Date: Sun, 25 Apr 2004 22:45:46 -0400 From: ma_twain <ma_twainnospamo.com> Subject: Re: 9-3 Dilemma
Hemlock0013 wrote: > I've owned 2 Saabs. The first was an 85 900s that I sort of inherited > in 1998. Great car, but very trouble-prone. I traded it in for a 95 > 900s with about 30,000 miles on it in 1999. I love this car, and it > ran pretty well up until 2002. That's when it started having several > problems. It's now at 77,000 miles, and I've spent about $6000 on > repairs in the last 18 months. I think it's time for the car to go. > > Here is my dilemma. My Saab dealer is pretty desperate to keep me in > "the Saab Family", and is offering a fairly attractive deal: A new 9-3 > Linear for $20,000 (that includes my trade-in). I'm tempted, as it's a > good deal and I still have a love for Saabs. On the other hand, my > past experience with Saabs has been checkered at best and I have mixed > feelings about the new 9-3s. > > My other option is to sell my Saab and buy a co-worker's 1999 Acura CL > 3.0. It has 30,000 miles and is selling for $10,000. Seems like a good > deal on a reliable car. > > So Saab aficionados, which would you go for? Would your love of Saabs > trump the bargain of the Acura? > > Thanks, > Hemlock0013 > I would stick with a Saab. It appears money is not a problem, but have to fix an older car seems to be an issue you would like to avoid. With that said, I would not keep the Saab for more than 3 or 4 years - sell it or trading before schedule maintenance includes replacing parts. I am the opposite. I hate paying for that depreciation as soon as you drive it off the lot. Saabs do not hold their value, so they make great used cars. I buy mine previously owned. I got my 1990 900S for under $3,000 (that was over 4 years ago). It is a fun car in the winter and on wet roads. When it gets dinged in the parking lots - I don't get upset. If it gets coated with salt in the winter - I don't care. This would not be the case if I bought a new 9-3 . . .