Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 23:04:49 GMT From: Shane Almeida <almeida.spam.is.evilnospam.is.evil.mindless.com> Subject: Re: Trailer Hitch on 2004 9-3 Aero
On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 17:00:09 +0200, Karl Schmittt wrote: > Hi there! > > I was also looking into buying a tow-bar for my Aero. I've looked > everywhere for a non-Saab possibility and it looks like the only option > I have is to go to Saab. I must say though, the price they are asking > here in Germany is quite good. It actually costs less than half what > the previous 9-3 tow-bar cost! (approx. 700,- Euros including the > certificate needed by German law.) I installed the Saab tow-bar successfully last week. I searched around and couldn't find any other options for the new Saabs. 212 US dollars for the hitch, which isn't too bad. The dealer wanted another 300 to 500 to install it. 85 to 105 bucks per hour depending on the dealer and they al said about 3 hours minimum installation time. My father and I managed to get it installed with no problems in about a half an hour. > It's probably for the best, as I understand that part of the skirt has > to be cut out and the park assist is modified somehow when a trailer is > connected (not so sure about a bike-mount though). As long as you only > drive forwards, the system doesn't work anyway ;-) Yup, the skirt has to be cut. There's a small section in the right at the end of the skirt in middle, underneath the car. The cut I made was a little too big, but it still came out pretty good. The lines that the instructions tell you to follow with the cut are very faint and we couldn't see them until we examined the cut-out piece under better light. Take a close look before you make your cut if you end up installing it yourself. > Hope I haven't discouraged you too much. if you know what you're doing, > then it shouldn't really be a problem. Why not just ask your local - or > not so local - Saab dealer. Can't hurt and maybe they will mention > something you would never have thought about. Same thing goes for the > stuff you bought. Asking can't hurt . . . I'm not a fan of the parts people at my dealer. I wanted to change my oil at 3000 miles so I called the dealer to see if they could give me a part number for the oil filter. At the time, the only part numbers I could find online were for the 2004 Arc. Even though it's the same engine, I wanted to be sure it was the same filter. Anyway, the dealer said they wouldn't give me the information because they didn't want to give their business to someone else. On one hand, I understand their position. On the other, I'm pissed that they couldn't give me the part number for a 5 dollar filter when I just spent over 30000 on a car. I decided to give them a second chance when I was looking at bike racks. When I bought the car, they said they might be able to work out a deal if I bought the racks and carriers as a package. I called them up and asked about some kind of package deal. The guy I talked to wasn't interested in giving me any prices, so I hung up and ordered the stuff from Saab USA instead, had it the next day, and paid about the same for shipping as I would have for tax. I bought the hitch from the dealer only because they had a 10% special. This is Central Saab in Norwood, Massachusetts, by the way. I really liked my salesman and the service people seemed nice when I was in for my 30 day check up. The parts people are kind of annoying though. > Have lots of fun driving your Aero :-) So far so good.
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