hi, just need to vent a bit.
I was looking for a car, that would be my wife's.
She can drive the stick, but is a bit afraid.
So I was trying to get her a decent automatic car.
First thought of a new 2.3 zx3 premium, but it's still an expensive car even with rebate.
So I was looking at used VWs, Acuras, Mazdas.
And came upon this really nice 1999 SAAB 9-3 SE
Car was really nice, had just 73kmiles, but I know she wouldn't be driving it a lot, so it's ok.
The price was 8984 or smth, roughly 9K.
I looked at it, it was mint, or nearly mint, inside and out. Color -bright red (just to help you visualize). Climate controls, power leather seats with memory. Weatherband and all bells and wistles + turbo motor with a fancy fuel management from the factory, that can handle 87 fuel
![]()
So we decided to get it. I put down a 500 deposit and applied for a loan. Got approved within a day, but of course my wife was a co-signer.
So we went together to sign the paperwork.
but before doing that, decided to check out the car first( she never saw it before).
Well, and it began. First I noticed, that some of the trim on the passanger's seat side (where the power seat knobs are) is kinda falling off, but that doesn't bothered me, just got a little upset.
Then emergency flasher's button didn't work, and finally just broke and fell behind the dash.
When I would try to start it, it would take about 2 seconds of cranking.
Inginition key sometimes wouldn't turn, so I would jiggle it.
BUt that's all ok I guess. And I know it can be easily remedied.
Finally after about 30 minutes of playing with accessories battery died, and the car refused even to crank the motor, didn't start at all.
We were a bit frastrated, and of course no paper work was done.
We left.
The the dealer yelled at me, when I phoned to tell him about it. Sounded like he was pissed off, that I killed the battery, which is bogus, he just kept the low capacity battery in the car and was trying to sell it that way. Warranty that he gives (3 month) wouldn't cover it of course
![]()
anyway, I knew that I'm getting a great deal, so a new battery wouldn't bother me at all.
Carfax was clean, but it was used as a comercial vehicle. Although condition of the car was good, I didn't like the fact that it was commercially used.
Anyway, just to be safe, I decided that the car needs to be taken to a mechanic (Saab specialist of course). Closest one is a dealership.
I called the owner, and he started to tell me that since, dealership is a competitor, they will be badmouthing the car. Which is bogus, since service department would be glad to tell me that the car is good, since they would have my business later, when repairs would start. And Saabs are expensive to repair .
Anyway, he suggested that he may take the car to a mechanic, but he basically chose one.
Again, what guarantee does it have for me!??? none.
anyway, today I told him, either we take it to saab delaer for inspection or that's it.
Well, just as I feared, he refused to inspect it.
Well I'm down 500, and very frustrated.
Well I gues my wife would have to learn how to drive the stick better then now.
I'm a bit pissed, I hate buying used cars from shady dealers. they have great deals, but I guess I'm just a bit too carefull.
Well, and it was a 9000 car, with 73kmiles and a
very big potential repair costs.
Now I'm thinking that it even was in an accident, and then privately repaired.
Last carfax record on it, is that it was registered as a comerical vehicle, the day it was bought, with 29 miles on the odometer.
Anyway, better safe then sorry.
[ 05-15-2003, 02:34 PM: Message edited by: sherych ]
I was looking for a car, that would be my wife's.
She can drive the stick, but is a bit afraid.
So I was trying to get her a decent automatic car.
First thought of a new 2.3 zx3 premium, but it's still an expensive car even with rebate.
So I was looking at used VWs, Acuras, Mazdas.
And came upon this really nice 1999 SAAB 9-3 SE
Car was really nice, had just 73kmiles, but I know she wouldn't be driving it a lot, so it's ok.
The price was 8984 or smth, roughly 9K.
I looked at it, it was mint, or nearly mint, inside and out. Color -bright red (just to help you visualize). Climate controls, power leather seats with memory. Weatherband and all bells and wistles + turbo motor with a fancy fuel management from the factory, that can handle 87 fuel
So we decided to get it. I put down a 500 deposit and applied for a loan. Got approved within a day, but of course my wife was a co-signer.
So we went together to sign the paperwork.
but before doing that, decided to check out the car first( she never saw it before).
Well, and it began. First I noticed, that some of the trim on the passanger's seat side (where the power seat knobs are) is kinda falling off, but that doesn't bothered me, just got a little upset.
Then emergency flasher's button didn't work, and finally just broke and fell behind the dash.
When I would try to start it, it would take about 2 seconds of cranking.
Inginition key sometimes wouldn't turn, so I would jiggle it.
BUt that's all ok I guess. And I know it can be easily remedied.
Finally after about 30 minutes of playing with accessories battery died, and the car refused even to crank the motor, didn't start at all.
We were a bit frastrated, and of course no paper work was done.
We left.
The the dealer yelled at me, when I phoned to tell him about it. Sounded like he was pissed off, that I killed the battery, which is bogus, he just kept the low capacity battery in the car and was trying to sell it that way. Warranty that he gives (3 month) wouldn't cover it of course
anyway, I knew that I'm getting a great deal, so a new battery wouldn't bother me at all.
Carfax was clean, but it was used as a comercial vehicle. Although condition of the car was good, I didn't like the fact that it was commercially used.
Anyway, just to be safe, I decided that the car needs to be taken to a mechanic (Saab specialist of course). Closest one is a dealership.
I called the owner, and he started to tell me that since, dealership is a competitor, they will be badmouthing the car. Which is bogus, since service department would be glad to tell me that the car is good, since they would have my business later, when repairs would start. And Saabs are expensive to repair .
Anyway, he suggested that he may take the car to a mechanic, but he basically chose one.
Again, what guarantee does it have for me!??? none.
anyway, today I told him, either we take it to saab delaer for inspection or that's it.
Well, just as I feared, he refused to inspect it.
Well I'm down 500, and very frustrated.
Well I gues my wife would have to learn how to drive the stick better then now.
I'm a bit pissed, I hate buying used cars from shady dealers. they have great deals, but I guess I'm just a bit too carefull.
Well, and it was a 9000 car, with 73kmiles and a
very big potential repair costs.
Now I'm thinking that it even was in an accident, and then privately repaired.
Last carfax record on it, is that it was registered as a comerical vehicle, the day it was bought, with 29 miles on the odometer.
Anyway, better safe then sorry.
[ 05-15-2003, 02:34 PM: Message edited by: sherych ]
