Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1999 19:03:06 -0500 From: Mark Plumlee <turbospgnopsamsouth.net> Subject: Re: Why I sold my '99 9-3, and why a buyer should beware
where did you get the seats? price? whats involved in the install? and guys i wanst meaning to be a smart ass, but just adjust the seat better! dont get rid of a car because of the seat not "adjusting to you" you must become one with the car, like a helicopter pilot , if you are to play the game and wreck it too. they are safer tight fit than bouncing around everywhere! Mark Four Weis wrote: > It is too bad you did not try an aftermarket seat. I found that I was > sliding out of the seats on turns with factory seats in a Volvo. I > installed a set of Recaro seats and the problem was solved. I lost the > heated seat, but I gained at least 4 more inches of forward/backward travel, > extremely supportive side bolsters and speakers in the headrest. When I got > my Saab, there was absolutely no question about installing Recaro seats. > These seats would have solved your problems and allowed you to keep driving > the Saab. > > Estrid wrote: > > > After 14 months and less than 5500 miles on the odometer, I decided to > > sell my 9-3. Nothing wrong with the car mechanically or cosmetically— a > > beautiful bright red 5 door that blasted like a rocket out of a dead > > stop and handles the road like surgery, and in most cases was a joy to > > drive. It was a replacement for my second Saab, an 89 900 T that was > > itself in excellent condition. So why, do you ask, am I so happy to be > > rid of this gem? > > > > One reason. The headrests. Saabs oh-so-special whiplash protecting > > design introduced on the 9-3 and the 9-5. I have no idea how > > successfully the design works in the 9-5, but for a tall driver the > > headrests are a nightmare of discomfort on the 9-3. In fact, it is also > > a disaster for a short driver, a fact affirmed by Consumer Reports. The > > headrest forces a short driver's, or passenger's, head forward, > > resulting in a highly uncomfortable riding posture. In a driver 6' or > > above, the headrest does not extend enough to protect the head properly. > > To make matters worse, the lower lip of the headrest, part of the new > > "safer" design, sticks a tall driver or passenger right between the > > shoulder blades. I would hate to think the damage this "safer" design > > could inflict on a tall rider in the event of a rear-end impact of > > significant force. Drivers and passengers in height ranges between these > > extremes must carefully adjust the headrest to find a comfortable > > position as well, but at least a comfortable and safe position can be > > found. I was fortunate and did not have an accident in this car to test > > these headrests, yet the discomfort became too much to tolerate. > > > > In addition, for tall drivers, there is significantly less driver leg > > room in the 9-3 when compared to the pre- and post- 94 900's. Saab > > dealers were unable to help me modify the seat position to give me and > > my husband more room. Part of the loss may also be in the side to side > > dimensions of the driver's compartment. > > > > So I would urge taller drivers to give the Saab a thorough test drive, > > giving a lot of thought to how the headrest and leg room feel to you. I > > feel that this headrest design is a significant error for some drivers. > > A similar positioning of the headrest in the Volvo S40 and S70 are not a > > problem. > > > > Now we are driving more comfortably and happily in an Audi. If anyone > > lives in the US in the St Louis area, that 9-3 I once owned can be > > gotten for a steal, I would imagine, after sitting for more than an > > month on the lot at Parktown Imports. For most drivers, the discomfort > > we had with the car would not be an issue. As I began, there is nothing > > wrong with the car at all. And I assure you, I have no interest or > > connection with Parktown. I just hate to see a good car sit on the lot > > like that. > > > > Estrid- former Saab enthusiast, 1984 to 1999....
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
