A car past its prime shows me a broken clock is right twice a day.

[MrH]

I think I might go back and just rip on how much play there is in the shifter, that the motor mounts and tranny mounts need to be replaced, the rip in the seat, and ask to see copies of the maintaince on it.  Then give them my number and leave.

[The Pirate]

I think I might go back and just rip on how much play there is in the shifter, that the motor mounts and tranny mounts need to be replaced, the rip in the seat, and ask to see copies of the maintaince on it.  Then give them my number and leave.

Is there another Saab specialist in the area?  Make an appointment with him, then take the car for a test drive and head over to his shop for him to take a look.

[MrH]

Is there another Saab specialist in the area?  Make an appointment with him, then take the car for a test drive and head over to his shop for him to take a look.

Turns out there actually is one in Dayton.  About 10-15 minutes from the dealership.  Do they usually charge for taking a look like that?  If so, how much?

[Rich]

Turns out there actually is one in Dayton.  About 10-15 minutes from the dealership.  Do they usually charge for taking a look like that?  If so, how much?

call 'em up tomorrow and find out

[CALL_911]

So Mister H might be buying that awesome Swedish delight at the beginning of the thread?

[The Pirate]

Turns out there actually is one in Dayton.  About 10-15 minutes from the dealership.  Do they usually charge for taking a look like that?  If so, how much?

I've done it twice, and the guy who looked did it pretty much ran down the list that they use for state inspections then did a test drive.  Cost me $40 or so.  Call him and ask.  If he's good, then he probably does that sort of thing all the time (there's only so many indie guys that specialize in, much less even look at, a Saab).

[TBR]

Turns out there actually is one in Dayton.  About 10-15 minutes from the dealership.  Do they usually charge for taking a look like that?  If so, how much?

Honda dealer charged 1 hour of labor.

[Raza]

Honda dealer charged 1 hour of labor.

Fuck, that's $100 at a Benz dealer!

[MrH]

You guys are such bad influences.  Getting rid of a car 3 years newer for a car with 3 times as many miles!!! 

But really, I should be able to sell the P5 for $8k or so.  I got over $1k worth of Protege parts I can sell online and get all my money back on.

This car I should be able to work them down to $6,500, possibly even lower if the Saab specialist confirms what I think he will.  That means I'll have plenty of cash to sit in the bank as emergency Saab repair funds.

To even think of having a stash of money for such an occassion sounds like a terrible buying decision. 

[TBR]

Fuck, that's $100 at a Benz dealer!

That's German cars for you (and the Northeast)...it was $70 and change at my Honda dealer (plus I get a 10% discount as a member of the "100,000 mile club." If only there was a 300,000 mile club so I could get 30% off).

[the Teuton]

Fuck, that's $100 at a Benz dealer!

Wow, MB is overpriced.  BMW here only charges $97.   

I usually go for a $50-70 from indie shops, personally.

[TBR]

Wow, MB is overpriced.  BMW here only charges $97.  

I usually go for a $50-70 from indie shops, personally.

The crappy indie shop I used to go to charged $65, but effectively it was $130 since I always had to take it back.

[the Teuton]

The crappy indie shop I used to go to charged $65, but effectively it was $130 since I always had to take it back.

We used to live by a guy who owns a few concours-quality Model Ts when I was growing up and still owns them.  He's really the only person at a shop who I let touch my car.  So far, he has managed not to screw anything up beyond what has been done so far by myself and other people who aren't him.

[Rupert]

I'm (now) squeamish about buying high mileage cars unless I know they've been maintained and are in pretty good shape. It's too easy to get something that hasn't been properly maintained, even if everything works well at the time. I suppose a mechanic that specializes in the car you're looking at would know what to look for, though.

[MrH]

Supposedly the car has records of all the work done on it.  I'll be looking to get copies of those this week.

[Rupert]

That's a good sign. IMO, a few things are excusable if the whole thing has been maintained until now.

[Raza]

Wow, MB is overpriced.  BMW here only charges $97.   

I usually go for a $50-70 from indie shops, personally.

Ha! 

I rounded up, it's $96/hr really.

[Raza]

I'm (now) squeamish about buying high mileage cars unless I know they've been maintained and are in pretty good shape. It's too easy to get something that hasn't been properly maintained, even if everything works well at the time. I suppose a mechanic that specializes in the car you're looking at would know what to look for, though.

You're playing it safe?

[S204STi]

I'm (now) squeamish about buying high mileage cars unless I know they've been maintained and are in pretty good shape. It's too easy to get something that hasn't been properly maintained, even if everything works well at the time. I suppose a mechanic that specializes in the car you're looking at would know what to look for, though.

Especially a later model Saab...that Trionic III ECM is fairly complex by even modern standards.

[GoCougs]

I think you should pass on it. I predict 18 months of major/profound money-pitism.

[Champ]

This is it dude:

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/862363468.html

I bet this gets taken within a few days MAX.

[Champ]

For reference, the Ohcre (orange) interior color alone was probably only in <50 cars.  Combine that with the fact they didn't officially make a black in 1999 and you have yourself one rare car!

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Cool interior color, nice car too for a good price.

[Rupert]

Sweet!

[ChrisV]

I'm (now) squeamish about buying high mileage cars unless I know they've been maintained and are in pretty good shape. It's too easy to get something that hasn't been properly maintained, even if everything works well at the time. I suppose a mechanic that specializes in the car you're looking at would know what to look for, though.

I've never been able to afford to be squeamish about it. I simply learned how to work on cars so I could afford to own the kinds I liked.

[S204STi]

This is it dude:

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/862363468.html

I bet this gets taken within a few days MAX.

Lack of disposable income FTL.  I wish...