1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
I've never had a 9-3, but I did have a 98 900SE, very very similar car, almost a 9-3. I've also had 7 classic Saab 900's in all shapes and styles. I liked the 98 enough to buy it, but after a week or two of driving it, I just grew weary of it. I ended up hating the car, parked it in the driveway, made the payments on it, and to this day I'm driving my *hammered* 88 900S. Love the car. So many little things about the newer saabs are just so shoddy and non-saab like. The biggest thing, of course, is that the NG900's and 9-3's aren't even Saabs in the first place...they're actually Opel Vectra A's. By the samer token, they're also the same car as Opel Calibra's, Vauxhall Cavalier mkIII, and Brazil's Chevrolet Vectra. In fact, as a sidenote, the non-turbo V6 "saab" 900se engine that has been to prone to timing belt failure is a complete Opel, as that same problematic engine is an Opel engine through and through, not even a SAAB design. Another thing that truly made me hate the car was that when you fold the back seat down for more space, there's a 3-inch rise in the middle of the cargo area. What a stupid design. At least the OG900's open up and the back lays perfectly flat. I guess thats what you get for trying to redesign a perfectly good car without using an original design. There are other little things like that which also drove me crazy. I think GM thought that if they left the seats alone (which are almost exactly the same as OG900 seats), the superb comfort would allow that noone would notice the rest of the crappy car, and SAABophiles would still like the car. Also, I like the layout and features of the dash and instrumentation of the car, as it is very 9000-ish, and I grew to love that dash in my old 9000T. For me, that isn't worth what I paid for the car, and I either should have done one of two things...1: Use the money for a cherry, low-mileage 89 SPG or the like (I like custom steering wheels, not airbags, if you don't mind the airbag then go for an even newer one, 93-94 cnvt.) or 2: Saved for another month or two and bought a 3-series BMW instead. The Audi A4 is another car worth looking at in the same price range, and also a well built, purpose-designed auto. Even furthermore, have you seen what the resale prices are for used 9-3 and 9-5 saabs? It's pathetic. At least the beemer will hold its value, and, for once, we can say the same thing to an extent about the Audi. In the end, if you're truly a SAAB person to the core, you'll be happiest if you go buy a SAAB. A real SAAB. Go get that CE. Sweetest og900 ever. My opinion.
posted by 24.24.89...
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