Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 19:50:36 -0400 From: "JC" <johnc_22nopsamo.com> Subject: Re: Saab 9-3 versus Audi A6 (my thoughts - LONG)
I'd be surprised if there's only a $6K price difference once you work over the dealers AND option the A6 up to what you would get on the SAAB. As others have said, the 9-5 is a much better comparison with the A6. According to Edmund's, a non-Quattro V6 A6 "what people are paying" is around $34K. This I believe is with cloth seats. The 9-3 however, has an Edmund's price of $27K (4-door hatch). If you go to www.saabnet.com you'll find that people have gotten that car with the premium package (sportier, nicer leather seats) for actually a good bit less than $27K. But, a 9-5, which really needs no options as sold, is selling for around $32K. I'm going to repeat what some folks have said previously, but hopefully with some reasons behind what is being said. My opinion is that the best buy of all 3 cars is the 9-5. The 9-3 has a high-output turbo engine which means is has a "kick in the pants" that I suspect neither the A-6 nor the 9-5 have. The 9-5 is a low-pressure turbo wich means it really makes the 2.3L 4-cylinder feel like a much more powerful engine than it is, but doesn't necessarily glue you to the seat. Really depends what you are looking for there. The 9-3 and 9-5 both have excellent fuel economy, better than the Audi (21/31 vs 19/25), and are VERY safe cars. However, the 9-3 you are considering is, in a short 4 months, going to be replaced by a completely redesigned 9-3 sedan. Obviously the hatch is not that important to you since you are considering the A6, and I wouldn't want to be the first kid on the block with the new 9-3 since it is version 1.0 (pictures and specs make me drool though) and is sure to have some issues as all 1.0 cars do. If money is no object to YOU, get a 250HP 9-5 Aero! On the other hand, consider a 9-5 Linear and I think that's your best buy for the money and an excellent car - Saab's best selling model EVER. Not as much HP as either the 9-3 or the A6, but unless numbers are incredibly important to you, the 9-5 will have plenty of get-up-and-go during highway passing, etc. I have a 9-3 Viggen with performance most comparable to the Aero (230HP) and absolutely love it. However, I would probably not buy the Audi for the simple fact that to get it with the options I would want would put the car WAY OVER $34K - most likely closer to $38K since I'd also like the Quattro version (only reason to go Audi over 9-5 IMO). Perhaps you've already decided against the 9-5 for some reason, and if so, the 9-3 is an excellent car that is very mature reliability-wise, and the deals being made on these cars as the release of the new 9-3 sedan approaches release will probably get better and better. To summarize, unless you've worked the dealers and the best you can do is $6K difference, I don't believe it. If you are willing to spend $34K, get a 9-5. "jim andrews" <jimandrewsnopsamintexas.com> wrote in message news:MPG.17560f2b5a84217a989798nopsam-server... > OK, y'all are the enthusiasts. Why should I buy a Saab 9-3 > over an Audi A6? There's a $6K price difference to be sure. > On the other hand, the Audi is a bigger car. I have to admit, > the Audi is gorgeous, and I like its road feel a bit better, > but I haven't really put my finger on all the other performance > and comfort differences yet. > > If price weren't an issue, would you still go with the Saab? > Why or why not? (I know it sounds like I want someone else > to make the decision, but that's not really it. There just > aren't as many Saab fanatics out there as Audi fanatics, so > I wanna know what I'm gonna find out a year into the Saab.) > > Thanks for any and all thoughts . . . and flames, > > jim andrews > austin, tx
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