1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
I picked up a 2002 9-3 SE 5sp a few months ago, and I have been very happy with the purchase. I noticed from the first time I sat in it how much of a distinct feel it had compared to my former 2000 9-3 base which I traded in for the 02. Initially, I chalked it up to being two model years newer and having the SE package. But as I drove it, I noticed that certain plastics were different and that the windshield cowl cover was different as well. I ran the vin through an online vin decoder and it stated that the car was made in Finland and not Sweden.
I started looking on this site about different countries of origin for the OG 9-3 and there are a few threads about convertibles and viggens being made in Finland by Valmet, but so far I have found nothing about base or SE models from Finland.
I looked through the documentation I have and it is quite interesting. The purchase window sticker says absolutely nothing about Finland and it clearly states final assembly was in Trollhattan. The 11th digit on the VIN reads a 7 which indicates that it was assembled in Nystad, Finland. Sure enough, on the vin placard under the hood it does say made in Finland but nowhere else I can find. Also of note is that the vin barcode sticker on the drivers side door appears to have been stickered over something else. My car was assembled 05/02 and was likely one of the last OG 9-3s made. My guess is that production continued in Finland while the Trollhattan lines were retooled for the new model. But, I have seen nothing about 5 door SE models coming from Finland for the US. I wonder what the trade tarriff differences were between Sweden and Finland at the time. Does anyone else in the US (or anywhere else) have an SE model from Finland?
posted by 108.7...
, Wed, 2 Oct 2013 08:18:50, Tue, 1 Oct 2013 12:44:52, Wed, 2 Oct 2013 07:10:08, Wed, 2 Oct 2013 12:10:40
, Wed, 2 Oct 2013 07:59:24, Wed, 2 Oct 2013 08:15:33
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
