We don't just talk cars ... we teach how to buy them.
"Used Saab Shopping Overview And How To Get The Best Price!"
There's always been something rather "unique" about a Saab. It's never quite fit a precise description such as a "luxury" or "family" brand. Whether due to its often distinctive and edgy design, or some of its quirky features such as an ignition between the front seats and swiveling air vents, Saab models have always stood out on their own.
The bottom line? Saabs are higher-end models with athletic handling, lively engines and plenty of appealing features ... and all with a clearly different and distinctive look.
That said, it's been a rocky road for Saab in recent years, culminating with their bankruptcy in December, 2011 ... making for some risks as well as opportunity.
Here's the pertinent history:
General Motors (GM) purchased half of Saab's automotive division in 1990. During the 90's, GM then revamped the 900 and included a host of leading-edge safety features, such as three rear 3-point seatbelts and rear side-impact protection. And by the end of the decade, the Saab 9-5 was introduced, its first premium four-door sedan, featuring a long list of new technologies such as ventilated seats and Active Head Restraints to prevent whiplash.
General Motors then purchased the other half of Saab in the 2000's. But sales began to fall off even though it held a strong brand position due to its cutting-edge safety technology. The problem was that GM let the models grow stale and more and more dependent on GM parts, platforms and design. Even new models like the 9-2X and the 9-7X were based on platforms from other GM brands.
While the 9-5 didn't get a redesign until the 2011 model year ... too little, too late ... the second-generation 9-3 lost its identifying and unique hatchback body style in favor of a mainstream sedan design. While this was done in an attempt to appeal to more American consumers, in our humble opinion it was one of the most important attributes which set it apart. The result was languishing sales.
More bad news for Saab, this was then followed by the financial crisis and General Motors' bankruptcy, which led to the sale of Saab to Dutch automaker Spyker Cars. Having its own financial difficulties during rough financial times, Spyker arranged a sale to a Chinese automaker. But GM nixed the sale because it didn't want its designs going to China as part of the deal. It was worried about copyright protection in China and feared its engineering would be stolen. And without GM's designs, the Chinese would have to redesign all models, something that didn't make financial sense to them. So, the deal fell through and Saab ended.
On the other hand, this has actually opened up some opportunities for used Saab enthusiasts here in the States.
While many prospective buyers were initially frightened off because of uncertainties regarding ongoing service issues, the fact is that with so many Saabs still on the road it was still worthwhile for independent suppliers to make and sell parts and for independent garages to do the servicing. So this hasn't been an issue.
Another plus for prospective buyers is that resale values have dropped, meaning that prices are lower as compared with other alternatives. If you are a used Saab buyer, there are some good deals to be had with careful shopping.
Here's some information on a few of our favorites, followed by shopping pointers on how to get the best price.
Saab 9-3: The 9-3, for example, is a very spacious and comfortable car with a proven safety track record ... not to mention one of the better handling front-wheel-drive cars around. Available as a sedan, two-door convertible or wagon (the SportCombi), all are powered by a small-displacement, turbocharged engine that packs plenty of power, yet still provides respectable gas mileage.
Saab 9-5: And if you want a little more luxury, you can step up to the 9-5. Available as a sedan or wagon, the 9-5 has exceptionally comfortable seats and loads of passenger room. And it's powered by a 2.3 liter turbo four-cylinder engine rated at 260 horsepower. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard on this sport sedan, but an automatic transmission is also available with Sport and Manual modes that provide some very fun driving.
Saab 9-7X: The 9-7X is a luxury SUV that's just loaded with features. Actually, the only real major options are navigation and a rear-seat entertainment system. While built on a GM platform, the 9-7X has distinctive Saab alterations, including its tuned suspension. This is a comfortable and roomy SUV with a smooth ride and good power.
All in all, we think a Saab makes an excellent choice as a used car purchase for thosing seeking more than the status quo.
How To Get The Best Price On A Pre-Owned Saab:
There are actually several different ways to buy a used Saab at the lowest price, even at wholesale.
ONE - Car Auctions:
You can go to Open-To-The-Public Car Auctions in your own geographic area. While this will take some additional time and effort on your part, there are indeed truly outstanding opportunities for those who shop these events.
Another excellent method involves getting several used car dealers to compete for your business. This article details the best way to carry out this process. It's just amazing what happens to prices when you force dealers to fight for your sale.
Also ...
If You're Interested In A "Brand New" Car, there are truly some outstanding deals to be had right now if you know how.
People swear by the excellent method detailed in this article for getting the absolute best new car price on any vehicle.
