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Saab's bike racks

I have a 2004 9-3 Aero sedan. Stuffing my bike in the trunk is getting to be a hassle. I was looking at the bike racks in the Saab catalog

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Shop -> 9-3 -> Load Carrying) and wondering if anyone had anything good or bad to say about them.

I'd get the C-track bars that drop right into the holes in the roof (I'd rather not deal with the trailer hitch). Then Saab has two bike racks, one with a lift and one without. Is the lift worth the extra $200? The bike is pretty light, so lifting it on the roof shouldn't be a hassle, but the convenience of gas struts doing the lifting for you is pretty tempting.

Also, does anyone know if dealers usually beat the prices listed in the catalog? The shipping cost if I order online is about the same as the tax I'd pay if I went to the dealer. Unless they can give me a deal, I might as well have the stuff shipped overnight and save myself the 1.5 hour round trip to the dealer.

Reply to
Shane Almeida
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Hi Shane,

If the 9-3 is like all earlier Saabs there should be pre-drilled and threaded holes in the rear bumper and trunk floor for attachment of a light duty hitch. I find that a receiver hitch bike rack is much more convenient than a roof rack and there is less chance of banging up your car. You can also use the hitch for a light trailer or small boat trailer.

da'Lan makes after market hitches for most Saabs that are about half the price that Saab demands. I bought my current one from Bageco

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Somehow they sell them for less than they wouldbe directly from da'Lan. Curiously, they also sell Jamaican Blue MountainCoffee at a much reduced price. Good hunting,

R. Frist

1998 9000CSE 5-speed 1994 9000CSE auto 1985 900T 5-speed
Reply to
Ramsey Frist

I agree. Roof racks are for poseurs.

The coffee at that site is funny. They will sell it to you for $22.99 a pound or if you want a 5 lb sack it is $119.99...

-Fred W

Reply to
Fred W.

Have you priced Blue Mountain coffee elsewhere? They want $36 per pound in the Strip in Pittsburgh. I had to give Bageco a call about my order. They all had Jamaican accents. They must smuggle the stuff in.

R. Frist

Reply to
Ramsey Frist

I think you missed the point. Based on their current web prices, it's cheaper to buy 5 one pound bags than one 5 lb bag.

-Fred W

Reply to
Fred W.

Sorry, I was a little slow this morning. Must be a fancy sac or it explains why the hitch is less than direct from the factory.

R. Frist

Reply to
Ramsey Frist

In the winter, I'll be transporting skis, which is part of the reason I wanted the roof rack to begin with. The hitch mounted ski rack just looks clumsy. I ended up getting the roof rack with two bike carriers, one with the lift and one without it. I haven't decided if I like carrier with the lift yet. Maybe I'll end up with the trailer hitch after all.

I'll check them out, thanks for the link and the advice.

Reply to
Shane Almeida

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