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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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#31 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Perth
Posts: 1,315
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Hi,
Since you mention its a convertible I assume you are looking at a 900 or 9-3 from 1994-2002. As mentioned above in this thread there could be some issues with future parts, but you will always be able to find aftermarket parts from the internet. It has also been correctly mentioned that this model share a lot of parts with Opel/Holden Vectra. In general the SAAB is better engineered than the Vectra. My brother in law have owned one and put in a lot of kms with no repairs needed. The Convertible is lacking chassis stiffness of a sedan with roof. Most other convertible 'family cars' from the 90s were like this too. Will only be noticed in pot-holes and on speed bumps in parking lots. The 9-3 still has reasonable crash safety. I have seen a few of these late 90s convertibles for sale now for $ 3000 - 5000. If you can pick one up for that which looks reasonable, and if you are willing to own a car that is more than 13 year old, (with all the usual problems that comes with any car of this age in warm Australia) then SAAB is no worse, or even better than many others. From an overall maintenance cost view, getting a much newer car that comes with warranty and uses less fuel etc, would probably cost you less overall, and be more predictable and trouble free. These days you can buy a 2005 BA Falcon in good condition with less than 150.000 kms for approx $6000. That car would run for years with very low maintenance cost. Probably the cheapest motoring you could ever find. You could spend $20.000 or more on a newer, smaller, more stylish car, which should have no surprises, and could satisfy your partner's wish of driving something 'special'. The cost per month/year of some of the newer cars isn't too bad if you consider all the repairs of an older one. Based on this I wouldn't say the SAAB 9-3 is poor value for its looks and user value if you find one for $ 5000 or less. However just be aware of the servicing cost of a car that is almost 15 years old. For example the engine will need rebuild to get fresh rubber seals. The cooling system will need to be renewed, leaking power steering, faulty airconditioning, electrics, etc, and many other things potentially going wrong at this age of a car. Also a comment to one of the posts above; I disagree that the car advice given in Ford Forum's pub is generally poor. I think some of the members have a lot of car experience and gives generally good advice. If you asked a SAAB forum, they would probably already be biased from owning a SAAB, and it would be such a small forum you would not get any responses. Anyway, good luck hunting for a new car. I'm surprised how much car prices has dropped for 6 - 8 year old cars lately. Definitively many bargains out there if you want something else than a 3 year old Barina/Fiesta/i20. Cheers |
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#32 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Perth
Posts: 1,315
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Just had a look at Carsales to see some typical deals available at the moment.
(many SAAB convertibles, at approx 3000 - 5000) 2005 Mazda MX5 for $ 19.800. 1999 MB CLK320 for $ 19.800 (too old in my view) 2007 Ford Focus Convertible, $ 20.700. 2007 Holden Astra Cab. $ 19.800. (several) 2007 VW EOS TDI $ 19.880 2005 Audi A4 Multitronic B6 Convertible, $ 19.900 2006 Peugeot 307 Convertible. $ 19980. I think the value for money for some of these looks excellent, and a lot less trouble than a nearly 15 year old SAAB.. |
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#33 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, Northern Suburbs
Posts: 4,881
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Who said anything about a 15 year old car?????
Car I'm looking at is less than 6, has 70k on the clock, and is going for just under $13k. As I have said REPEATEDLY, it is Her Indoors' "dream car," so the choice is simple; buy her a Saab, or don't buy her a Saab. If I don't buy her a Saab, it will probably be a Territory, other convertibles don't factor into it.
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2024
Time to Make the Hippies Cry Again |
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#34 | ||
Bolt Nerd
![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Ojochal, Costa Rica (Pura Vida!)
Posts: 14,616
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I'd go for it... It's HER dream car.. There IS something about the fairer sex and convertible Saabs.
As I previously mentioned, heaps of info over at www.saabcentral.com/forums/index You reckon we're Ford mad here? Wait til you join Saab central.. They're obsessed!!
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Current vehicles.. Yamaha Rhino UTV, SWB 4L TJ Jeep, and boring Lhd RAV4 Bionic BF F6... UPDATE: Replaced by Shiro White 370z 7A Roadster. SOLD Workhack: FG Silhouette XR50 Turbo ute (11.63@127.44mph) SOLD 2 wheels.. 2015 103ci HD Wideglide.. SOLD SOLD THE LOT, Voted with our feet and relocated to COSTA RICA for some Pura Vida! (Ex Blood Orange #023 FPV Pursuit owner ![]() |
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#35 | ||
Where to next??
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 8,893
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There is a nice looking convertible on carsales that apparently has a viggen motor installed.
It would be something I would go for as I have a soft spot for unique cars.
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___________________________ I've been around the world a couple of times or maybe more....... |
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#36 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Central Vic
Posts: 3,724
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Great cafe crawler.
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Wherenoshockjocksfly Facts or the twitterverse, your choice! M3SR+ .......MG ZS EV |
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#37 | ||
Barra Turbo > V8
![]() ![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 25,725
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Not to mention that some older can be bloody quick with the right mods.
