Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 09:41:59 +0100 From: "Andy Hookins" <andrew.hookinsnopsamamnopsamodata.co.uk> Subject: Re: thinking of getting a Saab
"Jules" <julesnopsameventhinkaboutspammingme.slidejules.com> wrote in message news:1051125394.131406nopsamke.eclipse.net.uk... > Hey all, > > Thank you very much for your input, very helpful! > > I have found three cars that really interest me... > > The first is described as follows: > > ---------------- > Saab 9000 CSE 2.3 Turbo > 1995 N, Automatic, 2.3 (200) Brake horse power Full pressure Turbo, In the > best colour of silver metallic with full black leather interior, 150,000 > miles Saab main dealer service history up to 90,000 Saab specialist there > on, One previous owner. > > A very good specification which includes Full leather interior, leather > steering wheel, wood veneer facia and centre console, climate control, > cruise control, SCC trip computer incorperates the following functions > (distance to destination, average speed, speed warning, clock, arrival time > and > alarm), Face off front tape audio system with six disc CD multi-play, Driver > and passenger front air bags, Front seat belt pretensioners, centre rear > seat belt, adjustable seat height, lumbar support and steering column, > Incorperated in the remote central locking is alarm and immobilizer, > anti-lock > brakes, three spoke alloy wheels, rear tailgate spoiler, front fog lights > and headlamp wash wipers. > ----------------- > > and is on offer for £3,995. I rang up today and had a chat with the guys at > the dealer about it - apparently the body and running gear is all absolutely > spotless and the car has been exceptionally well looked after. I asked if > the Turbo and Gearbox were original and the salesman said he thought so. > With 150K on the clock that doesn't sound too good a thing, so we'll see on > the test drive I suppose! I think I'll ask to take a look at the service > history a bit closer, the salesman did say that he was recalling from memory > and may find different on closer inspection of the history... We'll see! I wouldn't worry about the turbo - it's water-cooled and they can last a very long time, so long as it's not noisy and doesn't produce blue smoke at idle you're probably OK. My worst nightmare is that the gearbox goes - there are plenty of stories on the 'net' and obviuosly it can happen and it is expensive, but on the other hand Ed Abbott at Abbott Racing didn't see that there was any reason for undue concern with the auto-box being weak - of course he was also selling me an ECU upgrade... > The second is described like this: > > ----------------- > Saab 9000 2.3SE FULLY BLOWN TURBO AUTOMATIC - £2495 > 1991, H reg. > > JET BLACK METALLIC WITH SAND LEATHER INTERIOR > AUDIO CD SYSTEM - ELECTRIC MEMORY SEATS - WOODEN FACIA - CRUISE CONTROL - > ELECTRIC MIRRORS - ELECTRIC WINDOWS - HEADLAMP WASH/WIPE - COMES FULLY > SERVICED WITH 1 YEARS PARTS AND LABOUR WARRANTY, 1 YEARS MOT - PART EXCHANGE > AND FINANCE ALSO AVAILABLE > > FULL SERVICE HISTORY - ABS - POWER STEERING - AIR-CONDITIONING - CLIMATE > CONTROL - SUNROOF - CENTRAL LOCKING - ALLOY WHEELS - REAR WASH/WIPE - HEATED > SEATS > ---------------- > > This one only has 107K on the clock, pretty low for a 12 year old car I > guess, and according to the dealer has a new gearbox and timing chain but > still the original turbo. However the condition of the car doesn't sound as > good as the other one. According to this dealer the interior is pretty > scuffed ("nothing unusual for the age though") and the exterior has a few > dings (again "nothing unusual for the age"). A little surprised about the timing chain, and gearbox, but I suppose you can be unlucky. Again I wouldn't worry too much about the turbo being the original. Not sure what the dealer means by 'pretty scuffed - but not unusual for age'. SAAB interiors wear very well, and if the 107k miles is a genuine figure I wouldn't expect the inside to look tatty. I would carefully check this car out as it sounds like the level of wear may exceed the claimed mileage. > The last one is described like this: > > ------------------ > 1996 N CSE 2.3 Turbo 5dr Automatic £3250 > Ruby Metallic Red, Beige leather, Alloy wheels, Walnut, Driving lights, > Climate,135,000 miles, FSH. > ------------------ > > So obviously less details here! Apparently this one has had a new gearbox > but still the same turbo, the salesman wasn't sure about other details but > said he could find out for me if I wanted. When I asked about the general > condition of the car he said it was "above average for the miles and for the > age of the car"... I would imagine the spec to be pretty similar to the '95 > year CSE I mentioned first... > > Mechanically, given that all three are 2.3 HPT 200bhp auto cars they should > be pretty similar to drive, right? Were there any major differences (other > than cosmetic) going from 9000 to 9000CS that would influence you to go with > one over the other? > > Three different cars, three different dealers, which would you go for? I > think I will test drive all three but since you guys all seem to know what > you are talking about it makes sense to ask you as well! > > Thanks, Jules > Definitely drive all three to get a feel for the car - that will tell you if something is clearly awry with one of them. In my experience the pre CS feels better to drive - just a better seat of the pants feedback, whilst the later cars feel more remote you learn through experience what the car is capable of, but both handle well - I've never had anything unexpected happen when pushing my 9000. Are you sure that you want an auto? my experience is that they are nice to drive but fuel consumption sucks - I still love my SAAB though. Had you thought about buying an lpt and chipping it. This will probably cost you less than buying an fpt. The lpt turbos are smaller so spool up slightly quicker than the fpt, the gearbox may or may not have had an easier life with less torque through it, but probably more gear shifts too. Of course modifying a car also makes it harder to insure i.e. less choice of insurers and probably more expensive than the factory standard spec. model you are trying to match. AndyH '94 9000 CDE
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