Second Thoughts

I almost did it.

Almost traded in my 1997 9000 Aero (midnight blue, 82K miles) for a new BMW 525i.

Why? Well, things have started failing -- front headlamp washers, cruise control, heated seats. And the local dealer (who is also a Chevy dealer) stinks. And the local independent shop is not much better. And, while I can change the oil and a few other things, I'm just not much of a do-it-yourselfer.

So I test drive the Bimmer. Nice, even allowing for that iDrive abortion and the weird Bangle styling. Expensive, but so was my Aero. And these days -- with Blizzaks -- Bimmers are OK in the winter.

True, the snot-nosed BMW sales guy rubbed me the wrong way. And the fact that every car rag there is fawns over BMW is a bit overmuch. But, after eight years I figured it was time. And I just don't like the Japanese cars -- Toyota (Lexus), Honda (Acura), Nissan (Infiniti). Yeech.

So I queue everything up and get ready to go in for the purchase. Last step is to have my Aero detailed.

The detail guy works wonders. It looks just gorgeous. And says to me as I pick up the car, "Wow, that's the nicest Aero I've seen in a while. Not many of them around here."

And I get behind the wheel as the sunlight fades, and the dash comes to life. Sure there are a lot of buttons and lights and it looks so '80s. But, as my girlfriend says, "Joe's car at night is like an airplane cockpit!".

Then there's the whirr of the turbo and the way the car just goes where you want and makes you smile.

So I approach the BMW dealer. And drive right past it.

Next morning when the phone rings, it's the sales guy.

"Missed you last night, Joe. You still bringing in the Saab for an appraisal?"

"I've changed my mind, Phil. I think I'll drive my Saab a bit longer. Thanks for everything."

Click.

Reply to
Joe Sterling
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I'm glad that you keep the Aero. If you ever trade it in for a BMW 5 series, it should be a 540i at least. A 525i is likely to be way below the Aero in terms of performance.

Reply to
ngu

in article 43b4e947$1@127.0.0.1, ngu at snipped-for-privacy@spam.com wrote on 30/12/2005

08:01:

They're different kinds of cars, really. I don't think you get anything like the comfort, space or performance comparing a high-end 9000 (like the Aero or Anniversary) to a BMW until you get past the 5 series. That said, even those great Autobahn cruisers don't have the fun in the lower speeds.

Personally, I'd keep the 9000 Aero any day. I think you've made the right choice.

Paul

1989 900 Turbo S
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Reply to
Paul Halliday

Good For You! And a Hearty 'Right On"!! You wrote more eloquently than I have ever read of the "Je ne saique pas" (forgive the bungled French) that is SAAB! So you rent an econobox for a couple of weeks and deliver your Aero to a competent enthusiastic garage. You give him a list and a $50 bill with a wink and tell him to take a little extra time to make his own list. So the whole trip costs $2000. How many BMW payments is that? Does that cover a month's depreciation on a new BMW? I think not!!! You get YOUR SAAB back from YOUR new friend and you get to be frivolous with YOUR girlfriend with all the money that YOU'RE not spending on a Teutonic WunderWagen. Left brain/Right brain. SAAB guys have it all!!

WOOF

Reply to
WOOFER

Well, apart from being a bit of a top poster, I agree with Woofer! Beautifully and succinctly put.You have made the right choice, but then I would say that.

Enjoy her for a few more years yet.

Al

P.S. My friends all love the vacuum system for moving air vents in my C900. "It's like being in an aircraft..."

Reply to
Al

in article tXttf.42535$ snipped-for-privacy@fe3.news.blueyonder.co.uk, Al at snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com wrote on 31/12/2005 11:28:

One of my friends asked "WTF?" after I switched vent positions and he then playing the the vent selector for a few twists, making comment that it sounded like a dump valve ... You all know what I did next, don't you? :)

Paul

1989 900 Turbo S
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Reply to
Paul Halliday

in article Utktf.47121$ snipped-for-privacy@twister.nyroc.rr.com, WOOFER at snipped-for-privacy@Pluto.com wrote on 31/12/2005 00:42:

That's exactly right.

The number of people who think about moving house, look into how much it will cost and decide to spend the money remedying the reasons they wanted to move ... Same thing.

A new car will always have new problems. For the amount of time your new car will be back at the dealer for various things over the first few months, you might as well have dropped the SAAB in at a specialist and had it fixed.

Paul

1989 900 Turbo S
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Reply to
Paul Halliday

540? I think Joe was gonna buy new. In that case, he'd get a left over 545 but the new non-M 5 series screamer is the 550 - a savage beast - low speed, high speed, whatever. The 525 holds it's own too but in a different manner than the aero (not way below). Before I start getting flamed, let me say, I own a 2000 SAAB 9-5 Aero & a 2001 BMW 540it w/ M-sport pkg. It's hard for me to not defend both other than saying they are simply different driving machines; neither being superior over the other in terms of the overall driving experience - it just depends upon your mood.

I don't think Joe was in a bad spot...a no lose situation no matter which car he ended up with. Good for you Joe.

- phlood -

Reply to
phlood

Would make a better Saab TV advert than the 9-3 sportwagon V6 aircraft ones.

Reply to
NeedforSwede2

And what *are* those cows about ?

I still don't get it.

Cows drive Saabs ? I guess that'll be GM thinking ?

Graham

Reply to
Pooh Bear

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