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Re: Happy New 1999 9-3 SE Owner Posted by NCCaniac [Email]  (#352)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from NCCaniac) on Tue, 14 May 2013 16:02:09
In Reply to: Happy New 1999 9-3 SE Owner, BobN, Tue, 14 May 2013 10:15:27 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I have a 5-speed manual 2000 9-3 (base, not SE model, but very similar) with 206K miles so I can take a shot at these questions.
1) Yes, that seems optimistic. Best I have ever got on 89 octane (which is what I use most of the time) is 32 mpg on an all highway trip. But, I have heard some people say they can get up to 35 mpg.
2) Depends. I am not as familiar with driving a 9000 for comparison, but if that 9000 was an Aero model, it would have more horsepower and torque than your 9-3 SE. If the turbo gauge goes through the orange and into the red a bit under hard acceleration, then that is likely all the boost you will get without a software upgrade (e.g., MapTun)
3) Sounds like you got a good one!
4) If the antenna mast does not go up, AM reception will be bad. You need to find out if the antenna motor in the hatch is dead (no sound when radio turned on) or if just the plastic toothed band that drives the mast up and down is broken (motor sound, but the antenna does not move). Replacing just the mast with that plastic band is not too hard. I have done that a couple of times over the life of the car. Several site sponsors here are good sources for parts like that (e.g., eEuroparts.com)
5) This is also not unusual for the age of your SE. Lights are currently dead behind my speedometer from 70 mph on up. I have purchased new bulbs to replace them (also from eEuroparts), but have not got to removing the dash yet. Someone posted good instructions here before on the steps involved in removing the dash to get to the bulbs for the gauges.
6) There is not a U.S. Haynes manual for the 1999-2002 9-3, but I did buy the U.K. one...but I find I rarely use it. Most of the DIY repair info I need I get from instructions that people share here in the boards or some Saab indy repair shop owners who have links to various instructions and service bulletins on their web sites. This board is a great source of information and has saved me tons of money over the 13 years I have owned my 9-3. There are some repairs I will not tackle due to lack of proper equipment, tools, or skills, but if you are handy with a wrench, there are a lot of things you can fix yourself on these cars.
And one more thing. After 200K miles, various parts will need to be replaced at some point...depending on what the previous owner did or did not replace before you bought it (hopefully if it was well cared for he provided you with some repair history). I am finding in the last two years, I have had to have more repairs done (e.g., seals, CV boots, engine mount, etc.) that I don't try and do myself...plus a number of things that are easy to do myself. But, I love the way the car still drives, I love the safety, I love the seats(!), I love the versatility of the hatch...so even $1000/year in repairs is still a lot cheaper than car payments, and so far no repairs have been "strand you on the side of the road" issues. I drive my 9-3 on 5-10 hour road trips with no hesitation.
->Posting last edited on Tue, 14 May 2013 16:07:23.
_______________________________________ 1971 Sonett III (since 2010) 2000 9-3 5-door (since new) 2008 9-5 2.3T SportCombi (since 2014)
, Tue, 14 May 2013 16:02:09 <-- Viewing This Message
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