I really want a newer 9-3x or 9-3 Sportcombi... does it make sense to buy Saab now?

[engelgrafik]

Don't get me wrong. I'm the first person to say that just because a company is bankrupt and may not make new cars for several years doesn't mean you shouldn't buy one.

However... I've heard tales that there aren't enough parts for the newer model years. And so if you get in an accident, you may drive around with missing doors and roofs for a few months until you find one...and then you'll pay an arm and a leg for it. Is this true?

Also, prices... does it make sense to pay $28K for a 2011 9-3x with small miles? Or $18K for a 2010 9-3 Sportcombi with 35,000 miles? This is what I'm seeing in the greater Boston area. Does the "Saab-is-bankrupt, sell-me-your-car-for-cheap" argument work with the dealers? Or do they know that there are Saab enthusiasts that want to pick up one those rare last models sitting in the lots now that that dealerships have cut and run?

Let's put it it this way... biggest bang for the buck, what should I be looking at in a 9-3x or a 9-3 Sportcombi? Is there a better year for the money? What's the worst deal you can think of? The best deal?

I have to get rid of the ol' Beast.. my trusty 2001 9-3 which is still running even though if it was any other car, it would already by dead. Were it not for the fact that this car is a Saab, I would feel worried that the power steering leaks through about once every two days, and the car shudders at high speeds probably due to bad bearings or bent axle or something. But it plods on. Even though sometimes doesn't crank. And so I wait about 5 minutes, and then it cranks. Did I mention that since Sunday, it is loud as hell ever since the air condition briefly died on me while going uphill in 95 degree weather? It was originally an occasional growl... and the AC didn't work for 30 minutes... but now the AC works great, but the growl has become a continuous series of growls and roars, depending on my acceleration. And the car plods on!! haha....

Still.. it's time to move on. Must get a new car. This just isn't acceptable for passengers and the occasional use by my girlfriend. Especially the non-starting part... even though my repair guy set up a wire connection under the hood where I can jump the wire to the battery's positive terminal and it instantaneously cranks. She doesn't like to get her hands dirty, and she fears electric shock.

Time to get a new car...

I've thought about buying a Subaru Impreza or Outback.... but my lord, those cars are UGLY. And the Impreza wagon doesn't have Turbo unless you get that ugly WRX.

Help. Guidance. Suggestions please.

[socal1200r]

Short answer to your question would be, "No"...

That being said, since it looks like you'd be willing to consider buying something used with low miles, I'd suggest shopping around for a recent Subie before they made them all fugly...my college-student daughter LOVES the '98 Outback I got her, and the AWD comes in handy for her p/t job as a beach lifeguard. It doesn't have a turbo, but at least the body style isn't all ugly like the newer ones are. Not sure what year the designers started smoking crack at Subaru, but up until then, they were pretty easy on the eyes...

[9-3gotboostAERO]

Parts problems are on the way out... you'll be fine. I suggest the sportcombi, better deal and very rewarding (especially if you get the v6). Just a tune and you'll be hanging with sti's and possibly winning if racing from a roll

[sptsdn]

Personally, there isn't a "new" Saab out there I would consider spending anything over $15k for. And here's why:

- Non-existent resale. Not low resale, non-existent resale. Even if you plan on keeping any car for 10+ years, resale is something you should consider because something could happen in those 10 years that may force you to sell it.
- Lack of manufacturer/dealer support. You're going to have fewer and fewer people and places that are going to be able to work on these cars. The 'new' 9-3 has been around long enough that independents should have enough experience with them that this issue may not be as critical. However, I would make sure your local indy is familiar with them.
- No warranty. Yes, most of them will be sold with an aftermarket warranty but a Google search will indicate those are close to useless.

There are plenty of very nice cars in the mid-$20s that will give you an equally rewarding driving experience or much better reliability from manufacturers that will be around for many, many more years. I would encourage you to take a weekend and look at the options that are available.

[SaabKen]

+1 on everything Sptsdn said.

@engelgrafik, IMHO if you really want a 9-3 wagon, get a non-xwd version and find the cheapest but best condition one (ie: 2006/7) albeit it may have slightly higher mileage. But before you do all that, make sure your current ex-Saab dealer/indie shop is competent enough to service it for the long haul.

I too really want a 9-3 SportCombi when I get back into the Saab fold. But something tells me I'd be better off buying an NG900/OG9-3 5-door if one that suits my criteria is out there.

[engelgrafik]

I just spoke to my Saab-specialist repair guy who has always been a straight shooter with me, is well known and reputable in the area for being such, and he sounded confident that getting a Saab isn't a bad idea. He said for a week or two there was concern about parts but now things are at 95%. He said if I was thinking about keeping the car 5 ore more years, then who knows, but for now, parts and his repair services shouldn't change much. He even said he didn't foresee costs going up much more than normal. I've always been happy with his prices (significantly less than dealer), so I'm thinking about it.

The only thing I'm concerned about I suppose is if I were to move and there aren't any good Saab specialists in the area. I find non-specialists tend to not do things right, and they charge you for the time it takes for them to figure out they don't know how to do it right.

[North Toronto Punter]

I'm happy to go against the grain (it seems) and emphatically say 'Yes'!

Especially as you live in a Metropolitan Center -- and one so well served by Saab historically.

