Date: Sat, 01 Feb 2003 10:32:16 -0500 From: tom reingold <trn244nopsamnline.net> Subject: Re: What would you do, should I trade up my 9000?
Grand Poobah wrote: > Well, I own a fairly basic 1996 9000 CS, 2.3 LPT with 159,000km on the > clock. Moon roof, velour trim, basic computer and basic air con. I've had an > ABS sensor and a head gasket job in the last 16 months. The auto trannie > still seems OK to me but I hear rumours that the box can go at any time and > 100,000 miles is about the limit and I'm just about there right now. I do > have a 10 CD stacker and Aero wheels though (which I think look fantastic). > > I've just seen a 1997 9000 CSI 2.3 LPT, auto, at a local mitsubishi dealer. > After a bit of a haggle (I know way more about the car than they do), we are > down to : give me your car and NZ $9000 (US $4,500) cash and the CSI is > yours! The lot price is NZ $20,900. > > The CSI has the following stuff that my car doesn't: > rear spoiler (looks cool) > two tone leather interior (the seats have circular markings on the back > rests- are these "Recaro seats"?) > fancier trip computer > climate air conditioning > only 91,000 km on the clock (about 56,000 miles) > Saab alloy wheels, but the dealer says I can swap for my Aero wheels if I > want to! > single CD player instead of stacker > > I wish it had electric memory seats, but hey I dream about finding a 1998 > manual AERO (I don't think there are any in NZ) that I can afford. It does > have a full service record and I think I'll give the previous owner a call > to find the inside story. > > My wife thinks I'm nuts and obsessed about my 9000. Should I trade up? Do > you think the deal is worth it? > > cheers, John > > I wouldn't do it, if this is the much more powerful car. I don't know about NZ, but in the US, insurance costs are higher for fast cars that are marketed as fast cars. (Powerful land yachts like Buicks are not marketed to speed demons, and their handling isn't good, so they don't have the insurance premiums.) So that cost is one consideration. Another is the fuel. Does the fancier car require more expensive fuel? I don't remember, but I think so. I had a 1986 900T, and it preferred premium fuel. Around here, the price difference is big, and I understand most of the difference goes into profit, which made me angry. My car, similar to yours, a 1995 9000CS 2.3LPT, uses cheap, standard fuel. The leather seats are more comfortable than velour, but they truly are not as durable. I have experience with both. Saab's velour is amazingly durable. And then of course, there is the opportunity cost. What would you do with the money if you spent it on something else or invested it? Remember, it's not going to change your life radically. I test drove a 9000 CSE, and decided against it. The primary reason was the price, but I also feared that with such a powerful car, I might drive irresponsibly and either get into a collision or get expensive traffic tickets. Those tickets do terrible things to insurance premiums around here. A $100 ticket can end up costing $1,000 in insurance over three years. On the other hand, the car you're looking at has far fewer km on the clock, so it could be a good deal just for that! But I hadn't heard that prediction that the autos go so easily at 100,000 miles. -- Tom Reingold Noo Joizy
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