93 Convertible buying advice

Went to look at a local Saab specialist dealer today.

Saw a 1999 9-3 2.0 lpt SE Convertible on a "T" plate, 87k miles, 2 owners, FSH, in metallic light blue (best I can describe the colour).

Spec is pasted below some some of it's stating the obvious.

This place is basically a sister company of Bond Street Saab in Leicester, so anything that's too old for a "centre of town main dealers" goes there.

The car's up at £8.5k, the guy I spoke with is the owner of the place and he explained that as winter is approaching and he has 8 convertibles in stock, he's willing to do a deal, he suggested he'd be able to take around £800 off the ticket price.

The interior is in excellent condition, the exterior has a few stone chips and minor scratches that I would want putting right, but nothing noticeably wrong. I had a brief test drive (will probably arrange a lengthier one if I'm still interested) and, not being a mechanic, don't know what to say other than it started, it went, it stopped, and I now know what they mean my "scuttle shake".

What I want is something that will handle 40 miles a day commute mostly down straight major A-roads with town driving at the "home" end. I want something a bit nippy for when I want it to be, but sensible enough for everyday use, comfortable, and reasonable fuel economy (I squeeze around

44mpg from the Golf)

Appreciate any opinions. My car (2002 Golf Mk IV 1.4) is worth approx £5k part-ex going off Cap/Glasses/Parkers so it comes down to £3k for something a bit older, a bit better in "marque" terms, hopefully sensible, and obviously the hood seems nice when it's decent weather - not going to pretend I'm looking at a convertible entirely for practicality :-)

cheers, Paul Climate Control Power Assisted Steering Passenger's Airbag Electric Aerial Headlamp Wash/Wipe Leather Upholstery Immobiliser ABS Electric Mirrors Driver's Airbag Cruise Control Alloy Wheels Metallic Paint Alarm Factory Audio Remote Locking

Reply to
Paul Hutchings
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Yes.

Find an Audi A4 Cabriolet. It still has the practical, bourgeois + sandals image, 4 seats and FWD, but isn't based on a Vauxhall Vectra with the torsional rigidity of a blancmange. ;)

The previous model had a lot of excellent closeout contract hire deals, so there will be a lot of ex company ones lurking in the right places. You will even get similar economy to your Golf if you choose the right engine.

Richard (yes. I'd like an Audi Cabriolet, but not as much as a Mercedes E-class Cabrio. Good luck finding a good one of those for £8.5K, though!).

Reply to
RichardK

Precicely :-) The 93 seems like a heck of a lot of car for the money - my only real concern is what it's going to cost me to change as that's what really counts in my book, and £3k or so doesn't seem like much, but as I said it's the whole "slightly older car, bit more mileage, potentially higher bills" scenario that I'm thinking about.

Paul

Reply to
Paul Hutchings

Hi,

Resp> Went to look at a local Saab specialist dealer today.

Cosmic blue I think is what you are talking about.

Yes, uhmm, ehmm. Also anything that is not up to scratch to sell through =

a main dealer. [Having written the message ... I am more convinced the=20 sister company may be used to sell cars the dealer can't sell. See the e= nd]

See that it has a service book full of dealer service history stamps.=20 And if it does, esp. if it is from the parent company, take a drive=20 there and see if they are willing to give you a print out of the service =

history.

Stamps in the book are not worth much, receipts or a printout of the=20 services/repairs would be worth more.

And then you will get the usual story ... your car is not worth much.=20 If you are willing to sell your car privately ... and so on you might=20 get the best price to change.

You will not get 44 mpg :-) If you are nice mid-thirties (I hope 9-3=20 owners can put me right on this) and if you like pressing the fun pedal=20 then below 30.

Sorry can't pass further comments on convertibles or 9-3. It may be=20 worth your while checking dealers direct. I just found an Aero on the Y =

plate with 62k miles in Edinburgh for =A311.5

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D visit

formatting link
select Approved used cars then Approved used car locator Do a national search and select model =3D 9-3 2 door convertible (PS. sorry I can't quote url it is all done with POST requests).

YOu will find there are cards below =A310K. and in fact they sound cheape= r=20 than yours once age and mileage are taken into account.

Regards Charles

--=20 Please remove _removeme_ to reply.

Reply to
Charles C.

