with the utilitarian Sweed's affordable but austere brand of luxury and performance.
If only I could get "our" Saab away from my wife I'd be in automotive heaven. Since the car is my "wife's" car we had to opt for the less enthusiastic automatic but this car still rocks out of the green light gate. I'd take this car over just about any V-8 I own but she's usually behind its wheel on the way to work down town.
I love big Amrerican V-8's but "our" new Saab has thrilled me to no end. I've already racked up a speeding ticket in the car and had to secretly run down to the local court to pay the ticket without even taking the driving school option, much to the clerk surprise. I just didn't want my wife to find out about the ticket and a day at traffic school surely would have been noticed by her.
One of the few negative I noticed on my test drive was the distance from the left foot rest to the clutch pedal, seemed very cramped. Salesman said this was intended, to allow your heel to stay put, swiveling the toe over to the clutch pedal. Am I talking nonsense? What's your take on this? Also, how does one drink a cup of coffee in this car?, or should I say "put one down?" Is the answer "you don't"?
1) In their latest press release, Saab promised the SVO 9-3 for May, one month after the April US launch of the 9-5 wagon. It *will* have a 225 hp 2.3 motor with a flat 258 ft.-lb. torque from 2000 to 4000 rpm. I'd expect that the engine controls will be set to keep the engine torque to a lower level in 1st and second gears in an attempt to keep the spider gears inside the differential case.
2) The same press release referred to "some additional great 9-5 news" for the fall.
Don't receive me incorrectly, now, daddy-o: I actually dig hugely the relative rarity of the 9-3. Were I driving one, it would make for a splendid feeling of tooling around in something that says to most people, "You don't know quite what to make of me, do you?"
In posing the question, I was thinking more of what demand there has been, with an eye toward how easy or difficult negotiations might be for the cayenne HOT contraption I am eyeing with barely restrained lust oh you betcha.
I, too, see a great many 900's. Heavens to Betsy, Colonel, y'can't hardly spit without you hit a Swedish doohickey of one kind'r another, here in the lovely Silicon Valley. That's another reason why I was kinda wondering, see? Little weird, thought I, not seeing more than one, here in Organic Brie Land.
Oh, and say, one more thing: on my naively hyper-aggressive test drive of an SE, I found that, when cornering at all hard, my absurdly skinny white behind was sliding hither and thither on that leather upholstery, making me feel that I was riding more ON the car than IN it. Any thoughts on that?
Got to love those new radio spots from Saab. If they'd only give you more than a few blocks around town you'd really come to understand what Saab power means. Give me the keys for a weekend and I'd really come to understand what they mean. This is why we got the cheesy velour upholstery over leather!
Dear Robert,
Going to the New York International Auto Show this April? If so, you'll be among the first to see the all-new Saab 9-3 Viggen Coupe!
The Saab 9-3 Viggen does more than pay tribute to its namesake-the Saab 37 Viggen jet fighter, one of the most agile and versatile aircraft ever developed. This new road-performing Saab also excels at innovative technology and design. With the highest horsepower to-date in the Saab 9-3 line, and impressive torque, new Saab 9-3 Viggen drivers will identify with the thrust available to jet fighter pilots.
Even if you can't make it to the show, you can find out more about this powerful, aerodynamic new Saab, available in very limited numbers this May.
Hope to see you there!
Click here or copy and paste this link into your browser to find out more:
http://www.saabusa-piv.com/default.asp?saabid=158145
To unsubscribe from Saab-i, follow the link below:
http://www.saabusa-piv.com/unsubscribe.asp?saabid=158145
As for negotiations on a 9-3 griffin, no one seems to have an inkling of the MSRP or invoice as yet. If they limit availability, I assume the demand curve will intersct the supply curb at or near MSRP. However, if Saab continues to price aggressively to capture market share, it may still be a relative value.
robert, I got the same message from Saab. Sounds exciting eh?