2003 Saab 9-3 - READ ONLY

185 messages, Last post on Nov 04, 2002 at 6:21 AM

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What is this discussion about? Saab 9-3, BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Sedan

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#161 of 185 sales figures!!! by okidokie Oct 21, 2002 (12:58 pm)
According to August and September 2002 sales, over 14,000 new Saab 9-3 have been ordered. Since only 7000 were made during these months, many are on the waiting list. The heat of the new saab 9-3 is spreading worldwide. Note: the designer Michael Mauer was hired almost 2 years ago. He designed the Mercedes SLK and C class.
#162 of 185 important messages re safety! by okidokie Oct 21, 2002 (1:17 pm)
http://www.autointell.com/news-2000/April-2000/April-04-00-p2.htm re: 2000 euro crash tests. Both 9-3 and 9-5 got four stars rating. They said "Saab 9-5 is the safest car ever tested". http://car.kak.net/print.php?sid=491 re: Safety about 9-5 and the old 9-3 convertible (US study) http://www.xpresssites.com/lee/lacrosse/xpspecialsections/automotive/story_299238.asp re: another article about american crash test of 9-5 http://www.diskdrive.co.za/safety/enc_bmw_3s(98+).html re: euro crash test for the new BMW 3 series... http://www.diskdrive.co.za/safety/enc_saab_9-3('98-'01).html re: euro crash test for last years 9-3 (old)... better than the new Bmw 3 series. You can imagine how safe the new Saab 9-3 is like. http://www.diskdrive.co.za/safety/enc_saab_9-5(97+).html re: euro crash test for the new 9-5
#163 of 185 handling by okidokie Oct 21, 2002 (1:30 pm)
GM gave saab the outline and the underpinnings. Saab developed the chassis, engine, safety and handling characteristics itself. The trionic 8 system is simply superb. Saab's Reaxs rear wheel steering system is appealing too. It ensures good handling. Also, the car has very little "electrical wires"; actually it uses optic fibers extensively. I think it is more reliable. Based on the newest platform, and modified it to ensure saab like quality--fun to drive, safe, and unique. A superb car!
#164 of 185 by kirstie_h HOST Oct 22, 2002 (4:52 am)
dl7265, I'll post the link when the transcript is ready. It usually takes about a week. If I don't see it in the next couple of days, I'll chase it down. kirstie_h
#165 of 185 Thanks Kirstie by dl7265 Oct 23, 2002 (8:40 pm)

#166 of 185 9-3 below MSRP by viper0074 Oct 24, 2002 (8:17 am)
Just a quick heads-up ... CarsDirect.com is offering 9-3s at below MSRP until 10/31. Now, all we need is for GM to include it in its 0-0-0 event.
#167 of 185 Incentive by jskho Oct 24, 2002 (10:15 am)
GM is already giving dealer incentives for the 9-3. Market must be really bad.
#168 of 185 comparing the Saab to the other Euros by harlequin1971 Oct 24, 2002 (10:20 am)
I know the stickers are a bit more for S60/A4/325. That is a given. Saab gives you a very nice car for its price. But, other factors do add in. Traditionally, a Saab does not hold resale nearly as well as the other 3 mentioned cars. They also tend to be offered at good discounts at the end of MY, which is a big reason why the resale is poor...the more you subvent leases and offer huge incentives to clear out YE (year-end) inventory, the more trouble a car will have holding resale. I would rather own a Saab 9-3 then an S40, given some of the reliability issues the S40 is reported to have (brakes being a big one, changing pads every 10k miles? ouch!). Still, reliability has never been a huge selling point for Saab. My personal history was not blessed either, but I blame it on the previous owner and my youthful exuberance as I do on the car itself. I think the strong points for Saab ownership have been fun to drive turbo 4s with plenty of luxury features, a quirky but very stylish interior, complete with an Aviation dash and the key on the hump instead of dangling from the steering column. I think Saabs have always had a very distinctive look, which has worked to its benefit and detriment, as the hatchback look is a polarizing thing. Now that they are moving to middle ground with a more traditonal sedan look, it will be interesting to see how the US market reacts. Personally, Saab's copious carrying capacities has always been a great selling point, and I used that as one of my pillars when I sold them for a short time back in 1991. So, from a car as depreciation expense formula for the average consumer who keeps a car 3-4 years, an S60/A4/325 may cost a few more dollars a month to rent, but when you trade up, the retained value should even the equation back in favor of the three versus a Saab...with that in mind, a $25k Saab is still going to "cost" the average consumer as much as a $28-$30k car from one of the other more traditionally desired makers. So, the car has to be appealing to make it worth that trade off. Will the Saab succeed in that equation? It looks good so far. I am excited to take one down the road and see how much the new design improves on an old favorite.
#169 of 185 Saab incentive by harlequin1971 Oct 24, 2002 (10:30 am)
is to clear out remaining 2002 stock. Wish I had the money right now, as I still love the looks of the old-model Hatchbacks. Saab has traditionally been offered at YE with a significant reduction in MSRP. This coming model year may be the first in many (if European demand is any indication) that Saab has so few cars left at YE as to make a rebate not necessary. It is an easy enough formula. You plan to sell 30k cars, but hope to sell 35k. The market has sold 27k cars with two months left to go in model year, you don't need to offer much incentive...your model is moving well enough without. Maybe you add a few options, or a low rate financing deal to make sure that when the new models are on the lot, the lots are empty of old models. Or you add in a big incentive and up production to turn out 32-33k cars, which lowers the per car costs a little. (Overhead gets divided by 33k instead of 30k.) The additional benefit comes down the road with parts. If the market instead has only sold 20k car with 2 months left to go...oh man, you need to move the 10k cars you have surplus produced to keep your factory at capacity. You hammer out a rebate/incentive package and start force-feeding the cars into the market to move out the left over inventories...it is no good to head into the new year with a 20-30 car inventory (per lot) of last years model on the lots...looks bad to the early-bird buyers, non? Witness a $4000 incentive on Volvo S40s, and a similar incentive on Mercedes C230 SportCoupes. On the other hand, BMW and Audi are offering no cash incentives that I am aware of. We all sort of know this, right?
#170 of 185 Incentive by jskho Oct 24, 2002 (3:24 pm)
According to carsdirect.com, they are getting dealer incentive for the 2003 9-3, not the 02 ones. Not much, but enough to bring price down to about $500 above invoice (difference between invoice and MSRP is only about $1000 though). This is in lieu of the 1.9% 36 months financing.