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Re: 1999 9-5 wagon Posted by billherbst [Email]  (#2137) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from billherbst) on Tue, 23 Aug 2005 01:16:50
In Reply to: 1999 9-5 wagon, Spenser, Sat, 20 Aug 2005 15:57:09 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Spenser, this past April I bought a used 1999 Saab SE Wagon with 71K miles. I was moving from Minneapolis to Olympia, Washington in May, and I didn't feel secure about my 14-year-old 1991 Saab 9000 making a 2,000-mile trip.
So I drove 50 miles north of Minneapolis to Princeton Saab, one of best and fairest independent used Saab dealers in the country. There it was, on consignment from a guy who summered in Minnesota and wintered in Florida. The car had never seen snow. Mostly highway miles, all service records including oil changes every 5K miles. Silver, perfect, drove like a bat out of hell (I drove six other newer used 9-5s there, and nothing could touch it). New brakes, nearly new Bridgestone tires, good exhaust, EVERYTHING worked, absolutely cherry. The Princeton dealer had checked it out VERY thoroughly (including CARFAX), and it passed with flying colors.
For $11,500 the car was priced fairly last spring, but it wasn't a super deal (and I'm not wealthy), so I waffled. Princeton offered me two grand in trade on my old Saab, and that sealed it.
I read this board extensively before signing on the dotted line, and even now I admit that reading the board sometimes gives me butterflies in my stomach. I chose not to plunk down $2,400 for a GMAC 2-year, 24,000-mile warranty, and seeing horror stories about DIC failures, turbo failures, sludge problems, and all the other common 9-5 ills is a bit scary. I'm now halfway through an Auto-Rx engine treatment before switching to synthetic oil, and I even worry that I don't drive the wagon enough. You know, short trips kill cars.
Nonetheless, over six months my 9-5 wagon has been PERFECT. Made the trip west in style and comfort. People think it's a new car. I really do love it. Sure, the DIC or turbo could go out tomorrow, but I'm hopeful of getting to 90K in another year and a half without any major repairs (which will justify my not having bought the aftermarket extended warranty).
You're in a parallel universe, having paid five grand less than I did for a nearly identical car, but one with 100K more miles. Folks like us are puppets on the strings of luck, fate, and karma.
Yeah, I thought about getting an older used Honda Accord Wagon, but they're BORING. For the same price, I could have gotten a brand-new Kia with a 10-year warranty, but who on this board wants a Kia??? I've been driving used Saabs for 15 years ('87 and '91 9000s and now this 9-5), and I'm hooked---on the luxury, the performance, the quirkiness, the design and style, the speed and power, and yeah, the occasional "Oh my God" slap of expensive repairs.
We took a chance. We rolled the dice. Let's hope they come up sevens and not snake-eyes.
--Bill
posted by 63.231.48...
, Tue, 23 Aug 2005 01:16:50 <-- Viewing This Message
, Sun, 21 Aug 2005 16:34:36
, Sat, 20 Aug 2005 22:38:56, Sat, 20 Aug 2005 19:58:08
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