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Date: 3 May 2000 14:18:42 GMT
From: M.G.Richnopsam.ac.uk (Martin Rich)
Subject: Re: Any gotchas in the '00 9-3?


In article <957318349snznopsamrak.demon.co.uk>, amesnopsamrak.demon.co.uk says... > >As someone looking at Saab ownership for the first time, I hope I >may ask a few questions. I really feel I need guidance. > I bought a new 9-3 a couple of months ago (and live in the UK) so could answer some of the questions. I'm pleased with the car so far. >Background: I live in the UK (though specs in UK and US seem to >be similar), in a county (Norfolk) with numerous twisty lanes on >which you risk your life and those other road users if you go >much over 30-35 mph. Main roads are fine for 50-60. We have >little motorway/freeway mileage in-county. > It feels a big car, somehow, and when you first try it on twisty lanes the handling could seem a tiny bit ponderous. But it really does repay getting used to it, and once you've driven it a few miles you should feel very comfortable with the handling, and really appreciate its solid feel and supportive seats. Being a big car also means that it can be thirsty: in London, admittedly not the best environment to drive in, I get perhaps 24mpg though I do a lot better on long trips. >So the car is for daily pottering, with occasional longer trips. >Purists may groan at this "waste of capability". Saabs interest >me for their reputed solid engineering -- although acceleration, >handling and braking capability would be valued, for those little >emergencies. > If you're wasting capability, then so am I... >Q1: Is this a wrong outlook? Are Saabs only for Boy Racers? Or >do they make good general-use go-boxes too? > I liked the fact that (in hatchback form at least) it's a smart and powerful car that *isn't* for boy racer's - more that it's posh and understated. >Having fed money into the Volvo Money Pit this long, maybe a Saab >would not hit me as a costly shock. The dealer who would handle >it has also handled my Volvo, as they sell+service both marques, >in separate parts of Norwich. So... > >Q2: Is a Saab a money pit? Some postings here have hinted that, >when things break on the car, they also break in the bank. OTOH, >Saabs do seem to be long-lived, if properly treated. > Too early to say in terms of maintenance costs. Depreciation seems not to be quite as good as the most prestigious German makes, but it should hold its value much better than the Rover 400 that I had before. >I would rather buy new. This leaves me wondering which optional >features are valuable and which are a waste of money. > Both my local dealer, and the dealer in Amsterdam who actually supplied the car, discouraged me from buying the basic model, so I went for the slightly better-equipped 'S' version. The dealer in London suggested that, given that I wanted air conditioning and a CD player, he could offer me a better price on an 'S' version which had these as standard than on a basic version with these specified as extras. Going for the next (SE) model or any more individual extras would have taken me way over my budget so wasn't an issue. It's a tremendously practical and well-thought out car. It feels very solid and the engine is really smooth. The ride is firm, but not unpleasant. Lots of gadgets which actually seem to be there for a purpose. The only downside is that the front footwell feels rather narrow. And I'm disappointed that the 900 only scored 2 stars in the Euro NCAP crash test. I would hope that the 9-3, with much redesign to the front end, and side airbags, has the potential to do better but it would be nice to know Martin

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