Year/Make/Model: 1999 Saab 9-3 SE
Location: Berkley, Michigan
Price: $2,750
Mileage: 178,000 miles
The good:
Most people don't realize this, but the hatchback Saab 9-3 is a FRIGGIN TRUCK in disguise!! If you take out the backseat, you can literally haul an entire dorm room up to school. It's an amazing feature of this car. Here's a picture of 6 chairs, an 86" dinning room table, and a 67" sideboard from Ikea that all fit in the back of the car WITHOUT removing the back seats:
LOTS of replaced parts since buying it back in September 2006.
Engine and transmission were replaced roughly 20,000 miles ago with an engine that had around 20,000 miles. I have documentation of the mileage and pictures of me doing the actual swap. The engine had a couple of internal refreshments and mods (new oil pump, front/rear crank seals, balance shafts deactivated, new head gasket, head bolts, etc.)
LOTS of aftermarket/upgraded parts:
Pioneer AVIC-D3 navigation stereo system with bluetooth module and ipod cable ($500.00)
Stock Viggen TD04HL-Tturbocharger ($400.00)
GenuineSaab turbo inlet pipe ($160.00)
GenuineSaab sport engine mount ($139.40)
GenuineSaab sport trans mount ($139.40)
GenuineSaab 6-point subframe brace ($236.00)
GenuineSaab uprated front ARB bushings ($12.75)
GenuineSaab uprated inner suspension bushings ($54.00)
GenuineSaab uprated outer suspension bushings (63.00)
GenuineSaab rear anti-roll bar ($90.00)
GenuineSaab air intake ($119.20)
MP Performance Steering Rack Brace ($150.00)
SaabSport stainless steel exhaust system ($450.00)
Forge blow off valve ($117.00)
Stock Viggen intercooler with piping ($320.00)
T5Suited stage 3 ECU software
That's nearly $3,000 in aftermarket at today's current prices for the parts.
Here's big plus. I can include a Dell Latitude X300 laptop with all the proper software and hardware to flash your own ECU with upgraded/tuned software. I'm using T5Suite (
http://trionic.mobixs.eu/). BSR and a bunch of other companies charge up the butt for tuning, so this is a huge cost savings.
Two less than 3000 mile old Kumho 205/50/16 front tires. The rears are probably close to 10,000 miles old and are the same brand/model.
The car has it's oil changed every 3000 miles with Mobil 1 0w40 synthetic oil.
I don't race or hoon the car like crazy. This is/was my daily driver. It was at Lapeer dragway back in 2007 once (literally one pass down the track) with J-BOM prior to any mods. The car ran a 15.7 if I remember correctly.
I've got buttloads of spare parts laying around (stock turbo, intercooler, extra TB and intake manifold, etc.)
The bad:
The expected amount of scratches and dents after 178,000 miles are a reality on this car. Not a huge deal if you're looking at this thing as a mileage friendly daily driver like I did.
The Saab Information Display (SID) is experiencing some dead pixels. No big deal since you can still read everything just fine.
The windshield is toast. I will get the car a new one if you don't haggle down the price.
The left axle shaft is toast (gease gone in boot and clicking bad). I have a new one laying around. It's a matter of me taking the time to put it in. Buy the car and I'll be motivated!!
The valve cover needs a new gasket (I used the old one when I did the engine swap work). I have a new one on hand and will change it with proper motivation.
The coolant temp sensor for the dash (there's another for the ecu that works fine) is broken. I have a replacement that I need to put in.
The a/c isn't working. I've got a gut feeling this is because of the coolant sensor because it was fine before that went bad. The system does hold a freon charge (I checked the low and high sides with a gauge).
The ugly:
Slight bit of cancer on the driver's rear quarter panel. One spot is about the size of a dime on a flat spot on the panel. The other is about the size of a banana runt candy (lol, I can't think of anything else this size) near the edge of the tail light.
Passenger fog light housing is missing. I'm assuming the previous owner broke it and then removed it by hand since all of the mounting points for the light are still intact and the lightbulb pigtail is in perfect condition. All you would have to do is purchase a new fog light housing and then bolt it up. I've gone ahead and removed the driver's side one and put it on a shelf to make the car look normal. GenuineSaab does make a really sweet set of projector fogs for the car. I'd buy those if I were you.
The headlight wipers are junk. They're still on the car, but I'd rip them off if you're looking for a clean look.
Rear windshield squirter isn't working. There's probably a clog in the line somewhere since you can hear the electric motor run when it's turned on. Probably a pretty easy fix.
I'm looking for $2,750. Again, if you don't haggle the price, I'll throw a new windshield on the car. Hell, I'll even throw in a tank of gas too.
I'm also looking to trade if you've got something interesting.
I'll post pics if I see any interest...
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