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-2011 XR6 Turbo Ute - Lux Pack - M6 -2022 Hyundai Tucson Highlander Diesel N Line Last edited by russellw; 07-04-2013 at 10:23 AM. |
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#39 | ||
GT4.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,218
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http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...m=15&sort=Year
That looks pretty nice, TTV6 Manual. If you could get that down well under $30k you'd have youself a nice looking and quick car that she's love for ages. That Aero package looks great too. |
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#40 | ||
Starter Motor
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 23
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They have some nice cars but there must be a good reason why they went under... hopefully owning one doesn't give you the reason..
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#41 | |||
Bolt Nerd
![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Ojochal, Costa Rica (Pura Vida!)
Posts: 14,616
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Quote:
__________________
Current vehicles.. Yamaha Rhino UTV, SWB 4L TJ Jeep, and boring Lhd RAV4 Bionic BF F6... UPDATE: Replaced by Shiro White 370z 7A Roadster. SOLD Workhack: FG Silhouette XR50 Turbo ute (11.63@127.44mph) SOLD 2 wheels.. 2015 103ci HD Wideglide.. SOLD SOLD THE LOT, Voted with our feet and relocated to COSTA RICA for some Pura Vida! (Ex Blood Orange #023 FPV Pursuit owner ![]() |
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#42 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,573
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Quote:
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#43 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, Northern Suburbs
Posts: 4,881
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Quote:
Back when I worked for “X” Bank, within a 5~6 year period the following happened: - Bank decides to get into the life insurance industry, and spends up big buying existing (but not well publically known) life insurance company. - Bank spends big bucks promoting the company to the public. - Bank decides to rebrand the company as “X Life” and again spends big promoting the new brand. - Bank decides to restructure the life insurance business and bring it all in-house. - Bank decides it nolonger wants to be in the Life insurance game, stops all promotion, and stops issuing new policies. - Bank decides that managing existing policies is too much trouble and cancels all renewables, and sells off the remaining policies for a pittance. - Bank decides it SHOULD be in the Life Insurance game, and enters into a partnership with “ABC Life.” GM gobbled up Saab, then decided it would be cheaper if Saabs were built on GM platforms with GM engines. By and large that was a failure with Saab fans, a bit like the “Mondeo” Jaguar. Still good cars, very good adaptations of those platforms, but tainted in the eyes of purists. And when the proverbial hit the fans, GM could nolonger afford to inject capital into Saab, so they offloaded it to some people who whilst enthusiastic) also lacked the capital to make a go of it. The story of Saab itself, is also not unique. In their heyday they offered class-leading innovation, safety, and performance. They were offering variable fuel computer controlled turbo engines, when the rest of us still had push-rods and carbies. Tensioning seatbelts, airbags, and pop-up rollbars, when we all thought padded dashboards were the epitome of safety. All that in a well-built luxury package that was very well priced compared to other Euro-Lux marques. Unfortunately all of that has long since been equalled, and probably surpassed in the GM-owned era. If you want a mid-sized luxury car packed with features, there is competition everywhere, and the only thing setting Saab apart was their “Saabiness,” which too has been eroded under GM.
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Time to Make the Hippies Cry Again |
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#44 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,910
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Boss has one and its a ****. Gives us plenty of ammo to give him a hard time too. He whacked an exhaust and pre-programmed chip in it and it actually went slower. Just started to blow lovely plumes of blue smoke as of last week too.
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#45 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, Northern Suburbs
Posts: 4,881
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Turbo
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2024
Time to Make the Hippies Cry Again |
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#46 | ||
B1 - J & D Services
![]() Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brim, Victoria
Posts: 1,632
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The older ones are 100% collectable...
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Mr. Brett Johnstone. ![]() 2002 Ford Laser 2000 Ford Falcon Wagon Egas 1999 Subaru Imprezza Sportwagon 1998 Holden Suburban 2500 1995 Land Rover Discovery TDI 1994 XG XR6 Longreach 1983 Holden Rodeo 1975 Datsun 120Y wagon 1970 MG Midget 1967 Rover 2000TC Soon: Model T. |
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#47 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, Northern Suburbs
Posts: 4,881
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Ok, as I mentioned, if not the “dream car,” it would be a Territory. It just so happened that I ended up being the highest bidder on both the Saab Convertible and a TS Territory AWD.
