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... was a pleasant one, so I want to share it for other Saab wannabes.
Stage One (February). After being accepted to (um, Harvard) Business School, decide I need a (mostly weekend) car for my two years in Boston. (For the last three years, a happily car-less Manhattanite).
Stage Two (February). Research Web sources and query friends to identify an acceptable car. Requirements: should be European, understated, fun to drive. Narrow down to Audi, BMW, Saab. Exclude new cars in favor of used ones (HBS tuition: $28K/yr). Walk around Audis/BMWs/Saabs on streets of Manhattan, imagining self inside. Exclude Audi A4 and BMW 3-class (I am 6'1", girlfriend 5'10").
Stage Three (March). Research Saab in-depth: saabnet.com (thanks to all posters for valuable comments), edmunds.com, various magazines. Exclude 94-95 (presumably plagued with problems post-redesign). Exclude pre-94s (retro look vetoed by girlfriend. Don't ask). Exclude convertibles (Boston weather). Exclude normal breathers (without turbo, is Saab still a Saab?). Check savings account. Bottom line: 96-97 900 SE stick shift with CD changer.
Stage Four (April). Search dealers in the NY metro area. View inventory at megaautosales.com (closest to NYC), visit, talk to co-owner Ernest Wolf, form a pleasant impression. Ernest recommends http://www.autocritic-us.com to check out the car. They send mechanics out to examine the car you want to buy. Absolutely brilliant.
Stage Five (April). Re-assured by the Autocritic guy, price the car at Edmunds.com, and close the deal with Ernest of http://www.megaautosales.com. I promised I'd plug them so here goes: I had only positive experiences with these no-pressure guys; caveat emptor, of course-the car has been with me for just two days. See my adjacent post asking for advice re:mechanics!
Once again, thanks to everybody for sharing your wisdom and knowledge.
Alex
96 SET
93K
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