Of the 2 cars listed the '09 is the most attractively priced of course. And wouldn't present any great maintenance challenge. But if you've got a hill to climb regularly then XWD is the one. You might want to be on the lookout for a well cared for '08 too (you get the new body...and really very little changed between '09 and '11 save for trim offerings).

The 'Saab is Dead' news has been already priced in. I wouldn't be surprised if values rise some. We'll see what comes of the Nevs/Saab situation. Saab Parts North America has been re-born too. Nevertheless, you might be able to do a little better on both cars (5%?) via usual negotiating tricks (whether you're buying a BMW or Saab, frankly)

Owning both variations of the cars you seek (XWD '08 and '09 FWD SS) I can testify to their robustness (so far, reasonably enough). '09 has 75000 km on, not garaged, Canadian winters, sportily driven -- and tuned to boot. Looks and drives brand new (only fluid changes). My experience with the Turbo X is well chronicled.

See what Consumers Reports shows about the 08+ 9-3s .

All depends on one's desire and financial situation. Assuming you can afford it...much prefer '08 + body style (better looking than anything on the road today in its class, still... I will concur with other takes on the fugliness of Subaru!), whereas (as much as I respect the cars) the earlier 9-3s are dated looking. Besides there were a large number of tweaks done in the latest post '08 version. [Both cars benefit massively from a first stage, inexpensive, tune! VTune or Maptun are what I have experience with (good)].

[CleveSaab]

I will say this much. I bought a 2006 Combi with 28K on it for $11,500 on Black Thursday. Saab folded officially a month/6 weeks later.
And I:

COULDN'T BE HAPPIER! OMG I freaking LOVE THIS CAR!

[SaabKen]

Rub it in, why don't ya ?

[louisjefferson]

Note that most after market warranties won't cover items that are supposed to be covered in the manufacturer's warranty period. So even if you do find a good one out there, you are still SOL for the first few years.

Originally Posted by sptsdn

Personally, there isn't a "new" Saab out there I would consider spending anything over $15k for. And here's why:

- Non-existent resale. Not low resale, non-existent resale. Even if you plan on keeping any car for 10+ years, resale is something you should consider because something could happen in those 10 years that may force you to sell it.
- Lack of manufacturer/dealer support. You're going to have fewer and fewer people and places that are going to be able to work on these cars. The 'new' 9-3 has been around long enough that independents should have enough experience with them that this issue may not be as critical. However, I would make sure your local indy is familiar with them.
- No warranty. Yes, most of them will be sold with an aftermarket warranty but a Google search will indicate those are close to useless.

There are plenty of very nice cars in the mid-$20s that will give you an equally rewarding driving experience or much better reliability from manufacturers that will be around for many, many more years. I would encourage you to take a weekend and look at the options that are available.

[Skipshot]

The title says you already know the answer and are looking for a good reason not to buy a Saab. If you buy a Saab you know you're pretty much going to be one of the car's last owners because only a Saab nut would consider buying one since Saab is out of business because there weren't enough nuts to buy the number of cars needed to stay in business, and since you're considering even buying a Saab then you qualify as a nut.

That said, I say, "Go for it!" Buy the car for emotional reasons knowing the practical ones will make you pay later, but philosophically speaking, there may not be a "later". The cars are still very good and designed to last many years with proper, standard maintenance and provided you don't abuse it with hard accelerations, cornering, and braking.

Parts are not supposed to be an issue, and if five or more years later the parts become a problem then consider that even if you could get parts the re-sale will be non-existent, meaning you're likely to be one of the last owners of the car. You may console yourself by using the rationalization that cars themselves are not an investment but the enjoyment and utility you get from them are.

You don't say if you are a buy-and-hold kind of owner. If so, then buy it and get as much enjoyment out of it as possible while you can for as long as you can. If not, then don't buy it, since re-sale will be difficult. I bought my two Saabs strongly suspecting the brand wouldn't make it, but I'm a buy-and-hold sort so the emotional side won by getting the cars for a great price to pacify my practical side.

[saabmeatball]

I was looking at a NG 9-5 about a week ago. The dealer was asking 26K for it and I offered 18K. He said the MRSP is over 42K and there is no way they would sell it for 18K. I said tell me about parts and tell me about the no warranty, and he didn't have anything to say. That is the only hold up I have on the NG 9-5.

On the 9-3 however, there was enough of those made that parts shouldn't be a problem. I am confident that a new 9-3 would have few issues that are unique to the car, as in require unique parts. My fuel level sensor is out on my 9-3 and my indy says he can get one and put it in for me when I am ready, its a few hundred dollar repiar, but to me its not a big concern.

I am looking at 2009 9-3SC right now, as soon as I sell my 9-7x, and I don't think I could find another car, wagon, that has the room, the safety, the realibility, and the gas mileage for the price. Plus I love the looks and I got my Wife convinced of owning a "Grocery getter". My 9-3 routinely gets upper 30's to 40mpg on the hwy and I couldn't be happier.

Kind of a long way to get there, but I wouldn't pay 28K for a "new" Saab, but I would by one used or "new" for a reasonable price. I have seen some 9-3X's asking low 20's, if they ever get to mid teens, I may consider, but still the XWD being in so few cars, makes me concerned about problems later.