The model she wants is the 9-2X Aero AWD, which is basically the Subaru Impreza WMX with a nicer body, better/quieter-interior, etc. The entire drive train and chassis is Subaru. We both test drove the Saab and it drives nice. The ‘Aero’ version has a 2.0 Turbo-charged engine with 227 HP and it moves out. I like the fact that it is a modified wagon and is AWD. We will definitely go with the Aero which in addition to the turbo has a sport tuned suspension, better wheels, better sound system (in dash 6 CD changer, 6 speakers, etc), etc.

With GM Employee discount and a 6K rebate we can get this car for $20K instead of almost 30K. So now is the time to buy it.

http://www.saabusa.com/saabjsp/92x/index.jsp
http://motortrend.com/roadtests/wagon/112_0406_first_saab/index.html

Here is the Subaru model WRX that this Saab is built around:

http://www.subaru.com/shop/overview.jsp?model=IMPREZA&trim=WRX_SPORT_WAGON

I think the Saab looks better than the Subaru but I am confident in the Subaru power train.

[ 07-12-2005: Message edited by: Cacophonous ]

[ 07-13-2005: Message edited by: Cacophonous ]

[ 07-17-2005: Message edited by: Cacophonous ]

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We really need for one of us to have a new car since we go up North Michigan 4-5 times a year now that her parents moved near Traverse City. Plus we like to drive to Chicago often too. Her current car which has less than 70k miles, is not the best handler in the winter and my Toyota has over 115k and I suspect that the transmission may go at any time.

I think I may get something new next year. I want a slightly bigger SUV than my current Toyota RAV-4. I am considering for myself the new Nissan Pathfinder or Murano or maybe a Toyota 4-Runner.
http://www.nissanusa.com/m/cma/i/5pt/5pth_gal_big12.jpg
http://www.nissanusa.com/m/cma/i/3mu/3murano_gal_big04.jpg
http://www.toyota.com/images/vehicles/4runner/gallery/exterior/large/photo_3.jpg

My 1st choice is the 4-Runner which is the most expensive of the three.

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I'm going to miss you.

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It's ok Steph will be driving it mostly not me! =)

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Did they ever start giving an automatic transmission option yet?

Duh.. It's obviously automatic from the pic. Looks like it has a sport-shift too.

[ 07-11-2005: Message edited by: RoGuEBoB ]

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But anyway, from what I've SAABs are decent cars. I had a roommate last year with an '03 9-3 and it was fairly stylish. I don't remember what engine it had. I know it was a turbo I-4. The car really screamed out for a big displacement 6, though. Other than having too many bells and whistles like seat warmers and traction control and fancy leather that IMO only remove a driver from the act of driving rather than immersing one in it as an automobile (especially with such a stable and firm suspension) ought to do and being just barely big enough to fit me in the passenger seat (probably couldn't drive one), it seemed like a good ride. He got it for the safety ratings, though. He rolled his previous car and ended up with his head through the sunroof and in the mud. He's the type of guy who values all those creature comfort and computer assisted handling gadgets. Probably couldn't even tell the difference between a tie rod and a drive shaft.

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It has lower gears for going down steep hills or for pulling a trailer (yes it can pull up to 2K load not that we would do that with it) just like all automatics. As far as I know anyway...

If it were for me strictly I would have gotten the 5 speed manual trans but Steph does not drive a manual and I don't want to teach her. The car is 90% for her. I may drive it when we go on vacation or to downtown Detroit or something but it's her car.

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Scooby that may be true about recent year Saabs but since this one is 100% Subaru WRX drive train I think it should be fine.

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Sure enough she had just backed into a new Saab crunching the hell out of the front fender. I could tell by the color it was Steph’s new car since they only had one in that color. I don’t think Steph realized it yet but within a few minutes she found out it was her car.

The salesperson didn’t know it happened yet and when he saw us he was pointing to the Saab telling us there it is.

I couldn’t help but call that lady that backed into it a dumb fucking bitch. We talked to the salesman for a few seconds and then I decided to call this other Saab dealer where we originally test drove that model but didn’t have the color we wanted at the time.

As I walked to my car to get his phone number I think I called that dumb bitch a ‘stupid fucking cunt’ rather loud.

The salesman from that original dealership (which is actually much closer to our home) was able to get the color we wanted but when he told me this on Monday we were already dealing with the new place. Anyway he has the same model/color and is holding it for us to pick-up tomorrow.

I guess while I was gone making my cell phone call the lady that hit the car was saying something about calling the police because I called her a name. ??? WTH would the police do? It's not like I threatened her. I just stated the facts. Also some nosey couple that was looking at cars approached Steph complaining about my language and had the nerve to say something about what if their children were present. (They weren't present!) I guess Steph shut them down as well as the dumb bitch that hit the car.

The good news is it happened before we signed the papers because then our insurance would have had to cover it.

What a dumb bitch!!!!

All she needed to do was turn her goddamn neck and look behind her before backing up!

At least the place where we will end up buying the car is probably the place we will use for service so that may be best. They tend to take better care of people who bought the vehicle from the dealership that services it.

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Don't know if its true, but the guy had pictures of a dozen pistons that were reportedly from race bikes after a full season of use and showed absolutely no carbon buildup above the ring recesses.

[ 07-13-2005: Message edited by: WillyTrombone ]

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Then again, they only expect to get 3 seasons out of a race bike, anyway

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cars != bikes.

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it did quit on me awhile ago. i took the plug out and cranked the motor over a bit. it spit a bunch of brown goo out, then i sprayed the plug with some carb cleaner and put it back in. runs like a champ.

