I have a coworker interested in buying my mazda2 so I've been looking at less expensive but potentially fun cars.
I know that year came with the GM ecotec motor which I've heard great thing about. I don't know anything about the six speed tranny or the general quality or reliability of the rest of the car. Please share you knowledge and experience! Thanks Dan
Some additional info. Car has around 99k owner claims to have all the maintenance records.
Better be cheap, the values for these cars are in the toilet. A lot of banks won't loan money on saabs anymore, that is Not good for values. Parts availability might be a challenge in the future, im having trouble finding parts for a customer car here as we speak.
Good, underrated cars. There have been a few threads about them recently, the link below is a decent place to start. But basically, GM/Opel platform. Turbo Ecotec. Monstrously quick with a few bolt ons and a tune from GenuineSaab.com. Poorly educated folks say parts don't exist anymore, that's not true, Saab spun off the parts business as a separate entity, they have a huge aftermarket (these are very common in Europe) and lots of parts have GM interchange. Some things are expensive (weird Saab-specific exterior trim parts come to mind) but there is very little you can't get. It is true that values on them are absolutely tanking which is great as a buyer but not as a seller.
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/learn-me-saab-9-3-second-gen/82461/page1/
Have a 10 sportcombi 2.0T (capital T) manual. Other than a broken turn signal arm (dealership I bought it from paid me a lot to replace it) and a couple sway bar end links it has been trouble free. Returns 26 mpg in mixed driving and well l over 30 on the highway at 75 mph.
Stout cars that get really good hwy MPGs (35+) and hold up to serious accidents better than about anything out there.
My brother had an '05 and when a truck pulled into his lane he did a front impact at about 45-50 and walked away with no injuries.
Although I have no experience with that combo, in general, late model SAABs are a fantastic Bang for the Buck for DIY capable owners.
Thanks for the info, guys!
pointofdeparture wrote: Good, underrated cars. There have been a few threads about them recently, the link below is a decent place to start. But basically, GM/Opel platform. Turbo Ecotec. Monstrously quick with a few bolt ons and a tune from GenuineSaab.com. Poorly educated folks say parts don't exist anymore, that's not true, Saab spun off the parts business as a separate entity, they have a huge aftermarket (these are very common in Europe) and lots of parts have GM interchange. Some things are expensive (weird Saab-specific exterior trim parts come to mind) but there is very little you can't get. It is true that values on them are absolutely tanking which is great as a buyer but not as a seller. https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/learn-me-saab-9-3-second-gen/82461/page1/
I dont know that I'd refer to myself as "poorly educated", thanks for that. :-p
Hopefully coworker comes thru and purchases my car. The owner of the car is asking $4500. NADA says private party is $3700 in good condition. I don't know if it being one owner and there being detailed maintenance records justifies $800 but I haven't seen the car in person so it may be in better than good condition. It appears to be an off white color I havent ever seen on that year Saab.
https://www.goldwingsaabparts.com/
Nice place to go for Saab parts. Reman'd oem stuff. Great prices.
Goldwing lists used parts as cleaned and tested, not remanufactured.
i was sad that someone beat me to an 05 with a "think engine is going bad from the symptoms" for $500 on thursday.
In reply to sesto elemento:
I wasn't referring to you, seriously; what I was speaking of is the crowd who will jump in these Saab threads and say "BUT WHERE WILL YOU GET PARTS?" It gets annoying after the tenth time. Yes they are a dead brand but people assume they are like freaking Peugeot. I've had two GM Saabs in the past five years and never had a single issue getting what I needed.
pointofdeparture wrote: In reply to sesto elemento: I wasn't referring to you, seriously; what I was speaking of is the crowd who will jump in these Saab threads and say "BUT WHERE WILL YOU GET PARTS?" It gets annoying after the tenth time. Yes they are a dead brand but people assume they are like freaking Peugeot. I've had two GM Saabs in the past five years and never had a single issue getting what I needed.
me either. have not had any issue finding the saab specific parts for the 9-7x. the mercedes dealer here that was also a saab dealer still does saab parts and service.
In reply to patgizz:
It's cool man, just berkin with you a little. Ive got a customer car (99 9-3t) that needs rubber intercooler hoses and a pcv valve. All the places I've been in contact with say discontinued and out of stock. Maybe I'll try the place linked here.
Thanks.
In reply to sesto elemento:
Try genuinesaab.com or eeuroparts.com
sesto elemento wrote: I dont know that I'd refer to myself as "poorly educated", thanks for that. :-p
Differently educated.
These cars surprise me -- they're very comfortable, economical, and fun to drive. Trim wears like typical euro stuff. Saabs are perfect for the car enthusiast that doesn't like hanging out in large groups. 
I've had mine for over 2 years now. Other than brakes, regular maintenance, and one window regulator, the car has be a pleasure to drive. I am 5 minutes away from one of Toronto's biggest SAAB specialty shop, so that helps on finding parts (they had a stash of window regulators).
I do worry that " regular maintenance " for a Saab means something totally different than it does for an accord. I just assumed window regulators would be on the list of needed repairs.
If it hasn't been beat on, it means what it does on any other car. Fluid changes. Brakes. Tires. Filters. Occasional suspension bits if your roads are very rough. They have timing chains so no worries there and they don't have Haldex AWD or anything that complicates service. Like any Euro car, the maintenance they need is proportional to the car's treatment at the hands of previous owners.
Differently educated.
Saabs are perfect for the car enthusiast that doesn't like hanging out in large groups.
Too funny.
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