Just around the corner from where I live, a used car dealer has a SAAB to lust for: a 97-98 9000 Aero, manual, low kms. Perfect panel and paint, great interior with unmarked leather. But when I popped in for a look and asked to see the service books, bad news: the last recorded service was at 30,000 kms - six years ago! Don't worry, says the smooth-talkin' dealer, it's been looked after by a mechanic who hasn't bothered stamping the book. Well, he would say that...
Common sense tells me not to even bother driving this car, but the reality is that late-model manual Aeros are like hens' teeth here and another one may not come up again for a long time (this is the first I've seen in six months' looking).
OK, so I need some advice. Let's assume the worst -- the car has had nothing but the occasional oil change for the last six years/70,000 kms. Is it a lost cause? What should I look for when driving/inspecting it? Am I crazy for even considering this car without a full service history?
I wouldn't think it crazy. It is possible that it is true that someone that cares has been looking after it and if it really is just around the corner what have you to lose?
Take a look at the 9000 buying guides for starters but generally check for obvious stuff like fluids, state of various bushes as that will give you a guide as to how it has been looked after.
See how it drives, does the engine make unexpected noises, tappets, timing chain.
In fairness, even if it has been looked after, the head gasket could give out a week after new ownership but that's hardly to say a car wasn't looked after previously.
I'd take a look, can't see what you have to lose to be honest.
Those cars are strong and resistant.
Of course, check things fist....
Do you want a list ??
Check the rubber mounts on top... iof they are bad, problably those on bottom are getting damaged.
Check the water tank to see if it´s only water and anti-freeze in there. Anithing else is bad...
See the gearshift rubber mount to see if the car was treated nicely or just to sell ( i´ve found many of them with z clips to hold the bad mount!! )
Look for strange noises when moving ( gearbox, Hubs... )
Look for bad struts/dampers
Look in the engine bay for grease or spilled oil
Look in the transmission near the wheels for greese too
Lool in the door sills to see diferent type of colour ( crash tips )
See if everithing in the dash works great
Check if the cars needs pads / rotors
I think that´s enoughf...
In my opinion, BUY IT... They are rare and good
;-)
None of my cars I own have any service history from the moment I bought them, I would hope, if and when I sell on the buyers will understand that I prefer to service my own cars. I don't trust garages as far as I can spit :evil: .
I usually keep all receipts though to show stuff purchased
Find a good independent SAAB mechanic, or if you cannot then use the best SAAB dealer you can find and just do the standard used car checks: compression, pressure test the cooling system, check under full boost for DI related misfires and low boost pressure. Then bargain like hell on the basis of the poor documentation on the car. The risks of poor maintenance history should ALWAYS be the seller's risk and reflected in the sale price. A couple of grand off will pay for a lot of repairs.
Well, I guess there's no harm in taking it for a test drive. I've tested a few (CS) recently and think I've got a pretty good idea of how a nice one drives -- though I've never driven one with 165kw before!
The dealer was first selling it for $16,000 (Australian) - way too much so I didn't bother having a closer look. He's now got it at $13,000 which is still over the odds but getting closer. Without a full service history, I reckon it's worth no more than $10,500, but I'll probably have to be patient -- and risk missing out -- to get it for that price as I guess it owes the dealer about $8000-9000. But first things first, I'll take it for a spin.
Anyway, it's only a midnight blue -- not my favourite Aero colour.:x Now if it was silver...
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