1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
There is very little on that vehicle that is not basic to the regular 9-3's. Search for 'what to look for' on the NG900 and 9-3 BBs.
Specific to the Viggen: Check the front air dam for damage, some scrapes are a right of passage. The 17" wheels get bent very easily. Balancing the wheels does not help when they are not round. You can balance a square wheel spinning in the air too. The Viggen has larger brakes, but they do not have any features that make them really any different, except for the costs when worn out. Shocks should be fine at 30K. Very likely that the brakes have been replaced once already.
'02 should have the head bolts taken care of if you beleive in what is said about that issue. All Saab engines made in the last 10 years seem to be prone to oil sludging if the oil is negelected or off spec. And the semi-synthetic oil that had been specified is now under some suspicion. If you find the rest of the vehilce is in good shape, and fall in love with it, negociate with the dealer to have an oil change, with fishing wire to see whats in the sump, valve cover off to look at general lack of deposits and a torque check. We have seen a few folks getting used vehicles that fail for the second owner, seemingly when they use Mobil 1 oil that softened deposits that once loose, plug the ever too finely meshed oil pickup screen.
So you seem to have a very nice machine in your sights, and I would encourage you to go forward with it, but checking the engine out would be very prudent, especially if you can get the dealer to get the cost down and make the sale conditional on the results. If the head bolts take some tightening and the HG has not been leaking, that is not any reason not to make the purchase. Myself, knowing what we know today, I would want to do those checks, even if the dealer insisted that the oil had been serviced properly. The only exception would be if the oil used was a full synthetic from the start.
Can you get a Saab extended warranty on it?
posted by 68.95.11...
, Tue, 25 Jan 2005 09:04:20
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