[ 07-14-2005: Message edited by: Mad Max ]

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As for the break in method, It's probably always mentioned as some bike engine builder because of the mototuneusa web page. The wirting style on their description of their method suggests that it may largely be an attempt to drive up traffic across their site. The thing I really wonder about is whether people who use that method have any problemd with any of their bearings. I wouldn't expect that a large bike motor would put more or less pressure on the bearings that an automobile of similar bore/stroke sizes. But for the consideration of the bearings, a lot of people recommend keeping the revs low for the first several hundred miles of the engine's lifetime.

On the off chance that anyone around here is planning any kind of mechanical engineering graduate research, this might be a good project, if there aren't already publications on it.

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"Watch your language please. Just because I'm dumb as dog shit and don't look where I'm going, doesn't mean you should get mad."

When a person questions my language because I'm upset (with plenty of reason) I give them this option. If the language isn't appreciated, maybe my size 10 foot up your ass would be preferred?

People need to learn. If you do something stupid, expect reprecussions. Its just like if you make a fool out of yourself in front of your friends, you think they are just going to lay it down? They'll be on your case like white on rice.

As for those that stick their nose in your business. I suggest this next time. If they ask you to refrain from the language you are using, get a baseball bat, walk up to their car, and slam the fucking bat right into their bumper.

Now examine their reaction. Make sure to remind them from refraining from using bad language. The kids 10 miles away might hear, but don't worry about the radio 5 feet away from them talking about bucking shots and ripping lines.

Fucking Idiots.

You should be more concerned about that stupid bitch running your children over (if they were here) instead of worrying about them hearing some mildly offensive language! You fucking idiots!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Reality:
Grow up. How imature and wrong to call someone such a filthy and hurtful thing. You sound like a materialistic asshole. Oh no the car got hit, so the fuck what? It's a thing. You didn't even own it. You just had the expectation of owning it. Pretty freaking shallow. You didn't even see it happen. How do you know it was completly her fault. Maybe she was under duress. Whatever the nature of the acident, she probly felt bad enough about it already.

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Are you serious???

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quote:

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Originally posted by Reality:
Grow up. How imature and wrong to call someone such a filthy and hurtful thing. You sound like a materialistic asshole. Oh no the car got hit, so the fuck what? It's a thing. You didn't even own it. You just had the expectation of owning it. Pretty freaking shallow. You didn't even see it happen. How do you know it was completly her fault. Maybe she was under duress. Whatever the nature of the acident, she probly felt bad enough about it already.

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Grow up.

(I'm already 42 I need to stop growing or I will eventualy die)

How imature and wrong to call someone such a filthy and hurtful thing.

(I should have been nicer to her huh? Maybe said something like it's ok I don't mind driving for an hour each way in heavy traffic two days in a row only to have to go to yet another dealer on day three. Plus it would be fun to fill out another credit application, call my insurance company and give them a new vin number and fax number. My wife and I don't mind leaving work an hour early yet another day in a row to make to the dealer by close)

You sound like a materialistic asshole. Oh no the car got hit, so the fuck what? It's a thing.

(So it's ok for you Mr. Hypocrite to call me an asshole and say the word fuck? What if children were reading this?)

You didn't even own it. You just had the expectation of owning it.

(I put a down payment on it and was going to sign the documents to own it you dipshit)

Pretty freaking shallow. You didn't even see it happen. How do you know it was completly her fault. Maybe she was under duress.

(We drove in 30 seconds or less after she hit it and her car was backed into it when we first pulled in. Plus that dumb cunt was alone in her car so nobody was causing duress, she was backing out of a parking space without looking behind her and the Saab was parked with nobody in it. It was clearly her fault since no other drivers were involved. Just the dumb cunt and a parked car)

Whatever the nature of the acident, she probly felt bad enough about it already.

(She never once apologized or showed any remorse, you idiot! Quit speculating you dufuss)

Didn't you say you were leaving here and never posting again? You can't even do that right!

BTW what do you think of the new car?

[ 07-14-2005: Message edited by: Cacophonous ]

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[edit] I'll just say that your reaction was disproportionate to what happened. If this is typical of how you handle adverse or irritating situations and people you might look into getting some anger management counseling.

[ 07-15-2005: Message edited by: Reality ]

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quote:

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Originally posted by Reality:
How imature and wrong to call someone such a filthy and hurtful thing. You sound like a materialistic asshole.

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You are the weakest link. Good bye.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Reality:
xanthan, your a poopoohead.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Rivendell:
/me thinks we got an impostor again...

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Was I being that obvious? Damn. I knew I should have said doodoohead instead.

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Also my comments back to you were mainly an attempt to be funny. I was not the least bit upset with what you said but rather was laughing at your ignorance regarding the situation with the dumb bitch.

Anyway what do you think about the car? =)

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Xan - Thanks. I really don't lose my temper often IRL. I deal with some really challenged people all day at work regarding computers and have been told that I never make anyone feel stupid. I honestly could not control myself when I blurted out those comments especially when she found out we were buying the car and never attempted to apologize.

Flux - I will keep you posted. (If I ever get to drive the thing) She had the nerve to say that I better not drive it aggressively. Hah! It is almost a station wagon. How aggressive can you drive a wagon?

I wouldn't have bought this Saab or any Saab for myself but it should be a much safer and nicer car for my wife. I never felt good about her driving her old car, which was a 1996 Chevy Cavilar that she bought in 1997 before I knew her.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Cacophonous:
Reality - The title of this thread has nothing to do with that incident with that dumb cunt. It was a joke to Max about people that drive Saabs being assholes.

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Yes, but your outburst at the dealership kind proves the point of the joke you were making.

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quote:

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I honestly could not control myself when I blurted out those comments especially when she found out we were buying the car and never attempted to apologize.

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nope. nobody should ever apologize after being involved in any situation in which culpability will be an issue or in which liabilities will be assessed.. it can be construed as admission of guilt in a court of law. lawyers killed manners.

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