I have a budget of $3500 and plan on doing all of my own maintenance and repairs. Tell me what you know.
The first is a Saab 9-3 Aero with 102k. http://syracuse.craigslist.org/cto/5350960123.html
The second is a Lexus IS300 with 177k. http://rochester.craigslist.org/cto/5348178963.html
Saab, I'd make sure things like the LCDs all work, the features make sense, everything you try isn't broken, and it does a good pull. Anything else I'd check against a model-specific problems list and adjust the price accordingly.
The IS300 interests me more, but there's stuff about the ad that puts me on the defensive out of the gate. It always worries me when someone selling a "normal people car" compares it to a popular rice rocket like a Supra, so the IS300 deserves a firmer than usual going-over.
Also, it doesn't have a plate, which usually in my province either means the owner is so skint they took insurance & reg off it (no test drive, definitely no highway test drive) or they just got it from auction. Since dude has a seat from a different car lying in his front yard, I'm guessing it's from auction.
FYI, that Saab is NOT an Aero model, it looks like a base Linear model. The Aero wasn't even released until 2004! 2003 was also by far the worst year for the 9-3SS, that was the first year of production and they have a handful of unique (read: difficult to find) parts. I'm a former Saab guy and I wouldn't buy that.
That Lexus is probably due for a timing belt or is hiding something at that price. Seems really low, IS300s hold their value pretty well...
Both of those ads seem really sketchy and I wouldn't buy either, really.
That Lexus sounds priced way too low. I would suspect "scam."
Either way, I'd take the Megabus to Atlanta for a weekend and drive something back before I'd buy a rust belt 10+ year old car. Won't necessarily be in better mechanical condition, but it's a lot nicer to work on them without the rust.
"Brand new tranny flush" on the Saab rules it out immediately.
Bumboclaat wrote: I have a budget of $3500 and plan on doing all of my own maintenance and repairs. Tell me what you know. The first is a Saab 9-3 Aero with 102k. http://syracuse.craigslist.org/cto/5350960123.html The second is a Lexus IS300 with 177k. http://rochester.craigslist.org/cto/5348178963.html
Syracuse and Rochester? Sounds like you're in my neck of the woods. Where are you exactly?
I am in a unique position to comment here as I owned a 2001 IS300 and a 2007 9-3.
The 2003/04 Saab auto has an issue with leaking coolant into the transmission. The flush likely means that leak occurred and has borked the tranny.
The IS pictured may be a base model because the wheels look like 16". The base model had a cloth interior and no power seats. It has a spoiler and fog lights so it could be a premium. So a base model with dodgey interior would be worth about what they are asking. The IS is FAR more reliable than any SAAB. As said above the 03 SAABs had lots of teething problems so are to be avoided, but most issues should have been fixed by now. The IS drives better, feels better, looks better, sounds better (stereo and engine), the alcantara seats are awesome (if equipped).
The SAAB gets better gas mileage, but will be offset by broken parts which may be difficult to source. Saab will be better in the snow.
I would take the IS300 every time unless the Saab was a sportcombi in good condition.
Those wheels are off a GS300 if i remember correctly. Decently wide but i'd bet they're pretty heavy and sporty 16" tires are limited in selection lately.
There are some SAABs i would take over an IS300, but that isn't one of them. On the other hand, i'd take almost any manual SAAB over an automatic IS300 unless i planned to swap.
I am getting from you all what I kind of suspected of the two. As it turns out, the Saab is at a dealer, nice of them to post in the for sale by owner section.
I'm in Ithaca NY, 14850. Our local used car market sucks, that's why I am currently shopping fairly far out.
I am not at all opposed to a fly (or bus) and drive, but have never done it before and I don't know anyone in Atlanta. Anyone here interested in looking at things for me?
Like I said, my budget is $3500. This includes travel, gas and tags.
I will drive just about anything. Manual transmission is preferred, but not a deal breaker in the right car. I would drive a P71, if I could find the right one (04 would be my preference). I would drive a Zetec or Duratec Focus. No Subarus. No beige cars, that goes for both color and spirit. Let's say no older than 2000, but if you find something awesome that's a little older, speak up.
I'm going to make a new thread...
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/help-me-find-a-car-for-3500/108409/page1/
Manual transmission is preferred, but not a deal breaker in the right car.
Would an auto trans rebuild be a deal breaker? The smaller your repair budget, the MORE important manual trans is.
Good point. Manual transmissions have a lot more flavors of broken that don't necessarily mean you're walking. Slipping clutches, damaged syncros, missing gears (especially reverse.) I've put a lot of miles on broken manuals.
Bumboclaat wrote: I'm in Ithaca NY, 14850. Our local used car market sucks, that's why I am currently shopping fairly far out.
I'm from Rome, NY. Yeah, I know what you are saying about the car market. I spent 2 years hunting for a Miata and then still kind of overpaid for it at $3900.
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