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common sense, intuition, and karma Posted by billherbst [Email]  (#2137) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from billherbst) on Sun, 23 Jul 2006 20:27:25
In Reply to: Mixed opinions on the 1999 Saab 9-5, Cris, Sun, 23 Jul 2006 13:06:58 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Cris,
Yes, this board is definitely slanted toward what's wrong more than what's right. Which is fine. That's how the board works, as a resource for enthusiasts to keep their Saabs running.
My 1999 Saab 9-5 SE v6 SportWagon, bought used 16 months ago, has been flawless. After 11,000 miles, not a single repair.
The "common sense" part: I bought my 9-5 from a VERY good dealer, Andrews Saab in Princeton, MN. They sell only used Saabs that have been carefully chosen from available wholesale and are then brought up to snuff if any repairs are needed. Andrews is fair, thorough, and efficient---no bargaining, no funny business. My particular Saab was a one-owner that had wintered in Florida, summered in Minnesota, and had 71,000 mostly highway miles, plus ALL service and maintenance records. So I knew what had broken and been fixed, and I knew that the car had been well-maintained. Further, the car was manufactured right at the end of the 1999 production run and sold in spring, 2000. So it was only five years old when I bought it.
The "intuitive" part: I drove six used 9-5s at Andrews, from Aeros to Linears to SEs, i4s to v6s, '99 to '03. The one I bought was the clear winner. It FELT and DROVE better than any of the others, plus it was cherry. Perfect inside and out.
The "karma" part: I seem to be on an alternating track for car karma. My '87 Saab 9000, bought used in 1991, was terrific. My '91 Saab 9000, bought used in 1998, was a complete dog that nearly bankrupted me with repairs. My current 9-5 is the best car I've ever owned (so far). At some level, your car will reflect where your life is. If your life is good, your car will tend to be. If your life is slumping or headed for a cliff, your car will oblige by taking you right over that cliff.
General thoughts: The 1999 model year of 9-5s (1st year sold in U.S., 2nd year worldwide) is old enough now so that whatever parts were prone to failure probably already have failed (mostly) and been replaced (SID displays, DIC/IDM modules, turbo, throttle body). Longer-term maintenance items -- mufflers, brakes, suspension, axles, joints, and tires -- should all be thoroughly checked by a decent mechanic before purchase of a used '99 9-5. In the i4 engine, check for sludge.
If you don't have access to full service records, look at the car: Does the driver's seat leather appear scruffy or used up? How many small dings are there on the body? You can get some feeling for a car's history simply by being observant and not letting car-buying-lust blind you. Drive the car--alone. Stop somewhere, get out, and sit next to it for a couple minutes. Does it feel sturdy and strong, or can you hear the subtle time bomb ticking of looming repairs?
None of this guarantees anything. But it all helps, especially when considering an eight-year-old European luxury sedan.
Good luck in whatever you choose.
--Bill
posted by 70.56.85...
, Mon, 24 Jul 2006 11:44:04
, Mon, 24 Jul 2006 08:34:34
, Sun, 23 Jul 2006 21:51:55, Mon, 24 Jul 2006 08:39:25, Sun, 23 Jul 2006 20:27:25 <-- Viewing This Message, Sun, 23 Jul 2006 14:05:03, Mon, 24 Jul 2006 08:45:43
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