Not a huge amount of interest in the Saab, but a reasonable amount for the Terri. My initial preference was the Terri, only a couple of hundred more, and as it happens both were 2007 models. The Saab had 76k on the clock, the Terri 103. Again not an unfavourable comparison given that eventual repairs on Saab will cost twice as much as Ford. Unfortunately that was where the comparison ended. Piece of ***** just doesn’t do justice to the Territory. I don’t know who owned it, but I have seen utes come up from underground in better nick. The interior was beyond trashed, talking complete replacement here, the paint looked like it had been in a sand storm, nothing worked, and the engine was in a BAD way. This is NOT a reflection on the Territory model. Great car, still LOVE it. I have seen 2004 models with 170k on the clock still purring along. But for the dollars I was spending the only one available was a heap of junk. So The War Office is now the proud owner of a SAAB. It is a VERY nice car. Many luxury features, and an absolute pleasure to drive, whisper quite at suburban speeds, but still bloody powerful. And you gotta love the top. I realise that I am going to pay for this again when I get the first service and repair bills, but to be honest I don’t think I would have gotten something this nice for this money if the company hadn’t gone tits up. It still has four letters so I figure it means “FORD” in some weird Nordic language.
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2024
Time to Make the Hippies Cry Again |
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#48 | ||
Long live the inline 6
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 556
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Congratulations, my old man (god rest his soul) had a soft spot for SAABS, and Jags, if he was still around today, he's be in a XJ6 series 3. Makes no logical sense, but a lot of car purchases don't.
If it makes her feel "special" and brings a smile to her face, it's well worth the maintenance costs.
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His 2007 Mazda 6 MPS Leather Pack Hers BFII Ghia |
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#49 | |||
Former BTIKD
![]() Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Sunny Downtown Wagga Wagga. NSW.
Posts: 53,197
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Quote:
Any pics ?
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Dying at your job is natures way of saying that you're in the wrong line of work.
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#50 | ||
GT4.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,218
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Sometimes you just need to go by what the heart desires, great work mate. Congrats, bet she loves you for it!
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#51 | ||
Starter Motor
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3
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Guys Ive gotta say, I recently bought a Saab 2002 5 speed (man), turbo, convertible in black unregistered with 137k on the clock
it cost me all of $950 & i spent a total of $1200 on it to roadworthy it and the most expensive thing it needed was a new set of tyres. others needs were a few gaskets & air pipe that runs to the filter box so really that is bugger all and yep its an old car but it is very nice to drive & normally i Hate front wheel drives! it has a great interior, all leather and yep it goes like the clappers, is straight and an all round nice drive. As for parts Ive had no issue finding anything and found most prices reasonable and comparable to what id pay for a similar part on the Fairmont I'm very happy with my toy and it does seem to turn the girls heads ![]() if your in Melbourne i;d start with Saab Wreck in Huntingdale, if they cant help they will know who can Last edited by Brainspace; 16-10-2020 at 10:49 PM. Reason: added extra ifo |
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#52 | ||
praek tih kl jo kr
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Atwell W.A.
Posts: 1,649
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I used to tow dead SAABs to a place in Basendean (Perth) they had a workshop that was just dedicated to SAABs and a parts department, The guy there told me part of the SAAB closing up shop is that they covered enough spares for 20 years. 2014 was the last model year for SAAB, so there should be enough parts until 2034. |
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#53 | ||
FG XR6 Ute & Sedan
![]() Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Bibra Lake WA
Posts: 22,931
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Well as the thread has already been resurrected, I always fancied a Saab Sonnet III; pity they were only ever available in left hand drive.
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regards Blue |
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#54 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Canberra
Posts: 13,374
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Yeah nah no one wants a Saab.
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#55 | ||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,827
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Between a guy in Beechworth and one in Chiltern, I think they have cornered the market in these old basket cases. Never seen any of them move yet.
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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#56 | ||
I am Groot
![]() Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Burnett Heads, Qld
Posts: 6,840
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.. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() "Those were the days when the cars were cars, they weren't built out of an Ikea pack like they are now and clothed in plastic; they were real cars." John Bowe |
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#57 | ||
Former BTIKD
![]() Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Sunny Downtown Wagga Wagga. NSW.
Posts: 53,197
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Have they got any 96V4's?
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Dying at your job is natures way of saying that you're in the wrong line of work.
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#58 | ||
I am Groot
![]() Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Burnett Heads, Qld
Posts: 6,840
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A very popular (european) rally car back in there day, had a reputation of been tough as nails and reliable.....
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.. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() "Those were the days when the cars were cars, they weren't built out of an Ikea pack like they are now and clothed in plastic; they were real cars." John Bowe |
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#59 | ||
Kicking back
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Western sydney
Posts: 8,528
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One of my childhood mates worked in a mechanics that do european cars. He explained the saab thing. His explaination was they were over engineered doctors cars. So the people who bought them new, when a new model came out, because nothing was wrong with the old one didnt upgrade to the new model. Which lead to low sales being a booring car, and also when near new etc, parts werent failing, so there was no real need for aftermarket support. So thats why parts now that theyre old are so expensive. It also doesnt help that they folded and even under gm ownership, they were a low volume selling car. Well, over here atleast. Europe might be a different story. Some models did have some quirkey engineering. Like a longitudinal mounted motor that was backwards and front wheel drive.
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#60 | |||
Former BTIKD
![]() Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Sunny Downtown Wagga Wagga. NSW.
Posts: 53,197
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Quote:
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Dying at your job is natures way of saying that you're in the wrong line of work.
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