1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Here’s my last buyer experience:
Found an ‘00 Aero 5-speed on Craiglist. Had a bunch of nice pics of it taken with it in the showroom. 130k. Asking 4600, so way out of my has-to-be-no-more-than-a-thousand budget (that never worked), but wait – it’s less than a mile away – have to at least just see it. It was at the Audi (formerly also Saab) dealer. I went over, it looked awesome, I drove it. They asked me how it was, I said “well, it’s an old car.” I noted a vibration if you get on it hard especially in 3rd or 4th. They said they knew about it and their shop said 700 to fix it so they didn’t do it. (I think it’s tripod joint probably – and I hear people are using the Chinese complete axle ass’y so I’m thinking, that’s fixable). Thing is, the body is darn near perfect and the interior is super-clean, has the vented seats, heatet rear seats, brand new Nitto Z rated tires, the 10-spoke BBS wheels – so I’m thinking to myself, I want this car. Engine was real strong, etc, front brakes had brand new rotors (they did that), some other things done. With dealer fees (that’s one reason I said I’d never buy from a dealer) it would have been over 5 big ones – not possible. So I sat down with them and said “what do you need out of the car?”. He was very forthcoming and showed me all the paperwork behind it – Carfax, things they had done, what they paid for it, so on (didn’t name a number though). Then he told me the car was going to auction on Monday (this is Friday I’m over there). They only keep used cars 60 days, if it hasn’t sold by then it goes to auction. So I knew all the numbers. I told them “I want the car. I’m going to go home and talk it over, and come back and tell you what I can offer”. I scraped up everything I could, went back and told them I could pay 3500 and that had to include all fees (bottom line, 3500). They put the numbers in the screen (they’re not hiding any of this) and worked it backwards to total that. Remember – that includes dealer fee, sales taxes, license, title, registration, (already had inspection) – everything (except insurance)– plus they do all the paperwork. It ended up that the car itself was about 2900. They said they were losing 700 on it at that price. I said “yes, but you’ll lose more than that, if it goes to auction.” They said “you’re probably right.” So we had a deal. They went over the Carfax with me again. They showed me a long list of things that can go wrong with cars after you buy them (legal requirement, I guess) and I had to sign that so they could prove they told me that lots of things can go wrong with cars. This all takes some time, and I’m getting a bit impatient, finally here come the car, the guy goes “what do you think?” They’d detailed it – looked awesome. “And it has a full tank of 93 in it.” So I drove off, done, no trips to DMV, everything all legal. Awesome. I was surprised at being so nice for an old car – obviously it’s not like I’m coming back there next week to buy a new Audi.
The body is so nice because they had a buyer lined up for it (who obviously ended up getting something else) who said he’d get it, if they took out any dings. They said they used that paintless dent removal thing – apparently it really works because you can sight down both sides and see no dings whatsoever.
So that’s my buyer experience – couldn’t have been better. Oh, and I LOVE the car. I like it better than the ’97 and after reading posts here about the newer Aeros vs. older ones, I’m even more glad I got that car. Funny how it just landed there less than a mile away and how it all worked out. I told my better half “this might be my last car”. She laughed, and I said, well, if I drove 10k miles a year for twenty years it would have 300k miles which isn’t at all unheard of for a Saab. I’d be 80 – will I even be alive then? It’s just mechanicals. If you have something basically good, it should all be fixable. I went to Florida in it – it’s the kind of car that just screams “road trip!”. Admittedly in-town mileage isn’t great, but on the freeway I was getting 30+ so I figure compression and all that is good, plus, loads of pep. Changed the oil, checked for the updated vacuum hose, made a list of things to do on it (check for sludge) – but – nothing that has to be done immediately except maybe that latter. I don’t drive it too hard until I get the drivetrain issue sorted. Actually I don’t drive hard most of the time because I want it to last and not break me. But hey, you have to get into it sometimes, that’s what it’s for.
You don’t have the hatch in the ’00. Huge trunk, but can’t get the big stuff in. I think not having a hatch makes the body a little stiffer perhaps but I do miss the hatch sometimes. Other than that – and – I could do without the spoiler - wow – what a car. I get comments like “must be nice to be rich.” The styling isn’t outdated, and most people think it’s a new car. One guy said it looks like the newer BMW’s. It sort of does in silhouette. Which makes sense – aerodynamics is physics so in theory all cars that are the most aerodynamic should look about the same. For a while I was thinking “How could they put all these miles on the car and it looks like it was hardly used.” Then I saw where the rubber door seal at the bottom is actually worn through from people getting in and out, in one little spot. And I saw a few minor scuffs on the back of the trunk bottom. I felt better then because I knew that somebody, yes, used this car, that’s good. They just were careful with it I guess. I’d rather have that car than just about anything out there – sure – there’s prestige to having the newest best, but, if you play the game of being in a parking lot and looking around and asking yourself “would I rather have one of these other cars” the answer is no I want my car. For all-around comfort, performance, appearance, features, awesome stereo – hands down that Aero is a winner. Of course I always knock on wood and cross my fingers when I say how great it is because I know there are and will be things to fix on it. Thank God you guys are here, because it’s my go-to spot when I need to look something up or ask advice.
Although I like to think I got a good deal, given that Saab is out of business and it’s kind of a niche car anyway, probably what I paid is about right. Then thing is, it’s not that easy to find the earlier 9-5 Aeros with 5-speed and, oh, it’s black which I think is nicest looking going down the road (if hardest to keep looking clean). The less than 1” snow predicted is turning into 5-6” so we’re somewhat snowed in today. I mowed the lawn yesterday.
posted by 24.254.17...
, Mon, 24 Mar 2014 12:44:12
, Sun, 23 Mar 2014 11:14:06
, Sun, 23 Mar 2014 14:25:49, Sun, 23 Mar 2014 15:36:02
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