Hi guys, my fiancee is looking to get a replacement for her 2002 Focus. She was originally set on a Mazda3 but decided to take a look at some other options. She came across some decently priced Saab 9-3s in the local area and we might check out soon and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the car.

There's also a G35 that seems like a steal as well : ) Just wanted to see if anyone had some insight into either car.

 

well saab is about to be discontinued so i wouldnt recommend it also the g35 is a really descent car for the price ... why not 3 series or c class?

 

is it the saabaru 9-3?

 

That was the Saabaru 9-2. I personally would stay away from a new 9-3. Resale value will be horrible.

Is she looking at new and used? You didn't mention.

Personally, I'd stay away from MB. I don't know how the new C class is but the previous one was a reliability disaster. BMWs tend to be better.

I like the G, reliable, sporty, quick and comfortable. You could probably find an Acura TL pretty cheap.

 

ooo, i love the TL type-s. so sexy.

dont like the new ones though. even if they are awd with lots of hp. they look ugly.

 

Calling the new TL ugly is being kind.

 

Yeah forgot to mention, we're looking at used. Test drove an 06 9-3 Aero (V6 turbo) with 39,000 miles tonight. Pretty much loaded, very nice condition interior and exterior and they're asking about 15k for it. Clutch was a little weird (let go really high up) but the ride was nice, definitely some nice passing power. We're thinking we can probably get them down to 14k at least, maybe a bit lower but it seems like a pretty solid car so far.

 

I would buy a 9-3 but only if the dealer was out of Tauruses

In my friend's 2005 9-3, approx 60k miles the build quality was comparable to a taurus

In the 2-years that I've known him he has replaced:

The transmission
Coolant resevoir and sensor
Door lock sensors
Speed sensors
And much much more

They used to be nice cars, but now you're purchasing GMs inability to fabricate reliable wiring looms, switches, and sensors

 

Any reason you're really set on Saab? I'd buy a Volvo before a Saab. GM really wrecked their products.

I'd say that car is worth like 10k. Who else except you is going to buy it?

 

The Saab 900 from the late eighties was a cool car, but when we were looking for a car back then we compared it to the then new Acura Legend coupe, and the Acura made the Saab feel like crap. Then GM took them to their grave.

 

Saab made a living off of Euro cool quirkiness, but then the Japanese moved upmarket with 4 year platform refreshes and quirky wasn't so cool anymore. Then GM and the rest is history. I guess we'll be seeing the 2010 9-5 as a Buick 9-5.

 

I'm not dead set on the Saab and honestly hadn't given them a thought before my fiancee told me about it. This is her car, so it's really not up to me but she'd like my opinion nonetheless : P Prior to coming across the Saab she had checked out Mazda 3s and 6s (also the speed versions). She's currently in an 02 Focus hatchback and likes the look of the newer Focus even though they're not making the hatch anymore.

Honestly she just wants a comfortable car that is safe and between the $10,000 to $15,000 price range (probably higher for a nice deal). The RX8 is out of the question because once I've got mine we don't really need another : P

 

However, I think at $14K you're paying too much. Just looking at KBB, private party is $14,925 excellent. Trade in is $12,350. I doubt KBB prices have taken into account that the brand is going into oblivion and KBB is always the most inflated of the used appraisers.

Edmunds.com is even crueler: Trade-In Private Party Dealer Retail
National Base Price $11,063 $12,582 $13,728

Check out NADA site too.

I wouldn't pay more than $13K. As I said before, you're in the driver's seat. Soft car market, a manual trans, and a brand that is extinct.

 

Having owned a 1984 Saab 900s, a 2002 Saab 9-3 and a 2004 BMW 325xi I would say steer away from the Saab. Saabs were, as people have mentioned, great until 1994 when GM bought them. They've gone downhill ever since. I was really disappointed in 2003 when they abandoned the hatchback altogether. Yeah, the Saabaru 9-2x was a hatchback but it wasn't a Saab. The ignition was in the steering column for Chrissakes!

In the 15k price range I'd look at a G35 sedan, a later model E46 3-series or an early E90 3-series. Or maybe a CTS or STS. Mmmmmmm.

 

Okay what is the update on the Saab?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoZCLbt3580

 

I would stay away from any Subaru

 

Just curious, but why?

 

She ended up going with the Saab and honestly I like the car a lot more than I thought I would. I'll try to get some pics uploaded when I get a chance : ) Car is an 03 Vector (with all the goodies). Quiet on the highway, turbo is pretty responsive, decent handling, lots of safety features. Pretty much exactly what she was looking for at a cheap price. To put this in comparison, her 2002 Ford Focus cost the same when she bought it 4 years ago with roughly the same miles

Despite what people may say about Saab, it seems like a pretty solid car. Hell if I went by what people said about Mazda I'd never have bought a Miata : P

 

"To put this in comparison, her 2002 Ford Focus cost the same when she bought it 4 years ago with roughly the same miles"
That right there should tell you something about how well Saabs hold their value.

 

Well the same thing holds true for RX-8s. They lose 1/2 their value the minute they are driven off the dealer lot. Makes a better dealer for used buyers.

So what did you finally pay? Work a hard bargain? Congrats too.

 

Very true about the resale value on many cars. We ended up getting it for $10,000 although we didn't talk down on the price. Honestly I'm not one to argue if I think something is priced fairly. If he had been asking a few thousand more, then maybe, but the car is in excellent condition inside and out and drives like it's new.

It actually felt better than the 06 (different dealer) with fewer miles and the turbo V6 in it. Although it isn't my car I think I've driven it more than my fiancee : ) About 600 miles or so since last Thursday and it is very comfortable. Definitely the car we'd take on a long vacation I think. I'm not used to having all these features that I would've called useless before I bought the car, but the speed warning you can set once you pass a set limit will be very handy. There have already been a couple of times where I'm keeping up with people in the left lane only to look down and I'm doing 80-85 and not even knowing it. 30+ highway mpg is also a plus on longer trips since we go back and forth from MA to NH quite often.

 

$10,000? Not a typo? If so, that was a great deal. All the reason to find used cars that are in great condition to take advantage of depreciation. But some people need to have that new car...

Looks to be a great travel car. Have fun!

 

Not a typo : ) Here is the link to the dealer where we purchased the car, he's really a great guy to work with. He's got a deal with a few of the larger local dealers where he gets a lot of their used cars / off lease and keeps the prices lower to his customers as well.

Pics will come if I actually wake up before my fiancee and steal the car for a bit

 

I am not surprised that it was 10K. The 03 is now 7 years old and SAABs have terrible resale value. They are decent cars for what you pay. 03 was the first year for the new body style. Definitely looks more modern then the model it replaced. I had an 01 before and test drove the new model when they came out. the 2.0 turbo were not bad and the V6 should have even more kick.