Auto Box

[Denis O]

I am currently looking for a 93 to add to the fleet and I test drove a 95,000 mile 2 owner 98 S reg 2.0 Turbo SE Auto today. Nicely appointed with Leather, leccie seats, Climate and a sunroof and seem to drive fine. Pretty responsive considering my other cars are a 540i and a 996.
One major issue was the thump when moving between P, R, N, and D (when stationary). The guy had a 51 plate 93 on his lot which another 10k miles and although this was a little bit lumpy when moving the lever between gears (again when stationary) it did not seem as bad. The dealer, a small Saab specialist said it could be engine mountings and has agreed to have it checked. What do you experts think.
The pixels on the climate panel had given up the will to live and he said this is about a £130 fix. Is this true.
He's after £2950 for the car which I guess I could negotiate down by £500 so if the autobox is OK do we think this is good value. The service history is very comprehensive and all SAAB apart from the last one which was a recognised indy.

[Prof Beard]

I'd be wary of real thumps when doing what you describe - if the dealer can fix it fine, otherwise look again. An autobox rebuild, even from an indy autobox specialist will cost at least a grand.

I found this on autotrader:

SAAB 9-3 Turbo SE (LPT)

Price: £2,995 ono.

Features:

* 80,000 miles
* GREEN
* W reg
Sports Auto, W reg. 80000 Miles, FSSH, metallic Green, full electrics, r/c/l alarm & boot, climate, alloys, spoiler, wood & leather m/f/s/w, wood dash & gear stick , remote CD, beautiful condition & drive, strictly no canvassers. £2,995. o.n.o

[BIG DUNC]

I have just bought a 2000 9-3 S Turbo ( auto ) with 125,000 miles for similar money.
Not sure about the difference between S and SE, but I don't have leather or climate control ( have to put up with plain AC ! ).
The display on my trip computer ( SID ? ) is knackered and I have been quoted similar money to have it repaired.
I hope this is of help.

[i want an aero]

theres a guy on ebay who does sid fixes for £60 with a warranty

[BIG DUNC]

i want an aero said:

theres a guy on ebay who does sid fixes for £60 with a warranty

Wish I had known, I have just given the independant specialist the go ahead to repair my display for £130. Oh well.

[k321]

avoid the auto at all costs!
theres a good reason why autos are so cheap, also never buy the sensonic auto gearbox as they break all the time and cost a bomb to fix

Edited by k321 on Wednesday 28th February 16:35

[Prof Beard]

k321 said:

avoid the auto at all costs!
theres a good reason why autos are so cheap, also never buy the sensonic auto gearbox as they break all the time and cost a bomb to fix

Edited by k321 on Wednesday 28th February 16:35

I'm sorry, whilst have some sympathy for the comment re sensonic, the rest is just not sensible. I've had numerous autos of various makes including Saabs. The ONLY trouble I've ever had was on Mrs B's NG900 when the auto box died at 190,000. I don't regard that as unrealiable in any way. During the same 35 "car ownership years" (we have had two autos a lot of the time) how many clutches might one have got through? Note - with the exception my current Aero - none of the cars were "newish" in any sense. Check the Saab Central forums - you will find very few autobox outright failures

[k321]

prof beard, well all i know is that autos are likely to fail, and when they do they cost a lot to fix, whereas a manual is more reliable , and a new clutch doesnt cost that much

sensonics i know are prone to break

[Prof Beard]

k321 said:

prof beard, well all i know is that autos are likely to fail, and when they do they cost a lot to fix, whereas a manual is more reliable , and a new clutch doesnt cost that much

sensonics i know are prone to break

It's the "likely to fail" I'm questioning - I see no evidence that they are any less reliable than manuals - expensive to mend, I agree, though.