The 1999 Saab 9-3 Convertible

1999 Saab 9-3 Convertible

I bought this car early this year (2012), just a few weeks ago. I found it on the lot of a dealer, Starline Motors, in Fullerton, CA. I'd actually seen it on Craigslist for a few weeks prior. In those ads they never said what was wrong with it. I happened then to find it when I was out driving around looking for a car to buy.

I paid $2200 for the car. Well, $2500 out the door including tax and license and smog fees and such. On the contract the purchase price worked out to $2200.

It had 114k miles, good tires, good paint, decent interior with only dry cracked front leather seats, and a good top. Ran amazingly well during the test drive. Still does, actually. That 185hp turbo engine is a lot of fun, even if it does have an automatic 4-speed transmission.

What's wrong with it?

The top doesn't work. The hydraulic system apparently has a leak in the system, and there's no fluid currently. The A/C didn't work, but that was just a bad fuse. The environmental controls don't work, the SID has missing pixels, and the power antenna is broken off.

Mechanically it needs ball joints, struts, and some general maintenance on the doors and seat belts. Brakes started squealing a few days after purchase too.

Considering KBB for this car is (as of today) $6447, I'm way ahead of the game.

I'll work on these things and document them as I go.

Here's a comparison of the controls... The first pic shows the shaft jammed inside the blend control, the second shows the normal appearing directional control.