Talk me out of buying a Saab as a daily...

I have a thing for wagons, and have owned a 325xi Touring that was awesome. Time now for a new daily driver to replace the '08 Fusion that I've put 125K miles in 2 1/2 years, and I've found some nice looking Saab 9-3 Sport Combis in my price range (used, sub $15,000). A very quick web search looks positive in terms of parts availability and reliability. Any caveats?

I was going to put up my regular Saab post about not being able to buy Saab specific parts easily, but I didn't want to offend all the guys who are happy using the throttle cable from a lawnmower to control the heater after the control head craps out.

One does not simply come to GRM and get talked out of buying things.

I have an '09 9-3 sedan that I paid $9K for with 69000 km on about a year ago. I've put 20K km on it with only an oil change and a taillight bulb replacement. For what it's worth, they're building them again in Sweden.

It's a bit of a dice roll for parts, no question. The SAAB shop I bought from, Beacon Motors in Toronto says they don't have to much trouble getting parts. Yes, they wanted to sell me a car and keep me happy, but they have a good reputation. I also ordered my trailer hitch from a former SAAB dealer (currently sells Chevy). The parts guy there also said he hasn't seen any parts issues to speak of and had a couple of Saabs in the lot he was servicing.

Bottom line, you get a lot of car for your dollar. But there is of course a bigger risk than with something still in regular production.

Streetwiseguy wrote: I was going to put up my regular Saab post about not being able to buy Saab specific parts easily, but I didn't want to offend all the guys who are happy using the throttle cable from a lawnmower to control the heater after the control head craps out.

You do know that the company is back in business and manufacturing parts again, right? That's not even an argument anymore.

buy the newest you can afford.. and stay away from the early 9-3s

SlickDizzy wrote:

Streetwiseguy wrote: I was going to put up my regular Saab post about not being able to buy Saab specific parts easily, but I didn't want to offend all the guys who are happy using the throttle cable from a lawnmower to control the heater after the control head craps out.

You do know that the company is back in business and manufacturing parts again, right? That's not even an argument anymore.

I'll believe it when I see it. I've been burnt too hard 3 times now with cars sitting for 6 weeks waiting for relatively minor parts.

Once again, I say: I like Saabs.

In reply to Streetwiseguy:

I just have to ask, where are you trying to get those parts from? I've had three new-gen Saabs in as many years and have yet to struggle...it sounds more like you have a bone to pick with the brand than anything else.

do it

I have a 05 9-3 2.0t with 140k that I bought last year for challenge money. So far I have been able to get parts but did notice rockauto doesn't have too many parts and my local dealer either does have in stock or is more expensive.

SlickDizzy wrote: You do know that the company is back in business and manufacturing parts again, right? That's not even an argument anymore.

Well, sort of....

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-12-04/saab-is-back-well-sort-of

SlickDizzy wrote: In reply to Streetwiseguy: I just have to ask, where are you trying to get those parts from? I've had three new-gen Saabs in as many years and have yet to struggle...it sounds more like you have a bone to pick with the brand than anything else.

We order stuff through the remains of the Canadian dealer network.

Based upon my experience, I suppose I could suggest you are trying to have people join you in your pain...

I like Saabs. I've worked on them since the early days of the 99.

Streetwise, so what parts were hard to get? For what cars? I'm genuinely curious since I'm also interested in manual trans wagonlike vehicles.

Don't forget that Streetwiseguy is in Canada and we never really had much of a Saab dealer network, other than in the large cities, so our experience getting parts may be different than in the US.

I just had to order a water pump for my 03 9-5 and had no issue at all. When SAAB went belly up it was only the car producing part of the company, the parts side of the business survived.

There may be a few hick-ups with body panels but mechanical parts should not be an issue.

Talk you out of it? This is a joke, right?

I have had good luck with all of my families Saab we currently have 3 9-3s an 04 sedan 160k and 08 convertible 45k and a 10 sedan 60k. so yeah I say get one but get service records or get it cheap.

You've come to the home of the guy that thought a Biturbo DD would work, as well as nearly anything else you can imagine. Of course we're not going to say no.

I have thought about a Saab as a daily. The potential wait for parts doesn't bother me to much though cause I have two other vehicles I could drive to work.

Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote: I just had to order a water pump for my 03 9-5 and had no issue at all. When SAAB went belly up it was only the car producing part of the company, the parts side of the business survived.

Ding ding ding...

I also have a thing for wagons, and funky ones...just bought an '05 9-2x aero wagon with 5spd, aka Saabaru. Given the WRX lineage my only worry is getting in a fender bender and not having exterior parts available.

I don't know if it really qualifies as a Saab but it checked off a lot of boxes for me.

Avoid the XWD ones, the 2.0l has better reliability and much better fuel economy vs the 2.8l. Great wagon, smallish rear seat leg room. Lots of tuning options from more power and some options for suspension upgrades. Most parts are GM so easy peasy. Some weird Saab things like ignition modules may cause trouble. Don't lose both keys at the same time.

NO!

Mine has been my DD for 6 years. We got it with 100K on it and it now has 210K. It has never left me stranded, unlike the cheap Civic I had, and the water pump is the only mechanical part to go out on it during my ownership, it is still on the original Direct Ignition Direct Ignition Cassette.

I have driven it from Ohio to Arkansas twice, from Ohio to the far end of PA twice with no issue at all. Get one, you will not regret it and the torque curve will put a smile on your face.

One of the easiest non sports cars to find with a manual trans. Usually well maintained. There are some known issues and engines to stay away from. In terms of replacement body panels and such the cars are valued so low that I would think most accidents would total it anyway.