1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
 | [Main 95 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ |
Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ]
Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
Re: 02-05 is my sweet spot Posted by Snowmobile [Email]  (#686)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Snowmobile) on Mon, 3 Apr 2017 10:10:53
In Reply to: 02-05 is my sweet spot, amicusterrae, Mon, 3 Apr 2017 09:07:44 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I'd say that the sludge is less over-rated than some suggest. Certainly in Canada, I ran into numerous cars that had either had engine replacements, or were due when I was looking (about 5 years ago now), and that was mostly the 2002-2003 range. I don't know if I saw a single car at that time with the PCV update (#6) and I knew what I was looking for. That included SAAB dealer serviced cars! So I bought an 04 arc (came stock from the factory with a working pcv system). If you find a 2003 or older car with a documented PCV update and regular full synth oil changes, I would not worry either. btw, the Arcs are very common among 2004/5's, representing the largest group sold. The 2004 arc was essentially a detuned aero without a lowered suspension and aero seats. They were meant to replace the V6 arc from 2003 and prior, but note that the linear was dropped for 2004 except in wagon form (and linear wagons are uncommon compared to arc wagons).
2006+... some dislike the interior as "more gm", and it is true that they used a gm radio, hvac, etc... however, in many respects it works better than the older SAAB radio/ACC... well, the radio is fine, but the ACC has way too many buttons and is located low in the center console. In an age of steering wheel radio controls, the radio should be lower and the ACC should be higher in the console so one does not need to look down from the road to find which button to press. On that... yes it is true that in planes, a switch is better than a knob, but they need to be large switches in this application that are identifiable without looking! Also, it is not like all former saab models had a gazillion switches in the ACC... the c900 climate control is 3 knobs (speed, temperature, direction) and a few *large* buttons, all of which I can operate without taking my eyes off the road, and it is all mounted higher in the center console also! The 2006+ GM radio and ACC work fine and especially the ACC is more user friendly vs all the buttons...
What I hate 2006+ is the exterior redesign ("Dame Edna"), which I still can't wrap my head around... but apparently the rear suspension is much better than earlier cars, so that is a major plus. I'd consider one if I could find a well maintained wagon without too many miles, but at this point, they are getting used up as the newest ones are pushing 8 years old! That may be a serious consideration for the OP, depending on how much "newer" they were looking for... a 2004 9-5 is not much newer than a 2001 9-3, and getting parts/repairs etc will not be much different. 2009, maybe a bit better. Honestly, getting parts and cost of repairs for my c900 is as good or better than for my 9-5... The 9-5 is a safer more robust car than the 9-3 however.
->Posting last edited on Mon, 3 Apr 2017 10:12:26.
, Mon, 10 Apr 2017 14:38:44
, Tue, 4 Apr 2017 08:37:17
, Mon, 3 Apr 2017 17:27:35, Mon, 10 Apr 2017 06:06:58, Tue, 4 Apr 2017 04:33:43
, Sun, 2 Apr 2017 16:02:02, Mon, 3 Apr 2017 08:18:26, Mon, 3 Apr 2017 10:10:53 <-- Viewing This Message, Sun, 2 Apr 2017 10:13:29
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