Well, I'm serious about the quality. The 900/9-3 (as opposed to C900) is very little more than a Vectra in drag (actually, a Cavalier in drag in our terms), and it is not a good conversion. Whilst I could be persuaded of the merits of the regular 900/9-3 models (unlike, judging by the number I don't see on the roads, many people), I will never consider the ragtop model at all worthwhile.

Looking at a ragtop in the £8K range, I'd be considering the Audi, I'd certainly look at a 92/3 W124 E-class with full history and in mint condition (they aren't bad to service), I'd look at a Golf Cabrio (when did they kill them, '2001?), and I personally would be going for 2 seater models like the MX5.

Or you could go and buy 8 1986 Vauxhall Cavalier Convertibles. They're about as good as the Saab in all but trim and engine ;)

Richard

Reply to
RichardK

The price to change is my take on it. I'm not too picky about the split between part-ex and discounting whatever I buy, all I really care about is how much it's going to cost me - I think that's the right way to look at it isn't it? He did do a printout direct from Glasses of what mine is worth and let's just say it's scary how much you lose on a new car after 3 years.. but that's life if you buy a new car :-)

It boils down to £3k to change from the Golf. Main concern isn't so much the money but how to spot a "good" car.

I did check out the Saab website but didn't see anything comparable factoring in age/mileage if this comes in at around £7.6k.

Don't get me wrong I'm in no hurry to change if I don't see something I'm happy with, I'm just trying to investigate if what seems like a good car, good price actually is.

Paul

Reply to
Paul Hutchings

No comment. It is your money. I have no idea if a main dealer would give you as good a price for your=20 car. But if you were trying to sell it privately, at circa =A35K I don't= =20 think it is something you will sell easily.

I am not sure how you work out the =A37.6K. I thought the dealer who had= =20 the car you were looking at had it at =A38.5K

OK he offered a discount but you did not tell him about part exchange?

btw. You are not saying if the car you are looking at is a turbo=20 (probably not). Here is what I can get out of saab's website. Not sure =

yours at 8.5 is a good price.

Regards Charles

SAAB 9-3 SE 2.0 LPT CONVERTIBLE [POLAR WHITE] nov 1999 (V) 89,795=20 =A39,995 =09 SAAB 9-3 S 2.0 LPT SPORT CONVERTIBLE [LASER RED] may 2000 (W)=20

57,000 =A39,995 =09 SAAB 9-3 SE 2.0i CONVERTIBLE [MIDNIGHT BLUE] may 1998 (R) 65,657=20 =A37,995 =09 SAAB 9-3 SE 2.0 TURBO CONVERTIBLE [SILVER] mar 1999 (T) 98,000=20 =A38,495 =09 SAAB 9-3 SE 2.0i CONVERTIBLE [SILVER] aug 1998 (S) 103,000 =A37,995 = =09 SAAB 9-3 SE 2.0i CONVERTIBLE [SILVER] aug 1998 (S) 57,676 =A38,995 = =09 SAAB 9-3 SE 2.0i CONVERTIBLE [MIDNIGHT BLUE] may 1999 (T) 56,500=20 =A39,995 =09 SAAB 9-3 SE 2.0 TURBO CONVERTIBLE [MIDNIGHT BLUE] jul 1999 (T)=20 54,000 =A39,995 =09 SAAB 9-3 SE 2.0i CONVERTIBLE [BLACK] jun 1999 (T) 24,200 =A39,995 = =09 SAAB 9-3 SE 2.0i CONVERTIBLE [MIDNIGHT BLUE] aug 1998 (S) 83,000=20 =A38,995 =09

--=20 Please remove _removeme_ to reply.

Reply to
Charles C.

It's screen price is £8.5k but the dealer (spoke to the owner) has 8 convertibles that he doesn't want sat around all winter, so he is willing to "do whatever he can to sell cars", he'd be willing to drop approx £800 off that price so £7.7k not £7.6k (never was good at maths).

Whilst looking through the service history and old MOT certs etc. I think I saw the part-ex invoice for when they took the car in, and I'm sure the figure I saw was £6.4k.

2.0l lpt. 1999 on a T plate, 87k on the clock.

Anyone out there have a Glasses/CAP? :-)

cheers, Paul

Reply to
Paul Hutchings

OK OK I missed the lpt :-D Aye, the glass is nearly empty ... the=20 bottle too.

Now you need to find out if a 9-3 cabrio. is worth having?

Regards Charles

PS. I have a 9K and when I bought it I spend 12 months looking for a=20 cheap SAAB (circa =A31K) I ended up buying an 18 month old car. I hope=20 you find yours faster and cheaper than I found mine.

