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Date: Sun, 31 Oct 1999 09:02:21 -0500
From: Four Weis <mweinopsamcom>
Subject: Re: Why I sold my '99 9-3, and why a buyer should beware


kwbrewer does have an excellent point about the side airbags. If you want to keep this feature, then you cannot replace the seat with an aftermarket seat. Check at www.recaro.com for information on their seats. Last time I looked there, the web site was not very well designed, so I would request a paper catalog. Recaro sells the seats as components, you buy an adapter bracket to fit the seat to your car, specifying driver or passenger. You then pick the base, back and head rest as separate components. You can also get totally custom power everything seats designed to allow the physically handicapped to drive in comfort. As for the price, it will obviously vary depending on what you pick. I think they are starting at $1,000 per seat now, which is not that expensive, just go to a Saab dealer and tell them you want a replacement driver seat and compare the prices. Installation is not technically difficult, you just have to be able to remove bolts and nuts by feel. But then anyone who has worked on any car should be used to this. Mark Plumlee wrote: > where did you get the seats? price? > whats involved in the install? > > and guys i wanst meaning to be a smart ass, but just adjust the seat better! > dont get rid of a car because of the seat not "adjusting to you" > > you must become one with the car, like a helicopter pilot , if you are to play > the game and wreck it too. > they are safer tight fit than bouncing around everywhere! > > Mark > > Four Weis wrote: > > > It is too bad you did not try an aftermarket seat. I found that I was > > sliding out of the seats on turns with factory seats in a Volvo. I > > installed a set of Recaro seats and the problem was solved. I lost the > > heated seat, but I gained at least 4 more inches of forward/backward travel, > > extremely supportive side bolsters and speakers in the headrest. When I got > > my Saab, there was absolutely no question about installing Recaro seats. > > These seats would have solved your problems and allowed you to keep driving > > the Saab. > > > > Estrid wrote: > > > > > After 14 months and less than 5500 miles on the odometer, I decided to > > > sell my 9-3. Nothing wrong with the car mechanically or cosmetically— a > > > beautiful bright red 5 door that blasted like a rocket out of a dead > > > stop and handles the road like surgery, and in most cases was a joy to > > > drive. It was a replacement for my second Saab, an 89 900 T that was > > > itself in excellent condition. So why, do you ask, am I so happy to be > > > rid of this gem? > > > > > > One reason. The headrests. Saabs oh-so-special whiplash protecting > > > design introduced on the 9-3 and the 9-5. I have no idea how > > > successfully the design works in the 9-5, but for a tall driver the > > > headrests are a nightmare of discomfort on the 9-3. In fact, it is also > > > a disaster for a short driver, a fact affirmed by Consumer Reports. The > > > headrest forces a short driver's, or passenger's, head forward, > > > resulting in a highly uncomfortable riding posture. In a driver 6' or > > > above, the headrest does not extend enough to protect the head properly. > > > To make matters worse, the lower lip of the headrest, part of the new > > > "safer" design, sticks a tall driver or passenger right between the > > > shoulder blades. I would hate to think the damage this "safer" design > > > could inflict on a tall rider in the event of a rear-end impact of > > > significant force. Drivers and passengers in height ranges between these > > > extremes must carefully adjust the headrest to find a comfortable > > > position as well, but at least a comfortable and safe position can be > > > found. I was fortunate and did not have an accident in this car to test > > > these headrests, yet the discomfort became too much to tolerate. > > > > > > In addition, for tall drivers, there is significantly less driver leg > > > room in the 9-3 when compared to the pre- and post- 94 900's. Saab > > > dealers were unable to help me modify the seat position to give me and > > > my husband more room. Part of the loss may also be in the side to side > > > dimensions of the driver's compartment. > > > > > > So I would urge taller drivers to give the Saab a thorough test drive, > > > giving a lot of thought to how the headrest and leg room feel to you. I > > > feel that this headrest design is a significant error for some drivers. > > > A similar positioning of the headrest in the Volvo S40 and S70 are not a > > > problem. > > > > > > Now we are driving more comfortably and happily in an Audi. If anyone > > > lives in the US in the St Louis area, that 9-3 I once owned can be > > > gotten for a steal, I would imagine, after sitting for more than an > > > month on the lot at Parktown Imports. For most drivers, the discomfort > > > we had with the car would not be an issue. As I began, there is nothing > > > wrong with the car at all. And I assure you, I have no interest or > > > connection with Parktown. I just hate to see a good car sit on the lot > > > like that. > > > > > > Estrid- former Saab enthusiast, 1984 to 1999....

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