--=20 Please remove _removeme_ to reply.

Reply to
Charles C.

Well, noting that I can't speak to the USA vs. UK differences or the proper price in the UK... the 9~3 Convertible is a nice car. By the time the 1999 rolled out, they had most of the issues they'd had with the NG900 worked out and all the engineering modifications had been made. There are few "known issues".

I have a late model 900 convertible and it's a wonderful car. Comfortable, luxurious, handles well enough to be fun but not intimidate you. Well insulated. No leak problems. Fine in the Winter/snow - I drive mine year round through sub zero days here in New England and it's as good or better than my other vehicles as a winter car. Traction is great and I plow through snow that stops normal cars and SUV's. I highly recommend putting a set of adjustable Koni's dampers in there. Makes a big difference in handling. Not sure how my HP you get from the "lpt", but it's a fun car to drive when you want it to be. I have a USA hpt and mileage is about 27mpg - but I do like to enter the highway with ease, if you get my drift.

The back seat is for smaller people and kids, not adults. Cargo space is also limited. With the top down, you can carry some large stuff but it has to be fair weather.

I highly recommend one. I look for places to go just so I can drive mine.

Reply to
Bob

It is scary... and after 13 years, my 900 has a book value of $600 USD.

John

Reply to
John B

They are pretty decent value - other people seem to think so too by the number I see on the roads...

OK it's been said the chassis not the greatest, but test drive one - it might just be the car for you..

Reply to
john

Nah. I'd rather buy a BMW 3-series, TBH. At least the proper wheels are driven. I've driven a Cavalier before.

Richard

Reply to
RichardK

I was about to ask "then why do you post in a Saab group?" - then I noticed that some of these replies are cross posted.

If you like to make decisions without driving the cars involved, so be it - your choice. In fact, I might even encourage it - the fewer people that like Saabs, the lower the prices for the rest of us.

Reply to
Bob

Awww, did I touch a nerve?

I've driven Saabs, but not the 900/9-3. There's a phrase here which goes "You can't polish a turd", and as the 900 (as opposed to C900, which is a REAL Saab, and one I would own) is based on a particularly uninspiring GM chassis. I have driven that chassis with rather good engines in it, and it still manages to leave me hankering for the quality and refinement of a Dodge Neon.

Since they managed to take the Group 4 chassis which is reasonably entertaining in the Alfa 164, and make it into something akin to the automotive interpretation of porridge, I'm not convinced that Saab could save the dire Cavalier underpinnings.

Given that the new 9-3 is not only based on the current Vectra, but also looks worryingly like a Mk 3. Cavalier, I think it's safe to assume that GM have managed to dilute Saab to little more than a brand.

So, I'll take my SAABs in 94, 95, 96, 90, 99 and C900 forms please. I might be persuaded to try a 9-5, especially an estate, and I would obviously enjoy a Sonnet, but a fancy plastic dashboard and relocated key do not a SAAB make.

Richard

Reply to
RichardK

RichardK ( snipped-for-privacy@NOSPAMbtconnect.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Now that they're shifting Saab production from Trollhatten to Russelsheim and Opels to Trollhatten, I don't think that's in any doubt at all.

When's the "Saabaru" rebadged-Impreza coming out?

Reply to
Adrian

It's out in the US, along with another thing which is a rebadged...

Chevy Trailblazer.

Lets sit and mull this over.

SAAB. Wonderful, sophisticated, FWD cars.

Not ladder-framed, crude, and rather pointless SUVs...

SAAB is the new Olds.

Wait for it. In 50 years, GM will be killing off SAAB because they own TVR and have launched a TVR Corsa.

Richard (and it Japan, they sell a Zafira badged as a Subaru. GM suck).

Reply to
RichardK

The manager who killed off Olds was moved to Saab a couple years back, yes.

50? I think you have slipped a digit. Some would argue that Saab was killed off already 5 years _ago_.
Reply to
Dave Hinz

When did the Cavalier 3dr Hatch, sorry, 'New' 900 come out, anyway?

But I was thinking more along the lines of when TVR would be taken over, rather than SAAB's death.

Cadillac BLS anyone? (Bloated Lardy Sedan? Well, ETC was Eldorado Touring Coupe...)

Richard

Reply to
RichardK

94-ish. OK, 10.
Reply to
Dave Hinz

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